System for rearview camera as a glare sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027657-B2
Application number	US-201916684799-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2019
Priority date	Nov 26, 2018
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A system for variable transmittance mirrors is disclosed wherein the variable transmittance mirrors may be controlled in response to images captured from a camera. The system may comprise a first imager, a first variable transmittance mirror, and a controller. The first imager comprises a pixel array. Further, the first imager is configured to capture image data. The first variable transmittance mirror has a first level of transmittance. Finally, the controller is configured to assign a first light intensity value to one or more pixels and change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance based at least in part on the detected first light intensity. Such as system has the advantage of eliminating the need for a dedicated glare sensor, therefore reducing the number of devices, the costs, obstructions in a user's field of view, and a more aesthetically appealing appearance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a first imager comprising a pixel array, the imager configured to capture image data;
a first variable transmittance mirror having a first level of transmittance; and
a second variable transmittance mirror, having a third level of transmittance;
a controller configured to:
assign a first light intensity value to one or more pixels of the pixel array,
determine whether the first light intensity is present in a first region of the pixel array, and
change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance and the third level of transmittance to a fourth level of transmittance based, at least in part, on:
the detected first light intensity, and
a determination of the presence of the first light intensity in the first region.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is further configured to:
not change the first level of transmittance and the third level of transmittance based, at least in part, on:
the detected first light intensity, and
a determination that the presence of the first light intensity is not in the first region.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second and fourth levels of transmittance are different.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second and fourth levels of transmittance are the same.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third variable transmittance mirror, having a fifth level of transmittance;
wherein the controller is further configured to change the fifth level of transmittance to a sixth level of transmittance based, at least in part, on:
the detected first light intensity, and
the determination of the presence of the first light intensity in the first region.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second, fourth, and sixth levels of transmittance are different.

7. A system comprising:
a first imager comprising a pixel array, the imager configured to capture image data;
a first variable transmittance mirror having a first level of transmittance; and
a second variable transmittance mirror, having a third level of transmittance;
a controller configured to:
a controller configured to:
assign a first light intensity value to one or more pixels of the pixel array, and
determine whether the first light intensity is present in a first region of the pixel array,
determine whether the first light intensity is present in a second region of the pixel array,
change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance based, at least in part, on:
the detected first light intensity, and
a determination that the presence of the first light intensity is in the first region, and

not change the third level of transmittance based, at least in part, on:
the detected first light intensity, and
a determination that the presence of the first light intensity is not in the second region.

8. A system comprising:
a first imager comprising a pixel array, the imager configured to capture image data;
a first variable transmittance mirror having a first level of transmittance; and
a controller configured to:
assign a first light intensity value to one or more pixels of the pixel array,
determine a location of the first light intensity within the pixel array,
determine a change in at least one of the location of the first light intensity, and
change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance based, at least in part, on the change in the location of the first light intensity.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second variable transmittance mirror having a third level of transmittance;
wherein:
the controller is further configured to change the third level of transmittance to a fourth level of transmittance based, at least in part, on the change in the location of the first light intensity, and
the second and fourth levels of transmittance are different.

10. A system comprising:
a first imager comprising a pixel array, the imager configured to capture image data;
an ambient light sensor operable to detect a second light intensity value;
a first variable transmittance mirror having a first level of transmittance;
a second variable transmittance mirror having a third level of transmittance; and
a controller configured to:
assign a first light intensity value to one or more pixels of the pixel array,
assign a third light intensity value to at least one pixel of the pixel array,
compare the second light intensity value to the first light intensity value and the third light intensity value:
change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance based, at least in part, on the comparison of the first and second light intensity values, and
change the third level of transmittance to a fourth level of transmittance based, at least in part, on the comparison of the second and third light intensity values.

11. A system comprising:
a first imager comprising a pixel array, the imager configured to capture image data;
a first variable transmittance mirror having a first level of transmittance; and
a controller configured to:
assign a first light intensity value to one or more pixels of the pixel array,
detect a saturation of the one or more pixels, and
increase the assigned first light intensity value of the one or more saturated pixels based, at least in part, on the detection of the saturation of the one or more pixels, and
change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance based, at least in part, on the increased first light intensity value.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the assigned first light intensity value is increased in proportion to the number of saturated pixels detected.

13. The of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance based further, at least in part, on the increased first light intensity value.

14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
an ambient light sensor operable to detect a second light intensity;
wherein the controller is further operable to:
compare the first increased light intensity and the second light intensity, and
change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance based further, at least in part, on the comparison of the first increased light intensity and the second light intensity.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second variable transmittance mirror having a third level of transmittance;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
detect a third light intensity corresponding to at least one pixel of the pixel array,
detect a saturation of the at least one pixel,
increase the assigned third light intensity value of the at least one pixel based, at least in part, on the detection of the saturation of the at least one pixel,
compare the increased third light intensity with the second light intensity, and
change the third level of transmittance to a fourth level of transmittance based, at least in part, on the comparison of the increased third light intensity with the second light intensity.

Assignees

• Gentex Corp

Inventors

• Hilldore Benjamin B
• Nelson Barry K

Classifications

• H04N23/50

  Constructional details · CPC title

• H04N7/181

  for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources · CPC title

• B60R2001/1253

  with cameras, video cameras or video screens · CPC title

• G02B5/08

  Mirrors {(vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08)} · CPC title

• B60R1/083 Primary

  Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors · CPC title