Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control system for controlling the transmission of a variable transmission window, the various configurations of the variable transmission window, a method for manufacturing the variable transmission window and an electric control system for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows.SOLUTION: An electric control system comprises: a master control circuit and a user input circuit for supplying a control signal indicating the transmittance level of a variable transmittance window; and a plurality of slave window control circuits connected to the master control circuit, the user input circuit and the variable transmittance window. Each slave window control circuit controls at least one transmittance of the variable transmittance window in response to the control signal received from the master control circuit and/or the user input circuit. There is also provided a new method for manufacturing an electrochromic element to be used in the variable transmittance window. There is also provided new structural characteristics of improving the transfer of heat separating from the window, protecting the window from an external load, and improving the electric performance of the window.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electro-optic elements and a device incorporated therewith. SOLUTION: A mirror includes: an electro-optic mirror subassembly; and a thin-profiled bezel attached around the perimeter of the electro-optic mirror subassembly. The electro-optic mirror subassembly is supported on a support part by an adherently bonded heater and form a tape in a laminar arrangement. The bezel can be bonded to an edge of the front surface of the front element of the electro-optic mirror subassembly, and/or can be bonded and/or interlockingly and mechanically attached to an edge of the support part. Alternatively, the bezel can be a strip of a paint or thin coating material. The bezel can be molded in a predetermined position, or can be pre-molded and elastically stretched to allow the assembly. In one form, the bezel includes a laterally-extending fin preventing the inside of a mirror housing from being seen over the bezel. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electro chromic medium enabling selection and maintenance of colors. SOLUTION: The electro chromic medium contains at least three kinds of electroactive materials having absorption spectra to be added together so that pre-selected colors can be obtained by individually selecting concentrations of at least three kinds of electroactive materials. The electro chromic medium retains colors pre-selected and sensed in a whole normal voltage range. The three kinds of electroactive materials contain one kind of electrochemically reducible material (cathodic material), one kind of electrochemically oxidizable material (anodic material), and one additional electroactive material which may be either an anodic or cathodic material. Three kinds of electroactive materials are in the medium and at least two kinds of them are anodic or cathodic materials. The selectable colors are, for example, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. At present, the color of the electrochromic mirror for vehicles is gray. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lamp capable of reducing the glare of embarrassing a driver of a leading vehicle. SOLUTION: A sensor array 52 and a control unit 44 are included in a system 40 for controlling at least one vehicular exterior lighting fixture 22 of a control object vehicle. The sensor array 52 can detect a light level in front of the control object vehicle. The control unit 44 communicates with the sensor array 52 and at least the one vehicular exterior lighting fixture, and measures a distance and an angle up to the leading vehicle from at least the one vehicular exterior lighting fixture of the control object vehicle. The control unit 44 controls operation of at least the one vehicular exterior lighting fixture as a function of the distance and the angle based on output from the sensor array 52. At least the one vehicular exterior lighting fixture 22 can operate so as to prevent impartment of the glare of embarrassing the driver of the leading vehicle. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rearview mirror of an automobile, the mirror having high reflectance, being tough and inexpensive, and capable of attenuating light. SOLUTION: The mirror is an electrochromic reflectance variable mirror for an automobile, the mirror including a front element and a rear element each having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein a layer of a transparent conductive material is disposed on the rear surface of the front element, and the front surface of the rear element has a high reflective reflector/electrode. The front element and the rear element are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber. The chamber contains a solution-phase electrochromic material in contact with the reflector/electrode. The reflector/electrode is effective to reflect light passing through the electrochromic material and the front element when the light reaches the reflector/electrode after passing through the front element and the electrochromic material. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrochromic back mirror assembly having a reflector formed as a continuous layer across the entire visible surface of a rear element of a mirror, and also across an area positioned in front of an optical sensor or a receptor arranged in front of an optical source such as a signal light, an information display, or an illuminator, or at the back of the electrochromic mirror. SOLUTION: This mirror comprises a housing formed to a vehicle; a front element 112 and a rear element 114 having a front face and a rear face respectively, sealably coupled with each other at an interval, defining a chamber, and installed in the housing; an electrochromic material 125 accommodated in the chamber; a first transparent electrode 112b including a conducting material layer carried on one face of the element; a second electrode 120 arranged on the front face of the rear element; a light emitting display assembly 170 installed in the housing; and a reflector arranged on the surface of the rear element. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To disclose a rearview mirror assembly with a microwave antenna for receiving transmissions from satellites through the front windshield of a vehicle. SOLUTION: The microwave antenna may be tuned to receive satellite transmissions from a position identification system constellation of satellites. Additionally, the microwave antenna may be tuned to receive transmissions from a communication satellite, such as a CD radio satellite. In addition to the inventive rearview mirror assembly, an inventive electrical control system is disclosed that may be used as a navigation system, an electrochromic rearview mirror control system, a head lamp control system, a vehicle compass system, a vehicle data recorder system, and/or a vehicle odometer verification system. In each of said systems, a new parameter is made available by the microwave antenna for carrying out control operation. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control system for automatically detecting moisture of a windshield in a vehicle. SOLUTION: The automatic moisture detection system includes an optical system for image-forming one portion of the windshield at the image array sensor of a CMOS active image sensor. Each voltage of a pixel, indicating a lighting level, is converted into a corresponding gray scale value by an analog/digital converter. A spacial frequency component, containing a gray scale value, supplies a control signal to control the operation of a windshield wiper in the vehicle as a function of the amount of moisture present . COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the commercial embodiment of the use of this display device by using a specific soln. as a variable transmittance medium. SOLUTION: This soln. consists of (A) a solvent; (B) a cathode electrochromic compd. which exhibits >=2 kinds of chemically reversible reduction waves in the voltamogram executed by using an inert electrode at room temp. in this solvent and in which the wave of the first kind entails an increase in the molecular extinction coefft. at a wavelength of a visible range; (C) an anode electrochromic compd. which exhibits >=2 kinds of chemically reversible oxidation waves in its voltamogram and in which the wave of the first kind entails an increase in the molecular extinction coefft. at a wavelength of a visible range; (D) a current carrier electrolyte which is insert when all of the cathode compd. and the anode compd. are not ionic in the respective zero potential equil. state in this solvent. The soln. described above is used as the variable transmittance solvent in the single block self erasure system soln. phase electrochromic device.