Anti-dazzle system for a window glass of a motor vehicle

Claim 2

A combination defogger and anti-dazzle system for a window of a motor vehicle, comprising: a window of transparent glass; a layer of a heat-sensitive color-changing material permanently and operatively connected to at least either one of the front face or rear face of the window and having the characteristic of a relatively narrow range of temperature in which the color-changing material will change color; a power source; two sets of resistance heater wired embedded in the window; and a multi-position switch to provide either a defogging or an anti-dazzle mode, wherein one position connects the power source to only one set of the wires to develop heat sufficient to actuate the color changing material, and another position connects the power source to both sets of wires to develop sufficient heat for a defogging operation of the glass.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the color changing material is a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material having a relatively transparent color phase and a relatively translucent color phase with the transition point occurring at approximately 40° C.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal material is intermittently dispersed in an epoxy resin coating that is permanently adhered to the window glass.

Claim 5

A combination defogger and anti-glare system for a window of a motor vehicle, consisting of: a window of transparent glass; a pair of resistance heater wires sets embedded in the window; a layer of a cholesteric liquid crystal material dispersed in a coating permanently affixed to a surface of the window of a predetermined thickness, the liquid crystal material having a characteristic of changing color at a predetermined temperature from a relatively transparent state to a relatively translucent state, the translucent state providing an anti-glare effect for an operator of the motor vehicle, while still permitting operation of the vehicle; a source of power connected to the sets of resistance heater wires, and means for connecting one set of resistance heater wires to provide a first temperature at or above the predetermined temperature to activate a color change to provide the anti-glare effect and for connecting both sets of resistance heater wires to provide a second higher temperature for a defogging effect.

Claim 6

A combination defogger and anti-glare system for a window of a motor vehicle, consisting of: a window of transparent glass; a pair of resistance heater wires sets embedded in the window; a layer of a cholesteric liquid crystal material dispersed in a coating permanently affixed to a surface of the window of a predetermined thickness, the liquid crystal material having a characteristic of changing color at a predetermined temperature from a relatively transparent state to a relatively translucent state, the translucent state providing an anti-glare effect for an operator of the motor vehicle, while still permitting operation of the vehicle; a source of power connected to the sets of resistance heater wires, and means for connecting one set of resistance heater wires to provide a first temperature at or above the predetermined temperature to activate a color change to provide the anti-glare effect and for connecting both sets of resistance heater wires to provide a second higher temperature for a defogging effect.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 wherein the means for connecting includes a multi-position switch positioned adjacent the operator of the vehicle.