Glare blocking device

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for automatically reducing glare produced from a spatial scene by reducing the intensity of light rays propagating from points in the three-dimensional spatial scene towards an optical element having a field of view. Further, an apparatus is provided that automatically reduces interfering illumination produced from an illumination source by reducing the intensity of light rays propagating from the illumination source towards a sensor having a field of view of radio communication. Both apparatus include an electro-optical element having an optically transparent surface including a plurality of pixels through which the field of view of the optical element or the sensor passes. Each pixel has a controllable light transmittance for selectively reducing the intensity of incident light rays propagating from one or more points from the illumination source, through the pixel, then towards the sensor or optical element. An image acquisition device is included for acquiring one or more images of the illumination source within the field of view of the sensor or optical element. A processor is also included for processing the acquired images and determining at which pixels the light transmittance is to be actively controlled in order to reduce the intensity of incident light rays before reaching the sensor or optical element. A control is also provided for actively controlling the light transmittance of the determined pixels so that after incident light rays propagate through the determined pixels, the incident light rays propagate towards the sensor or optical element with reduced intensity.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus for automatically reducing interfering illumination produced from an illumination source by reducing the intensity of light rays propagating from the illumination source towards a sensor having a field of view of radio communication, said apparatus comprising: 
 an electro-optical element having an optically transparent surface including a plurality of pixels through which the field of view of said sensor passes, each said pixel having a controllable light transmittance for selectively reducing the intensity of incident light rays propagating from one or more points from the illumination source, through said pixel, then towards said sensor;    an image acquisition device for acquiring one or more images of said illumination source within the field of view of said sensor;    a processor for processing said one or more acquired images and determining at which pixels the light transmittance is to be actively controlled in order to reduce the intensity of incident light rays by a selected amount before reaching said sensor;    a control for actively controlling the light transmittance of the determined pixels so that after incident light rays propagate through said determined pixels, said incident light rays propagate towards said sensor with an intensity reduced by said selected amount, so that interference produced from the illumination source is automatically reduced.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as in  claim 12 , further comprising a power supply integrated within the apparatus for providing electrical power to the image acquisition device, the processor, and control.  
   
   
       14 - 16 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for automatically reducing illumination from an illumination source prorogating towards an optical element having a field of view of communication comprising: 
 an electro-optical element in optical communication with the optical element and positioned between said illumination source and said optical element;    an image acquisition device for acquiring one or more images of said illumination source within the field of view of said optical element; and    a processor for processing said one or more acquired images and determining one or more locations on the electro-optical element at which the light transmittance is to be actively controlled in order to reduce the intensity of incident light rays before reaching said optical element.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein the electro-optical element includes an optically transparent surface including a plurality of pixels through which the field of view of said optical element passes, each said pixel having a controllable light transmittance for selectively reducing the intensity of incident light rays propagating from one or more points from the illumination source towards said pixel, then towards said optical element, and wherein said processor determines which of said pixels is to be actively controlled.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as in  claim 17 , further comprising a control for actively controlling the light transmittance of the determined one or more locations on the electro-optical element so that after incident light rays propagate through said one or more locations on the electro-optical element, said incident light rays propagate towards said optical element with a reduced intensity  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as in  claim 18 , further comprising a control for actively controlling the light transmittance of the determined pixels so that after incident light rays propagate through said determined pixels, said incident light rays propagate towards said optical element with a reduced intensity  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein said optical element comprises a sensor.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein said optical element comprises a tracking sensor.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as in  claim 17 , further comprising a power supply integrated within the apparatus for providing electrical power to the image acquisition device, the processor, and the electro-optical element.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as in  claim 23 , wherein the power supply comprises a primary battery.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as in  claim 23 , wherein the power supply comprises a secondary battery  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein the secondary battery is recharged with an external power source.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein said secondary battery is recharged with a solar cell within the apparatus.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as in  claim 17 , further comprising an auxiliary electronic device.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus as in  claim 28 , wherein the auxiliary electronic device comprises a global positioning system  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus as in  claim 19 , further comprising an auxiliary electronic device.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus as in  claim 30 , wherein the auxiliary electronic device comprises a global positioning system.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein said optical element is integrated in a craft selected from the group consisting of manned land vehicles, unmanned land vehicles, manned sea vehicles, unmanned sea vehicles, manned aerospace vehicles and unmanned aerospace vehicles.  
   
   
       33 . A method for automatically reducing illumination from an illumination source prorogating towards an optical element comprising: 
 (a) an electro optical element position between said optical element and said illumination source thereby intercepting light transmittance from said illumination source;    (b) an image acquisition device for acquiring one or more images of said illumination source;    (c) a processor for processing said one or more acquired images from said illumination souice and    (d) said processor further determining the light transmittance reduction zones on said electro-optical element.