Light detecting and angle of view compensation for optical devices and method

• US 7,501,613 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taroko International Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lightswitch Safety Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Fergason, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wyatt; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/887,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20050007504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 250/205, 250/216, 250/229, 250/206.2, 250/221, 250/226, 349 13- 14, 349/77, 351 44- 45, 359/601
• US Class Current: 250/216
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/783 using amplitude comparison of signals derived from static detectors or detector systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector

Abstract

A control for a controllable optical device, such as an auto-darkening lens (ADL), such as used in welding helmets, respirators, or other device, includes a sensor sensing the direction of incident light and a control circuit responsive to incident direction information to provide for control of the optical device. Based on at least one of incident direction of light and light intensity a the shade characteristics of the ADL or the like can be controlled and maintained while a person wearing the ADL may move the head to different orientations. Several fixed photosensor arrangements and dynamic systems may be used to sense incident light direction and whether the incident light is a point source. A method of detecting direction of incident light and whether the incident light is from a point source, and of controlling an ADL or the like based on direction and/or intensity of incident light.

Claims

1. A control for a controllable optical device, comprising

an auto-darkening lens,

a sensor to sense the incident direction of incident light toward the auto-darkening lens,

a control circuit responsive to incident direction information to provide for control of the auto-darkening lens,

wherein the control circuit provides for shade adjustment control for the auto-darkening lens to maintain at least a desired light attenuation shade for different directions of incident light,

said sensor comprising a photosensor, said photosensor comprising a plurality of photosensors, and

further comprising a light restricting opening limiting the direction at which light may impinge on one or more of said photosensors.

2. The control of claim 1, said light restricting opening comprising a tube.

3. The control of claim 1, said light restricting opening comprising an aperture.

4. The control of claim 3, said aperture comprising an elongate aperture.

5. The control of claim 4, a number of said photosensors arranged in a generally linear array and said elongate aperture extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of said generally linear array.

6. The control of claim 5, said sensor comprising at least two arrangements of generally linear arrays of photosensors oriented relative to respective elongate apertures that are generally perpendicular to the respective arrays.

7. A control for a controllable optical device, comprising

an auto-darkening lens,

a sensor to sense the incident direction of incident light toward the auto-darkening lens,

a control circuit responsive to incident direction information to provide for control of the auto-darkening lens,

wherein the control circuit provides for shade adjustment control for the auto-darkening lens to maintain at least a desired light attenuation shade for different directions of incident light,

said sensor comprising a photosensor, said photosensor comprising a plurality of photosensors, and

further comprising a lens for restricting the direction at which light impinges on the photosensors.

8. A control for a controllable optical device, comprising

an auto-darkening lens,

a sensor to sense the incident direction of incident light toward the auto-darkening lens,

a control circuit responsive to incident direction information to provide for control of the auto-darkening lens,

wherein the control circuit provides for shade adjustment control for the auto-darkening lens to maintain at least a desired light attenuation shade for different directions of incident light,

said sensor comprising a photosensor, and

further comprising a shutter to control light incident on the sensor.

9. The control of claim 8, said shutter comprising a movable aperture.

10. The control of claim 9, further comprising a motor for moving the aperture.

11. The control of claim 10, said aperture being in a rotatable member, and said motor being operative to rotate said rotatable member.

12. The control of claim 11, said aperture comprising a generally circular opening in the rotatable member.

13. The control of claim 11, said aperture comprising a slot in the rotatable member.

14. The control of claim 11, said aperture comprising a helical slot.

15. The control of claim 9, further comprising analyzer circuit responsive to outputs from the photosensor and the relative location of the aperture to the photosensor to provide an indication of incident light direction.

16. The control of claim 9, further comprising analyzer circuit responsive to outputs from the photosensor and the relative location of the aperture to the photosensor to provide an indication of whether the incident light is from at least one point source of light.