Variable Optical Transmission Lens for Integrated Eyewear Protection

This SBIR Phase I proposal introduces novel technologies for variable transmission lens. Based on Kent Optronics’s Electronially Switchable liquid crystal (LC) technology and University of Washington’s Electrochromic (EC) polymer technology, new variable transmission lenses and eyewear protection goggles with wide transmission range, fast transition speed, low power consumption will be developed. Our LC based variable lens possesses nearly ideal switching properties between heavily tinted (1% transmission) and total transparent (>95% transmittance) through a push button. This technology is highly promising to achieve all the specifications of variable transmission lens for eyewear protection goggle as required by the Army. The EC polymer technology features extremely low power consumption, bi-stable memory effect, and fast switching speed. The proposed technologies overcome the drawbacks of current photochromic and electrochromic lens technologies, such as slow speed, narrow transmission window, higher environmental susceptibility, etc… In Phase I, two prototype eyewear protection goggles with wide transmission variation range will be developed. In Phase II working prototype(s) will be developed followed by extensive field-test till all the specifications are met.