ELECTRONICALLY SWITCHABLE OPTICAL DEVICE WITH A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL OPTICAL CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME

摘要

An electronically controllable eyewear device having a cell filled with a liquid crystal material that can be electronically operated in an auto or a manual mode. The device contains a photosensor for generating a light input signal to trigger an automatic application of voltage to the cell when the device is in an auto mode, one or more switches capable of being actuated in a series of actuation sequences each to select a distinct function, and a control circuit responsive to each actuation sequence and light input signal to operate the cell in a corresponding one of a plurality of functions, including: (i) a first sequence for affecting an ON/OFF function, (ii) a second sequence for affecting a system change from the manual mode to the auto mode, and (iii) a third sequence for changing the threshold value for triggering the automatic application of voltage.

主权项

1. An electronically controllable eyewear device, comprising:
a cell comprising at least one liquid crystal material able to change between a first state of maximum light transmittance (Tmax) when no voltage (V0) is applied and a second state of minimum light transmittance (Tmin) when a maximum voltage (Vmax) is applied, wherein the cell can be operated in an auto or a manual mode; a photosensor electronically connected to the cell for generating a light input signal based on an ambient light level to trigger an automatic application of voltage when the device is in the auto mode, wherein detection of an ambient light level above a threshold value triggers the automatic application of voltage to the cell and wherein detection of an ambient light level below the threshold value results in no voltage being applied; a first and a second switch, each capable of being actuated in a series of actuation sequences each to select a distinct function; and a control circuit responsive to each said actuation sequence and said light input signal to operate the cell in a corresponding one of a plurality of functions; wherein the actuation sequences comprise: (i) a first actuation sequence for affecting an ON/OFF function such that when OFF, no voltage is applied to the cell and when ON, a voltage is applied to the cell; (ii) a second actuation sequence for affecting a system change from the manual mode to the auto mode; and (iii) a third actuation sequence for changing the threshold value for triggering the automatic application of voltage.