The Lumim, Inc. proposes to investigate and demonstrate the feasibility of a new eye protection device called a Smart Wide Field Broadband Filter (SWBF). The SWBF has a new optical architecture that is uniquely different from any other existing eye protection devices. Basically the SWBF consists of a liquid crystal spatial filter which is electrically addressed by a photo-sensor. The photo-sensor serves dual functions. It is used to detect the position and intensity of the dangerous light source. The sensed photo-voltage is used to directly control the opacity of the selected part of the pixels in the liquid crystal filter. The opacity of the specifically chosen pixels will reduce the intensity of the light originating from the corresponding dangerous source. The degree of reduction is adaptively proportional to the intensity of the light source. In the meantime, the filter will allow the surrounding objects of normal brightness be visible by the eye with little attenuation. The SWBF is self-reliant, adaptive, and smart. None of the existing eye protection devices has these unique characteristics and capabilities. Advantages of the device include wide field-of-view, broadband transmission, and large dynamic range. Due to the impressive business potential and significant profit expectations, companies from California, Mississippi an Florida have shown interests to support future commercialization effort. The Principal Investigator, Dr. Hau-Kuange Liu, a Fellow of both the OSA and SPIE, has published over 28 US patents and 200 papers. The research team has competent optical and electronic scientists. The cooperative academic, industrial, and business effort poses good probability of success of technology transfer for the enhancement of US competitiveness in the world economy.
