Automotive screen deployment system
A screen deployment device includes a screen, a light source, and a photoactuator coupled to the screen and configured to change size or shape in response to light. When the photoactuator is illuminated by light from the light source, the screen is in a first shape, position, or orientation (e.g., unfolded, unrolled, or otherwise deployed), and when the photoactuator is not illuminated by light from the light source, the screen is in a second shape, position, or orientation (e.g., folded, rolled, or otherwise stowed).
1 . A screen deployment device, comprising:
a screen;
a plurality of light sources configured to emit near-infrared light; and
a plurality of photoactuators directly physically coupled to the screen and to the plurality of light sources and configured to change size or shape in response to near-infrared light,
wherein when the plurality of photoactuators is illuminated by near-infrared light from the plurality of light sources, the screen is in a first shape, position, or orientation, and
wherein when the plurality of photoactuators is not illuminated by near-infrared light from the plurality of light sources, the screen is in a second shape, position, or orientation.
2 . The screen deployment device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of LEDs.
3 . The screen deployment device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of incandescent light bulbs, a plurality of electroluminescent panels, a plurality of cathode ray tubes, or a plurality of video displays.
4 . The screen deployment device of claim 1 , wherein each photoactuator of the plurality of photoactuators comprises a photoactive material.
5 . The screen deployment device of claim 4 , wherein the photoactive material comprises a spiropyran hydrogel.
6 . The screen deployment device of claim 1 , wherein the screen is a sun visor.
7 . The screen deployment device of claim 1 , wherein the screen is a video display.
8 . The screen deployment device of claim 1 , wherein the first shape, position, or orientation is associated with the screen not performing a function, and the second shape, position, or orientation is associated with the screen performing the function.
9 . The screen deployment device of claim 8 , wherein the function is displaying video or blocking sunlight.
10 . A screen deployment system, comprising:
a vehicle;
a screen disposed within the vehicle;
a plurality of light sources configured to emit near-infrared light; and
a plurality of photoactuators disposed within the vehicle and directly physically coupled to the screen and to the plurality of light sources and configured to change size or shape in response to near infrared light,
wherein when the plurality of photoactuators is illuminated by near infrared light from the plurality of light sources, the screen is in a first shape, position, or orientation, and
wherein when the plurality of photoactuators is not illuminated by near-infrared light from the plurality of light sources, the screen is in a second shape, position, or orientation.
11 . The screen deployment system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of LEDs.
12 . The screen deployment system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of incandescent light bulbs, a plurality of electroluminescent panels, a plurality of cathode ray tubes, or a plurality of video displays.
13 . The screen deployment system of claim 10 , wherein each photoactuator of the plurality of photoactuators comprises a photoactive material.
14 . The screen deployment system of claim 10 , wherein the screen is a sun visor,
wherein the first shape, position, or orientation is associated with the sun visor not blocking sunlight, and
wherein the second shape, position, or orientation is associated with the sun visor blocking sunlight.
15 . The screen deployment system of claim 10 , wherein the screen is a video display,
wherein the first shape, position, or orientation is associated with the video display not displaying video, and
wherein the second shape, position, or orientation is associated with the video display displaying video.
16 . A method for deploying a screen, the method comprising:
coupling the screen to a plurality of photoactuators, wherein each photoactuator of the plurality of photoactuators is configured to change size or shape in response to near-infrared light; and
illuminating the plurality of photoactuators with near-infrared light from a plurality of light sources directly physically coupled to the plurality of photoactuators, such that:
when the plurality of photoactuators is illuminated by the near-infrared light from the plurality of light sources, the screen is in a first shape, position, or orientation, and
when the plurality of photoactuators is not illuminated by the near-infrared light from the plurality of light sources, the screen is in a second shape, position, or orientation.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of light sources is plurality of LEDs, each photoactuator of the plurality of photoactuators comprises a photoactive material, and the screen is a sun visor or video display.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first shape, position, or orientation is associated with the screen not performing a function, and the second shape, position, or orientation is associated with the screen performing the function.