Window system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle

US9994091B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Michael R. Kaphengst · Leonard, US
• Jamie Hamilton · Clinton Township, US
• Michael P. Van De Velde · Shelby Charter Township, US
• Lara Jane S. Hadlocon · Columbus, US
• Breitner S. Marczewski · Shelby Charter Township, US
• Dorel M. Sala · Troy, US
• Ramona L. Winarski · Rochester Hills, US
• Anthony J. Stefanski · Utica, US
• Kyle Greene · Carmangay, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 12, 2016
• Grant date: Jun 12, 2018
• Expiry date: Aug 12, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/163
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A window system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle includes a window including an inner transparent layer, an outer transparent layer and a pixelated layer interposed therebetween. The pixelated layer includes a two-dimensional array of electrochromic cells and an electrode array that is electrically connected to the electrochromic cells. A controller determines, via an incident light monitoring subsystem, a field of view of a passenger and determines an intensity of incident light in relation to the field of view of the passenger. The controller is disposed to command a passenger compartment incident light management subsystem to activate selected electrochromic cells in the transparent window based upon the intensity of the incident light in relation to the field of view of the passenger.