Better electric window tint

**Chuzuki** · 11-22-2007, 03:55 AM

Get a large graphic style dot matrix LCD panel that's a clear film without a backlight and fits your windshield and make some kind of controller for it that allows you to control each pixel individually. Then use a webcam hooked up to your carputer somewhere near the driver's head to look for bright things (headlights at night, sun glare) and dim that section of the windshield while keeping the rest of it clear.

This would also be able to tint the windows while the car is off, but use a small amount of power.

IIRC, don't those LCDs invert their colors when you look through them the other way? That could lead to some complications I can't figure out because it's 5am.

Anyways, all I really need is to find a place that will sell me giant clear dot matrix displays.

And if I'm not making any sense, I'll draw some pictures in paint tomorrow because this is totally sweet and I definitely need this in my car.

**superart** · 11-24-2007, 01:11 AM

I dont think large film based LCD's are available at this time. at least not widely available outside of lab.

**Magnezium** · 11-26-2007, 05:53 AM

I've thought of this before. The problem is that you'd have to figure out the height of the person driving. What happens when someone else drives who's shorter or taller?

Also, one of the big issues to tackle is that the screens are blurry when they are clear. Visibility will be hindered based on this.

Once you've solved that problem, you've just got one more problem: Software/Hardware. You'll need something fast enough to process that information. I can't fathom the programming that's involved in this... I've never been good at graphics programming.

Good luck.

**h3rk** · 11-26-2007, 06:06 AM

A sensing method that measures the angle of the seatbelt, up at the top anchor on the pillar, could possibly estimate driver height. For a very tall person, the angle would approach 90 degrees, for wee people the angle would approach 180; if seatbelts are worn.

**Chuzuki** · 11-26-2007, 10:58 AM

Well no one else drives my car, and I'd assume you would code in some sort of calibration to get it just right for you. Just use different "profiles" for each person that would be driving. They already do this for seat/wheel position. IMO, the programming seems pretty simple, and the reaction time can be like 0.1 sec and I'd still be happy, it's more of a way to keep irritating glares out of your face while driving without tinting the entire windshield, and generally bright spots don't come out of nowhere. At night headlights slowly become brighter as you get closer, giving the computer more than ample time to figure everything out.