Welding operation liquid crystal protection mask

• US 6,934,967 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Suyama, Shunsuke, Miyashita, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US10/381,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20040031903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 2/8, 243/2, 349/14, 349/116, 250/201.1, 219/147
• US Class Current: 2/8.8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/067 with variable transmission

Abstract

A welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask for protecting the eyes of a human operator from an arc light generated during a welding operation, comprises a liquid crystal protection mask main body adapted to be attached to the face of a human operator; a detecting means disposed in the vicinity of the liquid crystal protection mask main body and capable of detecting an incident arc light generated during the welding operation and thus producing a detection result; a liquid crystal light blocking section that is disposed in a position corresponding to the eyes of a human operator wearing the protection mask with the human face being covered by the protection mask main body and that has a liquid crystal member that is capable of blocking the incident light by instantaneously reducing the light transmittance of the liquid crystal in accordance with the detection result output from the detecting means and by means of a liquid crystal driving power source; and a polarizing plate that is provided in front of the detecting means to cover up the detecting means and that is capable of controlling the orientation of the incident light.

Claims

1. A welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask for protecting the eyes of a human operator from an arc light generated during a welding operation, which mask comprises:

a liquid crystal protection mask main body that is adapted to be attached to the face of a human operator;

a detecting means that is disposed in the vicinity of the liquid crystal protection mask main body and that is capable of detecting an incident arc light generated during the welding operation and thus producing a detection result;

a liquid crystal light blocking section that is disposed in a position corresponding to the eyes of a human operator wearing the protection mask with the human face being covered by the protection mask main body and that has a liquid crystal member that is capable of blocking the incident light by instantaneously reducing the light transmittance of the liquid crystal in accordance with the detection result output from the detecting means and by means of a liquid crystal driving power source; and

a polarizing member that permits light transmittance therethrough when light is incident on the polarizing member in a direction normal thereto to allow the detecting means to produce a detection result but that blocks the transmittance of light sufficiently to not cause the detecting means to produce a detection result when the light is incident thereon at a certain angle exceeding the normal angle of incidence.

2. The welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover plate that is disposed so as to cover up at least the front surface of the liquid crystal light blocking section, thereby protecting the liquid crystal member from sputters and mechanical stress during the welding operation.

3. The welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask of claim 1, wherein the polarizing member is a polarizing film.

4. The welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask of claim 1, wherein the polarizing member is so constructed that when lights are incident on the polarizing member, only the lights having incidence angles of 24 degrees or smaller are allowed to pass through the polarizing member, thereby effecting the control of the orientation or the incident arc light.

5. The welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask of claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes an open-ended cylindrical member disposed in a predetermined position adjacent to the liquid crystal light blocking section, and a light receiving member disposed on the bottom of the open-ended cylindrical member for receiving an incident light.

6. The welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal member is a liquid crystal plate.

7. The welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal driving power source is a solar battery.

8. The welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask of claim 2, wherein the cover plate is a transparent protection plate.

9. The welding operation liquid crystal protection mask of claim 1 , wherein the polarizing member allows light to pass therethrough to enable the detector to produce a detection result when the light is incident thereon at an angle of 24°

or less.

10. A welding-operation protection mask that comprises:

(a) a mask main body;

(b) a liquid crystal unit disposed on the main body and comprising a liquid crystal light blocking section for reducing light transmittance to protect the eyes of a wearer;

(c) a light detector that is capable of detecting light generated during a welding procedure, the light detector generating a signal that results in having the liquid crystal light blocking section reduce light transmittance; and

(d) a polarizing member that is disposed in a position such that welding light incident upon the light detector will first pass through the polarizing member, the polarizing member allowing incident light to pass therethrough to cause the detector to produce a detection result when the incident light strikes the detection normal thereto but which polarizing member blocks the same incident light sufficiently to prevent the detector from producing a detection result when the light is incident thereon at a certain angle greater than a normal angle of incidence.

11. The welding-operation protection mask of claim 10, wherein the polarizing member is a polarizing film.

12. The welding operation liquid crystal protection mask of claim 10, wherein the polarizing member allows light to pass therethrough to enable the detector to produce a detection result when the light is incident thereon at an angle of 24°

or less.