Protective Lens with Segmented Wavelength Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective gear lenses fail to effectively block harmful infrared and UV radiation while allowing wavelengths around 555 nm, which can cause light blindness, and do not provide adequate peripheral vision alerts for potential dangers.
Innovation Solution
A laminate lens structure comprising a polymer and glass layers with a specific coating that blocks infrared and UV radiation, and selectively transmits wavelengths around 555 nm in the line of sight while allowing transmission in peripheral vision, enhancing user safety by preventing direct blinding and providing alerts through peripheral vision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the lens blocks all visible light including wavelengths around 555 nm, then protection from light blindness is improved, but the user loses ability to see and detect potential dangers in the line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The lens divides the field of view into two segments: central vision (line of sight) and peripheral vision. Different wavelength filtering is applied to each segment - blocking 555 nm in central vision while allowing it in peripheral vision, enabling both protection and awareness simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The lens applies different optical properties to different spatial locations. The central region blocks harmful wavelengths for protection, while the peripheral region transmits the same wavelengths for hazard detection, creating location-dependent optical characteristics
2Illumination intensity
If the lens allows wavelengths around 555 nm in the line of sight, then visibility is improved, but the user becomes vulnerable to light blindness
Solution Approach 1:
The lens segments the visual field into central and peripheral zones with different wavelength transmission characteristics, allowing visibility in the central zone while blocking harmful wavelengths, and maintaining hazard detection capability in the peripheral zone
Solution Approach 2:
The lens creates location-specific optical properties where the central viewing area has high transmission for visibility while the peripheral area maintains transmission for hazard detection, with the blocking function applied selectively to protect the line of sight
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the lens blocks wavelengths around 555 nm in peripheral vision, then protection from light blindness is improved, but the user loses ability to detect potential dangers through peripheral vision
Solution Approach 1:
The lens segments the field of view into central and peripheral regions with differentiated wavelength filtering - blocking harmful wavelengths in the central region while allowing them in the peripheral region to maintain safety alert capability
Solution Approach 2:
The lens applies location-dependent optical filtering where peripheral regions maintain high transmission for hazard detection while central regions apply blocking for protection, creating spatially varying optical properties that satisfy both protection and detection requirements
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 lens effectively blocks harmful radiation and prevents light blindness in the line of sight while alerting the user to potential dangers through peripheral vision, improving safety and visibility in protective gear.
Implementation Method 1
The lens may have a coating configured to block infrared and ultra-violet radiation
Implementation Method 2
The coating may also block visible light having a wavelength of about 555 nm in the line of sight of the user of the protective gear and lens, and pass visible light having a wavelength of about 555 nm in the peripheral vision of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A lens for protective gear has first and second polymer layers with a glass layer therebetween. The glass layer is fused to the first and second polymer layers and encapsulated by the first and second polymer layers with the glass layer in compression. The lens may have a coating that provides the lens with (i) less than about 5 percent transmittance for light having wavelengths of less than 400 nm and greater than about 700 nm for an entire horizontal field of view of the lens, (ii) greater than 75 percent transmittance of light having wavelengths of between about 400 nm and about 700 nm for the entire horizontal field of view of the lens with less than about 5 percent transmittance of light having wavelength between about 530 nm and about 580 nm for a horizontal field of view of the lens of not greater than 60 degrees.