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US5015086A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic sunglasses

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 1990-04-16
•
Granted: 1991-05-14
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Expires: 2010-04-16
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Abstract

Abstract Electronic sunglasses of the transmittance-varying type including liquid crystal panels employing the electro-optical effect and a solar cell used as a power source. The electronic sunglasses include a voltage detecting circuit having such a hysteresis characteristic so as to output a signal for changing transmittance of the liquid crystal panel from a high mode to a low mode at at least high predetermined voltage or illumination, and changing transmittance from a low mode to a high mode at at least a low voltage or illumination. The sunglasses also include a first switch which operates at at least two switch positions, one switch position having a first stage of illumination at less than 20,000 Lux and a second stage of illumination at 20,000 Lux or greater at which transmittance is changed from a high mode and another switch position disabling the voltage detecting circuit. Also included is a second switch which operates to change transmittance from a high mode to a low mode independently of the set voltage value in the voltage detecting circuit according to the hysteresis effect.

Inventors

  • 👤 Etsuo Okaue
  • 👤 Masaru Egawa
  • 👤 Yoshihiko Kasai
  • 👤 Norio Horaguchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 13:08
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/13306; G02F1/13318; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/10; G02C7/101

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 172 words
Electronic sunglasses of the transmittance-varying type including liquid crystal panels employing the electro-optical effect and a solar cell used as a power source, comprising voltage detecting means having such a hysteresis characteristic so as to output a signal for changing transmittance of the liquid crystal panels from a high mode to a low mode at at least a high predetermined voltage or illumination, and changing transmittance from a low mode to a high mode at at least a low voltage or illumination, first switch means operating at at least two switch positions, one said switch position having a first stage or illumination at less than 20,000 Lux and a second stage or illumination at 20,000 Lux or greater at which transmittance is changed from a high mode to a low mode and another switch position disabling said voltage detecting means, and second switch means operating to change transmittance from a high mode to a low mode independently of the set voltage value of the voltage detecting means according to the hysteresis effect.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 172 words
Electronic sunglasses of the transmittance-varying type including liquid crystal panels employing the electro-optical effect and a solar cell used as a power source, comprising voltage detecting means having such a hysteresis characteristic so as to output a signal for changing transmittance of the liquid crystal panels from a high mode to a low mode at at least a high predetermined voltage or illumination, and changing transmittance from a low mode to a high mode at at least a low voltage or illumination, first switch means operating at at least two switch positions, one said switch position having a first stage or illumination at less than 20,000 Lux and a second stage or illumination at 20,000 Lux or greater at which transmittance is changed from a high mode to a low mode and another switch position disabling said voltage detecting means, and second switch means operating to change transmittance from a high mode to a low mode independently of the set voltage value of the voltage detecting means according to the hysteresis effect.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
The electronic sunglasses as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic sunglasses include a frame supporting a right liquid crystal panel for the right eye and a left liquid crystal panel for the left eye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The electronic sunglasses as claimed in claim 2, wherein said solar cell is supported on said frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The electronic sunglasses as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voltage detecting means includes delay means for delaying the change from a high mode to a low mode when the outside illumination is changed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
The electronic sunglasses as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal panels include a film substrate made of a synthetic resin including an electrode surface made of an ITO film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The electronic sunglasses as claimed in claim 5, wherein said film substrate is subject to orientation treatment and a nematic liquid crystal material having a proper amount of added right-spinning chirality material is provided.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4279474A Cited
US4968127A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-05-13 1994-11-12 1995-05-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-05-13 1998-11-12 1999-05-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-05-13 2002-11-12 2003-05-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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