Elbow-Arm Sun Visor
Elbow-Arm Sun Visor
Auto-Positioning Sun Visor, v5
Sunlight can be blinding when driving early or late in the day. When the sun enters the driver’s field of view, the elbow-arm visor goes to work to block the sun, using a dashboard camera like an optical joystick. The visor does not appear to be a black spot in the scene, but rather the absence of blinding sun, to make the scene look more uniform.
The visor is clear plastic, printed with a dark area in the center.
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When using the visor for the first time, it is aligned with the horizon to teach the micro-controller the driver’s eye height. This information is saved, along with the seat and mirror position for different drivers. The visor can be adjusted vertically while driving.
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When a car drives on a hilly road, the sun shines at the driver’s face from different heights. The dashboard camera sends signals to the micro controller so that the visor blocks sunlight to the driver’s eyes.
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| The visor adjusts laterally when driving on a winding road. | The visor moves vertically when driving on a hilly road. |
Simulations of the wide-angle camera (lower left) sending information about the sun’s position to the micro-controller to position the visor in front of the driver’s eyes.
The robotic visor is perfectly suited to long-haul truck drivers, bus drivers, and commercial-aircraft and military pilots.
Hines’ Notebook #2, p. 068
To discuss licensing, please contact Steve Hines at: