Eye protection device for welding helmets

• US 5,208,688 A
• Filed: 02/08/1991
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Osd Envizion Company
• Inventors: Fergason, James L., Fergason, John D., Fergason, Jeffrey K., Berman, Arthur L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRICE, RONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/653,661
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 359/63, 359/53, 359/85
• US Class Current: 349/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/067 with variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/139 based on orientation effects in which the liquid crystal remains transparent
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/05 wavelength dependent

Abstract

Light transmission control device includes band pass filter for transmitting light of a wavelength or group of wavelengths and partially blocking transmission of light of a different wavelength or group of wavelengths, and variable optical filter for controllably transmitting light of a wavelength or group of wavelengths, the band pass filter and variable optical filter being cooperative to provide at least three light transmitting modes, including maximum transmission, minimum transmission, and a third mode less transmissive than the maximum, the device being operative to minimum transmissive mode upon being driven by a maximum energy input, the device also being operative to maximum transmissive mode upon being driven by a lesser energy input, and such third transmission mode occurring in response to no power or a failure of power or adequate power for energizing the device to the maximum or minimum transmissive mode.

Claims

1. A light transmission control device, comprising

a. band pass filter means for transmitting visible light of a prescribed wavelength and for blocking transmission of visible light of a different prescribed wavelength, and

b. variable optical filter means for controllably transmitting light of a visible wavelength, and

c. wherein said band pass filter and variable optical filter are cooperatively related to provide at least three different light transmitting conditions, including a maximum transmission, a minimum transmission, and a third transmission.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said variable optical filter means is operative in the absence of a prescribed input to cooperate with said band pass filter means to provide such third transmission.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said variable optical filter means is operative in the presence of a small prescribed input to cooperate with said band pass filter means to provide said maximum transmission and in the presence of a maximum prescribed input to cooperate with said band pass filter means to provide said minimum transmission.

4. A liquid crystal lens assembly for protecting the eyes, comprising

a. a band pass filter for transmitting visible light of a given wavelength and for blocking transmission of visible light of a different wavelength, and

b. a liquid crystal device in optical serial relation with said band pass filter,

said liquid crystal device having variable visible light transmitting conditions as a function of an application of an electric field thereto,

said liquid crystal device being tuned for operation in the absence of an electric field to transmit some light and to block some light at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter,

said liquid crystal device being responsive to application of a minimal electric field to be tuned to transmit substantially a maximum of light incident thereon, and

said liquid crystal device being responsive to application of a larger electric field to block transmission of substantially all light incident thereon.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said liquid crystal device comprises a surface mode liquid crystal cell.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said liquid crystal device comprises a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell.

7. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said liquid crystal device comprises a liquid crystal cell with a pleochroic dye therein, wherein said dye tends to absorb light at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter as a function of the alignment of said dye.

8. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said liquid crystal device comprises a plurality of polarizer means for selectively transmitting polarized light as a function of the direction of polarization of said polarizer means, said polarizer means being in optical serial relation, and a liquid crystal means positioned optically in serial relation between said polarizer means for changing the direction of polarization of light transmitted through said first polarizer means as a function of the electric field.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said liquid crystal means comprises a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said liquid crystal means comprises a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell.

11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said liquid crystal means is operative based on optical retardation.

12. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said liquid crystal means is a surface mode liquid crystal cell.

13. Apparatus for controlling transmission of electromagnetic energy which has a plurality of visible wavelengths and is incident thereon, comprising

a. band pass filter means for transmitting at least some said electromagnetic energy incident thereon at at least one wavelength and for filtering at least some electromagnetic energy at at least another wavelength, and

b. a controllable optical device in optical series with said band pass filter means, said controllable optical device being able to assume at least three different operational modes includes,

i. a first said mode providing substantial transmission of said electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means,

ii. a second said mode providing filtering of a substantial part of said electromagnetic energy transmitted by said band pass filter means, and

iii. a third said mode providing filtering of at least some of said electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a further controllable optical device in optical series with said band pass filter means and said controllable optical device, said further controllable optical device being able to assume at least two different operational modes, including

i. a first said mode providing substantial transmission of such electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means, and

ii. a second said mode providing filtering of substantially all of the electromagnetic energy transmitted by said band pass filter means.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said controllable optical device when in said second operational mode thereof has an optical leakage characteristic, and wherein said further controllable optical device when in said second operational mode thereof is operative to block transmission of substantially all of the electromagnetic energy transmitted by said controllable optical device in said second operational mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said further controllable optical device when in said second operational mode thereof has an optical leakage characteristic, and wherein said controllable optical device when in said second operational mode thereof is operative to block transmission of substantially all of the electromagnetic energy transmitted by said further controllable optical device in said second operational mode.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said further controllable optical device has a third operational mode providing filtering of at least some of said electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said controllable optical device and said further controllable optical device are characterized in that said third operational mode occurs in the absence of a prescribed input.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said controllable optical device and said further controllable optical device are characterized in that said second operational mode occurs in the presence of a high level of said prescribed input and said first operational mode occurs in the presence of a prescribed input at a level that is between the absence of said prescribed input and said high level of said prescribed input.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, said second mode providing filtering of all of the electromagnetic energy transmitted by said band pass filter means.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, said third mode providing filtering of all of the electromagnetic energy transmitted by said band pass filter means.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, said third mode providing filtering of only some of the electromagnetic energy transmitted by said band pass filter means.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the third operational mode of said further controllable optical device provides filtering of only some of said electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the third operational mode of said further controllable optical device provides filtering of all of said electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means.

25. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising circuit means for operating said controllable optical device to provide said control of transmission.

26. A welding helmet comprising a shield means for protecting the face of an individual, an opening in said shield means and apparatus positioned in said opening to provide variable eye protection for the individual, said apparatus being operative for controlling transmission of electromagnetic energy which has a plurality of visible wavelengths and is incident thereon and comprising

a. band pass filter means for transmitting at least some said electromagnetic energy incident thereon at least one wavelength and for filtering at least some of said electromagnetic energy at least another wavelength, and

b. a controllable optical device in optical series with said band pass filter means, said controllable optical device being able to assume at least three different operational modes including,

i. a first said mode providing substantial transmission of such electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means,

ii. a second said mode providing filtering of a substantial part of said electromagnetic energy transmitted by said band pass filter means, and

iii. a third said mode providing filtering of at least some of said electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means.

27. An eye protection device for protecting the eyes of a welder or the like, comprising a support for supporting a variable protective lens in position to protect said eyes, and a variable protective lens comprising apparatus operative for controlling transmission of electromagnetic energy which has a plurality of visible wavelengths and is incident thereon, comprising

a. band pass filter means for transmitting at least some said electromagnetic energy incident thereon at least one wavelength and for filtering at least some of said electromagnetic energy at least another wavelength, and

b. a controllable optical device in optical series with said band pass filter means, said controllable optical device being able to assume at least three different operational modes including,

i. a first said mode providing substantial transmission of said electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means,

ii. a second said mode providing filtering of a substantial part of said electromagnetic energy transmitted by said band pass filter means, and

iii. a third said mode providing filtering of at least some of said electromagnetic energy at the wavelength transmitted by said band pass filter means.

28. Device for controlling transmission of visible light energy which has a plurality of wavelengths and is incident thereon, comprising

a. band pass filter means for transmitting at least some of said light energy in the green area of the spectrum and for blocking transmission of most of the light in the other visible areas, ultraviolet area, and infrared area of the spectrum, and

b. electronically controlled variable optical filter means for controllably transmitting light of a wavelength,

c. said electronically controlled variable optical filter means being operational in the absence of a prescribed input to filter light energy in the green area of the spectrum.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein said optical filter means controllably transmits light as a function of tuning in response to a prescribed input.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein said optical filter means is operative in the presence of a small prescribed input to provide maximum transmission by the device.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said optical filter means is operative in the presence of a relatively maximum prescribed input to provide minimum transmission by the device.

32. The device of claim 28, wherein said optical filter means is operative in the presence of a maximum prescribed input to provide minimum transmission by the device.

33. The device of claim 28, wherein said optical filter means comprises a liquid crystal cell which operates on the principle of optical retardation.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein said optical filter means comprises a surface mode liquid crystal cell.

35. Device for controlling transmission of light energy which has a plurality of wavelengths incident thereon, comprising

a. band pass filter means for transmitting at least some of least one wavelength of said light energy and for filtering at least some of at least one other wavelength of said light energy,

b. electronically controlled variable optical filter means for controllably transmitting light of a wavelength in response to a prescribed input thereto, and

c. said electronically controlled variable optical filter means in the absence of a prescribed input being operative to transmit at least some of at least one wavelength of said light energy incident thereon and to filter at least some of at least one wavelength of said light energy incident thereon.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein said optical filter means operates achromatically in the presence of a prescribed input.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein said band pass filter means and optical filter means are cooperatively related to provide at least three different light transmitting modes, including a maximum transmission, a minimum transmission and a third transmission.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein said optical filter means is operative in the presence of a small prescribed input to provide maximum transmission by the device.

39. The device of claim 36, wherein said optical filter means is operative in the presence of a maximum prescribed input to provide minimum transmission by the device.

40. The device of claim 37, wherein said optical filter means is operative in the absence of a prescribed input to provide said third transmission.

41. The device of claim 36, wherein said optical filter means comprises a liquid crystal cell which operates on the principle of optical retardation.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein said optical filter means comprises a surface mode liquid crystal cell.

43. The device of claim 35, wherein said optical filter means is operative in the presence of a relatively small prescribed input to provide maximum transmission by the device, is operative in the presence of a maximum prescribed input to provide minimum transmission by the device and is operative in the presence of a prescribed input at a level between the maximum and the minimum input levels to provide transmission by the device at a level between the maximum and the minimum transmission.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein said optical filter comprises a liquid crystal cell which operates on the principle of optical retardation.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein said optical filter comprises a surface mode liquid crystal cell.

46. The device of claim 35, wherein said optical filter means is operative in the presence of a small prescribed input to provide maximum transmission by the device, is operative in the presence of a maximum prescribed input to provide minimum transmission by the device and by varying the prescribed input between the maximum and the minimum level will vary the transmission of the device.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein said optical filter comprises a liquid crystal cell which operates on the principle of optical retardation.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein said optical filter comprises a surface mode liquid crystal cell.