US 11,027,599 B2 · Systems, apparatus, and methods to adjust dimming associated with dual panel sunroofs

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, and methods to adjust dimming associated with dual panel sunroof are disclosed. A disclosed sunroof dimming system for a vehicle includes a first dimmable panel of a sunroof and a second dimmable panel of the sunroof. The first dimmable panel is moveable relative to the second dimmable panel to open or close the sunroof. The sunroof dimming system also includes a controller operatively coupled to the first and second dimmable panels. The controller is configured to adjust dimming associated with the first and second dimmable panels to maintain a brightness of an external light associated with a vehicle cabin that is experienced by a vehicle occupant when the sunroof changes between a closed state and an open state.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A sunroof dimming system for a vehicle, comprising:

a first dimmable panel of a sunroof including first dimming bands;
a second dimmable panel of the sunroof including second dimming bands, the first dimmable panel moveable relative to the second dimmable panel to open or close the sunroof;
and
a controller operatively coupled to the first dimmable panel and the second dimmable panel, the controller configured to
adjust dimming of the first dimmable panel and the second dimmable panel to maintain a light intensity of an external light of a vehicle cabin when the sunroof changes between a closed state and an open state,
determine a position of the first dimmable panel,
determine overlapping dimming bands of the first dimming bands and the second dimming bands based on the position, and
adjust an electrical parameter applied to the overlapping dimming bands maintain the light intensity.

5 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a sunroof controller configured to:
control dimming of a first panel of a sunroof of a vehicle cabin and a second panel of the sunroof of the vehicle cabin,
move, via a motor, the first panel relative to the second panel from a first position to a second position in which the first panel at least partially overlaps with the second panel, each of the first and second panels in a first visual state when the first panel is in the first position,
adjust dimming of the first and second panels such that, when the first panel is in the second position, each of the first and second panels is in a second visual state different relative to the first visual state,
determine an overlapping portion of the first panel and the second panel when in the second position, and
adjust an electrical parameter applied to the overlapping portion maintain a light intensity of an external light of the vehicle cabin.

3 more elements

A tangible machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

control dimming of a first panel of a sunroof of a vehicle cabin and a second panel of the sunroof of the vehicle cabin;
move, via a motor, the first panel relative to the second panel from a first position to a second position in which the first panel at least partially overlaps with the second panel, each of the first and second panels in a first visual state when the first panel is in the first position;
adjust dimming of the first and second panels such that, when the first panel is in the second position, each of the first and second panels is in a second visual state different relative to the first visual state;
determine an overlapping portion of the first panel and the second panel when in the second position, and
adjust an electrical parameter applied to the overlapping portion maintain a light intensity of an external light of the vehicle cabin.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems, apparatus, and methods to adjust dimming associated with dual panel sunroofs

Life of this patent

Systems, apparatus, and methods to adjust dimming associated with dual panel sunroofs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15