# US 11,027,657 B2 · System for rearview camera as a glare sensor

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- Number: US 11,027,657 B2
- Document ID: US11027657B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/684,799
- Filed: 2019-11-15
- Published: 2020-05-28
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-26
- Assignees: Gentex Corporation
- Applicants: Gentex Corporation
- Inventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore; Barry K. Nelson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027657B2

## CPC

- B60R 1/08: involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots {, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors (B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence)}
- B60R 1/083: {Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors}
- B60R 1/04: mounted inside vehicle {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)}
- B60R 1/088: {using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors}
- B60R 1/12: Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
- G02B 5/08: Mirrors {(vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08)}
- H04N 23/50: Constructional details
- B60R 2001/1253: {with cameras, video cameras or video screens}
- G08G 1/167: {Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection}
- H04N 7/181: {for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

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

### Claim 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.

### Claim 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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

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.

### Claim 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.

### Claim 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.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

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

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

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.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

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.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

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.