Patent US5081542A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5081542A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid crystal light valve goggles for eye protection
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1989-12-12
•
Granted: 1992-01-14
•
Expires: 2009-12-12
Abstract
Abstract An eye protection device 10 comprising a liquid crystal light valve 20 for providing an image of a scene. The light valve images the field of view under observation in a spectral range which matches the human eye. It will automatically reject a laser threat by simply absorbing the energy therefrom in the photoconductive layer thereof. Thus, the invention 10 provides a broad spectrum, zero response time, angle and polarization independent, sensitive eye protection device having a fast recovery time, high extinction coefficient and a high damage threshold. Hence, the invention is expected to be of significant utility to personnel operating in hostile environments.
Inventors
- 👤 Uzi Efron
- 👤 Shin-Tson Wu
- 👤 Tsung-Yuan Hsu
- 👤 Wayne Schoenmakers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/02; A61F9/022; A61F9/023; A61F9/04; A61F9/06; A61F9/065; A61F9/067; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/135; G02F1/1352; G02F1/1354
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene in a spectral range suitable for human viewing and for preventing harmful radiation from being transmitted for viewing, wherein said liquid crystal light valve includes a photoconductive layer, and means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene in a spectral range suitable for human viewing and for preventing harmful radiation from being transmitted for viewing, wherein said liquid crystal light valve includes a photoconductive layer, and means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said photoconductive layer comprises silicon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the silicon is single crystalline silicon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the photoconductive layer comprises lead salts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 1 including an objective lens mounted along the optical train of said light valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 5 including an eyepiece lens mounted along the optical axis of said light valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 1 including light emitting diode means for reading said light valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 1 including reflector means for reflecting said image to the eye of a viewer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene; means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof; reflector means for reflecting said image to the eye of a viewer; and means for moving said reflecting means from a first position to a second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene; means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof; reflector means for reflecting said image to the eye of a viewer; and means for moving said reflecting means from a first position to a second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene; means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof; reflector means for reflecting said image to the eye of a viewer; and folding mirror means for folding the optical train of said device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene; means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof; reflector means for reflecting said image to the eye of a viewer; and folding mirror means for folding the optical train of said device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 10 including relay lens disposed in the optical train of said light valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene; means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof, and means for inverting the image provided by said light valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene; means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof, and means for inverting the image provided by said light valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 12 including twisting fiber mounted in the optical train of said light valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene; and means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof, wherein said means for supporting the light valve includes counter weights mounted on a helmet on which said device is installed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
An eye protection device comprising: a liquid crystal light valve for providing an image of a scene; and means for supporting the light valve to facilitate the viewing thereof, wherein said means for supporting the light valve includes counter weights mounted on a helmet on which said device is installed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
Eye protection goggles comprising: two reflective liquid crystal light valves for providing an image of a scene; an objective lens for, one for each light valve, mounted along the optical train thereof; an eyepiece lens, one for each light valve, mounted along the optical axis thereof; and means for supporting the light valves to facilitate the viewing thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
Eye protection goggles comprising: two reflective liquid crystal light valves for providing an image of a scene; an objective lens for, one for each light valve, mounted along the optical train thereof; an eyepiece lens, one for each light valve, mounted along the optical axis thereof; and means for supporting the light valves to facilitate the viewing thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 15 including light emitting diode means for reading said light valves.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 15 including reflector means for reflecting said image to the eye of a viewer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 17 including means for moving said reflecting means from a first position to a second position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 17 including folding mirror means for folding the optical train of said device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 19 including relay lens disposed in the optical train of said light valves.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 15 including means for inverting the image provided by said light valves.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 21 including twisting fiber mounted in the optical train of said light valves.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 15 wherein said means for supporting the light valves includes counter weights mounted on a helmet on which said device is installed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
A target locator system comprising: liquid crystal light valve goggles for imaging a scene in a spectral range suitable for human viewing, wherein said liquid crystal light valve includes a photoconductive layer, and a head-up display.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
A target locator system comprising: liquid crystal light valve goggles for imaging a scene in a spectral range suitable for human viewing, wherein said liquid crystal light valve includes a photoconductive layer, and a head-up display.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
86 words
An eye protection device comprising: at least one liquid crystal light valve goggle for imaging a scene; and a helmet to which said at least one liquid crystal light valve goggle is pivotally attached, said liquid crystal light valve goggle including: a photoconductive layer for receiving input images; means on said photoconductive layer for blocking threat radiation, and a layer comprising liquid crystal for modulating a readout light and replicating the input images for viewing in response to the input images received by said photoconductive layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
86 words
An eye protection device comprising: at least one liquid crystal light valve goggle for imaging a scene; and a helmet to which said at least one liquid crystal light valve goggle is pivotally attached, said liquid crystal light valve goggle including: a photoconductive layer for receiving input images; means on said photoconductive layer for blocking threat radiation, and a layer comprising liquid crystal for modulating a readout light and replicating the input images for viewing in response to the input images received by said photoconductive layer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The eye protection device of claim 25 further including: a light emitting diode mounted for optical illumination of the viewing surface of said light valve.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The eye protection device of claim 25 wherein said liquid crystal light valve further includes heating electrodes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The eye protection device of claim 25 wherein said goggle further includes a polarizing beam splitter having a holographic lens fabricated thereon.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The eye protection device of claim 25 wherein said means for blocking threat radiation includes: metal matrix mirror having pixels and channels between said pixels, and a reflective layer covering both said pixels and said channels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-13 | 1995-07-15 | 1996-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-13 | 1999-07-15 | 2000-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-13 | 2003-07-15 | 2004-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |