Contrast Enhancing Filter for Eye Glasses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current filters for ski goggles fail to provide adequate contrast enhancement under varying light conditions and direct sunlight, particularly in snowy environments, as they either over-block blue light, leading to color distortion or do not sufficiently enhance contrast perception for recognizing terrain irregularities.

Innovation Solution

An optical filter with a spectral power transmission curve featuring a local maximum transmission of up to 30% in the 380-420 nm range and reduced transmission in the 420-500 nm range, designed to balance contrast enhancement with color fidelity, while minimizing the detection of blue light by M- and L-cones and maximizing it by S-cones, and optionally reducing polarizing effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a filter blocks all incoming blue light to maximize contrast enhancement, then contrast perception is significantly improved, but color distortion increases and peripheral vision is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrast perceptionVSAvoidcolor information and peripheral vision
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The filter applies different transmission characteristics to different wavelength ranges within the blue light spectrum. It selectively transmits light in the 440-480 nm range while attenuating other blue wavelengths, creating a localized quality change that preserves useful information while enhancing contrast.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The filter modifies the spectral transmission parameters by creating a specific transmission window (440-480 nm) with at least 20% transmission, while reducing transmission in other blue light ranges. This parameter change allows optimization of contrast enhancement while maintaining color fidelity and peripheral vision capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If a filter reduces blue light transmission to enhance contrast, then contrast perception improves, but the filter complexity increases to achieve precise spectral control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrast perceptionVSAvoidfilter spectral control
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter divides the blue light spectrum into distinct segments with different transmission characteristics: a transmission window (440-480 nm), an attenuation range, and other wavelength ranges. This segmentation allows precise control of blue light effects using a single filter element rather than multiple filters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter employs a composite optical structure with multiple layers or materials that work together to achieve the complex spectral transmission profile. This composite approach enables precise control of light transmission across different wavelengths while maintaining a single integrated filter component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Loss of information

If a filter transmits more blue light to support peripheral vision, then color fidelity improves, but contrast enhancement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblue light information for peripheral visionVSAvoidcontrast perception
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The filter applies partial transmission of blue light rather than complete transmission or complete blocking. By transmitting at least 20% of blue light in the 440-480 nm range while attenuating other blue wavelengths, it achieves a balanced partial action that satisfies both contrast enhancement and peripheral vision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

The filter significantly enhances contrast perception while maintaining color accuracy, even under intense sunlight and varying snow conditions, by optimizing blue light transmission to support peripheral vision and movement control without excessive color distortion.

Implementation Method 1

an optical filter with a spectral power transmission curve featuring a local maximum transmission of up to 30% in the 380-420 nm range and reduced transmission in the 420-500 nm range

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical filtering: Filter (optical)

Implementation Method 2

optionally reducing polarizing effects

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarization reduction: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentEP2946245B1Contrast enhancing filter for eye glasses and contrast enhancing eye glass
Publication Date: 2017.11.22 CARL ZEISS VISION ITAL SPA
  • EP2946245B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2946245B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2946245B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an optical filter for eye glasses, in particular suitable for spectacle lenses or ski goggles, having a spectral power transmission curve (1a, 1b, 1c) of optical radiations. Said spectral power transmission curve (1a, 1b, 1c) exhibits a local maximum spectral transmission (Tmax) of radiations in a first wavelength range (Δλmax), whereby said first wavelength range (Δλmax) being between 380 nm and 420 nm. Said spectral power transmission curve (1a, 1b, 1c) exhibits spectral transmissions (T) of radiations in a second wavelength range (Δλth) which are lower than an upper threshold spectral transmission (Tth,u), whereby said second wavelength range (Δλth) is between 420 nm and 500 nm and whereby said upper threshold spectral transmission (Tth,u) is smaller than said maximum spectral transmission (Tmax). The invention is characterized in that said maximum spectral transmission (Tmax) is larger than 21 %.