# US 8,788,145 B2 · Determination of sun rays inside a vehicle

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- Number: US 8,788,145 B2
- Document ID: US8788145B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/464,694
- Filed: 2012-05-04
- Published: 2013-11-07
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-04
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: Bhupal R. Perugu; Todd M. Tumas; Narayana Bhyravajhul; Lee E. Krispin; Gilles M. Delorme
- Inventors: Bhupal R. Perugu; Todd M. Tumas; Narayana Bhyravajhul; Lee E. Krispin; Gilles M. Delorme
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788145B2

## CPC

- G01J 1/0266: {Field-of-view determination; Aiming or pointing of a photometer; Adjusting alignment; Encoding angular position; Size of the measurement area; Position tracking; Photodetection involving different fields of view for a single detector}
- B60K 35/22: Display screens
- B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10)
- B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
- B60K 35/81: for controlling displays
- B60K 2360/349: Adjustment of brightness
- G01J 2001/4266: {for measuring solar light}
- 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)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES

## Abstract

Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for determining the sun's rays inside a vehicle. A communication device is configured to obtain information as to a current angle of the sun. A process is coupled to the communications device. The processor is configured to define a ray from a point of interest inside the vehicle toward the sun using the information and determine whether the ray intersects a transparent surface of the vehicle, for use in determining whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun if the ray intersects the transparent surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
obtaining information as to a current angle of the sun;
defining a ray from a point of interest inside a vehicle toward the sun using the information; and
determining, using a processor, whether the ray intersects a transparent surface of the vehicle, for use in determining whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun if the ray intersects the transparent surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the transparent surface comprises a plurality of glass surfaces of the vehicle, and the method further comprises:
defining a plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions for the plurality of glass surfaces;
wherein the step of determining whether the ray intersects the transparent surface comprises determining whether the ray intersects one of the plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions, for use in determining whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun if the ray intersects the transparent surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein
the step of defining the plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions comprises dividing each of the plurality of glass surfaces into respective sets of triangular regions that are substantially flat and defined by respective pluralities of boundary points; and
the step of determining whether the ray intersects one of the plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions comprises determining whether the ray intersects one of the sets of triangular regions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the method further comprises determining an azimuth angle and an elevation angle of the sun using the information; and
defining the ray comprises defining the ray from the point of interest inside the vehicle toward the sun using the azimuth angle and the elevation angle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein:
the step of obtaining information as to the current angle of the sun comprises obtaining geographic information pertaining to a geographic location of the vehicle, time information as to a current time of day, and heading information as to a current heading of the vehicle using a global positioning system (GPS) device; and
the step of determining the azimuth angle and the elevation angle comprises determining the azimuth angle and the elevation angle using the geographic information, the time information, and the heading information.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:
determining the azimuth angle and the elevation angle in a spherical coordinate system;
determining a location of the sun in a Cartesian coordinate system; and
defining the ray based on the determination of the azimuth angle and the elevation angle in the spherical coordinate system and the determination of the location of the sun in the Cartesian coordinate system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
adjusting operation of an environmental control system of the vehicle based on whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun if the ray intersects the transparent surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
adjusting a level of brightness of a display screen of an infotainment system of the vehicle based on whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun if the ray intersects the transparent surface.

### Claim 9

A system, comprising:
a communication device configured to obtain information as to a current angle of the sun; and
a processor coupled to the communication device and configured to:
define a ray from a point of interest inside a vehicle toward the sun using the information; and
determine whether the ray intersects a transparent surface of the vehicle, for use in determining whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun when he ray intersects the transparent surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the transparent surface comprises a plurality of glass surfaces of the vehicle, and the processor is further configured to:
define a plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions for the plurality of glass surfaces; and
determine whether the ray intersects one of the plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions, for use in determining whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun if the ray intersects the transparent surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:
define the plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions by dividing each of the plurality of glass surfaces into respective sets of triangular regions that are substantially flat and defined by respective pluralities of boundary points; and
determine whether the ray intersects one of the plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions by determining whether the ray intersects one of the sets of triangular regions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine an azimuth angle and an elevation angle of the sun using the information; and
define the ray from the point of interest inside the vehicle toward the sun using the azimuth angle and the elevation angle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein:
the communication device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) device configured to obtain geographic information pertaining to a geographic location of the vehicle, time information as to a current time of day, and heading information as to a current heading of the vehicle; and
the processor is further configured to determine the azimuth angle and the elevation angle using the geographic information, the time information, and the heading information.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine the azimuth angle and the elevation angle in a spherical coordinate system;
determine a location of the sun in a Cartesian coordinate system; and
define the ray based on the determination of the azimuth angle and the elevation angle in the spherical coordinate system and the determination of the location of the sun in the Cartesian coordinate system.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust operation of an environmental control system of the vehicle based on whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun if the ray intersects the transparent surface.

### Claim 16

A vehicle comprising:
a body;
a drive system disposed inside the body; and
a controller disposed inside the body, the controller comprising:
a communication device configured to obtain information as to a current angle of the sun; and
a processor coupled to the communication device and configured to:
define a ray from a point of interest inside the vehicle toward the sun using the information; and
determine whether the ray intersects a transparent surface of the vehicle, for use in determining whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun if the ray intersects the transparent surface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the transparent surface comprises a plurality of glass surfaces of the vehicle, and the processor is further configured to:
define a plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions for the plurality of glass surfaces; and
determine whether the ray intersects one of the plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions, for use in determining whether the point of interest is irradiated by rays of the sun if the ray intersects the transparent surface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:
define the plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions by dividing each of the plurality of glass surfaces into respective sets of triangular regions that are substantially flat and defined by respective pluralities of boundary points; and
determine whether the ray intersects one of the plurality of substantially flat, bounded planar regions by determining whether the ray intersects one of the sets of triangular regions.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The vehicle of claim 16, wherein:
the communications device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) device configured to obtain geographic information pertaining to a geographic location of the vehicle, time information as to a current time of day, and heading information as to a current heading of the vehicle; and
the processor is further configured to:
determine an azimuth angle and an elevation angle of the sun using the geographic information, the time information, and the heading information; and
define the ray from the point of interest inside the vehicle toward the sun using the azimuth angle and the elevation angle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine the azimuth angle and the elevation angle in a spherical coordinate system;
determine a location of the sun in a Cartesian coordinate system; and
define the ray based on the determination of the azimuth angle and the elevation angle in the spherical coordinate system and the determination of the location of the sun in the Cartesian coordinate system.