Universal Laser Protective Eyewear with Camera-Integrated Viewing Screens

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser safety goggles are limited by their effectiveness for specific wavelengths, requiring multiple pairs for labs with multiple lasers, and often compromise visible light transmittance, leading to secondary safety concerns and increased risk of skin damage.

Innovation Solution

A universal laser protective eyewear system featuring an optically opaque screen across a broad spectrum (180 nm to 10,600 nm), combined with internal viewing screens and cameras that provide real-time visual representation of surroundings, allowing normal human vision including peripheral vision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If laser safety goggles with high optical density are used to protect eyes from laser damage, then eye protection is improved, but visible light transmittance is reduced leading to skin damage risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeye protectionVSAvoidskin damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the protection function into two separate components: the opaque screen handles laser eye protection while cameras handle environmental monitoring, allowing the goggles to block all visible light without compromising skin safety awareness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cameras serve as an intermediary between the user and the environment, capturing visual information that would otherwise be blocked by the opaque protective screen, thereby maintaining situational awareness without reducing eye protection effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If laser safety goggles are designed for specific wavelengths, then protection effectiveness is improved, but versatility across multiple laser types is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidmulti-laser compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The goggles are designed with an opaque screen that blocks all laser wavelengths universally, eliminating the need for wavelength-specific filtering while maintaining broad-spectrum protection effectiveness across all laser types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Cameras create a visual copy of the environment that compensates for the complete light blockage, allowing users to perceive laser beams and surroundings that would otherwise be invisible through the opaque protective screen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If multiple pairs of laser safety goggles are used to cover all laser wavelengths, then comprehensive protection is improved, but device complexity and usability are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive protectionVSAvoidgoggle selection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple protection functions into a single device: the opaque screen provides universal laser protection while integrated cameras provide environmental monitoring, eliminating the need to switch between multiple specialized goggles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A single pair of goggles universally protects against all laser wavelengths while simultaneously providing visual feedback through cameras, replacing the need for multiple wavelength-specific goggle pairs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If laser safety goggles block all visible light, then eye protection from invisible lasers is improved, but situational awareness and safety monitoring are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinvisible laser protectionVSAvoidsituational awareness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Cameras act as an intermediary visual system that captures and transmits environmental information to the user, compensating for the complete light blockage by the opaque screen and maintaining situational awareness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera system creates an electronic copy of the visual environment that is presented to the user, allowing them to see laser beams and surroundings that are blocked by the opaque protective screen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 system provides comprehensive eye protection across all likely laser wavelengths while maintaining normal visibility and reducing the risk of skin damage, eliminating the need for multiple goggles and enhancing safety by shifting the risk to cameras rather than human eyes.

Implementation Method 1

an optically opaque screen that covers both eyes... opaque across a spectrum from about 180 nm to about 10,600 nm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12290475B2Universal laser protective eyewear

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 UNM RAINFOREST INNOVATIONS

AI summary

A laser eye protection device is described that includes an optically opaque screen that covers both eyes; one or more internal viewing screens on an eye-facing side of the optically opaque screen; and one or more cameras arranged around the optically opaque screen, wherein the one or more cameras are in electrical and data communication with the one or more internal viewing screens and provide a visual representation of surroundings to a user.