PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10843535-B1
Application Number: US-201615366671-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: System and method for dynamic privacy and window tinting

Abstract:
A system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including determining a current state of a vehicle, the current state determined based on information from sensors, receiving a tinting control signal based on the current state of the vehicle, and adjusting a voltage level of an adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of an exterior facing surface of the vehicle based on the tinting control signal.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a processor; 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 determining a current state of a vehicle, the current state of the vehicle determined based on information from sensors, and the current state of the vehicle including a current location of the vehicle; 
 in response to anticipating that the vehicle is approaching a physical structure that causes less ambient light to enter the vehicle than the ambient light entering the vehicle at the current location of the vehicle based on the current state of the vehicle, determining a tinting control signal that allows an increased amount of ambient light to enter a front of the vehicle at the physical structure; and 
 sending a command to a tinting module to adjust a voltage level of an adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of an exterior facing surface of the vehicle based on the tinting control signal. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors comprise a global positioning system (GPS) hardware device, a thermometer, a barometer, a precipitation sensor, an ambient light sensor (ALS), a three dimensional camera, a two-dimensional camera, an iris camera, a weight sensor, a microphone, an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor, an infrared antenna, and a touch screen. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the voltage level of the adjustable tint film to control the tinting level of the exterior facing surface further comprises:
 adjusting a first portion of the exterior facing surface to a first tinting level and adjusting a second portion of the exterior facing surface to a second tinting level, the first tinting level different than the second tinting level. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable tint film comprises a first polycarbonate layer, a first conductive layer, a guest host liquid crystal layer having adjustable dye, a second conductive layer, and a second polycarbonate layer. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the tinting module further performs: adjusting an orientation of the adjustable dye based on the voltage level, the orientation of the adjustable dye controlling the tinting level having a particular level of light absorption. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the exterior facing surface of the vehicle comprises a first layer of glass in a transparent window, the transparent window further comprising a first bonding layer, the adjustable tint film, a second bonding layer, and a second layer of glass, the adjustable tint film located between the first layer of glass and the second layer of glass. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein determining the tinting control signal comprises:
 in response to determining that the vehicle is parked based on the current state of the vehicle, modifying the tinting control signal to obstruct a view of an interior of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 determining, by a processor, a current state of a vehicle based on information from sensors, wherein the current state of the vehicle comprises a state of a passenger of the vehicle and a current location of the vehicle; 
 in response to determining that the passenger is asleep or falling asleep based on the current state of the vehicle, determining, by the processor, a first tinting control signal that controls a first tinting level of a first exterior facing surface of the vehicle to prevent ambient light from entering a zone of the vehicle through the first exterior facing surface; 
 in response to anticipating that the vehicle is approaching a landmark such that less ambient light enters the vehicle due to the landmark than at the current location of the vehicle based on the current state of the vehicle, determining, by the processor, a second tinting control signal that controls a second tinting level of a second exterior facing surface of the vehicle to allow more ambient light to enter the vehicle through the second exterior facing surface, wherein the second exterior facing surface is not the first exterior facing surface; and 
 adjusting, by the processor, a voltage level of an adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of at least one of the first exterior facing surface of the vehicle based on the first tinting control signal or the second exterior facing surface of the vehicle based on the second tinting control signal. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining the current state of the vehicle based on information from the sensors comprising a global positioning system (GPS) hardware device, a thermometer, a barometer, a precipitation sensor, an ambient light sensor (ALS), a three dimensional camera, a two-dimensional camera, an iris camera, a weight sensor, a microphone, an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor, an infrared antenna, and a touch screen. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining the current state of the vehicle in a particular zone of the vehicle and activating a tinting hardware module in the particular zone of the vehicle based on the current state in the particular zone. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining a proximity of a mobile computing device to the vehicle and adjusting the voltage level of the adjustable tint film based on the proximity. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining tinting preferences of an occupant of the vehicle based on a communication received from the mobile computing device; and 
 adjusting the voltage level of the adjustable tint film further based on the tinting preferences of the occupant of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining a third tinting control signal based on the information received from the sensors; and 
 adjusting the voltage level of the adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of a mirror of a plurality of mirrors of the vehicle based on the third tinting control signal, wherein each mirror of the plurality of mirrors has a respective adjustable tinting level. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining a third tinting control signal based on the information received from the sensors; and 
 adjusting the voltage level of the adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of a diffuser of the vehicle based on the third tinting control signal, each diffuser having an individually definable tinting level. 
 
     
     
       15. An apparatus comprising:
 a processor to:
 determine, based on information from sensors, a degree of closing of eyes of an occupant of a vehicle; 
 determine an intent of the occupant of the vehicle based on the degree of closing of eyes of the occupant of the vehicle; 
 in response to determining that the occupant intends to sleep based on the intent of the occupant of the vehicle, determine a tinting control signal to reduce an amount of ambient light entering the vehicle; and 
 send a command to a tinting module to adjust a voltage level of an adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of an exterior facing surface of the vehicle based on the tinting control signal. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , the processor further to determine interior light within the vehicle and determine the tinting control signal based on the interior light within the vehicle to obstruct a view of an interior of the vehicle. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , the processor further to determine interior light within the vehicle and determine the tinting control signal based on the interior light within the vehicle to obstruct a view of an interior of the vehicle in a particular privacy area identified by a passenger. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , the processor further to receive an explicit tinting command, the explicit tinting command comprising one of a gesture activated command, a voice activated command, and a touch command, and adjust the voltage level of the adjustable tint film based on the explicit tinting command. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the exterior facing surface of the vehicle comprises one of a roof of the vehicle, a windshield of the vehicle, and a window of the vehicle. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the intent of the occupant is determined based on a gaze of the occupant of the vehicle, and wherein the intent is determined based on a first vector from a finger or hand from the occupant of the vehicle or a second vector to the eyes of the occupant of the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/261,747, filed Dec. 1, 2015, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC PRIVACY AND WINDOW TINTING,” the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to an environment with dynamic privacy and tinting. More particularly, the embodiments relate to adjustable and dynamic tinting of transparent portions of an environment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional vehicles have windows and windshields that do not adequately protect and shield occupants from sunlight and other forms of light exterior to the vehicle. In addition, conventional vehicles do not provide occupants of the vehicle with adequate privacy. Conventional windows and windshields have static light transmittance and cannot adapt to occupants of the vehicle, current conditions associated with weather or lighting, and actions of the occupants. In short, a vehicle with conventional exterior facing surfaces with static light transmittance would benefit from many improvements. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system includes an environment such as a vehicle with a computing device and tinting hardware modules. Briefly described, and according to one embodiment, aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for providing adjustable exterior facing surfaces having adjustable tint film that utilize sensors and imaging devices of the vehicle to intelligently tint the adjustable exterior facing surfaces and protect, shield, or obstruct a particular object, location, or zone within an interior of the vehicle. 
     According to one embodiment, a system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including determining a current state of a vehicle, the current state determined based on information from sensors, receiving a tinting control signal based on the current state of the vehicle, and adjusting a voltage level of an adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of an exterior facing surface of the vehicle based on the tinting control signal. 
     According to a further embodiment, a method includes determining, by a processor, a current state of a vehicle and an occupant of the vehicle, the current state and the occupant determined based on information from sensors, receiving, by the processor, a tinting control signal based on the current state of the vehicle, and adjusting, by the processor, a voltage level of an adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of an exterior facing surface of the vehicle based on the tinting control signal and tinting preferences of the occupant. 
     According to another embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor to determine a current state of a vehicle, the current state determined based on information from sensors, determine intent of an occupant based on eyes of an occupant, a head of the occupant, a gaze of the occupant, a hand of the occupant, and a body position of the occupant, receive a tinting control signal based on the current state of the vehicle and the intent of the occupant, and adjust a voltage level of an adjustable tint film to control a tinting level of an exterior facing surface of the vehicle based on the tinting control signal and the intent of the occupant. 
     These and other aspects, features, and benefits of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed written description of the preferred embodiments and aspects taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications thereto may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments and/or aspects of the disclosure and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle system according to example embodiments. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a cross-section diagram of an adjustable tint film with dye in a first orientation and  FIG. 1C  illustrates a cross-section diagram of the adjustable tint film with dye in a second orientation according to example embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle computing system according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart for activating and controlling adjustable tint film of a vehicle according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a functional block diagram of an electronic device associated with the vehicle including operational units arranged to perform various operations of the presently disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 5  is an example computing system that may implement various systems and methods of the presently disclosed technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to an example embodiment, a vehicle includes a tinting system that includes components to identify and determine objects, locations, and zones within the vehicle to protect and shield the objects, locations, and zones from sunlight and/or provide privacy by controlling the tint of window systems or otherwise. The tinting system recognizes the objects, locations, and zones within the vehicle to be protected or shielded, and responds to explicit requests or commands for tinting, anticipates implicit requests or commands for tinting, and/or operates to activate tinting functions based on settings and/or sensor inputs. The tinting system automatically adjusts tinting of a window for a location associated with an occupant, an object, or a zone. As a result, the tinting system provides automatic tint adjustment to prevent light from entering the interior of the vehicle to increase the comfort of occupants of the vehicle, provide privacy to the occupants of the vehicle, and reduce light leakage from the interior of the vehicle, among other advantages. 
     In one embodiment, the tinting system provides adjustable exterior facing surfaces having adjustable tint film that utilize sensors and imaging devices of the vehicle to intelligently tint the adjustable exterior facing surfaces and protect, shield, or obstruct a particular object, location, or zone within an interior of the vehicle. The exterior facing surfaces, which may be a transparent window, may be coated with the adjustable tint film and can have a modifiable level of transmittance that prevents light from entering the interior of the vehicle and/or prevents light from exiting the interior of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the tinting system responds to explicit commands from occupants of the vehicle such as verbal commands, gesture-based commands, and touch-based commands and implicit commands from occupants of the vehicle. 
     As an example, an occupant of the vehicle may be located in a zone of the vehicle exposed to bright sunlight, which can make driving difficult or uncomfortable. The tinting system may automatically adjust the tint of an adjustable exterior facing surface facing the bright sunlight to allow the occupant of the vehicle to see based on lighting conditions and reduce glare. 
     As another example, an occupant of the vehicle may be located in a zone of the vehicle at nighttime. The tinting system may automatically adjust the tint level of an adjustable exterior facing surface to allow the occupant to see based on lighting conditions and allow ambient light to enter the vehicle, such as light from streetlights and other vehicles. At the same time, the tinting system may automatically adjust the tint level of an adjustable exterior facing surface in the rear of the vehicle to allow an occupant with their eyes closed or beginning to close to sleep and prevent ambient light from entering the vehicle. Also at the same time, the tinting system may automatically adjust the tint of an adjustable exterior facing surface in the rear of the vehicle to allow an occupant to read a book or watch media on a display within the vehicle and prevent light from exiting the vehicle. 
     As an additional example, an occupant of the vehicle may be located in a zone of the vehicle exposed to bright sunlight. The vehicle may recognize that the vehicle is about to travel into a tunnel based on the current location of the vehicle. The tinting system may automatically adjust the tint level of an adjustable exterior facing surface in the facing the bright sunlight to allow the occupant to see based on lighting conditions and allow ambient light to enter the front of the vehicle. 
     As another example, an occupant of the vehicle may be located in a zone of the vehicle exposed to bright sunlight. The vehicle may recognize that the vehicle is about to travel into the shade provided by buildings based on a current location of the vehicle and/or based on input received from sensors. The tinting system may automatically adjust the tint level of an adjustable exterior facing surface in the zone of the vehicle to allow the occupant to see based on lighting conditions and allow ambient light to enter the front of the vehicle. 
     As an even further example, an occupant of the vehicle may be located in a zone of the vehicle exposed to sunlight. The vehicle may recognize that the vehicle is about to travel into an area experiencing a rainstorm or a snowstorm. The tinting system may automatically adjust the tint level of an adjustable exterior facing surface of the vehicle to allow the occupant to see based on lighting conditions and allow ambient light to enter the front of the vehicle. 
     As a further example, an occupant of the vehicle may be located in a rear zone of the vehicle and attempting to read a document that is difficult to read in bright sunlight. The occupant may be squinting their eyes. The tinting system may automatically adjust the tint of an adjustable exterior facing surface to allow the occupant to more easily read the document. In one example, the tinting system may increase a tinting level to prevent sunlight from entering the interior of the vehicle through the adjustable exterior facing surface. 
     As another example, an owner of the vehicle may approach the vehicle that is parked in a particular location. The tinting system may automatically adjust the tint of an adjustable exterior facing surface as the owner of the vehicle approaches. When the vehicle is parked, the tinting level may be a first level that is a higher level to obstruct a view of the interior of the vehicle. When the owner arrives at the vehicle, the tinting level may be changed to a second level that is a lower or reduced level, to allow an outside viewer to see into the vehicle. As a further example, the vehicle may be occupied. The vehicle may determine a level of interior light within the vehicle provided by a lighting device and based on the level of interior light within the vehicle, the tinting system may adjust the tint to obstruct a view of an interior of the vehicle. 
     As an additional example, an occupant of the vehicle may place packages in a rear zone of the vehicle. The tinting system of the vehicle may automatically adjust the tint of the adjustable exterior facing surface to prevent others from viewing the packages in the rear zone of the vehicle. 
     In a location known to the vehicle (e.g., a parking garage), the vehicle may reduce the tinting level of adjustable exterior facing surfaces associated with all zones within the vehicle. In a location unknown to the vehicle (e.g., a city street), the vehicle may increase the tinting level of an adjustable exterior facing surface in one zone within a front of the vehicle. In addition, in a location known to the vehicle, the vehicle may reduce the tinting level of an adjustable exterior facing surface associated with a storage area of the vehicle. In a location unknown to the vehicle, the vehicle may increase the tinting level of an adjustable exterior facing surface associated with a storage area of the vehicle. The vehicle also may utilize other known factors about the location to adjust the tinting level such as temperature, weather, or crime rate. 
     The vehicle and the tinting system may also accept a request or command such as gestures captured by imaging devices or touch screens, voice commands captured by microphones, and touch commands received by a touch screen. The tinting system responds to both explicit and implicit commands and controls tinting hardware modules based on the explicit and implicit commands. When an occupant enters the vehicle, the vehicle may determine that the occupant is a known occupant and activate the tinting hardware modules based on tinting personal profile settings associated with the occupant. In particular, this particular occupant may desire that the tinting hardware modules provide higher privacy in the front seats of the vehicle while providing lower privacy to a rear portion of the vehicle. 
     In a further example, a passenger unknown to the vehicle, but a guest of the occupant, may enter the vehicle and sit in a rear portion of the vehicle. The passenger may be previously unknown to the vehicle, but known to the occupant. The passenger may want to read a map. A known occupant or the unknown passenger may provide an audible command. For example, either may state “vehicle please reduce the tint” and upon recognition of the verbal command, the vehicle may modify a tint level in a rear portion of the vehicle. 
     While discussed in the context of a vehicle, the system may also be useful for residential building privacy and tinting, office building privacy and tinting, commercial building privacy and tinting, or any other dynamic privacy and tinting environments. 
     The vehicle and/or a mobile computing device in communication with the vehicle may obtain biometric attributes of a person or occupant, and compare those biometric attributes with stored biometric attributes, using sensors and/or cameras or other imaging devices. The biometric attributes may be stored in memory of the mobile computing device and/or memory of the vehicle. The biometric attributes may be obtained and authenticated when the occupant approaches the vehicle and/or when the occupant is located within the vehicle. For example, the vehicle may determine that the occupant and/or a known mobile computing device is within a particular proximity of the vehicle. When a person has authenticated biometric attributes, the vehicle may adjust the tint level of adjustable exterior facing surfaces when the mobile computing device is within the particular proximity of the vehicle. The adjustable exterior facing surfaces may be associated with particular locations, objects (e.g., a seat), or zones. In certain instances, the vehicle may apply a tint level to a particular zone or zones based on a location of the vehicle. 
     In a further embodiment, the vehicle may determine that the mobile computing device is within the vehicle or that a particular occupant is within the vehicle and set vehicle personal preferences. According to an example embodiment, the vehicle personal preferences may be associated with tinting profile preferences, seating position, seat heating, seat cooling, steering wheel heating/cooling, and localized climate controls. The tinting system may automatically adjust exterior facing surfaces associated with a particular person sitting in a particular seat. 
     Users can benefit from use of vehicle personal preferences and personal data provided by the mobile computing device when operating the vehicle. For example, the personal data can be used to provide the vehicle with tinting profile preferences, media, contact lists, navigation locations, navigation settings, energy usage settings, autonomous functionality settings, security settings, other climate control settings, other entertainment settings, and seat settings, among others. Accordingly, use of such personal data enables users to influence and control delivered content, and vehicle operation, among other things. 
     Users can selectively block use of, or access to, personal data. A system incorporating some or all of the technologies described herein can include hardware and/or software that prevents or blocks access to such personal data. For example, the system can allow users to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal data or portions thereof. Also, users can select not to provide location information, or permit provision of general location information (e.g., a geographic region or zone), but not precise location information. 
     Entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal data should comply with established privacy policies and/or practices. Such entities should safeguard and secure access to such personal data and ensure that others with access to the personal data also comply. Such entities should implement privacy policies and practices that meet or exceed industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy and security of personal data. For example, an entity should collect users&#39; personal data for legitimate and reasonable uses, and not share or sell the data outside of those legitimate uses. Such collection should occur only after receiving the users&#39; informed consent. Furthermore, third parties can evaluate these entities to certify their adherence to established privacy policies and practices. 
     According to exemplary embodiments, the vehicle may provide adjustable, controllable, and dynamic tinting of exterior facing surfaces that respond to explicit and implicit commands. The vehicle does not place a significant burden on the user and offers significant privacy and tinting enhancements and conveniences for occupants of the vehicle. 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 1A-5 . However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle system  100  according to an example embodiment. The vehicle system  100  includes a vehicle  102  having a computing device  103  that is in communication with sensors  107  and tinting hardware modules  105 . The sensors  107  may include sensors and imaging devices, among other hardware devices for determining various attributes of the vehicle or occupants. The vehicle  102  may be a machine that transports people and/or cargo including a terrestrial motor vehicle, a watercraft, and an aircraft, among other vehicles. The vehicle  102  may include engines or motors such as an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, or a hybrid configuration. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , the vehicle  102  may include zones  109  that may be shielded, protected, and/or obstructed by any given tinting hardware module  105  or combination of modules  105  in combination with adjustable tinting film  104  covering adjustable exterior facing surfaces. The adjustable exterior facing surfaces may be transparent or partially transparent and may include windshields, windows, a roof, a floor, and other surfaces of the vehicle. There may be occupants  111  located in each zone  109 . The tinting hardware modules  105  may together operate and control adjustable tint film  104  located within an exterior facing surface that shield and protect particular locations and a particular zone  109  within the vehicle. The adjustable tint film  104  has an adjustable absorption level, among other adjustable and controllable variables. 
     There may be seats located in each zone  109  among other vehicle components such as a roof, windshields, windscreens, dashboards, windows, mirrors (e.g., mirrors within an interior of the vehicle and mirrors exterior to the vehicle), tables, armrests, and footrests, among other components. In addition, the vehicle components include the computing device  103 , the sensors  107 , and tinting hardware modules  105  that are to be shielded and protected from different types of light and energy such as solar energy and ultraviolet radiation exterior to the vehicle. These components benefit from being shielded and protected from ultraviolet radiation among other types of radiation exterior to the vehicle. The adjustable exterior facing surface may be changed from translucent to transparent and the adjustable exterior facing surfaces may appear milky, hazy, blurred, darkened, cloudy, and/or fuzzy. 
     The tinting hardware module  105  may modify the transmittance or the ratio of ultraviolet or visible light that may pass through the adjustable exterior facing surfaces. If all light passes through the adjustable exterior facing surface, then absorbance of the adjustable exterior facing surface is zero and percent transmittance is 100%. However, if all light is absorbed by the adjustable exterior facing surface, then percent transmittance is zero and absorption is infinite. The adjustable exterior facing surface may have modifiable and tunable levels for light reflection, light absorption, and light transmission. As a result, the interior of the vehicle  102  may be kept at a more constant and comfortable temperature and lighting level than conventional vehicles. 
     The vehicle  102  and the computing device  103  may communicate in various ways or combinations thereof. The vehicle  102  and the computing device  103  may use wired communication methods and Bluetooth, WiFi, or other such short range wireless methods. 
     The vehicle  102  and the computing device  103  may communicate using a cellular communications network or another communications network. Accordingly, communication may involve the Internet, an intranet, a cellular communications network, a WiFi network, a packet network, a short-range wireless network, or another wired and/or wireless communication network or a combination of any of the foregoing. As an example, the vehicle  102  and the computing device  103  may communicate data in packets, messages, or other communications using a common protocol, e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and/or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). The vehicle  102  and/or the computing device may communicate with other optional server computing devices associated with the vehicle system  100 . 
     The vehicle  102  and/or the computing device  103  may also optionally include Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE, Bluetooth® LE, Bluetooth® Smart) functionality based on the Bluetooth 4.0 specification or another specification. In addition, the vehicle  102  may include a beacon. According to an example embodiment, the vehicle  102  and the computing device  103  are paired and communicate wirelessly using a short range wireless network, e.g., Bluetooth® (IEEE Standard 802.15). The short range wireless network may be a wireless personal area network (WPAN). 
     In another example, the vehicle  102  may optionally create a personal area network and/or a mesh network for communicating with the computing device  103 . Additionally, the vehicle  102  and the computing device  103  may communicate using Zigbee®, Wi-Fi, near field magnetic inductance, sonic (sound) waves, ultrasound waves, and/or infrared (light) waves, among others. 
       FIGS. 1B and 1C  illustrate a cross-section of adjustable tint film  104  according to an example embodiment. As shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , the adjustable tint film  104  may include a first polycarbonate layer  106  that covers a first conductive layer  108 . In addition, the adjustable tint film  104  may include a second polycarbonate layer  116  that covers a second conductive layer  114 . Between the first conductive layer  108  and the second conductive layer  114 , there is a guest host liquid crystal layer  110 . This guest host liquid crystal layer is transparent but also includes a dye  112  that is aligned with the liquid crystal. The dye  112  is not limited to having any particular color. The color may be a neutral color, such as a grayish color. Based on an orientation of the dye, the adjustable tint film  104  may control a level of light  121  absorption. A voltage may be applied to the guest host liquid crystal layer  110  and an orientation of the dye  112  may be modified. In an exemplary embodiment, at a first voltage level, the orientation of the dye may be vertical as shown in  FIG. 1B . 
     At a second voltage level, the orientation of the dye may be opposite from the first voltage level or horizontal, as shown in  FIG. 1C . The orientation of the dye may be controlled based on the current state of the vehicle and based on explicit commands and implicit commands. The orientation of the dye may be modified in 25 milliseconds. In one example, the level of light  121  absorption of the dye may be higher in one axis and lower than another axis. As an example, the level of light  121  absorption of the dye may be equal to A 11 /A 1 . 
     In a further embodiment, the liquid crystal may be a different type of liquid crystal such as collistic liquid crystal. In an even further embodiment, the adjustable tint film  104  may be an adjustable polymer film and/or have an adjustable polymer film coating. The adjustable polymer film may include droplets of dye that scatter light  121  in a different way than the dye in the guest host liquid crystal layer. The droplets may be randomly arranged at a first voltage level and may scatter light  121  as it passes through. However, at a second voltage level, the droplets may align and allow light  121  to pass through. The adjustable polymer film may be used as low emission or low-e film to reduce heat gain from solar energy and prevent heat loss from an interior of the vehicle. In addition, the adjustable polymer film may prevent infrared radiation and provide temperature control. 
     In one embodiment, an exterior facing surface of the vehicle may include a first layer of glass, a first bonding layer, the adjustable tint film  104  as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , a second bonding layer, and a second layer of glass. Thus, the adjustable tint film  104  may be located between the first layer of glass and the second layer of glass. The first layer of glass and/or the second layer of glass may be laminated safety glass or another type of glass. The first bonding layer and/or the second bonding layer may be polyvinyl butyral or PVB. 
       FIGS. 1A and 2  illustrate a block diagram of the vehicle  102  according to an example embodiment. The vehicle  102  may include a computing device having hardware components including a processor  202  and memory  204 , such as a vehicle onboard computer or a dedicated electronic device having a processor and memory. The processor  202  processes machine/computer-readable executable instructions and data, and the memory  204  stores machine/computer-readable executable instructions and data including applications, including a vehicle tinting application  206  for controlling the adjustable tint film  104 . The processor  202  and memory  204  are hardware. The processor  202  may be a hardware processing unit. In one embodiment, the processor  202  includes a secure enclave processor (SEP). The SEP stores and protects information used for identifying known mobile computing devices, biometric information, and tinting preference profiles for occupants, among other information. The memory  204  includes random access memory (RAM) and non-transitory memory, e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as flash storages or hard drives. The non-transitory memory may include any tangible computer-readable medium including, for example, magnetic and/or optical disks, flash drives, and the like. 
     The vehicle  102  further can include touch screen display devices  208 , such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD) for receiving input and displaying output, sensors  210 , cameras or imaging devices  212 , a global positioning system (GPS) device  214 , tinting hardware modules  216 , and a communication bus  218 . The vehicle  102  may include other wireless communication devices for communicating including a wireless transceiver, a cellular transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, and others. 
     The touch screen display devices  208  may be located on an exterior of the vehicle  102  and/or an interior of the vehicle for receiving input and displaying output including tinting control buttons. The tinting control buttons may be provided by a user interface of the vehicle  102  and/or a user interface of a mobile computing device in communication with the vehicle  102 . For example, the touch screens  208  may be located within an interior of the vehicle. The sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212  may be used for biometric identification and authentication. The sensors  210  may be located on the exterior of the vehicle and/or the interior of the vehicle and include fingerprint sensors, iris recognition devices, eye vein verification devices, microphones, seat pressure sensors, load or weight sensors (e.g., a strain gauge), pressure sensors, thermometers, barometers, precipitation sensors, ambient light sensors (ALS), electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors, and infrared (IR) antennas, among others. The sensors  210  may be coupled with the processor  202  for obtaining biometric information. 
     The imaging devices  212  may be coupled with the processor  202  for facial recognition and may recognize facial expressions and may be used to determine whether an occupant is squinting, has their eyes closed, or is beginning to close to their eyes, among other things. The imaging devices  212  include high-definition cameras and may be used to determine two-dimensional images and/or three-dimensional images including a two-dimensional image of a face or a three-dimensional image of a face, a height of a person, a body shape of a person, or a gait of a person. The imaging devices  212  may be located on an exterior of the vehicle and/or an interior of the vehicle. In one example, each seat within the vehicle may include imaging devices to capture a face of a passenger sitting in that particular seat. The touch screen display devices  208  and/or the imaging devices  212  may be used to receive tinting control input regarding an object, zone, location, or protection/privacy area and gestures, such as a pinch, pull, zoom, or a gesture pointing to an object, zone, location, or protection/privacy area, among other gestures. The microphones may be used to receive verbal commands such as tinting control related to an object, location, zone, or protection/privacy area. 
     The global positioning system device  214  may receive GPS signals and thereby determine a current location of the vehicle  102 . The tinting hardware modules  216  may include one first tinting hardware module located in a front-right portion of the vehicle  102 , one second tinting hardware module located in a front-left portion of the vehicle  102 , one third tinting hardware module located in a rear-right portion of the vehicle  102 , and a fourth tinting hardware module located in a rear-left portion of the vehicle  102 . However, the tinting hardware modules  216  may be arranged in other ways such that the tinting hardware modules  216  adequately protect and shield occupants of the vehicle and provide occupants of the vehicle with privacy. The vehicle  102  may include more than four tinting hardware modules  216  or less than four tinting hardware modules  216 . 
     The vehicle  102  may be in communication with other computing devices such as mobile computing devices carried by occupants of the vehicle. The mobile computing device may be a computer having a processor and memory, such as a laptop, desktop, tablet computer, mobile computing device (e.g., a smartphone), a wearable device (e.g., a watch), or a dedicated electronic device having a processor and memory. The processors process machine/computer-readable executable instructions and data, and the memory stores machine/computer-readable executable instructions and data including applications, such as a client application that communicates with vehicle tinting application  206 . The processor and memory are hardware. The processor may be a hardware processing unit. In one embodiment, the processor includes a secure enclave processor (SEP). The SEP stores and protects biometric information and tinting preference profile information, among other information. The memory includes random access memory (RAM) and non-transitory memory, e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as flash storages or hard drives. The non-transitory memory may include any tangible computer-readable medium including, for example, magnetic and/or optical disks, flash drives, and the like. 
     The mobile computing device further includes a touch screen display device such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD) to receive input and display output, sensors such as an ambient light sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscopic sensor, microphones, a magnetometer, a barometer, and a fingerprint sensor, cameras or imaging devices, a GPS device, and a communication bus. The mobile computing device may include other wireless communication devices for communicating including a wireless transceiver, a cellular transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, and others. 
     The touch screen display device receives input and displays output. The sensors and the imaging devices may be used for biometric identification and authentication. The sensors may be in communication with the processor  202  for obtaining biometric information. The imaging devices may include high-definition cameras and may be used to determine two-dimensional images and/or three-dimensional images including a two-dimensional image of a face or a three-dimensional image of a face, a height of a person, a body shape of a person, or a gait of a person. The touch screen display device and/or the imaging devices may be used to receive gestures. The microphones may be used to receive verbal commands. The global positioning system device may continually determine a current location of the mobile computing device. 
     The vehicle tinting application  206  may have a component of an application and/or service executable by the vehicle  102  and/or the mobile computing device. For example, the vehicle tinting application  206  may be a single unit of deployable executable code. According to one aspect, the vehicle tinting application  206  may be a web application, a native application, and/or a mobile application (e.g., an app) downloaded from a digital distribution application platform that allows users to browse and download applications developed with mobile software development kits (SDKs). 
     As an example, the vehicle  102  may receive a communication from a known mobile computing device, determine, by a sensor  210 , biometric information associated with a known occupant, grant access to the vehicle  102 , and set vehicle personal preferences including tinting preferences based on the communication and the biometric information. The biometric information may be facial recognition information and/or another type of biometric information. The vehicle  102  may unlock doors and extend welcome functions including external lighting, internal lighting, cabin configuration such as tinting and privacy settings of the exterior facing surfaces, and other welcome functions. The vehicle may illuminate the external lighting and/or the internal lighting when the occupant  111  and/or the mobile computing device is a particular distance from the vehicle, e.g., one meter. In addition, the vehicle  102  may modify a tint level of the adjustable tint film  104  of the exterior facing surfaces when the occupant  111  and/or the mobile computing device is the particular distance from the vehicle. The particular distance may be modified and may be based on a particular location of the vehicle  102 . 
     In another example, a person  111  may touch a door handle or door of the vehicle  102  to provide the biometric authentication information. The door handle or the door may have a fingerprint sensor and/or other sensors for obtaining a fingerprint and/or other signals. The vehicle  102  may then compare the biometric information associated with the person  111  with biometric attributes stored in memory  204  of the vehicle  102  and/or memory of the mobile computing device. The person  111  may enter the vehicle  102  and sit in a driver/operator seat or a passenger seat. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of a process  300  for activating and controlling adjustable tint film  104  according to an example embodiment. The process  300  shown in  FIG. 3  begins at operation  302 . In  302 , the vehicle  102  determines a current state of the vehicle based on information received from the sensors  210 , the imaging devices  212 , and the GPS device  214 . The current state of the vehicle  102  may include a current state of each zone  109  of the vehicle. The current state may be based on explicit commands and implicit commands in addition to tinting preferences of occupants  111  in the vehicle  102 . The tinting sensors  210  and imaging devices  212  may execute a feedback loop and continually determine whether objects are located in each zone  109  of the vehicle  102  and determine whether any changes occur in the current state. Based on the feedback loop, the tinting hardware module  216  may provide anticipatory and responsive tinting that dynamically and automatically adjusts to the determined changes. 
     In  304 , the tinting hardware module  216  receives a tinting control signal from the vehicle  102  based on the information received from the sensors  210 , the imaging devices  212 , and the GPS device  214 . As an example, the sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212  may determine that a current state of the vehicle has changed in a zone  109  of the vehicle and a tinting hardware module  216  may be activated to change a tint level of exterior facing surfaces associated with an object, location, or zone  109  in the vehicle. 
     After determining that the current state of the vehicle has changed in a zone  109  of the vehicle, in  306 , the vehicle  102  activates a tinting hardware module  216  based on the current state of the vehicle as determined by the sensors  210 , the imaging devices  212 , and the GPS device  314 . As an example, an occupant  111  may have approached the vehicle, entered the vehicle, and sat down in a seat. The vehicle  102  may change a tint level of an exterior facing surface that protects and shields a location associated with the seat. In another example, the sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212  may detect that the occupant  111  has opened a book. In another example, the sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212  may detect that an occupant  111  has fallen asleep or is resting. As another example, the sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212  may detect that a child is crying. In a further example, an occupant  111  may have exited the vehicle. The sensors  210  and imaging devices  212  may detect that a heart rate of a passenger  111  is changing, may detect that eyes are closing, and may detect other changing biometric factors. The sensors and imaging devices  212  may detect the absence of the occupant  111  and may deactivate or activate the tinting hardware module  216  and modify a tint level of the adjustable tint film  104 . 
     In  308 , the tinting hardware module  216  adjusts a voltage level of the adjustable tint film  104  of an exterior facing surface to control a tinting level based on the tinting control signal. Based on the examples described above, if the occupant  111  has sat down in the seat, the tinting hardware module  216  may change a tint level of the adjustable tint film  104  of the exterior facing surface that is based on the personal tinting preferences of the occupant  111 . If the occupant  111  has fallen asleep or the occupant is crying and sunlight or another type of light is shining on the occupant, the tinting hardware module  216  may gradually adjust the tint level. The adjustable tint film  104  may be activated based on one of an explicit command and an implicit command. In other words, the tinting control signal may be based on one of the explicit command and the implicit command. 
     The vehicle tinting application  206  may receive an explicit tinting command, and the explicit tinting command may be one of a gesture activated command, a voice activated command, and a touch command. In response to the command, the vehicle tinting application  206  activates the tinting hardware module  216  based on the explicit tinting command. The vehicle tinting application  206  also may receive an implicit command. The implicit command is based on a change in the current state. In response to the command, the vehicle tinting application  206  activates the tinting hardware module  216 . Based on the explicit command and/or the implicit command, the tinting hardware module  216  controls a tinting level or a level of absorption of the adjustable tinting film  104  in an exterior facing surface of the vehicle  102 . In another example, the implicit command may be based on intent of an occupant  111  based on eyes of an occupant  111 , a head of an occupant  111 , a hand of an occupant  111 , a body position of an occupant  111 , and a gaze of an occupant  111  as determined by the sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212 . The sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212  may determine that the occupant  111  is squinting and uncomfortable due to sunlight  113  shining into the occupant&#39;s eyes. The sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212  also may determine that the occupant  111  is looking outside of the vehicle to observe scenery. The vehicle tinting application  206  may activate the tinting hardware module based on the intent of the occupant  111  or the perceived intent of the occupant. The intent may be determined by determining a vector from a finger or hand from the occupant  111  and/or a vector to the eyes of the occupant. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, each exterior facing surface of the vehicle  102  may have an individually definable tinting level. This individually definable tinting level may be based on a variety of factors including the current state of the vehicle  102  in a particular location or zone  109 , an occupant  111  located in a particular location or zone  109 , and tinting profile preferences information, among other information. In addition, each exterior facing surface of the vehicle  102  may have further granular settings. Each exterior facing surface of the vehicle  102  may have multiple portions. Each portion of each exterior facing surface may have an individually definable tinting level. Thus, the vehicle tinting application  206  may adjust a first portion of a particular exterior facing surface to a first tinting level and adjust a second portion of the particular exterior facing surface to a second tinting level. The first tinting level may be different than the second tinting level or the first tinting level may be the same as the second tinting level. As an example, the first portion of the exterior facing surface may be an upper portion of a windshield on a front-left side of the vehicle, e.g., a driver seat. This first portion of the exterior facing surface may have a tinting level to protect the eyes of an occupant  111  sitting in the driver/operator seat. The second portion of the exterior facing surface may be a lower portion of the windshield on the front-left side of the vehicle. This second portion of the exterior facing surface may have a tinting level that is lower than the tinting level of the first portion. The occupant  111  may use this second portion of the exterior facing surface to view outside of the vehicle  102  and safely operate the vehicle. 
     In an even further embodiment, the vehicle tinting application  206  may adjust a first portion of a particular exterior facing surface to a first tinting level, adjust a second portion of the particular exterior facing surface to a second tinting level, and adjust a third portion of the particular exterior facing surface to a third tinting level. An exterior facing surface may have more than three portions and each may have an individually definable tinting level. 
     Additionally, the vehicle tinting application  206  may adjust a voltage level of the adjustable tint film  104  to control a tinting level of a mirror of the vehicle  102  by the tinting hardware module  216  based on the tinting control signal. Each mirror may have an individually definable tinting level. As an example, the vehicle  102  may be traveling at night and another vehicle behind the vehicle may be shining high intensity lights into the interior of the vehicle  102  such that the high intensity lights shine onto a rear-view mirror. The mirror may modify and control its tinting level such that an occupant of the vehicle is able to better utilize the mirror. The mirror also may be a mirror located on an exterior of the vehicle, such as a passenger side mirror or a driver side mirror. 
     The vehicle tinting application  206  also may adjust a diffuser of the vehicle  102 . The vehicle tinting application  206  may adjust a voltage level of the adjustable tint film  104  to control a tinting level of the diffuser of the vehicle by the tinting hardware module  216  based on the tinting control signal. Each diffuser may have an individually definable tinting level. The diffuser may be associated with a surface within the vehicle, such as a surface for displaying a display. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , the vehicle  102  including operational units  402 - 412  arranged to perform various operations of the presently disclosed technology is shown. The operational units  402 - 412  may be provided by the vehicle tinting application  206  and may communicate with the mobile computing device. The operational units  402 - 412  of the vehicle  102  are implemented by hardware or a combination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of the present disclosure. It will be understood by persons of skill in the art that the operational units  402 - 412  described in  FIG. 4  may be combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the present disclosure. Therefore, the description herein supports any possible combination or separation or further definition of the operational units  402 - 412 . 
     In one implementation, the vehicle  102  includes a display unit  402  configured to display information, such as a graphical user interface, and a processing unit  404  in communication with the display unit  402  and an input unit  406  configured to receive data from input devices or systems. Various operations described herein may be implemented by the processing unit  404  using data received by the input unit  406  to output information for display using the display unit  402 . 
     Additionally, in one implementation, the vehicle  102  includes units implementing the operations described with respect to  FIG. 3 . For example, the operations  302 ,  304 ,  306 , and  308  may be implemented by a tinting adjustment unit  408 , a sensor communication unit  410 , and a tinting settings unit  412 . The tinting adjustment unit  408 , the sensor communication unit  410 , and the tinting settings unit  412  may together activate and control the tinting hardware module  216  based on explicit and implicit tinting commands. As an example, the tinting adjustment unit  408  may include an explicit tinting command unit and an implicit tinting command unit. The tinting settings unit  412  may include a personal tinting profile settings unit that determines personalized tinting settings for each occupant  111  of the vehicle  102  and determines current weather for a particular location of the vehicle and provides input to the tinting adjustment unit  408 . 
     The sensor communication unit  410  may include a biometric authentication unit that communicates with the sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212 . The biometric authentication unit may use a biometric matching engine for receiving biometric information from the sensors  210 , the imaging devices  212 , and comparing the biometric information with the information stored in the vehicle memory  204  and the memory in the processor  202 . The biometric authentication unit determines whether the biometric information matches known biometric information (e.g., comparing the representation of a face to known faces) and provides a determination of match or no match. Each known face may be first stored when an occupant  111  approaches and/or enters the vehicle  102  or at another time. The biometric authentication unit may make the determination based on a particular location of the vehicle. 
     The sensor communication unit  410  also may include an object authentication unit that communicates with the sensors  210  and the imaging devices  212 . The object authentication unit may use an object matching engine for receiving object information from the sensors  210 , the imaging devices  212 , and comparing the object information with the object information stored in the vehicle memory  204  and the memory in the processor  202 . The object authentication unit determines whether the object information matches known object information (e.g., comparing a representation of a book with a known representation of a book) and provides a determination of match or no match. As a result, the object authentication unit and the biometric authentication unit provide machine learning capabilities for the vehicle  102 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a detailed description of an example computing system  500  having computing units that may implement various systems and methods discussed herein is provided. The computing system  500  may be applicable to the vehicle  102  and the mobile computing device and other computing or network devices. It will be appreciated that specific implementations of these devices may be of differing possible specific computing architectures not all of which are specifically discussed herein but will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The computer system  500  may be a computing system that is capable of executing a computer program product to execute a computer process. Data and program files may be input to the computer system  500 , which reads the files and executes the programs therein. Some of the elements of the computer system  500  are shown in  FIG. 5 , including hardware processors  502 , data storage devices  504 , memory devices  506 , and/or ports  508 - 512 . Additionally, other elements that will be recognized by those skilled in the art may be included in the computing system  500  but are not explicitly depicted in  FIG. 5  or discussed further herein. Various elements of the computer system  500  may communicate with one another by way of communication buses, point-to-point communication paths, or other communication means not explicitly depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
     The processor  502  may include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or internal levels of cache. There may be processors  502 , such that the processor  502  comprises a single central-processing unit, or processing units capable of executing instructions and performing operations in parallel with each other, commonly referred to as a parallel processing environment. 
     The computer system  500  may be a conventional computer, a distributed computer, or any other type of computer, such as external computers made available via a cloud computing architecture. The presently described technology is optionally implemented in software stored on the data storage device(s)  504 , stored on the memory device(s)  506 , and/or communicated via the ports  508 - 512 , thereby transforming the computer system  500  in  FIG. 5  to a special purpose machine for implementing the operations described herein. Examples of the computer system  500  include personal computers, terminals, workstations, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, personal computers, multimedia consoles, gaming consoles, set top boxes, and the like. 
     The data storage devices  504  may include any non-volatile data storage device capable of storing data generated or employed within the computing system  500 , such as computer executable instructions for performing a computer process, which may include instructions of both application programs and an operating system (OS) that manages the various components of the computing system  500 . The data storage devices  504  may include, without limitation, magnetic disk drives, optical disk drives, solid state drives (SSDs), flash drives, and the like. The data storage devices  504  may include removable data storage media, non-removable data storage media, and/or external storage devices made available via a wired or wireless network architecture with such computer program products, including database management products, web server products, application server products, and/or other additional software components. Examples of removable data storage media include Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc Read-Only Memory (DVD-ROM), magneto-optical disks, flash drives, and the like. Examples of non-removable data storage media include internal magnetic hard disks, SSDs, and the like. The memory devices  506  may include volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), etc.) and/or non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.). 
     Computer program products containing mechanisms to effectuate the systems and methods in accordance with the presently described technology may reside in the data storage devices  504  and/or the memory devices  506 , which may be referred to as machine-readable media. It will be appreciated that machine-readable media may include any tangible non-transitory medium that is capable of storing or encoding instructions to perform any of the operations of the present disclosure for execution by a machine or that is capable of storing or encoding data structures and/or modules utilized by or associated with such instructions. Machine-readable media may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the executable instructions or data structures. 
     In some implementations, the computer system  500  includes ports, such as an input/output (I/O) port  508 , a communication port  510 , and a sub-systems port  512 , for communicating with other computing, network, or vehicle devices. It will be appreciated that the ports  508 - 512  may be combined or separate and that more or fewer ports may be included in the computer system  500 . 
     The I/O port  508  may be connected to an I/O device, or other device, by which information is input to or output from the computing system  500 . Such I/O devices may include, without limitation, input devices, output devices, and/or environment transducer devices. 
     In one implementation, the input devices convert a human-generated signal, such as, human voice, physical movement, physical touch or pressure, and/or the like, into electrical signals as input data into the computing system  500  via the I/O port  508 . Similarly, the output devices may convert electrical signals received from computing system  500  via the I/O port  508  into signals that may be sensed as output by a human, such as sound, light, and/or touch. The input device may be an alphanumeric input device, including alphanumeric and other keys for communicating information and/or command selections to the processor  502  via the I/O port  508 . The input device may be another type of user input device including, but not limited to: direction and selection control devices, such as a mouse, a trackball, cursor direction keys, a joystick, and/or a wheel; sensors, such as a camera, a microphone, a positional sensor, an orientation sensor, a gravitational sensor, an inertial sensor, and/or an accelerometer; and/or a touch-sensitive display screen (“touchscreen”). The output devices may include, without limitation, a display, a touchscreen, a speaker, a tactile and/or haptic output device, and/or the like. In some implementations, the input device and the output device may be the same device, for example, in the case of a touchscreen. 
     The environment transducer devices convert one form of energy or signal into another for input into or output from the computing system  500  via the I/O port  508 . For example, an electrical signal generated within the computing system  500  may be converted to another type of signal, and/or vice-versa. In one implementation, the environment transducer devices sense characteristics or aspects of an environment local to or remote from the computing device  500 , such as, light, sound, temperature, pressure, magnetic field, electric field, chemical properties, physical movement, orientation, acceleration, gravity, and/or the like. Further, the environment transducer devices may generate signals to impose some effect on the environment either local to or remote from the example computing device  500 , such as, physical movement of some object (e.g., a mechanical actuator), heating or cooling of a substance, adding a chemical substance, and/or the like. 
     In one implementation, a communication port  510  is connected to a network by way of which the computer system  500  may receive network data useful in executing the methods and systems set out herein as well as transmitting information and network configuration changes determined thereby. Stated differently, the communication port  510  connects the computer system  500  to communication interface devices configured to transmit and/or receive information between the computing system  500  and other devices by way of wired or wireless communication networks or connections. Examples of such networks or connections include, without limitation, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, Near Field Communication (NFC), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and so on. Such communication interface devices may be utilized via the communication port  510  to communicate with other machines, either directly over a point-to-point communication path, over a wide area network (WAN) (e.g., the Internet), over a local area network (LAN), over a cellular (e.g., third generation (3G) or fourth generation (4G)) network, or over another communication means. Further, the communication port  510  may communicate with an antenna for electromagnetic signal transmission and/or reception. In some examples, an antenna may be employed to receive Global Positioning System (GPS) data to facilitate determination of a location of a machine, vehicle, or another device. 
     The computer system  500  may include a sub-systems port  512  for communicating with systems related to a vehicle to control an operation of the vehicle  102  and/or exchange information between the computer system  500  and sub-systems of the vehicle. Examples of such sub-systems of a vehicle, include, without limitation, imaging systems, radar, lidar, motor controllers and systems, battery control, fuel cell or other energy storage systems or controls in the case of such vehicles with hybrid or electric motor systems, autonomous or semi-autonomous processors and controllers, steering systems, brake systems, light systems, navigation systems, environment controls, entertainment systems, and the like. 
     In an example implementation, vehicle tinting information and software and other modules and services may be embodied by instructions stored on the data storage devices  504  and/or the memory devices  506  and executed by the processor  502 . The computer system  500  may be integrated with or otherwise form part of a vehicle. In some instances, the computer system  500  is a portable device that may be in communication and working in conjunction with various systems or sub-systems of a vehicle. 
     The system set forth in  FIG. 5  is but one possible example of a computer system that may employ or be configured in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that other non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for implementing the presently disclosed technology on a computing system may be utilized. 
     In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented as sets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed are instances of example approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. 
     The described disclosure may be provided as a computer program product, or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a process according to the present disclosure. A machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g., software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, magnetic storage medium, optical storage medium; magneto-optical storage medium, read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM and EEPROM); flash memory; or other types of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. 
     For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference was made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language was used to describe the same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended; any alterations and further modifications of the described or illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various implementations, it will be understood that these implementations are illustrative and that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular implementations. Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently in various embodiments of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20161201
Publication Date: 20201124
Grant Date: 20201124
Priority Date: 20151201
Inventors: MAZUIR, Clarisse
DAN, BUDHADIPTA
BAYAT, Khadijeh
LAST, MATTHEW E.
GARRONE, RYAN J.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G02F1/13725", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13318", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13306", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B2009/2464", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60J3/04", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60J3/04", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13725", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B9/24", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13338", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B2009/2464", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B3/6722", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B2009/2464", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13725", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60J3/04", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B9/24", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13338", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B3/6722", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 73464335