JP6981018B2 - vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle having a dimming member.

Conventionally, various devices have been proposed for vehicles by providing a roof window to sufficiently take in outside light (Patent Documents 1, 2, etc.).
The configuration disclosed in these is to allow the roof window to sufficiently take in outside light, and if necessary, by electrically or manually arranging plate-shaped or sheet-shaped light-shielding members, the incident light from the roof window can be taken in. Shade light.

Here, among vehicles such as passenger cars, vehicles such as minivan types have a larger number of passengers (for example, 6 or more) and are designed to have a wider interior space than vehicles such as sedans. There are many. Such a minivan type vehicle may have a roof window on the roof from the viewpoint of making the interior space more comfortable, but the intensity of external light such as sunlight incident from the roof window is strong. If the above-mentioned plate-shaped or sheet-shaped light-shielding member is provided to limit the amount of incident light according to the (light amount), the indoor height becomes low and the overhead space of the passenger becomes narrow. was there.
Further, when the above-mentioned light-shielding member is provided on the roof window, an area for storing the light-shielding member is required. Therefore, the storage portion of the light-shielding member is arranged in the center or the rear portion of the roof portion of the vehicle, and the roof window cannot be arranged on the entire roof, and sufficient outside light can be taken into the vehicle. There was a problem of disappearing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-2062 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-131208

It is an object of the present invention to adjust the amount of external light incident from the roof window and to suppress the decrease in indoor height.

Specifically, the present invention provides the following.

(1) In a vehicle in which the indoor height h1 is h1 ≧ 1300 mm, the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 satisfies 0.4 ≦ h1 / L1 ≦ 0.55, and an opening is provided in the roof portion. There,
A dimming member arranged in the opening of the roof portion and
A drive control unit that changes the transmittance of the dimming member is provided.
Only the dimming member changes the amount of external light passing through the opening.
A vehicle featuring.
(2) In (1)
The dimming member is
A liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first laminated body having at least a base material and a second laminated body having at least a base material,
A transparent electrode provided on at least one of the first laminated body and the second laminated body is provided.
The drive control unit changes the transmittance of the dimming member by controlling the voltage applied to the transparent electrode.
A vehicle featuring.
(3) In (2)
The dimming member is sandwiched between the first laminated body and the second laminated body, and includes a bead spacer that defines the thickness of the liquid crystal layer.
A vehicle featuring.
(4) In any of (1) to (3),
It is equipped with a passenger position information acquisition unit that acquires passenger position information, which is information on the position of the passenger in the vehicle.
The drive control unit
To locally change the transmittance of the dimming member in the portion corresponding to the place where the occupant is boarding based on the occupant position information.
A vehicle featuring.
(5) In any of (1) to (4)
The dimming member is divided into a plurality of segments, and the dimming member is divided into a plurality of segments.
The drive control unit individually controls the transmittance of a plurality of the segments.
A vehicle featuring.
(6) In any of (1) to (5)
The drive control unit controls the dimming member by dividing it into a plurality of modes in which the mode of change of the transmittance is different.
A vehicle featuring.

According to the present invention, it is possible to adjust the amount of external light incident from the roof window and suppress the decrease in the interior height of the vehicle.

It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the roof glass used for the vehicle of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the vehicle of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing in the cross section parallel to the traveling direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which summarized the information of the interior height, the interior length, the interior height and the ratio of the interior length of a passenger car sold in the general market. It is a figure explaining the vehicle of the 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the form of the transparent electrode of a light control film. It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure in the vehicle of 2nd Embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
[Roof window]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a roof window used in the vehicle of the first embodiment.
The roof window 31 is a transparent plate material arranged in an opening provided in the roof of the vehicle, and is made of laminated glass.
As shown in FIG. 1, the roof window 31 is configured by sandwiching the light control film 10 between the plate glasses 2 and 3 via the intermediate layers 4 and 5, respectively.
Various materials applicable to this type of laminated glass can be widely applied to the flat glass 2 and 3, and examples thereof include transparent inorganic glass and organic glass.
As the inorganic glass, soda lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, aluminoborosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, non-alkali glass, quartz glass and the like are used without particular limitation. Of these, soda lime glass is particularly preferable. The method for forming the inorganic glass is not particularly limited, but for example, a float plate glass formed by a float method or the like is preferable.
Examples of the organic glass include polycarbonate resin, polystyrene resin, aromatic polyester resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, polyarylate resin, vinyl chloride resin, acrylic urethane resin and the like. Of these, polycarbonate resin is more preferable. The flat glass 2 and 3 may be configured to contain two or more of the above resins.

The intermediate layers 4 and 5 have a structure that functions as an adhesive layer between the light control film 10 and the flat glass 2 and 3, and various structures applied to this kind of laminated glass can be widely applied. The intermediate layers 4 and 5 are transparent adhesive layers for joining each plate glass and the light control film 10, and a resin such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB) type or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) type is used as an organic material. Things are used. An ultraviolet absorber, an antioxidant, an antistatic agent, a light stabilizer, an adhesion adjusting agent and the like may be appropriately added to the intermediate layers 4 and 5. In particular, it is more preferable to add an ultraviolet absorber to the resin for the interlayer film because it can block ultraviolet rays.
The roof window 31 may be provided with the function of a defroster by arranging a linear heating element on the intermediate layer 4 or 5.

The roof window 31 is provided with intermediate layers 4 and 5 on the plate glasses 2 and 3, respectively, laminated with the light control film 10, and then heated and pressed to adjust the plate glasses 2 and 3 via the intermediate layers 4 and 5. It is manufactured by integrating the optical film 10.
The roof window 31 may be formed into a curved surface shape at the time of this integration.
Further, in the above description, the light control film 10 is configured to be sandwiched between the plate glasses 2 and 3 via the intermediate layers 4 and 5, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the intermediate layer is 2 The laminated glass sandwiched between the sheets of flat glass may be used as a roof window, and the dimming film 10 may be attached to the roof window.

[Dimming film]
The light control film 10 is a film-like member that controls transmitted light of light by using a liquid crystal, and is configured by sandwiching a liquid crystal cell 15 by linear polarizing plates 16 and 17.

[Linear polarizing plate]
The linear polarizing plates 16 and 17 are not particularly limited as long as they include a polarizing element, and may have a polarizing plate protective film on one side or both sides of the polarizing element.
The modulator causes a complex of polyvinyl alcohol and iodine to be formed by immersing a film made of a hydrophilic polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in an aqueous solution containing iodine as a dichroic dye and stretching the film. Examples thereof include a polarizing element, and a polarizing element made of a product obtained by treating a plastic film such as polyvinyl chloride to orient a polyene.
When a bicolor dye is used as a bicolor dye instead of iodine, the azo dye, the stilben dye, the methine dye, the cyanine dye, the pyrazolone dye, and the triphenylmethane dye are used as the bicolor dye. , Kinolin dyes, oxazine dyes, thiazine dyes, anthraquinone dyes and the like are used.

The above-mentioned polarizing plate protective film is not particularly limited as long as it can protect the above-mentioned polarizing element and has desired transparency. Examples of the material of the polarizing plate protective film include acetyl cellulose resin, cycloolefin resin, polyether sulfone resin, amorphous polyolefin, modified acrylic polymer, polystyrene, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, and polyamide. Examples thereof include a heat-curable resin such as an acrylic resin, a polyimide resin, a polyester resin, an acrylic resin, a urethane resin, an acrylic urethane resin, an epoxy resin, and a silicone resin, or an ultraviolet curable resin. Above all, it is preferable to use an acetyl cellulose-based resin, a cycloolefin-based resin, or an acrylic-based resin as the above-mentioned resin material. Among them, triacetyl cellulose (TAC), which is an acetyl cellulose-based resin, is particularly preferable.
The linear polarizing plates 16 and 17 are arranged in the liquid crystal cell 15 by an adhesive layer made of an acrylic transparent adhesive resin or the like by the cross Nicol arrangement. The linear polarizing plates 16 and 17 are provided with retardation films 18 and 19 for optical compensation on the liquid crystal cell 15 side, respectively, but the retardation films 18 and 19 may be omitted if necessary. .. Further, instead of the cross Nicol arrangement, a parallel Nicol arrangement may be used.

An E-type linear polarizing plate formed of a coating film composed of a dichroic organic dye that exhibits optical anisotropy in the vertical direction may be applied to the linearly polarizing plates 16 and 17. Thereby, the total thickness of the light control film 10 can be further reduced.
In this case, each linearly polarizing plate has a liquid crystal layer on the liquid crystal layer 14 side of the base material 21A of the upper laminated body 12 constituting the liquid crystal cell 15 described later and the liquid crystal layer 14 side of the base material 21B of the lower laminated body 13. It is desirable to arrange the 8 so as to sandwich it. As will be described later, it is desired that the base materials 21A and 21B have a small optical anisotropy, but by arranging the E-type linear polarizing plate as described above, the transmitted light is variously polarized in the base material. However, since it is possible to prevent the transmitted light of the liquid crystal layer from being affected in any way, it is possible to use a highly versatile transparent resin film, for example, a PET film, for the substrates 21A and 21B. ..

[LCD cell]
The liquid crystal cell 15 is configured by sandwiching the liquid crystal layer 14 between the film-shaped lower laminated body 13 and the upper laminated body 12.

[Lower laminated body, upper laminated body]
The lower laminated body 13 is formed by laminating a transparent electrode 22B, an alignment layer 23B, and a spacer 24 on a base material 21B.
The upper laminated body 12 is formed by laminating a transparent electrode 22A, an alignment layer 23A, and a spacer 24 on a base material 21A.

〔Base material〕
Various transparent resin films can be applied to the base materials 21A and 21B, but the optical anisotropy is small, and the transmittance in the visible wavelength (380 to 800 nm) is 80% or more. It is desirable to apply.
Examples of the material of the transparent resin film include an acetyl cellulose resin such as triacetyl cellulose (TAC), a polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). , Polyethylene resin such as polystyrene, polymethylpentene, EVA, vinyl resin such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, acrylic resin, polyurethane resin, polysulfone (PEF), polyether sulfone (PES), polycarbonate ( Examples thereof include resins such as PC), polysulfone, polyether (PE), polyether ketone (PEK), (meth) acronitrile, cycloolefin polymer (COP), and cycloolefin copolymer.
In particular, resins such as polycarbonate (PC), cycloolefin polymer (COP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are preferable.
In the present embodiment, a polycarbonate film having a thickness of 100 μm is applied to the base materials 21A and 21B, but transparent resin films having various thicknesses can be applied.

[Transparent electrode]
The transparent electrodes 22A and 22B are composed of the transparent resin film and a transparent conductive film laminated on the transparent resin film.
As the transparent conductive film, various transparent electrode materials applied to this kind of transparent resin film can be applied, and examples thereof include a transparent metal thin film having an oxide-based total light transmittance of 50% or more. .. Examples thereof include tin oxide-based, indium oxide-based, and zinc oxide-based.

Examples of the tin oxide (SnO ₂ ) system include nesa (tin oxide SnO ₂ ), ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide: antimony-doped tin oxide), and fluorine-doped tin oxide.
Examples of the indium oxide (In ₂ O ₃ ) system include indium oxide, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), and IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide).
Examples of the zinc oxide (ZnO) system include zinc oxide, AZO (aluminum-doped zinc oxide), and gallium-doped zinc oxide.
In this embodiment, a transparent conductive film is formed by ITO (Indium Tin Oxide).

〔Spacer〕
The spacer 24 is provided to define the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 14, and various resin materials can be widely applied. Here, there are mainly two types of spacers 24: spherical spacers (hereinafter referred to as “bead spacers”) and columnar spacers (hereinafter referred to as “photo spacers”).
Here, it is conceivable that the light control film 10 forms a photo spacer by using a photolithography method in which a photosensitive resin is applied, exposed, and developed after forming an alignment layer on a substrate. In this case, it is not preferable because the alignment layer is damaged by the exposure and the developing process, which causes poor alignment. Further, it is conceivable to apply the alignment layer after the photo spacer is first produced on the substrate, but in this case, sufficient alignment control force cannot be given to the alignment layer around the photo spacer. It is not preferable because it causes misalignment. Therefore, the light control film manufactured by the photo spacer may not be able to accurately control the desired transmittance due to poor orientation.
On the other hand, the bead spacer is sprayed on the alignment layer after forming the alignment layer, and since the contact area with the alignment layer is narrow, the alignment layer as described above is damaged or the alignment is poor. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of problems such as the occurrence of.
Therefore, by applying the bead spacer as the spacer 24, the transmittance of the produced light control film 10 can be changed more precisely and finely than when the photo spacer is used.
Here, since the light control film 10 of the present embodiment is arranged in the vehicle 30, it is necessary to accurately control the transmittance as needed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the bead spacer is applied to the spacer 24.

Here, as the bead spacer used for the spacer 24, known beads used for a liquid crystal display device, a color filter, or the like can be applied. Specifically, the inorganic component is glass, silica, metal oxide (MgO, Al ₂ O ₃ ), etc., and the organic component is acrylic resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, unsaturated polyester resin, etc. Use core particles obtained by suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization, or emulsion polymerization of material systems such as divinylbenzene copolymer, divinylbenzene-acrylic ester copolymer, diacrylic phthalate copolymer, and allyl isocyanurate copolymer. Spherical, cylindrical, cylindrical or the like obtained by a polymerization method such as a seed polymerization method, a porous body, a hollow body or the like can be used.
Further, from the viewpoint of improving the dispersibility and adhesion of the beads on the alignment layer, the surface of the bead spacer may be surface-treated. The surface coating material is not particularly limited as long as immobilization on the bead surface and outflow of chemical substances into the liquid crystal material are not a problem, but for example, polyethylene and ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer weight. Combined products, ethylene / acrylic acid ester copolymers, polymethyl (meth) acrylate copolymers, SBS-type styrene / butadiene block copolymers, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, melamine resins and the like can be used.
In the above description, the spacer 24 is provided on both the upper laminated body 12 and the lower laminated body 13, but the spacer 24 is not limited to this, and the upper laminated body 12 and the lower laminated body 12 are not limited thereto. It may be provided in any one of 13.

[Orientation layer]
The alignment layers 23A and 23B are formed by a photo-alignment layer. As the photo-alignment material applicable to the photo-alignment layer, various materials to which the photo-alignment method can be applied can be widely applied, and examples thereof include a photodegradable type, a photodimerization type, and a photoisomerization type. can.
In this embodiment, a photodimerized material is used. Examples of the photodimerization type material include cinnamate, coumarin, benzylidenephthalimidine, benzylideneacetophenone, diphenylacetylene, stillbazole, uracil, quinolinone, maleinimide, and a polymer having a cinnamyldenacetic acid derivative. Among them, a polymer having one or both of cinnamate and coumarin is preferably used because of its good orientation-regulating power. Specific examples of such photodimerization type materials include the compounds described in JP-A-9-118717, JP-A-10-506420, JP-A-2003-505561 and WO2010 / 150748. Can be mentioned.
Instead of the photo-alignment layer, the alignment layer may be produced by a rubbing treatment, or the alignment layer may be produced by shaping a fine line-shaped uneven shape.

[Liquid crystal layer]
As the liquid crystal layer 14, various liquid crystal materials applicable to this type of light control film 10 can be widely applied. Specifically, a nematic liquid crystal compound, a smectic liquid crystal compound, and a cholesteric liquid crystal compound can be applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 as a liquid crystal compound having no polymerizable functional group.
Examples of the nematic liquid crystal compound include a biphenyl compound, a tarphenyl compound, a phenylcyclohexyl compound, a biphenylcyclohexyl compound, a phenylbicyclohexyl compound, a trifluoro compound, a phenyl benzoate compound, and a phenyl cyclohexyl benzoate compound. , Phenylbenzoate phenyl compound, bicyclohexylcarboxylic acid phenyl compound, azomethine compound, azo compound, and azooxy compound, stilben compound, tran compound, ester compound, bicyclohexyl compound, phenylpyrimidine compound. , Biphenylpyrimidine-based compounds, pyrimidin-based compounds, biphenylethine-based compounds and the like can be mentioned.

Examples of the smectic liquid crystal compound include strongly dielectric polymer liquid crystal compounds such as polyacrylate-based, polymethacrylate-based, polychloroacrylate-based, polyoxylan-based, polysiloxane-based, and polyester-based compounds.
Examples of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound include cholesteryl linoleate, cholesteryl oleate, cellulose, cellulose derivative, polypeptide and the like.

In the liquid crystal cell 15, the sealing material 25 is arranged so as to surround the liquid crystal layer 14. The upper laminated body 12 and the lower laminated body 13 are integrally held by the sealing material 25, and leakage of the liquid crystal material is prevented.
As the sealing material 25, for example, a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin or an acrylic resin, an ultraviolet curable resin, or the like can be applied.

In the light control film 10, an AC voltage whose polarity is switched at a predetermined cycle is applied to the transparent electrodes 22A and 22B, and an electric field is formed in the liquid crystal layer 14 by this AC voltage. Further, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules provided on the liquid crystal layer 14 is controlled by this electric field, and the transmitted light is controlled.

A VA method (Vertical Alignment type) is applied to control the orientation of the liquid crystal layer 14 in the light control film 10 of the embodiment. In the VA method, an alignment film having an orientation regulating force in the vertical direction is provided on a transparent electrode formed on the substrate, and the liquid crystal layer 14 is sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates.
In the VA method, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 14 are vertically oriented when there is no electric field, whereby the light control film 10 is in a light-shielding state by blocking the incident light, and the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer 14 is applied by the application of this electric field. Is horizontally oriented, and the light control film 10 transmits the incident light and becomes a transmitted state.
Like this VA method, a light control mode that is in a light-shielded state when there is no electric field and is in a transmitted state when an electric field is applied is called a normally black mode.

However, instead of the VA method, various drive methods such as a TN (Twisted Nematic) method, an IPS (In Plane Switching) method, and a GH (Guest Host) method may be applied.
Here, the TN method has a configuration in which an alignment film that has been subjected to a rubbing treatment or the like so that the orientation direction differs by 90 ° is attached on a transparent electrode formed on the substrate, and the liquid crystal layer 14 is sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates. Due to the alignment restricting force of the alignment film, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the orientation direction of the alignment film, and other liquid crystal molecules are oriented along the liquid crystal molecules, so that the direction of the liquid crystal molecules is twisted by 90 °. Then, a polarizing plate is arranged on the outside of the upper and lower substrates in parallel with the orientation direction of the alignment film.
In the TN method, when there is no electric field, the light that has passed through the polarizing plate becomes linearly polarized light and enters the liquid crystal display. Since the liquid crystal molecules are twisted and oriented by 90 °, the incident light is also twisted and passed by 90 °, so that they can pass through the polarizing plate below. As a result, the light control film 10 transmits the incident light and becomes a transmitted state.
Further, the application of this electric field causes the liquid crystal molecules to stand upright and untwist, but since the alignment restricting force is stronger on the surface of the alignment film, the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules remains along the alignment film. In such a state, since the liquid crystal molecules are isotropic with respect to the passing light, the rotation of the linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer 14 in the polarization direction does not occur. Therefore, the linearly polarized light that has passed through the upper polarizing plate cannot pass through the lower polarizing plate, and the dimming film 10 blocks the incident light and enters a light-shielding state.
Like this TN method, the light control mode in which the light is transmitted when there is no electric field and is shielded when an electric field is applied is called a normally white mode.

In addition, the IPS method is a method in which electrodes are collectively created on one of the base materials, and the amount of transmitted light is controlled by rotating the liquid crystal molecules oriented by the electric field of the electrodes in the lateral (horizontal) direction with respect to the substrate. be.

Further, the GH method is a method using a liquid crystal composition in which a dichroic dye is dissolved as a guest in a nematic liquid crystal as a host. Since the dichroic dye has a uniaxial light absorption axis and absorbs only light vibrating in the light absorption axis direction, the orientation of the dichroic dye is changed according to the movement of the liquid crystal display due to the electric field. By controlling the orientation of the light absorption axis, the transmission state of the liquid crystal cell can be changed.
The liquid crystal composition used in the GH method is roughly classified into a positive type and a negative type depending on the difference in the long axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules when an electric field is applied.
A positive nematic liquid crystal is a liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, which has a large dielectric constant in the long axis direction and a small dielectric anisotropy in the direction perpendicular to the long axis. It is perpendicular, and when an electric field is applied, the long axis direction of the liquid crystal molecule is parallel to the optical axis.
On the other hand, the negative type nematic liquid crystal is a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy, which has a small dielectric constant in the long axis direction and a large dielectric anisotropy in the direction perpendicular to the long axis. On the other hand, it is parallel to each other, and when an electric field is applied, the long axis direction of the liquid crystal molecule is perpendicular to the optical axis.
Here, since the dichroic dye molecules are oriented in the same direction as the liquid crystal molecules, when a positive nematic liquid crystal is used as a host, it is in a light-shielded state when there is no electric field and in a transmissive state when an electric field is applied (normally). Black mode).
On the other hand, when a negative type nematic liquid crystal is used as a host, on the contrary, it is in a transmissive state when there is no electric field and in a light-shielded state when an electric field is applied (normally white mode).
Examples of the dichroic dye used in the GH method include dyes that are soluble in liquid crystal and have high dichroism, preferably dyes having an order parameter (S value) of 0.7 or more, and for example, azo. Examples thereof include dichroic dyes such as anthraquinone, quinophthalone, perylene, indigo, thioindigo, merocyanine, styryl, azomethine, and tetrazine.
When the light control film 10 is manufactured by the GH method, the linear polarizing plate can be omitted.
Further, the liquid crystal cell 15 may be driven by a so-called multi-domain method by patterning the optical alignment layer or the like, or may be further driven by a single domain.

Further, the light control film 10 may be made of normally black having the minimum transmittance (light-shielding state) when no voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 22A and 22B, and conversely, the transmittance may be transmitted when no electric field is applied. It may be composed of normally white having the maximum rate (transmissive state).

In the above description, the light control film 10 has been shown as an example composed of laminated glass sandwiched between the plate glasses 2 and 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the plate glass or the laminated glass may be used. It may be attached to the inside of the car.
The roof window 31 of the present embodiment is arranged in the opening 32 formed in the roof (ceiling) of the vehicle (passenger car) 30.

〔vehicle〕
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle 30 having the vehicle dimming system 33 of the first embodiment. The vehicle 30 in FIG. 2 is a schematic view seen from above vertically.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cross section parallel to the traveling direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle of the first embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment is a minivan type passenger car and is a tall 6-seat type vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle 30 is provided with seats S1 to S6. The seat S1 is a driver's seat, and the passenger in the seat S1 is the driver of the vehicle 30. The seats S2 to S6 are seats on which passengers sit.

In the vehicle 30, an opening 32 is formed in the roof portion (ceiling) above the passengers of the seats S1 to S6, and the roof window 31 is arranged so as to close the opening portion 32. Further, in addition to the light control film 10, the opening 32 of the vehicle 30 is not provided with a light shielding member that shields external light passing through the opening 32. That is, only the dimming film 10 changes the amount of external light such as sunlight passing through the opening 32 of the vehicle 30, and the roof window 31 is always exposed when viewed from the outside and the inside of the vehicle 30. It will be in a state of being.
The roof window 31 may be arranged so as not to be openable and closable with respect to the opening 32, or may be arranged so as to be openable and closable with respect to the opening 32 via an opening / closing mechanism portion.

Here, whether or not the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment is a minivan type or the like is determined by the indoor height h1 of the vehicle satisfying h1 ≧ 1300 mm and the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 being 0.40 ≦. It is determined whether or not h1 / L1 ≦ 0.55 is satisfied.
The indoor height h1 means the distance in the vertical direction from the flat floor surface near the center of the vehicle (near the seat) to the lowest position of the ceiling lining and the inner surface of the roof window.
The interior length L1 is from the tip to the end of the instrument panel where instruments that indicate information necessary for running the vehicle, such as the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, water temperature gauge, and distance gauge of the vehicle 30 are arranged. The distance in the traveling direction of the vehicle 30 to the rear end (excluding the headrest) of the backrest of the seat (S3 or S6).

FIG. 4 is a diagram summarizing information on the indoor height, indoor length, indoor height, and ratio of indoor length of passenger cars sold in the general market. FIG. 4A is a diagram summarizing the information of the minivan type, and FIG. 4B is a diagram summarizing the information of the sedan type.
As shown in FIG. 4A, most of the passenger cars (vehicles) sold in the general market are minivan type vehicles, in which the indoor height h1 satisfies h1 ≧ 1300 mm, and the indoor height h1 and the indoor length L1. The ratio with and to 0.40 ≦ h1 / L1 ≦ 0.55 is satisfied. It is more preferable that the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 satisfies 0.44 ≦ h1 / L1 ≦ 0.50.
Here, in the minivan type car model, mainly the family with a child is often the user, and considering that the child can move freely in the car, even if a general elementary school student in the lower grades stands in the car. Since it is desirable that the height is such that the head does not reach the ceiling, the lower limit of the indoor height is set to h1 ≧ 1300 mm. Therefore, if the indoor height h1 is outside the above range (h1 <1300 mm), the interior space inside the vehicle becomes too narrow, which does not correspond to the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment.

Further, when the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 is out of the above range, for example, 0.40> h1 / L1, the indoor length L1 tends to be longer than the indoor height h1, so that the roof portion of the vehicle It becomes necessary to increase the area of the roof window provided in the vehicle, and accordingly, the weight of the roof portion of the vehicle 30 becomes heavier, the weight of the vehicle increases, the center of gravity also increases, and the running stability of the vehicle decreases. Therefore, it does not correspond to the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment.
Further, when the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 is H1 / L1> 0.55, the indoor length L1 tends to be shorter than the indoor height h1, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 (b). The vehicle type mainly corresponds to a sedan type vehicle, and does not correspond to the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment. Further, when the indoor length L1 tends to be shorter than the indoor height h1, the area of the roof portion becomes narrower, and the light control film is divided into a plurality of segments as in the vehicle of the second embodiment described later. This is not desirable as it reduces the need to locally fluctuate the transmittance.

In the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment, the light control film 10 provided on the roof window 31 allows external light such as sunlight incident on the opening 32 to be taken into the vehicle, and the light control film 10 is used as necessary. The transmittance is lowered to block external light such as sunlight incident on the opening 32. Therefore, the thickness of the roof window portion can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the plate-shaped or sheet-shaped light-shielding member is separately arranged on the roof window.
As a result, in the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment in which the indoor height h1 and the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 are limited as described above, it is possible to avoid lowering the indoor height by using the light-shielding member. It is possible to secure an overhead space for passengers, and it is possible to effectively utilize the indoor space.

Further, in the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment, since the light control film 10 is in the form of a laminated glass sandwiched between the plate glasses 2 and 3 constituting the roof window 31, the roof window portion can be further thinned. Therefore, in a minivan type vehicle in which the indoor height h1 or the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 is limited as described above, the degree of freedom in arranging the roof window can be improved.

The vehicle 30 is provided with a roof window 31 provided with the above-mentioned dimming film 10 and a vehicle dimming system 33 having a drive control unit 42 of the dimming film 10.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle dimming system 33 having the drive control unit 42 of the dimming film 10 uses an information processing device (for example, an electronic control unit (ECU 40) provided in the vehicle 30) as a control program for the dimming film. Configured to run.
Here, the ECU 40 is an input circuit unit and an arithmetic processing unit (hereinafter, "CPU") for inputting various signals output from various sensors provided in the vehicle, pressure sensors and the like described later, operation signals output from the operation panel, and the like. ,), Various arithmetic programs executed by the CPU, the control program of the above-mentioned dimming film, a storage circuit unit for storing the arithmetic results, control signals for controlling each part such as the drive source (engine) of the vehicle 30, and It is provided with an output circuit unit or the like that outputs a control signal or the like that controls the light control film 10.
The vehicle dimming system 33 is not limited to the above control program, and the drive control unit 42 constituting the vehicle dimming system 33 may be configured as a processing circuit.

The vehicle dimming system 33 is a system that adjusts the amount of external light incident from the roof window 31 into the vehicle, and controls the dimming film 10 provided on the roof window 31 to control the outside light incident on the vehicle. The amount of light can be adjusted.
The drive control unit 42 includes a power supply unit that outputs a drive power supply to the transparent electrode of the light control film 10, and is composed of an arithmetic processing unit that controls the power supply unit.
More specifically, the drive control unit 42 can change the transmittance of the light control film 10 according to the operation of the passenger by the operation panel (not shown).
Here, as described above, since the light control film 10 of the present embodiment has the bead spacer applied to the spacer 24, it is more accurate than the case where the photo spacer is applied, according to the preference of the occupant. It can vary to the transmittance.
An operation panel may be provided in each seat so that any passenger can operate the dimming film, and one operation panel is provided in the instrument panel on which the instruments are arranged, and the driver's seat and the passenger seat are provided. It may be possible to operate it by the passengers of.

Further, the drive control unit 42 may include a plurality of control modes in which the mode of changing the transmittance of the light control film 10 is different, and may change the transmittance according to the selected control mode.
For example, a light-shielding mode in which the light control film 10 is in a light-shielding state having the lowest transmittance, a light-transmitting mode in which the light-transmitting state has the highest transmittance, an individual control mode in which the light-transmitting film 10 is changed to the desired transmittance of the passenger, and the like. It is equipped with an automatic mode that changes the transmittance according to the amount of external light such as sunlight incident on the vehicle, and even if one of the control modes is selected and executed by operating the passenger's operation panel. good.

The vehicle dimming system 33 operates by being supplied with electric power from an alternator and a battery mounted on the vehicle 30.
Here, the alternator is a generator connected to the axle or engine of the vehicle 30, and is a rectifier called a rectifier that rectifies the generated AC voltage and converts it into a DC output voltage, and an integrated circuit. It is integrally equipped with a voltage control device called a voltage regulator that is formed by the above and controls the output voltage.
Since the voltage output from the alternator changes according to the rotation speed of the axle of the vehicle 30 or the rotation speed of the engine, the voltage regulator monitors the output voltage and controls the field current of the alternator. The output voltage is being adjusted. The voltage regulator supplies electric power at a voltage at which the electrical components of the vehicle 30 normally operate even under ever-changing operating conditions.
The battery is, for example, a secondary battery such as a lead battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, or a lithium ion battery. The battery stores the output voltage from the alternator and discharges the stored output voltage to supply power to the vehicle dimming system 33. Supply.
The method of supplying electric power to the vehicle dimming system 33 has shown an example in which electric power is supplied from an alternator and a battery mounted on the vehicle 30, but the method is not limited to this, and for example, the vehicle 30 Power is supplied from either the alternator or the battery mounted on the vehicle, a battery for the vehicle dimming system 33 is separately provided so that power is supplied from the battery, and other publicly known information. The power supply method of may be applied.

From the above, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment has the following effects.
(1) A vehicle 30 in which the indoor height h1 is h1 ≧ 1300 mm, the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 satisfies 0.4 ≦ h1 / L1 ≦ 0.55, and the roof portion is provided with an opening 32. The light control film 10 arranged in the opening 32 of the roof portion and the drive control unit 42 for changing the transmittance of the light control film 10 are provided, and only the light control film 10 passes through the opening 32. Change the amount of outside light. As a result, in the minivan type vehicle 30 having a wide interior space in which the indoor height h1 is h1 ≧ 1300 mm and the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 satisfies 0.4 ≦ h1 / L1 ≦ 0.55. Compared with the case where a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped light-shielding member is provided to light-shield the inside of the vehicle, it is possible to avoid lowering the indoor height and secure an overhead space for the passenger.

(2) In the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment, the light control film 10 has a liquid crystal layer 14 sandwiched between the upper laminate 12 having at least the base material 21A and the lower laminate 13 having at least the base material 21B. The transparent electrodes 22A and 22B provided on the upper laminated body 12 and the lower laminated body 13 are provided, and the drive control unit 42 controls the voltage applied to the transparent electrode to change the transmittance of the light control film 10. Let me. Thereby, the dimming film 10 provided in the vehicle 30 can be realized more specifically by the configuration using the liquid crystal cell 15, and the external light such as sunlight incident on the vehicle can be adjusted.

(3) Since the light control film 10 is sandwiched between the upper laminated body 12 and the lower laminated body 13 and has a bead spacer that defines the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 14, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment has a photo spacer. Compared with the case where the dimming film 10 is applied, the light control film 10 can be more accurately varied in the transmittance according to the preference of the occupant, and the space inside the vehicle can be made comfortable.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle having the vehicle dimming system of the second embodiment. The vehicle of FIG. 5 is a schematic view seen from above vertically.
In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the parts that perform the same functions as those of the first embodiment described above, and duplicate description will be omitted as appropriate.
As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment is the first embodiment in that the light control film 10 is divided into a plurality of segments and the passenger position information acquisition unit 41 is provided. It is mainly different from the vehicle 30 of the form.

In the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment, the indoor height h1 is h1 ≧ 1300 mm, and the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 is 0.4 ≦ h1 / L1 ≦ 0.55, as in the first embodiment described above. It is a minivan type vehicle that meets the requirements.
An opening 32 is formed in the roof of the vehicle 30, and a roof window 31 is arranged in the opening 32. The light control film 10 constituting the roof window 31 is produced by dividing the transparent electrode 22A and / or the transparent electrode 22B into a plurality of insulated partial electrodes (regions) capable of individually supplying a drive power source. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the photochromic film 10 is provided with a plurality of regions (hereinafter, each region is appropriately referred to as a segment) SG1 to SG6 in which the transmittance can be changed independently and individually. Formed by segments.

It is also possible to spread a plurality of light control films in the surface of the roof window 31 of the vehicle 30 so that each light control film corresponds to the above-mentioned segment. In this case, the connection between the adjacent light control films is possible. The eyes (boundaries) may be noticeable, which may spoil the appearance.
On the other hand, the light control film 10 of the present embodiment is composed of one film, and only the transparent electrodes constituting the light control film 10 are divided into a plurality of regions (partial electrodes) as described above. Has been done. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the boundary between the segments of the light control film 10 from becoming conspicuous as much as possible, and further, it is possible to simplify the manufacturing process of the roof window 31.

Here, the form of the electrode of the light control film 10 of the present embodiment having a plurality of segments will be described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a form of a transparent electrode of a light control film. In FIG. 6, for the sake of clarity, the illustration of configurations other than the transparent electrodes constituting the light control film 10 is omitted.
The transparent electrodes 22A and 22B of the light control film 10 are divided as follows, for example.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the transparent electrode 22A provided on the light control film 10 is divided into two in the direction along the short side (the vehicle width direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the vehicle 30) and along the long side. By dividing into three in the direction (traveling direction of the vehicle 30), the transparent electrode 22A is formed on the base material 21A in a state of being divided into six by a plurality of partial electrodes 22A1 to 22A6. Further, the transparent electrode 22B facing the transparent electrode 22A is formed on the entire surface of the base material 21B without being divided. As a result, the multi-segment light control film 10 having the segments SG1 to SG6 is formed.
Although the above description shows an example in which the transparent electrode 22A is divided into six parts, the present invention is not limited to this, the transparent electrode 22B is divided into six parts, and the transparent electrode 22A is formed on the entire surface of the base material 21A. You may do so.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the transparent electrode 22A and the transparent electrode 22B may be divided in the same manner as the transparent electrode 22A in FIG. 6A. Specifically, the transparent electrode 22A is formed by a plurality of partial electrodes 22A1 to 22A6, and the transparent electrode 22B is divided so as to correspond to the transparent electrode 22A, that is, the transparent electrode 22B is formed by the plurality of partial electrodes 22B1 to 22B6. By doing so, a multi-segment light control film 10 having segments SG1 to SG6 is formed.
Such division of the transparent electrodes 22A and 22B can be produced by patterning the transparent electrodes.

In the division by patterning of the transparent electrodes 22A and 22B, the number of divisions of the transparent electrodes 22A and 22B facing each other may be different.
Further, in the examples shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B described above, the patterning of the transparent electrodes 22A and 22B is divided into a rectangular shape, but the patterning is not limited to this. For example, it may be divided into various shapes such as a hexagonal shape, a trapezoidal shape, a parallelogram shape, and a triangular shape.
For example, in FIG. 6 (c), the transparent electrode 22A is patterned by a plurality of triangular-shaped partial electrodes. When the segments are formed by patterning with the triangular partial electrodes in this way, for example, as shown by hatching in FIG. 6 (c), the region set to the light-shielding state may have a shape close to a rhombus. can. As a result, it is possible to more efficiently take in outside light and locally suppress the incident of sunlight on the occupant's head.

In the vehicle 30, an opening 32 is formed in the roof portion (ceiling) above the passengers of the seats S1 to S6, and the roof window 31 is arranged so as to close the opening portion 32. Further, in addition to the light control film 10, the opening 32 of the vehicle 30 is not provided with a light shielding member that shields external light passing through the opening 32. That is, only the dimming film 10 changes the amount of external light such as sunlight passing through the opening 32 of the vehicle 30, and the roof window 31 is always exposed when viewed from the outside and the inside of the vehicle 30. It will be in a state of being.
The roof window 31 may be arranged so as not to be openable and closable with respect to the opening 32, or may be arranged so as to be openable and closable with respect to the opening 32 via an opening / closing mechanism portion.
The segments SG1 to SG6 of the light control film 10 are provided corresponding to the seats S1 to S6 of the vehicle 30, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle 30 is a vehicle dimming system having a roof window 31 provided with the above-mentioned dimming film 10, a passenger position information acquisition unit 41, and a drive control unit 42 of the dimming film 10. 33 is provided.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle dimming system 33 having the passenger position information acquisition unit 41 and the drive control unit 42 of the dimming film 10 is provided in the information processing device (for example, the vehicle 30) as a control program for the dimming film. It is configured to be executed by an electronic control unit (ECU 40).
Here, the ECU 40 is an input circuit unit and an arithmetic processing unit (hereinafter, "CPU") for inputting various signals output from various sensors provided in the vehicle, pressure sensors and the like described later, operation signals output from the operation panel, and the like. ,), Various arithmetic programs executed by the CPU, the control program of the above-mentioned dimming film, a storage circuit unit for storing the arithmetic results, control signals for controlling each part such as the drive source (engine) of the vehicle 30, and It is provided with an output circuit unit or the like that outputs a control signal or the like that controls the light control film 10.
The vehicle dimming system 33 is not limited to the above control program, and each part constituting the vehicle dimming system 33 may be configured as a processing circuit.

The vehicle dimming system 33 is a system that adjusts the amount of external light incident from the roof window 31 into the vehicle, and controls each segment SG1 to SG6 of the dimming film 10 provided on the roof window 31. , The amount of external light incident on the vehicle can be adjusted for each seat.

The passenger position information acquisition unit 41 detects the passenger position information of the passengers seated in the seats S1 to S6 of the vehicle 30 and outputs the information to the drive control unit 42. Here, the vehicle 30 is provided with a pressure sensor in each of the seats S1 to S6, and the passenger position information acquisition unit 41 detects the seating of the occupant in the corresponding seat by the load on the pressure sensor, and this detection is performed. The result is output as passenger position information.

In addition, the passenger position information acquisition unit 41 detects the occupant by performing image processing on the image pickup result in the vehicle by visible light and infrared light instead of detecting the occupant by the pressure sensor described above. Various detection methods can be applied to the above.

The drive control unit 42 includes a power supply unit that outputs a drive power supply to each of the segments SG1 to SG6 of the light control film 10, and is composed of an arithmetic processing unit that controls the power supply unit. The drive control unit 42 locally changes the transmittance of the segment corresponding to the seat in which the passenger is seated based on the passenger position information.

More specifically, when a passenger is in the driver's seat (seat S1) and the seat S5, the drive control unit 42 uses an operation panel (not shown) provided in each seat to allow the passenger in the seat S1. The transmission rate of the segment SG1 corresponding to the driver's seat (seat S1) is changed according to the operation, and the transmission rate of the segment SG5 corresponding to the seat S5 is also changed according to the operation of the passenger of the seat S5. For the segments (SG2 to SG4, SG6) corresponding to the other seats (S2 to S4, S6), the current transmittance is maintained.
Here, as described above, since the light control film 10 of the present embodiment has the bead spacer applied to the spacer 24, it is more accurate than the case where the photo spacer is applied, according to the preference of the occupant. It can vary to the transmittance.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the vehicle dimming system 33 of the second embodiment.
The vehicle dimming system 33 including the passenger position information acquisition unit 41 and the drive control unit 42 described above repeats the processing procedures (SP1 and SP2) shown in FIG. 7 to bring external light such as sunlight into the vehicle. Control the incident.
That is, the vehicle dimming system 33 provided in the vehicle 30 acquires the passenger position information by the passenger position information acquisition unit 41 (SP1), and the drive control unit 42 transmits each segment based on the passenger position information. Control the light (SP2).

From the above, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment can exert the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above.
Further, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment includes a passenger position information acquisition unit 41 for acquiring passenger position information which is information on the position of the passenger in the vehicle, and the drive control unit 42 is based on the passenger position information. , The transmittance of the light control film 10 in the portion corresponding to the place where the passenger is boarding is locally changed. As a result, at the place where the occupant is on board, the transmittance of the light control film 10 of the corresponding part is changed according to the occupant's request, and the part corresponding to the part where the occupant is not boarding is changed. The change in the transmittance of the light control film 10 can be omitted, and the power consumption associated with the control of the light control film 10 can be reduced.
Further, in the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment, the light control film 10 is divided into a plurality of segments, and the drive control unit 42 individually controls the transmittance of the plurality of segments. The transmittance of the optical film 10 can be changed locally.

[Other embodiments]
Although the specific configuration suitable for carrying out the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention can be variously modified with respect to the configuration of the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle 30 is an example of a minivan type vehicle, but the vehicle 30 is not limited to this, and the indoor height h1 is h1 ≧ 1300 mm, and the indoor height h1 and the indoor length L1 A vehicle other than the minivan type may be used as long as the vehicle satisfies the ratio of 0.4 ≦ h1 / L1 ≦ 0.55.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which a flexible light control film is applied as the light control member has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the base material of the above-mentioned light control film 10 may be made of plate-shaped glass, and a light control member having no flexibility may be applied.
In this case, the dimming member may be applied instead of any of the flat glass 2 and 3 of the roof window 31.

Further, the roof window 31 may be made of a transparent resin plate instead of the plate glasses 2 and 3. As a result, the weight of the roof window can be reduced, the weight of the vehicle 30 can be reduced, and the center of gravity can be lowered.

2, 3 Plate glass 4, 5 Intermediate layer 10 Dimming film 12 Upper laminate 13 Lower laminate 14 Liquid crystal layer 15 Liquid crystal cell 16, 17 Linear polarizing plate 21A, 21B Base material 22A, 22B Transparent electrode 23A, 23B Orientation layer 24 Spacer 25 Sealing material 30 Vehicle 31 Roof window 32 Opening 33 Vehicle dimming system 41 Passenger position information acquisition unit 42 Drive control unit S1 to S6 Seat SG1 to SG6 segment

Claims (4)

A vehicle in which the indoor height h1 is h1 ≧ 1300 mm, the ratio of the indoor height h1 to the indoor length L1 satisfies 0.4 ≦ h1 / L1 ≦ 0.55, and an opening is provided in the roof portion.
A dimming member arranged in the opening of the roof portion and
A drive control unit that changes the transmittance of the dimming member,
It is equipped with a passenger position information acquisition unit that acquires passenger position information, which is information on the position of the passenger in the vehicle.
Only the dimming member changes the amount of external light passing through the opening.
The dimming member is
A liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first laminated body having at least a base material and a second laminated body having at least a base material,
And a transparent electrode provided on the first laminate and the second laminate,
The drive control unit changes the transmittance of the dimming member by controlling the voltage applied to the transparent electrode.
Only the transparent electrode of the first laminated body and the second laminated body is divided into a plurality of partial electrodes.
The drive control unit
To locally change the transmittance of the dimming member by the partial electrode corresponding to the place where the occupant is boarding based on the occupant position information.
A vehicle featuring. The dimming member is sandwiched between the first laminated body and the second laminated body, and includes a bead spacer that defines the thickness of the liquid crystal layer.
The vehicle according to claim 1. Each of the multiple seats provided in the vehicle is equipped with an operation panel.
The drive control unit controls the transmittance of the portion of the dimming member corresponding to the seat in response to the operation of the operation panel.
The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the vehicle is characterized by. The drive control unit controls the dimming member by dividing it into a plurality of modes in which the mode of change of the transmittance is different.
The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the vehicle is characterized by.

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