New auto tech: A windshield that dims itself

Windshield visors can help block a moment of glaring sun. But General Motors has a more comprehensive technology in mind for controlling glare day and night: an auto-dimming windshield. GM has filed a patent application for auto-dimming that would prevent the driver from being blinded by the bright lights of an oncoming vehicle at night. The system would detect the oncoming headlights’ brightness, and if it exceeds a certain threshold, a section of the windshield would be automatically dimmed. The technology could reduce driver distraction and make the road ahead clearer. Patented innovations do not necessarily graduate to mass production. However, GM’s idea of evolving glass functionality signals that automakers are rethinking the design of their most basic components.