Patent ID: 6814451
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An antiglare mirror apparatus in a vehicle compartment comprising:(a) a mirror member that is an electrochromic element comprising: (1) an antiglare material comprising an electrochromic layer, (2) a light transmission electrode material, and (3) a light reflective electrode material, wherein said light transmission electrode material is disposed on one side of said antiglare material and said light reflective electrode material is disposed on the other side of said antiglare material; (b) a power source member that supplies a drive-electric energy to said electrochromic element; (c) a signal generator that generates a driving electric signal to color and uncolor said electrochromic element, said signal generator comprising: (1) a surrounding light sensor that detects a light amount around a vehicle; and (2) a specific light sensor that detects a light amount of light from a specific direction; (d) a control circuit that controls said drive-electric energy to said electrochromic element based upon said driving electric signal, said control circuit comprising: (1) a surrounding light information input unit that receives information regarding a light amount of a surrounding light from said surrounding light sensor; (2) a specific light information input unit that receives information regarding a variation amount of a light amount detected for every predetermined time by said specific light sensor; (3) a surrounding light level judgment unit that determines a first coloring level Ai as numerical information by comparing the information input into said surrounding light information input unit with a predetermined light amount threshold value; (4) a specific light level judgment unit that determines a second coloring level Bi as numerical information by comparing the information input into said specific light information input unit with a predetermined light amount threshold value; (5) a coloring level determination unit that determines a third coloring level C by performing a certain calculation to the first coloring level Ai and the second coloring level Bi executed according to the equation C=AiÃ—h+BjÃ—(1âˆ’h) â€ƒwhere â€œhâ€  is the ratio of how much the surrounding light affects the amount of light from the specific direction and has a value between 0-1; and (6) a drive-energy output unit that determines the supply state of said drive-electric energy corresponding to the third coloring level C determined by said coloring level determination unit; and (e) a holder that holds the mirror member, said holder being detachably mounted within a vehicle compartment.