Automatic windshield shade device
View Patent ↗The Automatic Internal Windshield Cover is a device designed for motor vehicles to provide protection and shading from the sun's rays. This device operates similarly to a household pull-down window shade but uniquely mounts at the vehicle's windshield base, extending upwards. It incorporates a network of recessed tracks and magnets along the windshield sides, facilitating smooth operation. The system is powered by a deployment motor and a retraction motor, which work collaboratively to unfold and retract the cover across the windshield. A motor control circuit is designed to automatically extend the shades when the vehicle is off and retract them upon ignition. Additionally, a central switch is integrated for manual operation and override functions, while an interlock circuit prevents deployment when the vehicle is in operation. This device is envisioned to be available both as optional equipment for new vehicles and as a retrofit kit for existing vehicles.
1 . An automatic windshield shade device for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a shade configured to extend across a windshield of the motor vehicle, the shade being made of a flexible material and including a ferromagnetic upper edge;
a pair of slide tracks located along a plurality of roof pillars of the motor vehicle, the pair of slide tracks configured to guide the shade along a deployment travel path and a retraction travel path, wherein each of the slide tracks defines a gap between the slide track and the windshield within which the shade travels;
a roller housed within a dash cavity of the motor vehicle, the roller configured to store the shade in a retracted position;
a set of magnets configured to retain the ferromagnetic upper edge of the shade in a fully deployed position, the set of magnets having a retention force dimensioned to passively disengage from the ferromagnetic upper edge upon commencement of retraction of the shade;
a deployment motor and a separate retraction motor each operably connected to the shade, the deployment motor dedicated to moving the shade along the deployment travel path and the retraction motor dedicated to moving the shade along the retraction travel path;
an upper travel limit switch positioned at an upper end of the deployment travel path and a lower travel limit switch positioned at a lower end of the retraction travel path, the upper travel limit switch configured to halt the deployment motor when the shade reaches the fully deployed position and the lower travel limit switch configured to halt the retraction motor when the shade reaches a fully retracted position;
a control circuit configured to:
receive a battery positive connection that provides power independent of a vehicle ignition state;
receive an ignition positive connection that provides power only when the vehicle ignition is active;
automatically activate the retraction motor to move the shade along the retraction travel path when the ignition positive connection is active;
automatically activate the deployment motor to move the shade along the deployment travel path using power from the battery positive connection when the ignition positive connection is inactive; and
prevent any deployment of the shade when the vehicle ignition is active; and,
a manual control switch located on a dash of the motor vehicle, the manual control switch including an upward directional indicia and a downward directional indicia, the manual control switch configured to selectively control the deployment motor and the retraction motor only when the ignition positive connection is inactive.
2 . A method for operating an automatic windshield shade device in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
guiding a shade made of a flexible material with a ferromagnetic upper edge along a deployment travel path and a retraction travel path using a pair of slide tracks located along a plurality of roof pillars of the motor vehicle, wherein each slide track defines a gap between the slide track and a windshield of the motor vehicle within which the shade travels;
storing the shade in a retracted position on a roller housed within a dash cavity of the motor vehicle;
automatically activating, by a control circuit receiving power from a battery positive connection, a deployment motor dedicated to moving the shade along the deployment travel path across the windshield in response to a vehicle ignition being turned off, the deployment motor being a separate and distinct motor from a retraction motor dedicated to moving the shade along the retraction travel path;
halting deployment of the shade upon activation of an upper travel limit switch positioned at an upper end of the deployment travel path when the shade reaches a fully deployed position;
passively retaining the ferromagnetic upper edge of the shade in the fully deployed position using a set of magnets, the set of magnets having a retention force dimensioned to disengage from the ferromagnetic upper edge upon commencement of retraction;
automatically activating, by the control circuit receiving power from an ignition positive connection, the retraction motor to move the shade along the retraction travel path in response to the vehicle ignition being turned on;
halting retraction of the shade upon activation of a lower travel limit switch positioned at a lower end of the retraction travel path when the shade reaches a fully retracted position;
preventing, by the control circuit, any deployment of the shade when the vehicle ignition is active; and,
selectively controlling the deployment motor and the retraction motor via a manual control switch located on a dash of the motor vehicle, the manual control switch including an upward directional indicia and a downward directional indicia, wherein the manual control switch is operable only when the vehicle ignition is inactive.