Electrically controlled optical shield for eye protection against bright light
First Claim
1. A method to reduce a maximum light level incident on an eye, the method comprising:
- capturing a scene image that is being seen by the eye;
processing the captured scene image to identify any bright spots;
mapping each identified bright spot to an active medium having a plurality of electrically addressable regions to identify at least one of said regions that correspond to the identified bright spot;
capturing an image of the eye;
processing the captured image of the eye to identify a position of the eye;
using the identified position of the eye to adjust a position of said identified at least one region of the active medium;
applying an electrical signal to said identified at least one region of the active medium to change an opacity of said identified at least one region, said at least one region having the change in opacity being less than an entire region of said active medium; and
automatically clearing the identified at least one region of the active medium in response to a power failure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An active device provides protection from the sun or other bright light source for improved vision, using a variable opacity medium that is electronically controlled to cast a shadow on an eye of a user and/or to otherwise reduce the amount of the light incident on the eye, thereby reducing glare. Miniature cameras monitor the user'"'"'s eye movements and the scene in front of the user. If a bright light is detected, one or more dark spots is created in the variable opacity medium that acts as a shade or light filter for a pupil of the eye. The variable opacity medium, cameras, and associated electronics can be used in connection with eyeglasses (including sunglasses), as part of a device worn by the user (such as a helmet), a windshield, mirror, or other optical element having a view port through which light can be seen by the user.
157 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method to reduce a maximum light level incident on an eye, the method comprising:
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capturing a scene image that is being seen by the eye; processing the captured scene image to identify any bright spots; mapping each identified bright spot to an active medium having a plurality of electrically addressable regions to identify at least one of said regions that correspond to the identified bright spot; capturing an image of the eye; processing the captured image of the eye to identify a position of the eye; using the identified position of the eye to adjust a position of said identified at least one region of the active medium; applying an electrical signal to said identified at least one region of the active medium to change an opacity of said identified at least one region, said at least one region having the change in opacity being less than an entire region of said active medium; and automatically clearing the identified at least one region of the active medium in response to a power failure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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12. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor to reduce a maximum light level incident on an eye, by; capturing a scene image that is being seen by the eye; processing the captured scene image to identify any bright spots; mapping each identified bright spot to an active medium having a plurality of electrically addressable regions to identify at least one of said regions that correspond to the identified bright spot; capturing an image of the eye; processing the captured image of the eye to identify a position of the eye; using the identified position of the eye to adjust a position of said identified at least one region of the active medium; applying an electrical signal to said identified at least one region of the active medium to change an opacity of said identified at least one region, said at least one region having the change in opacity being less than an entire region of said active medium; and responding to a power failure by automatically clearing the identified at least one region of the active medium. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A system to reduce a maximum light level incident on an eye, the system comprising:
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a scene camera to capture an image of a scene that is being seen by the eye; a processor coupled to the scene camera to process the captured scene image to identify any bright spots; an active medium coupled to the processor, the active medium having a plurality of electrically addressable regions that can change their opacity in response to an electrical signal, wherein the processor is adapted to map each identified bright spot to at least one of said regions that correspond to the identified bright spot; electronics coupled to the processor and to the active medium to generate said electrical signal, said electronics being adapted to apply said electrical signal to said at least one region of the active medium to change an opacity of said at least one region, said at least one region having the change in opacity being less than an entire region of said active medium, wherein said electronics are configured to respond to a power failure by restoring the opacity of the at least one region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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21. A method to reduce a maximum light level incident on an eye of a user, the method comprising:
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capturing an image of a scene that is being seen by the user; processing the captured scene image to show only bright areas; applying an electrical signal to an active medium to change an opacity, reflectance or other optical characteristic of at least a portion of said active medium that corresponds to said bright areas; and responding to a power failure by automatically restoring the changed characteristic of the at least a portion of said active medium. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system to reduce bright light incident on an eye of a user, the system comprising:
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a scene camera to capture video of a scene that is being seen by the user; a processor coupled to the scene camera to process the captured scene in real time to identify any bright spots and to blank other portions of the scene; an active medium to receive an electrical signal; and circuitry configured to provide power for providing signals to the active medium in response to a power failure. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus, comprising:
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a scene camera to register low resolution video of a scene in high contrast; an active medium to display said video in a way to block out bright parts of said scene; and a controller configured to respond to a power failure by clearing at least one region of the active medium. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification