Sensor Cover for Sunglasses with UV-Selective Translucency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sun protection devices, such as sunglasses, lack robustness and adaptability in effectively protecting sensor units from impacts and concealing them while ensuring adequate solar radiation detection for automatic darkening of optical filters.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sensor cover that is at least partially opaque to visible light but translucent to infrared and UV spectra, integrated with the spectacle frame, which also houses liquid crystal cells for adjustable light transmission, and powered by a self-sufficient solar cell or photodiode system, eliminating the need for external energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor unit is exposed to detect solar radiation, then the detection function is improved, but the sensor unit becomes vulnerable to impacts and visible from outside
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor cover is introduced as an intermediary element between the sensor unit and the external environment. This cover is opaque to visible light (hiding the sensor) and infrared radiation (blocking detection), but translucent to UV radiation (allowing detection). This resolves the contradiction by mediating between protection and detection requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor cover has different optical properties for different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum: opaque to visible light, translucent to UV, and blocking to infrared. This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous achievement of concealment, protection, and selective detection functionality.
2Shape
If the sensor cover is opaque to visible light to conceal the sensor unit, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the sensor unit cannot detect solar radiation effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cover exhibits different transparency characteristics for different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. It is opaque to visible light (maintaining aesthetic appearance and device homogeneity) but translucent to UV radiation (enabling solar radiation detection). This wavelength-selective property resolves the contradiction between concealment and detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor cover is made of a material with composite optical properties that selectively transmit different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. This composite material allows visible light blocking while permitting UV transmission, resolving the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and detection functionality.
3Extent of automation
If a battery is added to power the liquid crystal cells, then the control function is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is designed to be self-powered by directly converting detected solar radiation into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. This eliminates the need for external batteries or power sources, resolving the contradiction between automation and device complexity while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical/electrical battery system is replaced with a direct photovoltaic conversion system. The sensor unit itself generates the electrical energy needed to control the liquid crystal cells, substituting a complex power supply system with a simpler self-powered mechanism.
4Reliability
If the sensor unit is made visible to ensure proper detection, then the detection reliability is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and device homogeneity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cover serves as a mediator that allows the sensor unit to function reliably while remaining concealed. It is opaque to visible light (maintaining device homogeneity and aesthetic appearance) but translucent to the relevant detection wavelengths, enabling reliable detection without visual exposure of the sensor unit.
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 solution provides a robust and adaptable sun protection device that effectively conceals sensor units, ensures reliable solar radiation detection, and enables automatic darkening without visible components, enhancing user protection and device homogeneity.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor cover (18a, 18b) at least partially with respect to radiation of a visible light spectrum (22a) is at least essentially opaque, in particular translucent, with respect to radiation of an infrared light spectrum (24a), in particular with respect to radiation of a UV light spectrum (22b)
Implementation Method 2
The optical sun protection filter (12a, 12b) has at least one liquid crystal cell (14a, 14a', 14b), in particular has two liquid crystal cells (14a, 14a')
Implementation Method 3
A control and/or regulating unit (44a, 44b) is provided to control a transmittance of the optical sun protection filter (12a, 12b) as a function of solar radiation
Implementation Method 4
The sun protection device is self-sufficient in terms of energy supply, in particular does not have a battery and/or an accumulator. The sensor unit (16a, 16b) is provided in at least one operating state to at least partially provide energy for driving the at least one liquid crystal cell (14a, 14a')
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a sun protection device, in particular sunglasses, with at least one optical sun protection filter (12a; 12b) comprising at least one liquid crystal cell (14a, 14a'; 14b), and with at least one sensor unit (16a; 16b) designed to detect solar radiation. It is proposed that the sun protection device comprises at least one sensor cover (18a; 18b) which at least partially covers a sensor area (20a; 20b) of the at least one sensor unit (16a; 16b) and which is at least partially, and substantially, opaque to radiation of a visible light spectrum (22a).