Electrochromic + Anti-Fog Personal-Protective Eyewear (PPE) Based on Unique, Very Low Power, Conductive Coatings and Leveraging Unique, ANSI Z87.1-/Military-Qualified Electrochromic Eyewear Technology

关于个人防护眼镜（PPE）技术，这是高风险的主要职业危害， 工业部门，如制造业、采矿业、建筑业、仓储业、环境整治/- 清理和生物医学清理（例如在埃博拉工作中），但迄今为止受到的关注非常有限， 与工人从非常明亮的区域过渡到黑暗区域有关; PPE起雾 加剧了局势。根据OSHA最近的统计数据， 光/暗（L/D）加上起雾问题可能高达总数的35%（2012年为4，383例，3.2/100，000名工人）， 非致命事故的比例相似。在生物危害工作中，宇航服的穿着者迫切需要自动化， 免提L/D加上防雾控制。用于L/D控制的当前PPE技术（例如光致变色 用紫外线改变颜色，不能在室内或汽车中工作），夹式遮阳伞或额外的太阳镜，以及 防雾（例如，超亲水涂层或双层聚碳酸酯）都是严重不足的。的确， 美国陆军公共卫生司令部特别禁止军事人员使用照相染发剂或夹式染发剂。 在最近的前期和正在进行的工作中，该公司已经开发出一种新的电致变色剂并获得专利， 技术，基于独特的，匹配的双聚合物导电聚合物电致变色（改变颜色 具有小的例如5VDC的电压）;这具有优异的性能，克服了妨碍实用的缺点， 商业电致变色眼镜。典型性能：L/D对比度1%至70%（与空气相比 参考）;薄（< 0.4 mm），灵活，耐用的结构;独特的应用电压算法驻留在 廉价（<8美元）的微控制器，开关时间< 2 s L D，~瞬时D L;自动化- 功能（基于光电传感器，可充电锂电池供电）;功耗极低（72小时，12个L/D/L开关 15 µW/cm 2，+/- 3.0 VDC）;符合ANSI Z87.1-2010和US 军用（APEL）规格。此外，该公司还开发了一种独特的，积极的除雾 技术.在第一阶段的工作中，这两种技术（电致变色+除雾）相结合， 眼镜/护目镜显示具有优异的电致变色性能，在< 4 秒，和非常低的功耗。一个初步的CAD设计的最终形式的眼镜到达。 拟议的第二阶段工作将：（1）进一步优化这些眼镜/护目镜的性能，包括控制， 功耗、除雾性能。(2)用全身生物医学服来展示它们的功能。（三） 设计并建立一条半自动化的试生产线，每月生产100副眼镜/护目镜， 该公司刚刚开始商业化生产的标准（不除雾）电致变色太阳镜。（四） 与确定的合作伙伴建立商业化合作关系。如果成功，廉价（<80美元）的产品 这项工作的结果将是第一个商业上可行的电致变色+除雾眼镜， 升级个人防护装备。辅助市场（滑雪服、赛车、自行车、足球、军事）可能会进一步降低成本。

With regard to Personal Protective Eyewear (PPE) technologies, a major occupational hazard in high risk industrial sectors such as manufacturing, mining, construction, warehousing, environmental remediation/- cleanup and biomedical cleanup (e.g. in Ebola work), but one which has received very limited attention to date, is that associated with the worker transitioning from very bright to dark areas; fogging of the PPE exacerbates the situation. Per recent OSHA statistics, the number of fatal accidents potentially caused by light/dark (L/D) plus fogging issues may be up to 35% of the total (4,383 in 2012, 3.2/100,000 workers), with non-fatal accidents having a similar proportion. In biohazard work, the suit wearer critically needs automated, hands-free L/D plus antifogging control. Current PPE technologies for L/D control (e.g. photochromics changing color with UV light, not working indoors or in cars), clip-on sunshades or extra sunglasses, and for antifogging (e.g. superhydrophilic coatings or double-pane polycarbonate), are all grossly inadequate. Indeed, the US Army Public Health Command specifically prohibits photochromics or clip-ons for military personnel. Now in very recent prior and ongoing work, this firm has developed and patented a new electrochromics technology, based on unique, matched-dual-polymer Conducting Polymer electrochromics (which change color with small, e.g. 5 VDC, voltage); this has excellent performance, overcoming drawbacks preventing practical, commercial electrochromic eyewear heretofore. Typical performance: L/D contrast 1% to 70% (vs. air reference); thin (< 0.4 mm), flexible, durable construction; unique applied-voltage algorithm residing on an inexpensive (<$8) Microcontroller yielding switching times of < 2 s LD, ~instantaneous DL; automated- function (photosensor-based, rechargeable Li battery-powered); very low power (72 h with 12 L/D/L switches per h before batteries need recharging; 15 µW/cm2, +/- 3.0 VDC); conforming to ANSI Z87.1-2010 and US military (APEL) specifications. Furthermore, this firm has also developed a unique, active defogging technology. In the Phase I work, these two technologies (electrochromics + defogging) were combined, with spectacles/-goggles demonstrated having excellent electrochromic performance, active defogging in < 4 seconds, and very low power consumption. A preliminary CAD design for final-form eyewear was arrived at. Proposed Phase II work will: (1) Further optimize performance of these spectacles/goggles, including control, power consumption, defog performance. (2) Demonstrate their function with full-body biomedical suits. (3) Design and set up a semi-automated, pilot production line for 100 spectacles/-goggles per month, leveraging the firm’s just-initiated commercial production of its standard (not defogging) electrochromic sunglasses. (4) Establish commercialization tie-ups with partners identified. If successful, the inexpensive (<$80) product resulting from this work will be the first commercially viable electrochromics + defogging eyewear, drastically upgrading PPE. Ancillary markets (skiwear, motor sports, bicycling, football, military) may further lower cost.