Adaptive Polarization Filter Grids for Glare and Screen Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polarized eyewear, such as sunglasses, struggle to adapt dynamically to environmental factors, leading to glare issues and poor performance with polarized display screens, particularly at certain viewing angles.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a grid of electrically configurable polarization filters into eyewear, allowing independent control of each grid element, combined with a polarization analyzer and controller to optimize polarization characteristics in real-time based on the scene being viewed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional polarized eyewear is used, then glare reduction is achieved, but adaptability to different environmental factors and viewing conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the polarizing filter into a grid of independently controllable segments or zones. Each segment can be adjusted individually to optimize polarization characteristics for different regions of the field of view, allowing simultaneous glare reduction in some areas while maintaining display visibility in others.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamically adjustable polarization filters that can change their polarization state in real-time based on environmental conditions and viewing requirements. This dynamic capability allows the eyewear to adapt between glare reduction mode and display visibility mode, resolving the contradiction between fixed glare reduction and environmental adaptability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If polarized filters are used to reduce glare, then glare from surfaces is reduced, but viewing of polarized display screens deteriorates at certain angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different polarization characteristics to different regions of the eyewear. By making each segment independently controllable, the system can locally optimize for glare reduction in directions where sunlight reflects while maintaining appropriate polarization transmission angles for viewing display screens, thus resolving the contradiction between uniform glare reduction and localized display viewing requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed polarization characteristics are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but real-time optimization of polarization characteristics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed mechanical polarization filters with electrically or magnetically controllable polarization elements. This substitution allows real-time adjustment of polarization characteristics through electronic control signals, enabling dynamic optimization while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes using modern electro-optic materials and actuation mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively reduces glare from both horizontal and vertical surfaces while enabling clear viewing of polarized display screens without blackouts, providing adaptive glare reduction and improved visual experience.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of polarization filter stacks, each polarization filter stack comprising a stack of one or more polarization rotators followed by an anisotropic absorber
Implementation Method 2
a stack of one or more polarization rotators followed by an anisotropic absorber
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus are described herein related to augmenting human vision by means of adaptive polarization filter grids. A preferred embodiment is described as smart sunglasses, realized as see through head mountable device (HMD) configured to reduce glare originating from polarized light. Each eyeglass of the HMD is associated with a grid comprising a plurality of dynamically configurable polarization filters placed in the path of the light. A polarization analyzer module analyzes the polarization characteristics of a field of view and performs an optimization calculation. The polarization analyzer controls the said grid via a controller module in such a way that the filter state of each grid element can be addressed separately. The grid of polarization filters causes the polarization characteristics of the incident light to be adapted in such a way as to reduce glare and/or to provide a user of the said head mountable device with an enhanced visual perception of the field of view. The user of the described head mountable device has the option of selection between a plurality of polarization enhancement modes, such as horizontal or vertical polarization filtering only or a hybrid mode combining both horizontal and vertical polarization filtering on an individual basis for each grid element. Additionally smart window and smart mirror embodiments of the described adaptive polarization filter grids are introduced.