Patent Publication Number: US-2013235286-A1

Title: Real-time auto-dimming safety lens device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device, and more particularly to a system for controlling transmittance or color of a lens accurately, electronically and immediately. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     In conventional auto-dimming safety lens devices, color change is generated on a lens after environmental light illuminates the lens. But, because the speed of the color change is very slow, a user cannot change the transmittance or color accurately and immediately when the user locates in a rapidly changing environment (e.g. during driving or sport) with the result that the user&#39;s eyes cannot reach the farthest visible distance immediately and the most comfortable state, causing the user to be always in a very dangerous state. 
     However, general sun glasses have fixed color and transmittance. Causing a user to be unable to obtain the clearest environmental scene while the user is in a rapidly changing environment (e.g. during driving or sport); this is the great disadvantage. 
     In addition, market discoloration ski goggles changing to a fixed color and illumination cannot change color and illumination automatically, skiers cannot have the clearest scene any time. 
     In addition, welding mask lens sets aims in the protection of users&#39; eyes currently rather than the obtainment of the best scene. 
     Conventional lenses with changeable transmittance all aim in the protection of eyes, but, they always cannot satisfy users&#39; safety consideration under a particular environment, for example, a driver&#39;s sight only limited in several meters while driving in heavily rainy day. Currently, there are not glasses made by taking safety into main consideration to match users&#39; requirements; users&#39; sight is only limited in several meters while drivers drive cars in a fog zone, but no glasses are made by taking safety into main consideration currently; users cannot have the clearest scene immediately while driving car into a basement or tunnel, causing the drivers to be in a very dangerous state, but no glasses are made by taking safety into consideration to conquer such kind of dangerous cause to conform to users&#39; requirements; because the current ski goggles are all stressed on the protection of eyes from the light reflection by snow rather than the obtainment of the clearest scene, a skier&#39;s eyes cannot reach the farthest visible distance and get the clearest view in a rapidly changing environment during skiing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To improve the disadvantages mentioned above, the present invention proposes a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device, a controller thereof receives accurate visible-light illumination signals from a light sensor immediately and calculates the best transmittance or color of a dimmable lens, controls the transmittance or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the dimmable lens immediately and accurately so as to allow human&#39;s eyes to reach the farthest visible distance, be in the most comfortable state, and get the clearest environment scene. Therefore, a user can use the real-time auto-dimming safety lens device of the present invention to allow the user&#39;s eyes to reach the farthest visible distance, be in the most comfortable state, and get the clearest scene while the use locates in a particular environment (e.g. raining day, fogginess, snowfield). Thereupon, a user can get the clearest scene, the farthest visible distance while either driving or exercising, and the user&#39;s eyes are comfortable and not easily tired any time. 
     a user uses this real-time auto-dimming safety lens device to adjust the illumination and color of environmental visible light entering the user&#39;s eyes immediately, rapidly, accurately and automatically when the user locates in an environmental light rapidly changing condition so as to allow human eyes to reach a farthest visible distance and be in a most comfortable state, and the user, thereby, can get the clearest environmental scene. Furthermore, a user uses a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device of the present invention to filter excessive environmental visible light immediately and accurately while locating under a strong light environment (e.g. during driving or doing sports), avoiding causing visible image blur to the user under the strong light, and allowing human&#39;s eyes to get the cleared scene immediately and be in the most comfortable state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematically perspective view of the first lens structure of a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematically perspective view of the second lens structure of a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematically perspective view of the third lens structure of a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematically perspective view of the fourth lens structure of a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a graph, showing a relationship between transmittance and bias voltage of a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment attached with glasses according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of safety helmet of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of ski glasses of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 ,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram, illustrating a system of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. A real-time auto-dimming safety lens device, at least including one or more than one lens  300 , an assembling frame, one or more than one light sensor  100 , one or more than one controller  200  and one or more than one electric power supply, where the lenses may be overlaid or not overlaid, they hold a function of adjusting transmittance and color of light from a visible light source penetrating the lens immediately and accurately. 
     The assembling frame is used to assemble lenses thereon, allowing various parts to be positioned, and components mounted on it to be fixed. 
     The light sensor  100  is used to detect the illumination of environmental visible light immediately and accurately. 
     The controller  200  receives the accurate illumination signals of environmental visible light from the sensors  100  and controls the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lens immediately and accurately. 
     The electric power supplies  400  provides stable electric power needed for the sensors  100  or controllers  200  through a voltage regulator circuit, and a stable reference voltage needed for the controllers  200  to control accurately the accurate illumination or color signals of environmental visible light penetrating the lenses. 
     In the embodiment, the controller  200  of a device for the immediate and automatic light adjusting of a safety lens receives immediately the accurate illumination signals of environmental visible light from the light sensors  100  and calculates the best transmittance or color, controlling immediately and accurately the illumination or color of environmental visible light penetrating the lenses  300 , thereby allowing human&#39;s eyes to reach the farthest visible distance and be in the most comfortable state in the meantime. Thereupon, a user can get the clearest environmental scene any time. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , illustrating a lens of a preferred embodiment, capable of adjusting the illumination or color of environmental visible light penetrating the lens, the lens at least includes one or more than one Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy layer  320  mixed with dye, in which Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy drives the rotation of the dye so as to cause the dye to absorb the illumination or color of environmental visible light, one or more than one upper light transmissive layer  302 , one or more than one lower light transmissive layer  301 , one or more than one upper electrode  311  and one or more than one lower electrode  310 . 
     In the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy layer  320  mixed with dye, the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy drives the dye to rotate to absorb the illumination or color of environmental visible light. 
     The upper light transmissive layer  302  is a Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy coating layer after environmental visible light penetrates Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy. 
     The lower light transmissive layer  301  is a Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy coating layer before environmental visible light enters Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy. 
     The upper electrode  311  provides a reference voltage needed for the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy to rotate the visible light. 
     The lower electrode  310  provides a bias voltage needed for the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy to rotate the visible light. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , illustrating a lens of another preferred embodiment, capable of adjusting the illumination or color of environmental visible light penetrating the lens, the lens is another structure and at least includes one or more than one electrochromic film layer  321 , one or more than one upper light transmissive layer  304 , one or more than one lower light transmissive layer  303 , one or more than one upper electrode layer  313 , one or more than one lower electrode layer  312 , one or more than one ion storage layer  340 , and one and more than one ion conducting layer  341 . 
     The electrochromic film layer  321  absorbs excess illumination or color of environmental visible light through the color change of ions. 
     The upper light transmissive layer  304  is the last layer of lens coating high light-transmission at a position that environmental visible light leaves the lens. 
     The lower light transmissive layer  303  is the first layer of lens coating high light-transmission at a position that environmental visible light enters the lens. 
     The upper electrode layer  313  provides a bias voltage needed for the electrochromic film layer. 
     The lower electrode layer  312  provides a bias voltage needed for the electrochromic film layer. 
     The ion storage layer  340  has an ion storing function and provides ions needed for absorbing the illumination or color of environmental visible light. 
     The ion conducting layer  341  conducts ions and blocks electrons so that the ions can be moved between the electrochromic layer  321  and ion storage layer  340 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , illustrating a lens of yet another embodiment according to the present invention, capable of adjusting the illumination or color of environmental visible light penetrating the lens, the lens has another structure and at least includes one or more than one upper light transmissive layer  309 , one or more than one lower light transmission layer  308 , one or more than one upper electrode layer  315 , one and more than one lower electrode layer  314 , one or more than one lower polarizing layer  350 , one or more than one upper polarizing layer  351 , one or more than one Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy layer  330 , and one or more than one upper filter layer  360 . 
     The upper light transmissive layer  309  is a Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy coating layer after environmental visible light penetrates Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy. 
     The lower light transmissive layer  308  is a Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy coating layer before environmental visible light enters Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy. 
     The upper electrode layer  315  provides a reference voltage needed for the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy to rotate the visible light. 
     The lower electrode layer  314  provides a bias voltage needed for the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy to rotate the visible light. 
     The lower polarizing layer  350  polarizes environmental visible light. 
     The upper polarizing layer  351  polarizes the environmental visible light after being rotated by the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy. 
     In the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy layer  330 , the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy rotates the environmental visible light penetrating the lower light transmissive layer. 
     The upper filter layer  360  absorbs the color of excess environmental visible light after being rotated by the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , illustrating a lens of still another embodiment according to the present invention, capable of adjusting the illumination or color of environmental visible light penetrating the lens, the lens has another structure and at least includes one or more than one upper light transmissive layer  371 , one or more than one lower light transmissive layer  370 , one or more than one upper electrode layer  317 , one and more than one lower electrode layer  316 , one or more than one lower polarizing layer  352 , one or more than one upper polarizing layer  353 , and one or more than one Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy layer  331 . 
     The upper light transmissive layer  371  is a Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy coating layer after environmental visible light penetrates Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy. 
     The lower light transmissive layer  370  is a Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy coating layer before environmental visible light enters Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy. 
     The upper electrode layer  317  provides a reference voltage needed for the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy to rotate the visible light. 
     The lower electrode layer  316  provides a bias voltage needed for the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy to rotate the visible light. 
     The lower polarizing layer  352  polarizes environmental visible light. 
     The upper polarizing layer  353  polarizes the environmental visible light after being rotated by Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy. 
     In the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy layer  331 , the Liquid Crystals with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy rotates the environmental visible light penetrating the lower light transmissive layer. 
       FIG. 6  is a graph showing the transmittance of the lens of a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device in  FIG. 2  against the bias voltage thereof, where economy in electricity of the lens is mulled over. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the transmittance of the lens is higher when the dimming signal is a low bias voltage; the transmittance of the lens is lower when the dimming signal is a high bias voltage; the device is in the most electricity saving mode when it is received in an opaque storage case, because the real-time auto-dimming safety lens device need not output any dimming signal. In addition, the device has no dimming signal to control the dimmable lens  300  when the device is out of electricity or malfunctioned, the dimmable lens  300  is at a highest transmittance state in this situation, and a user can still use it and no safety issue needs to be concerned. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , which is a schematic view showing a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device attached with real-time glasses, a glasses frame of the attached glasses of the real-time auto-dimming safety lens device is mounted with two sheets of lens  305 , which can adjust accurately the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lenses. 
     An assembling frame is used for assembling lenses and positioning various parts and fixing components mounted on it. 
     A light sensor  101  is used to detect immediately the accurate illumination of environment visible light. 
     A controller  201  is used to receive immediately the illumination signals of the accurate environmental visible light from the light sensor and control immediately and accurately the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lenses. 
     An electric power supplier  401  provides stable electric power needed for the sensors  101  or controllers  201  through a voltage regulator circuit, and a stable reference voltage needed for the controllers  201  to control accurately the accurate illumination or color signals of environmental visible light penetrating the lenses. 
     In the embodiment, the controller  201  of a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device attached with glasses receives immediately the accurate illumination signals of the environmental visible light source from the light sensors  101  and calculates the best transmittance or color, controlling immediately and accurately the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lenses  300 , thereby allowing human&#39;s eyes to reach the farthest visible distance and be in the most comfortable state in the meantime. Thereupon, a user can get the clearest environmental scene any time. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , which is a schematic view showing a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device for a safety helmet, a glasses frame of the safety helmet of the real-time auto-dimming safety lens device is mounted with a lens  306 , which can adjust accurately the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lenses. 
     An assembling frame is used for assembling lenses and positioning various parts and fixing components mounted on it. 
     A light sensor  102  is used to detect immediately the accurate illumination of environment visible light. 
     A controller  202  is used to receive immediately the illumination signals of the accurate environmental visible light from the light sensor and control immediately and accurately the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lens. 
     An electric power supplier  402  provides stable electric power needed for the light sensor and controller through a voltage regulator circuit, and a stable reference voltage needed for the controller  202  to control accurately the accurate illumination or color signals of environmental visible light penetrating the lens  306 . 
     In the embodiment, the controller  201  of a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device of a safety helmet receives immediately the accurate illumination signals of the environmental visible light source from the light sensors  101  and calculates the best transmittance or color, controlling immediately and accurately the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lenses  300 , thereby allowing human&#39;s eyes to reach the farthest visible distance and be in the most comfortable state in the meantime. Thereupon, a user can get the clearest environmental scene any time. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , which is a schematic view showing a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device for ski goggles, a glasses frame of the ski goggles of the real-time auto-dimming safety lens device is mounted with one or two lenses  307 , which can adjust accurately the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lenses. 
     An assembling frame is used for assembling lenses, positioning various parts and fixing components mounted on it. 
     A light sensor  103  is used to detect immediately the accurate illumination of environment visible light. 
     A controller  203  is used to receive immediately the illumination signals of the accurate environmental visible light from the light sensor and control immediately and accurately the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lens. 
     An electric power supplier  403  provides stable electric power needed for the light sensor  103  and controller  203  through a voltage regulator circuit, and a stable reference voltage needed for the controller  203  to control accurately the accurate illumination or color signals of environmental visible light penetrating the lens  307 . 
     In the embodiment, the controller  203  of a real-time auto-dimming safety lens device of ski goggles receives immediately the accurate illumination signals of the environmental visible light from the light sensors  103  and calculates the best transmittance or color, controlling immediately and accurately the illumination or color of the environmental visible light penetrating the lenses  307 , thereby allowing human&#39;s eyes to reach the farthest visible distance and be in the most comfortable state in the meantime. Thereupon, a user can get the clearest environmental scene any time.