SMART SUNGLASSES, HELMET FACESHIELDS AND GOGGLES BASED ON ELECTROCHROMIC POLYMERS

• US 20080239452A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Washington
• Original Assignee: University of Washington
• Inventors: Taya, Minoru, Xu, Chunye, Ma, Chao
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F

Abstract

Eyewear exhibiting a variable light transmittance functionality is achieved by including a smart lens incorporating an electrochromic (EC) polymer, switchable between a first state and a second state in response to a voltage selectively applied thereto. The smart eyewear includes the smart lens, a voltage source, and a support. The EC polymer transmits more light in the first state than in the second state, because changing the state of the EC polymer varies the light transmittance of the smart lens. The voltage source is configured to provide the voltage required to switch the EC polymer between the first state and the second state, while the support member is configured to support the smart lens and enable a user to wear the smart eyewear. Embodiments can include sensors and controllers to automate the switching, as well as energy harvesting elements to increase battery life.

Claims

1. Smart eyewear exhibiting variable light transmittance functionality, comprising:

(a) a smart lens member including an electrochromic (EC) polymer, the EC polymer being switchable between a first state and a second state by selectively applying a voltage thereto, wherein the EC polymer transmits more light in the first state than in the second state;

(b) a voltage source member that is selectively connectable to the smart lens and is configured to provide the voltage required to switch the EC polymer between the first state and the second state; and

(c) a support member configured to support the lens and enable a user to wear the smart eyewear.

2. The smart eyewear of claim 1, wherein the voltage source member comprises a battery electrically coupled to the smart lens member.

3. The smart eyewear of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to enable a user to selectively switch the EC polymer between the first state and the second state.

4. The smart eyewear of claim 3, wherein the user interface is a touch sensor that is activated by being touched.

5. The smart eyewear of claim 3, wherein the user interface enables the voltage to be selectively varied, to selectively vary a transmittance of the EC polymer in the second state.

6. The smart eyewear of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control the state of the EC polymer, the controller being operatively coupled to the smart lens member and the voltage source member.

7. The smart eyewear of claim 6, wherein the controller is integrated into the support member, such that the controller is not readily visible.

8. The smart eyewear of claim 6, further comprising at least one element selected from a group consisting of:

(a) a light sensor operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to automatically switch the EC polymer between the first state and the second state based on a signal provided by the light sensor; and

(b) a microphone operatively coupled to the controller, such that the controller is configured to automatically switch the EC polymer between the first state and the second state based on a signal provided by the microphone corresponding to an audible command.

9. The smart eyewear of claim 6, wherein the EC polymer in the smart lens member is configured as a plurality of individually addressable pixels arranged in a grid format, each pixel being switchable between a transparent state and non-transparent state by selectively applying a voltage thereto.

10. The smart eyewear of claim 9, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to each pixel, and the plurality of individually addressable pixels are implemented using different EC polymers, enabling at least one of a tint and a color associated with the smart lens member to be selectively varied by switching the plurality of individually addressable pixels with an applied voltage.

11. The smart eyewear of claim 9, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to each pixel, and the controller is configured to selectively actuate pixels disposed proximate an upper portion of the lens.

12. The smart eyewear of claim 1, further comprising an energy harvesting element configured to enable energy from a user of the smart eyewear to provide the voltage required to switch the EC polymer between the first state and the second state.

13. The smart eyewear of claim 12, wherein the energy harvesting element meets at least one condition selected from a group consisting of:

(a) converts heat energy from a user of the smart eyewear to electrical energy;

(b) comprises a semiconductor;

(c) produces electrical energy when there is a difference of more than about two degrees Celsius between a body of the user and an ambient environment; and

(d) is integrated into the support member.

14. The smart eyewear of claim 1, wherein the smart lens member comprises a laminated EC structure having a cathodic EC polymer layer and no anodic EC polymer layer.

15. The smart eyewear of claim 1, wherein the EC polymer in the smart lens member is disposed in an upper portion of the smart lens member.

16. The smart eyewear of claim 1, further comprising an additional smart lens member.

17. The smart eyewear of claim 1, wherein the EC polymer in the smart lens member comprises a first EC polymer disposed in an upper portion of the smart lens member, and a second EC polymer disposed in a lower portion of the smart lens member, such that a transmittance of each of the upper and lower portions of the smart lens member can be individually controlled.

18. The smart eyewear of claim 1, wherein the smart eyewear is implemented using a form factor selected from a group consisting of:

(a) a helmet in which the smart lens member functions as a face shield;

(b) a helmet in which the smart lens member functions as an eye shield;

(c) a pair of sunglasses;

(d) a sports goggle;

(e) a ski goggle; and

(f) a pair of safety glasses.

19. The smart eyewear of claim 1, wherein the smart lens member comprises a laminated structure, the laminated structure comprising the EC polymer and further including:

(a) a first substantially transparent electrode;

(b) a substantially transparent gel electrolyte, such that the EC polymer is disposed between the first substantially transparent electrode and the substantially transparent gel electrolyte;

(c) an ion storage layer; and

(d) a second substantially transparent electrode, such that the ion storage layer is disposed between the second substantially transparent electrode and the substantially transparent gel electrolyte.

20. The smart eyewear of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first substantially transparent electrode and the second substantially transparent electrode comprises a flange that extends beyond an edge of the laminated structure, each flange being configured to facilitate coupling the laminated structure to the support member.

21. The smart eyewear of claim 19, wherein the ion storage layer comprises a vanadium pentoxide film.

22. The smart eyewear of claim 21, wherein the vanadium pentoxide film exhibits a green tint, such that even when the EC polymer is in the first state, a transmittance of the smart lens member is reduced due to the green tint.

23. The smart eyewear of claim 19, wherein the second substantially transparent electrode is covered by an anti-ultra-violet layer configured to reduce an intensity of ultra-violet radiation entering the laminated structure.

24. The smart eyewear of claim 19, wherein the EC polymer and the ion storage layer are conditioned by exposure to the gel electrolyte prior to assembly.

25. The smart eyewear of claim 1, wherein the smart lens member is incorporated into an optical blank used for prescription eyewear.

26. Smart eyewear exhibiting a variable light transmittance functionality, comprising:

(a) a smart lens member including at least one electrochromic (EC) polymer, each EC polymer being switchable between a first state and a second state by selectively applying a voltage thereto, wherein each EC polymer transmits more light in the first state than in the second state;

(b) voltage source for providing the voltage required to switch each EC polymer between the first state and the second state; and

(c) a support member configured to support the lens and enable a user to wear the smart eyewear.

27. A smart lens exhibiting a variable light transmittance functionality, comprising:

(a) a first substantially transparent electrode;

(b) an electrochromic (EC) polymer, the EC polymer being switchable between a first state and a second state by selectively applying a voltage thereto, wherein the EC polymer transmits more light in the first state than in the second state;

(c) a substantially transparent gel electrolyte, such that the EC polymer is disposed between the first substantially transparent electrode and the substantially transparent gel electrolyte;

(d) an ion storage layer;

(e) a second substantially transparent electrode, such that the ion storage layer is disposed between the second substantially transparent electrode and the substantially transparent gel electrolyte; and

(f) conductors used to couple the smart lens to a voltage source.

28. A method for improving a performance of an electrochromic (EC) device including an EC polymer layer, an ion storage layer, and an electrolyte, comprising the step of electrochemically conditioning the EC polymer layer and the ion storage layer, in order to ensure that the inorganic ions in the EC polymer layer and the ion storage layer are compatible with the inorganic ions provided by electrolyte.