Osd Envizion Company

Lightswitch Safety Systems, Inc.

Fergason Patent Properties LLC

Fergason Licensing LLC

Osd Envizion, Inc.

Other

I-o Display Systems LLC

Optical Shields, Inc.

Ilixco, Inc.

John D Fergason

Jeffrey K Fergason

James L Fergason

Arthur Louis Berman

An auto-darkening filter of a welding shield has a brightness-sensing unit, an optical shutter and a processor. The brightness-sensing unit generates a first signal or a second signal. In a high-sensitivity mode, the processor controls the optical shutter to operate in a dark state or a bright state depending on intensity of the first signal being higher or lower than a threshold value. In a low-sensitivity mode, the processor controls the optical shutter to operate in the bright state when intensity of the second signal is lower than the threshold value, and automatically change to the high-sensitivity mode from the low-sensitivity mode when intensity of the second signal is higher than the threshold value.

Auto-darkening filter of welding shield

Method and apparatus for preparing and displaying images uses image characteristics of an area of interest of images to optimize or otherwise determine image characteristics of the entire image to be displayed. The area of interest information may be used in computing a System Synchronized Backlight Control ('SSBC') profile tor the area of interest, and the SSBC profile may be used to adjust the image signal to provide an image in which the image characteristics, e.g., are optimized for the image at the area of interest. The image characteristics and/or SSBC profile information may be provided as metadata included in a video signal data stream. The area of interest may be selected where the image is obtained, where the image is shown or elsewhere, e.g., in an image storage device, image player, etc.

Image acquisition and display system and method using information derived from an area of interest in a video image implementing system synchronized brightness control and use of metadata

A lens including a first portion having a recess of a defined shape, a second portion having a shaped feature shaped such that the recess accommodates the shaped feature when the first portion is adhered to the second portion, a reflective thin film applied to a surface of the shaped feature. A pair of glasses-type augmented reality display incorporates said lenses.

Glasses-type augmented reality display system

A display system and method for improving legibility of images viewed on a passive display in a bright environment, including apparatus and method for increasing or maintaining the range of grey levels for the image as viewed on the display and decreasing the number of grey levels used in that range.

Apparatus, method and system to enhance legibility of images shown on a passive display in a bright environment by increasing or maintaining a range of grey levels and decreasing a number of grey levels in that range

A method of and apparatus for preparing an image signal includes combining with a video signal having a number of objects of interest metadata identifying the objects as Area of Interest (AOI). Exemplary objects includes an object in a group of objects, such as a horse in a horse race, a sports object, such as a hockey puck, and so on. The object may be an objectionable, such as a representation of violence, sex or vulgar language. A user may provide an input to select an object of interest to alter the prominence of the selected object. A display system responsive to the image signal for showing images having AOI with altered prominence based on user input. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing logic code for carrying out the foregoing.

Display system using metadata to adjust area of interest and method

In one embodiment, a system for monitoring eye movement through optical observation of the eye includes an optical device configured for mounting on a frame for positioning the optical device on a user. The optical device includes a light source configured for emitting light along a first path and a sensor positioned in the optical device to receive light from a second path substantially parallel to the first path. A reflector is located within a lens connected to the frame and configured when positioned on the user to reflect light emitted by the light source onto the eye and reflect light reflected by the eye back to the sensor. The reflector covers only a portion of the lens.

Optical system for monitoring eye movement

A control for an auto-darkening lens or other optical device monitors light incident on the viewing area or in relatively close proximity to the viewing area of the lens to provide accurate light sensing and to avoid inadvertent blocking of light to one or more light sensors. Reflectors, prisms, prism strips and the like may be used to direct light to the sensor(s). A method for detecting light incident on an auto-darkening lens and a method for controlling an auto-darkening lens direct light from the viewing area of an auto-darkening lens or from relatively close proximity to the viewing area to one or more sensors to detect such light and, accordingly, to control operation of the auto-darkening lens.

Light sensor arrangement for auto-darkening lenses and method

A control for a controllable optical device, such as an auto-darkening lens (ADL), such as used in welding helmets, respirators, or other device, includes a sensor sensing the direction of incident light and a control circuit responsive to incident direction information to provide for control of the optical device. Based on at least one of incident direction of light and light intensity a the shade characteristics of the ADL or the like can be controlled and maintained while a person wearing the ADL may move the head to different orientations. Several fixed photosensor arrangements and dynamic systems may be used to sense incident light direction and whether the incident light is a point source. A method of detecting direction of incident light and whether the incident light is from a point source, and of controlling an ADL or the like based on direction and/or intensity of incident light.

Light detecting and angle of view compensation for optical devices and method

A system for detecting eye closure through optical observation of the eye includes a frame configured to be worn on a user, a light source, and at least one eyepiece connected to the frame. The eyepiece has a reflective surface on a side facing the user's eye when the frame is positioned on the user and the reflective surface of the eyepiece is configured for reflecting light emitted from the light source onto the eye. A sensor is connected to the frame and is operable to detect light reflected by the eye in a direction that is substantially parallel to the light incident on a retina of the eye to detect that the eye is in an open position.

A wireless remote control is provided for an auto-darkening lens (ADL) system used in a welding helmet, respirator system or other device to control or to adjust settings of an ADL of a controllable light shutter. A display system facilitates providing information indicating the operative settings and/or conditions of the controllable light shutter. A wired remote control for controlling or adjusting an ADL also uses a display system with indicators to indicate the operative settings and/or conditions of the ADL. The display may include a number of indicators, an alpha-numeric display, a heads-up display or other display. The display may include discrete indicators in the peripheral field of view of one eye of a user a controllable. The invention also includes methods of using a remote control for an ADL and of making an ADL to provide for future use of a wireless remote control.

Remote control for auto-darkening lens systems and method

A multi-stage control for an auto-darkening lens includes a first detector to detect initiation of welding and a second detector to detect continuation of welding after welding has been initiated. The first detector has relatively low sensitivity and fast response time; and the second detector has relatively high sensitivity that can be altered as may be necessary, relatively slow response time to allow opportunity to determine whether welding is continuing as inputs indicative of welding, and adaptive filtering to filter ambient effects and the like from such inputs to avoid false detection of welding. A method of enhancing operation of an auto-darkening lens control that has a detector and associated circuitry to detect initiation of welding substantially independently of time based filtering and to maintain detecting of welding using time based discrimination, comprising coupling control signals and power to an auto-darkening lens via a substantially unimpeded path from a detector to the auto-darkening lens.

Multi-stage sensor for an auto-darkening lens for use in welding and method

An indicator system and method for an auto-darkening lens or other device that is intended to be placed relatively close to the face of a wearer includes one or more indicators adjacent the lens and generally provides the indicators in the peripheral field of view of the wearer, allowing the indicators to be discerned without having to focus eye vision on them and while allowing the wearer to direct eye focus on a work piece or the like.

Indicator layout on an auto-darkening lens for use in welding

A head-mounted display or other optical device which provides at least a first image to at least one eye of a user can be adjusted for changing the alignment of an image path with respect to a user's eye position. An alignment beam generator is mounted so as to move with the image path device so a user can use characteristics of the alignment beam to achieve a desired alignment of the image path. Preferably, the alignment beam is configured, such as by making it substantially narrow-beam, linear and/or non-dispersive, such that beam is substantially invisible to the user until it is within a preferred alignment range, so as to provide a binary or visible/invisible, indicator of alignment.

Method and apparatus for adjusting optical device to correspond to eye positions

An integral indicator or display for a welding lens, which has a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell light shutter, includes plural independently operable twisted nematic liquid crystal cell indicator portions integral with the light shutter twisted nematic liquid crystal cell, indicia associated with respective indicator portions to indicate an operating characteristic of the welding lens, circuitry for operating the lens and the indicator portions, and one or more switches for stepping the circuit through respective settings of operating characteristics, such as shade darkness, sensitivity and delay time. The indicator is dark when the light shutter is dark, and the light shutter may include in optical series with the twisted nematic liquid crystal cell, a birefringent liquid crystal cell light shutter which is faster acting than the twisted nematic liquid crystal cell and can be driven to various shades at respective speeds depending on applied electric field. A method of protecting the eyes of a welder includes selecting an operating characteristic of a welding lens and using a display portion of the welding lens to display an operating characteristics of the welding lens.

Welding lens with integrated display and method

A switch activating system for an automatically darkening lens system and an automatically darkening lens system including such a switch activating system, includes a cover plate through at least part of which a scene may be viewed, a support, a pair of switch electrodes, one switch electrode positioned in relatively fixed relation with said support, the other switch electrode being positioned for movement with respect to said one switch electrode selectively to make electrical connection therewith in response to deflecting of said cover plate. The automatically darkening lens assembly also includes a controllable light shutter for controlling transmission of light for viewing therethrough, and a circuit for operating said light shutter and affecting operating characteristics thereof. A method for operating an auto-darkening welding lens including an operating circuit includes selecting an operational characteristic of the welding lens by setting a characteristic of the circuit, said setting comprising deflecting a mechanical member of the welding lens to operate a switch.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

John D Fergason