Automatic windshield shade device

An automatic windshield shade device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a shade configured to extend across a windshield of the motor vehicle, the shade being made of a flexible material and including a ferromagnetic upper edge;
• a pair of slide tracks located along a plurality of roof pillars of the motor vehicle, the pair of slide tracks configured to guide the shade along a deployment travel path and a retraction travel path, wherein each of the slide tracks defines a gap between the slide track and the windshield within which the shade travels;
• a roller housed within a dash cavity of the motor vehicle, the roller configured to store the shade in a retracted position;
• a set of magnets configured to retain the ferromagnetic upper edge of the shade in a fully deployed position, the set of magnets having a retention force dimensioned to passively disengage from the ferromagnetic upper edge upon commencement of retraction of the shade;
• a deployment motor and a separate retraction motor each operably connected to the shade, the deployment motor dedicated to moving the shade along the deployment travel path and the retraction motor dedicated to moving the shade along the retraction travel path;
• an upper travel limit switch positioned at an upper end of the deployment travel path and a lower travel limit switch positioned at a lower end of the retraction travel path, the upper travel limit switch configured to halt the deployment motor when the shade reaches the fully deployed position and the lower travel limit switch configured to halt the retraction motor when the shade reaches a fully retracted position;
• a control circuit configured to:
• receive a battery positive connection that provides power independent of a vehicle ignition state;
• receive an ignition positive connection that provides power only when the vehicle ignition is active;
• automatically activate the retraction motor to move the shade along the retraction travel path when the ignition positive connection is active;
• automatically activate the deployment motor to move the shade along the deployment travel path using power from the battery positive connection when the ignition positive connection is inactive;
• and
• prevent any deployment of the shade when the vehicle ignition is active;
• and,
• a manual control switch located on a dash of the motor vehicle, the manual control switch including an upward directional indicia and a downward directional indicia, the manual control switch configured to selectively control the deployment motor and the retraction motor only when the ignition positive connection is inactive.