Variable Optical Transmission Lens for Integrated Eyewear Protection

Currently, the warfighter is forced to change out tinted and clear lenses to accommodate changing light conditions. This is cumbersome, requires multi-task energy in stress conditions and in Iraq and Afghanistan has resulted in warfighters choosing not to don ballistic protective eyewear under stress conditions (when the need for eye protection is the most acute) resulting in an increased incidence of eye injury. The solution is a switchable technology that will allow the warfighter to wear only one set of protective eyewear in all light conditions resulting in decreased eye injury at lower overall cost to the Army as only one set of eyewear will be required. The EclipseVTS™ (Variable Transmission System) offered by Eclipse Energy Systems, Inc., (Eclipse) is a solution. In the Phase II effort, Eclipse will successfully transition from its Phase I prototype to a fully tested and approved spectacle prototype meeting all requirements including hearing protection and required electronics. With a battery life beyond the lifetime of the spectacle, 0 haze and perfect optical clarity, the devices will be further improved for speed and range and the custom frames and lenses finalized. Phase II will also explore transitioning to full scale production.