Firefighter training simulator
First Claim
1. A firefighter training device for occluding a trainee'"'"'s vision and simulating field conditions across the trainee'"'"'s field of view, said device comprising:
- a mask adapted to be worn by the trainee, said mask having a housing;
multi-layered, voltage controlled liquid crystal (LC) lens mounted in said mask, said lens having a plurality of stacked LC layers which combine to define a working area viewed by the trainee, each LC layer including a colored, host-dyed LC material and associated conductive layers on each side of said LC material, said LC material and conductive layers being located between layers of substrate, at least one conductive layer being divided into a grid of independently controllable segments, wherein said segments substantially overlap each other; and
a controller for individually and collectively controlling said segments to provide view-limiting simulation of field conditions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Firefighter training device for limiting a trainee'"'"'s vision and simulating firefighting conditions across a trainee'"'"'s field of view. The device includes a view-limiting simulation mask which is worn by a trainee (e.g., respirator mask, glasses, or goggles). The mask houses a voltage controlled liquid crystal (LC) lens system, either single or multi-layered, which is divided into various individually and electronically controllable segments. Host dyes might be injected into LC materials to produce colors in the lens segments. Pre-programmed and random pattern control of lens segments occludes the trainee'"'"'s vision and simulates smoke and/or fires. Sound and strobes might be added to simulate explosions and other firefighting conditions. A transmitter, which includes switchable controls, can be used to send control signals to the mask. The training device can effectively be used indoors or outdoors. Audio devices may accompany the visual trainer, providing alarms and simulating the sounds of actual firefighting conditions.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A firefighter training device for occluding a trainee'"'"'s vision and simulating field conditions across the trainee'"'"'s field of view, said device comprising:
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a mask adapted to be worn by the trainee, said mask having a housing; multi-layered, voltage controlled liquid crystal (LC) lens mounted in said mask, said lens having a plurality of stacked LC layers which combine to define a working area viewed by the trainee, each LC layer including a colored, host-dyed LC material and associated conductive layers on each side of said LC material, said LC material and conductive layers being located between layers of substrate, at least one conductive layer being divided into a grid of independently controllable segments, wherein said segments substantially overlap each other; and a controller for individually and collectively controlling said segments to provide view-limiting simulation of field conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A firefighter training device for occluding a trainee'"'"'s vision and simulating field conditions across the trainee'"'"'s field of view, said device comprising:
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a mask adapted to be worn by the trainee, said mask having a housing; a single-layered, voltage controlled liquid crystal (LC) lens mounted in said mask, said lens having an LC layer defining a working area viewed by the trainee, said LC layer including an LC material and associated conductive layers on each side of said LC material, said LC material and conductive layers being located between layers of substrate, at least one conductive layer being divided into a grid of independently controllable segments, said segments being divided along substantially vertically and horizontally aligned lines; and a controller for individually and collectively controlling said segments to provide view-limiting simulation of field conditions. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification