Photochromic ultraviolet detector

• US 5,581,090 A
• Filed: 10/25/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solartech Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Solartech Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Goudjil, Kamal
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hanig, Richard
• Application Number:
  US08/547,994
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 250/474.1, 250/372 EM, 544/71
• US Class Current: 250/474.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/50 using change in colour of an indicator, e.g. actinometer

Abstract

An Ultraviolet detector based on the propriety of a photochromic composition in changing its color upon exposure to UV rays is described. The said photochromic composition contains a spiropyran or a spiroxazine molecule previously dissolved in a non-polar solvent such as toluene, cyclohexane, then mixed to clear plastics to be incorporated in any item e.g. watch, credit card, sunscreen bottle cap. The present UV sensor can also be used as a sun shading technique on a windshield of an automotive vehicle.

Claims

1. An Ultraviolet detector comprising:

a photochromic compound corresponding to a molecule in the spiroxazine or spiropyran group, wherein said photochromic compound is dissolved in a non-polar solvent and mixed to an acrylic coating or any adhesive for lamination to form a composition which is applied to plastic, paper, metal or glass,

said photochromic compound is also dissolved in a non-polar solvent and mixed to a clear plastic and molded to form a material sensitive to UV radiation.

2. The ultraviolet detector of claim 1 is incorporated in a watch and a plastic card wherein the color change of said ultraviolet detector is compared to a printed colored scale, wherein said colored scale is a color hue variation.

3. The ultraviolet detector of claim 1 is molded as a cap of a sunscreen bottle to provide an in situ check of the sunscreen efficiency over both UVA and UVB ranges.

4. A variable sunshade for an automobile wherein the ultraviolet detector of claim 1 is used in a form of a removable thin plastic sheet to coat the upper part of a windshield of any automotive vehicle.