Active laser protection system

• US 7,202,852 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark R. Harvie
• Original Assignee: Mark R. Harvie
• Inventors: Harvie, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar; Vijay
• Application Number:
  US11/031,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20050162575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 345156-166, 345173-178, 345 11- 15, 345/59, 359/13, 359/465, 359630-635
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/022 Use of special optical filters, e.g. multiple layers, filters for protection against laser light or light from nuclear explosions, screens with different filter properties on different parts of the screen; Rotating slit-discs optical filters per se G02B5/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4804 Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying lidar signals or the like, e.g. laser illuminators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13 based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells

Abstract

This invention relates to an active Laser Protection System (LPS) system specifically designed to provide a device that automatically adjusts a protection panel of the device in response to laser light exposure thus preventing a user from being exposed to damaging laser light. In one embodiment the LPS system utilizes a light weight portable goggle type eyewear. In yet another embodiment the LPS system is comprised of contact lenses worn by the user. The LPS system may be used in all light transmissive surfaces where the penetration of laser light is not desired, such as aircraft, spacecraft, vessel, train, and automotive windshields, etc. The LPS system may also be utilized as a replacement window for structures where laser light penetration is undesired. The protection panels utilize Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) that are activated by laser sensors by means of a microprocessor and power supply means. The device also automatically replaces non-laser visible light that may be blocked because the light was of the same wavelength as the blocked light by projecting that light by means of activating the LCD accordingly by means of the microprocessor.

Claims

1. An active Laser Protection System device comprising:

at least one laser detection means;

at least one microprocessor;

at least one liquid crystal display;

the liquid crystal display is further comprised of a laser exposed side and a user side;

at least one laser detection communication means in electronic communication with the laser detection means and the microprocessor such that when the laser detection means detects a laser light the laser detection communication means, then communicates all available data regarding the laser light from the laser detection means to the microprocessor and then the microprocessor processes the data being communicated from the laser detection means;

at least one liquid crystal display communication means in electronic communication with the microprocessor and the liquid crystal such that when the laser detection means detects a laser light and the microprocessor has processed the data from the laser detection means, the microprocessor activates the liquid crystal display in response thereto by communicating with the liquid crystal display by means of the liquid crystal display communication means; and

the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side any visible non-laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side of the same wavelength as the laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side as detected by the laser detection means.

2. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 1 wherein the activated liquid crystal display prevents the laser light detected by the laser detection means from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side of the liquid crystal display.

3. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 2 wherein the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side in a readable text format information regarding the laser light detected by the laser detection means.

4. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 2 wherein the liquid crystal display further comprises at least one lens of an eyeglasses.

5. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 4 wherein the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side in a readable text format information regarding the laser light detected by the laser detection means.

6. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 4 wherein the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side any visible non-laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side of the same wavelength as the laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side as detected by the laser detection means.

7. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 2 wherein the liquid crystal display further comprises at least one contact lens.

8. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 7 wherein the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side in a readable text format information regarding the laser light detected by the laser detection means.

9. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 7 wherein the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side any visible non-laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side of the same wavelength as the laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side as detected by the laser detection means.

10. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 2 wherein the liquid crystal display further comprises a window.

11. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 10 wherein the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side in a readable text format information regarding the laser light detected by the laser detection means.

12. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 10 wherein the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side any visible non-laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side of the same wavelength as the laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side as detected by the laser detection means.

13. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 2 wherein the liquid crystal display further comprises a windshield.

14. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 13 wherein the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side in a readable text format information regarding the laser light detected by the laser detection means.

15. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 14 wherein the microprocessor causes the liquid crystal display to display on the user side any visible non-laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side of the same wavelength as the laser light that was prevented from passing from the laser exposed side to the user side as detected by the laser detection means.

16. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 1 wherein the laser detection communication means and the liquid crystal display communication means are each comprised of electrical conductors.

17. The active Laser Protection System device of claim 1 wherein the laser detection communication means and the liquid crystal display communication means are each comprised of at least one transmitter and at least one receiver.