Light detecting and angle of view compensation for optical devices and method
First Claim
1. A control for a controllable optical device, comprising a sensor to sense the incident direction of incident light, a control circuit responsive to incident direction information to provide for control of the optical device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control for a controllable optical device, such as an auto-darkening lens (ADL), such as used in welding helmets, respirators, or other device, includes a sensor sensing the direction of incident light and a control circuit responsive to incident direction information to provide for control of the optical device. Based on at least one of incident direction of light and light intensity a the shade characteristics of the ADL or the like can be controlled and maintained while a person wearing the ADL may move the head to different orientations. Several fixed photosensor arrangements and dynamic systems may be used to sense incident light direction and whether the incident light is a point source. A method of detecting direction of incident light and whether the incident light is from a point source, and of controlling an ADL or the like based on direction and/or intensity of incident light.
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Citations
75 Claims
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1. A control for a controllable optical device, comprising
a sensor to sense the incident direction of incident light, a control circuit responsive to incident direction information to provide for control of the optical device.
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27. An auto-darkening lens system, comprising
a liquid crystal shutter, including a liquid crystal cell and associated polarizers, a detector for detecting the direction of incident light on the liquid crystal shutter, and a circuit for driving the liquid crystal shutter to respective shades of light transmission according to the direction of such incident light.
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28. A method of operating an optical device, comprising
providing information representative of incident direction of light, and adjusting a characteristic of the optical device according to such incident direction.
- 30. A method of detecting the angle of incident light, comprising limiting the paths of light to a number of respective photosensors.
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33. A method of determining whether incident light is generally uniformly distributed ambient light or light from at least one point source of light, comprising comparing the outputs representative of light incident on a number of photosensors to determine whether there is a substantial peak at one or a number of the photosensors relative to the intensity of light on others of the photosensors.
- 34. An optical filter or lens, comprising a detector to detect the direction of incident light, and an active adjustment for the filter or lens as a function of the direction of incident light.
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40. A light sensor, comprising
a generally linear array of photosensors, and an aperture arranged relative to the generally linear array to pass light from a light source to a limited number of the photosensors.
- 57. A light sensor for detecting location of a light source, comprising first and second light detectors, each light detector including a light transmitting opening and a number of light sensors arranged in a generally linear arrangement, the linear arrangement of one light detector being generally non-parallel to the linear arrangement of the other light detector.
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69. A method of detecting light, comprising
directing light through an opening to a generally linear arrangement of light sensors, whereby the intensity of light on one or several light sensors relative to the intensity of light on a number of other sensors is indicative of the direction of light through the opening.
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72. A method of detecting light, comprising
directing light through an opening to a generally linear arrangement of light sensors, whereby the intensity of light on one or several light sensors relative to the intensity of light on a number of other sensors is representative of detecting a point light source.
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73. A method of detecting a point source of light, comprising
directing light through a light transmitting opening to a generally linear arrangement of light detectors, whereby ambient light illuminates a number of light sensors and light from a point source of light illuminates a reduced number of light sensors.
Specification