Sleep-Aiding Eyewear Bragg Coating for Clear Blue-Light Filtering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sleep-aiding devices that block specific wavelengths of light to inhibit melatonin production negatively affect users' ability to see and perform tasks due to low optical quality and broadband light transmission issues.
Innovation Solution
Optical filters that selectively block melatonin-inhibiting light wavelengths while allowing other wavelengths to pass, using Bragg gratings with alternating layers of materials to achieve high reflectance and transmittance ratios, ensuring clear visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If existing sleep-aiding devices block specific wavelengths of light to inhibit melatonin production, then melatonin suppression is improved, but visual acuity and task performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical filter is segmented into multiple discrete wavelength bands, each handled by specific layers in the Bragg grating structure. This allows selective blocking of melatonin-inhibiting wavelengths (435-550 nm) while preserving transmission in other bands, thereby maintaining visual acuity while achieving circadian rhythm regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures with varying refractive indices arranged in periodic layers. This composite approach enables precise control over which wavelengths are reflected or transmitted, allowing the filter to block harmful blue-green light while maintaining high optical quality for visible light needed for reading and task performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If broadband light transmission is prevented to block melatonin-inhibiting wavelengths, then circadian rhythm control is improved, but light transmission and visibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical filter exhibits local quality by having different transmission characteristics at different wavelengths. Specifically, it provides high reflection (low transmission) in the 435-550 nm range where melatonin suppression is most effective, while providing high transmission in other wavelength ranges to maintain overall visibility and illumination for task performance.
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 filters effectively reduce melatonin-inhibiting light transmission while maintaining sufficient visibility for tasks like reading, enhancing user comfort and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the filter comprises a Bragg grating
Implementation Method 2
Bragg gratings with alternating layers of materials to achieve high reflectance and transmittance ratios
Implementation Method 3
the filter reflects at least 50% of light with a wavelength below about 560 nm, and transmits at least 50% of light with a wavelength above about 570 nm
Data Source
AI summary
Sleep-aiding eyewear that prevents light which inhibits melatonin production from reaching the eye is described. The eyewear that is the object of the present disclosure has improved visibility over other methods of cutting off melatonin-inhibiting wavelengths of light, which enables the user to perform tasks, such as reading and typing, uninhibited. This is achieved in some embodiments using a Bragg grating comprising multiple layers of alternating reflective index material as a surface coating on the lens. This may be combined with lens-tinting, or antireflective coatings, in the eyewear. Furthermore, transition lenses which block melatonin-shifting light when there is a suitable external stimulus, such as blue light from a light emitting diode, are described. The presently described filters are also useful for electronic displays and functional light-transmitting materials.