Liquid crystal lens assembly for eye protection
First Claim
1. A light control device, comprising a light shutter including a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal device operative in response to a prescribed input to control transmission of light therethrough, and a variable polarizer optically aligned with respect to said light shutter and operative to control light transmitted therethrough in response to a prescribed input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light control device includes a light shutter having a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal device operative in response to a prescribed input to control transmission of light therethrough, and a variable polarizer optically aligned with respect to said light shutter and operative to control light transmitted therethrough in response to a prescribed input; the light shutter is operative relatively fast in response to application of electric field to reduce light transmission and the variable polarizer is operative in the event of a power loss, which would cause the light shutter to stop light blocking, to provide a safety light blocking function. The light control device may be employed in a welding helmet or other device intended to provide protection to the eyes of an individual or other animate or inanimate object from selected electromagnetic energy, such as that produced by welding or other source.
126 Citations
39 Claims
- 1. A light control device, comprising a light shutter including a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal device operative in response to a prescribed input to control transmission of light therethrough, and a variable polarizer optically aligned with respect to said light shutter and operative to control light transmitted therethrough in response to a prescribed input.
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27. A welding helmet comprising a protective shield, and a light control device, comprising a light shutter including a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal device operative in response to a prescribed input to control transmission of light therethrough, and a variable polarizer optically aligned with respect to said light shutter and operative to control light transmitted therethrough in response to a prescribed input.
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28. An eye protection apparatus comprising a lens assembly for positioning in front of the eyes, said lens assembly including a light shutter having a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal device operative in response to a prescribed input to control transmission of light therethrough, and a variable polarizer optically aligned with respect to said light shutter and operative to control light transmitted therethrough in response to a prescribed input.
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29. A method for protecting the eyes of an individual, comprising directing light to a light shutter which includes a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal device, supplying a prescribed input to control transmission of light through such device, and directing light transmitted through such light shutter through a variable polarizer operative to control light transmitted therethrough in response to a prescribed input.
- 30. A light control device, comprising a light shutter including a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal device operative in response to a prescribed input to control transmission of light therethrough, and a variable liquid crystal device optically aligned with respect to said light shutter and operative to control light transmitted therethrough in response to a prescribed input and including a plurality of volumes of liquid crystal material in a containment medium operative to effect scattering or absorption of light in the absence of a field input and to reduce such scattering or absorption in the presence of such field input.
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39. A method for protecting the eyes of an individual from electromagnetic energy;
- comprising positioning between the eyes of the individual and a source of such energy a variable polarizer and a light shutter which includes a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal device;
supplying a prescribed input to such variable polarizer to control transmission of energy therethrough; and
supplying a prescribed input to such liquid crystal device to control transmission of such energy through such light shutter.
- comprising positioning between the eyes of the individual and a source of such energy a variable polarizer and a light shutter which includes a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal device;
Specification