# US 2023/0054465 A1 · Universal sensor system for auto dimming control for different spectral outputs

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- Number: US 2023/0054465 A1
- Document ID: US20230054465A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/886,834
- Filed: 2022-08-12
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-19
- Assignees: Gentex Corporation
- Applicants: Gentex Corporation
- Inventors: Barry K. Nelson; John S. Anderson; Mario F. Saenger Nayver; Steven M. Childs; George A. Neuman; Henry A. Luten
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054465A1

## CPC

- B60R 1/088: {using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors}
- B32B 9/04: comprising such {particular} substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a glass layer B32B17/06; layered products with at least two ceramic layers composed mainly of ceramic B32B18/00)}
- B60R 1/12: Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
- G01J 1/0403: {Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements; Scanning arrangements}
- G01J 1/0407: {Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. manifolds, windows, holograms, gratings}
- G01J 1/0448: {Adjustable, e.g. focussing}
- G01J 1/0488: {with spectral filtering}
- G01J 1/4204: {with determination of ambient light (solar light G01J2001/4266)}
- G02B 1/02: made of crystals, e.g. rock-salt, semi-conductors (G02B1/08 takes precedence)
- G02B 5/285: {comprising deposited thin solid films (G02B5/281 - G02B5/289 take precedence; multilayered film filters for fibre optic multiplexing G02B6/29361)}
- G02F 1/0121: {Operation of devices; Circuit arrangements, not otherwise provided for in this subclass}
- B32B 2250/05: 5 or more layers
- B32B 2250/42: Alternating layers, e.g. ABAB(C), AABBAABB(C)
- B32B 2307/418: Refractive
- B32B 2551/00: Optical elements
- B60R 2001/1223: {with sensors or transducers}
- G02B 5/281: {designed for the infrared light}
- G02F 2203/48: Variable attenuator
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

A rearview system may comprise a light sensor assembly having: a photosensor operable to detect light and generate a signal based, at least in part, on the detected light; a dichroic filter in optical communication with the photosensor and operable to filter light; and a rearview assembly having an electro-optic element may comprise an electro-optic medium and operable to variably change the amount of light passing through the electro-optic medium based, at least in part, on the signal. The dichroic filter may be configured to substantially inhibit light having a wavelength of less than 400 nm or greater than 650 nm from transmitting therethrough.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rearview system comprising:
a light sensor assembly having:
a photosensor operable to detect light and generate a signal based, at least in part, on the detected light;
a dichroic filter in optical communication with the photosensor and operable to filter light, the dichroic filter configured to substantially inhibit light having a wavelength of greater than a predetermined wavelength from transmitting therethrough, wherein the dichroic filter comprises a plurality of filter layers, the dichroic filter being configured to generate sensor responses in the photosensor similar to the response of a human eye; and
a rearview assembly having an electro-optic element comprising an electro-optic medium and operable to variably change the amount of light passing through the electro-optic medium based, at least in part, on the signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the dichroic filter comprises a plurality of filter layers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The rearview system of claim 2, wherein the dichroic filter comprises a first portion comprising a plurality of filter layers and capable of substantially inhibiting the passage of light having a wavelength within a first range of wavelengths through the dichroic filter and a second portion comprising a plurality of filter layers and capable of substantially inhibiting the passage of light having a wavelength within a second range of wavelengths through the dichroic filter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The rearview system of claim 3, wherein the dichroic filter is configured to substantially inhibit light having a wavelength of greater than 650 nm from transmitting therethrough.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The rearview system of claim 3, wherein the dichroic filter is configured to substantially inhibit light having a wavelength of less than 400 nm from transmitting therethrough.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The rearview system of claim 3, wherein the filter layers comprise a plurality of layers of a material having a high refractive index and a plurality of layers of a material having a low refractive index, lower than the refractive index of the material having the high refractive index.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The rearview system of claim 6, wherein the filter layers having the high refractive index comprise niobium oxide, and wherein the filter layers having the low refractive index comprise silicon dioxide and wherein the niobium oxide layers alternate with the silicon dioxide layers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The rearview system of claim 6, wherein the dichroic filter comprises at least 50 layers, wherein at least 25 of the filter layers are layers of the material having a high refractive index and at least 25 of the layers are of the material having the low refractive index.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The rearview system of claim 8, wherein the dichroic filter comprises fewer than 65 layers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The rearview system of claim 6, wherein the first range and the second range are at least partially outside the visible light spectrum.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The rearview system of claim 6, wherein the filter is configured to attenuate certain portions of the spectrum that include portions of at least one of the visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet portions of the spectrum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the filter is disposed between the photosensor and the light.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the filter is disposed on a surface of the photosensor such that light must pass through the filter prior to reaching the photosensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the filter is incorporated with the photosensor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the filter is a freestanding filter disposed in a path between the light and the photosensor, and wherein light would pass through the filter prior to reaching the photosensor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the filter may be disposed on a coated substrate in proximity to the photosensor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the filter is configured to transmit light in the spectral range of human vision and to reduce or block light outside the spectral range of human vision.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the filter is configured to minimize the leakage of light coming from certain angles.