Single lens glare-reducing eyewear without causing lcd screen blackout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016377889-A1
Application number	US-201615261642-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 9, 2016
Priority date	Mar 5, 2014
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Glasses (e.g., goggles) for tactical use comprise a single lens. The single lens has a substrate, a quarter-wave retarder, and a linear polarizer. The substrate provides impact protection. The quarter-wave retarder and the linear polarizer provide glare reduction without causing blackout of screens having linear polarization.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . Eye protection comprising:
a frame; and a single lens coupled with the frame, the single lens comprising:
a substrate, wherein:
the substrate has a first surface;
the substrate has a second surface; and
the substrate is made of polycarbonate;

a linear polarizer characterized by a transmission axis; and
a quarter-wave retarder, wherein:
the linear polarizer is between the first surface of the substrate and the quarter-wave retarder;
the quarter-wave retarder is characterized by a fast axis; and
the fast axis makes a non-zero angle and a non 90-degree angle with the transmission axis.

2 . The eye protection as recited in claim 1 , the single lens further comprising a film directly adjacent to the quarter-wave retarder, wherein:
the quarter-wave retarder is between the film and the linear polarizer; the film is a hardcoat; and the film has an air interface.

3 . The eye protection as recited in claim 2 , wherein the film has a thickness between 2 and 10 microns.

4 . The eye protection as recited in claim 1 , wherein the single lens is configured to protect both eyes of a person using the eye protection.

5 . The eye protection as recited in claim 1 , wherein the substrate is the only part of the single lens made of polycarbonate or glass.

6 . The eye protection as recited in claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a thickness equal to or greater than 1.8 mm and equal to or less than 3.5 mm.

7 . The eye protection as recited in claim 1 , wherein the single lens has width ranging from 4 inches to 12 inches.

8 . The eye protection as recited in claim 1 , wherein the eye protection provides ballistic protection to the user.

9 . A method for using eye protection, the method comprising:
providing eye protection, wherein:
the eye protection comprises a single lens;
the single lens comprises:
a substrate;
a quarter-wave retarder; and
a linear polarizer; and

positioning the eye protection in relation to a user such that:
both eyes of the user look through the single lens;
light traveling to the user is transmitted through the quarter-wave retarder of the single lens;
light traveling to the user, after transmitting through the quarter-wave retarder, is transmitted through the linear polarizer of the single lens; and
light traveling to the user is transmitted through the linear polarizer and the substrate before entering an eye of the user.

10 . The method for using eye protection as recited in claim 9 , wherein the eye protection provides ballistic protection to the user.

11 . The method for using eye protection as recited in claim 9 , wherein the single lens has width ranging from 4 inches to 12 inches.

12 . The method for using eye protection as recited in claim 9 , wherein the substrate has a thickness equal to or greater than 2.0 mm and equal to or less than 3.5 mm.

13 . The method for using eye protection as recited in claim 9 , wherein:
the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; the linear polarizer is between the quarter-wave retarder and the first surface; and the eye protection is positioned in relation to the user such that the second surface of the substrate is nearer an eye of the user than the first surface of the substrate.

14 . The method for using eye protection as recited in claim 9 , wherein the substrate is made of polycarbonate.

15 . The method for using eye protection as recited in claim 9 , wherein the substrate is the only part of the single lens made of polycarbonate or glass.

16 . Eye protection comprising:
a frame; and a lens coupled with the frame, the lens comprising:
a substrate, wherein:
the substrate comprises a first surface;
the substrate comprises a second surface; and
the substrate is made of polycarbonate;

a linear polarizer characterized by a transmission axis;
a quarter-wave retarder, wherein:
the linear polarizer is between the first surface of the substrate and the quarter-wave retarder;
the quarter-wave retarder is characterized by a fast axis; and
the fast axis makes a non-zero angle, and a non 90-degree angle with the transmission axis; and

a film directly adjacent to the quarter-wave retarder, wherein:
the quarter-wave retarder is between the film and the linear polarizer; and
the film comprises an air interface.

17 . The eye protection of claim 16 , wherein the film has a thickness equal to or less than 50 μm.

18 . The eye protection of claim 16 , wherein the lens is a single lens of the eye protection and configured to protect both eyes of a person using the eye protection.

19 . The eye protection of claim 16 , wherein the second surface of the substrate is an air interface.

20 . The eye protection of claim 16 , wherein the film is a hardcoat.

Assignees

• 5 11 Inc

Inventors

• Lazar Adam North

Classifications

• G02C7/10

  Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses · CPC title

• G02C7/12 Primary

  Polarisers · CPC title

• G02B27/281

  used for attenuating light intensity, e.g. comprising rotatable polarising elements · CPC title

• G02B5/3083

  Birefringent or phase retarding elements (G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001) · CPC title

• G02B5/3025

  Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state (G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence) · CPC title