Anti-glare properties of polarized lens demonstration device and associated methods
View Patent ↗A device and display for demonstrating glare reduction by a polarized lens includes an array of vertically spaced-apart, parallel, transparent elements. Rays of light polarized in a first dimension are directed onto the array from above. An indicium is positioned behind the array. A reflective surface is positioned adjacent a bottom of the array. A polarized lens having a polarization opposed to the first dimension is interposable between a viewer's eye and the array. In use, rays from the polarized light source impinge upon the array, partially pass to the reflective surface and are partially reflected onto the indicium via glare off the array. Rays reflected by the reflective surface are reflected by the array via glare toward the viewer's eye, and rays reflected by the indicium pass thorough the array toward the viewer's eye. An interposition of the polarized lens shields the viewer's eye from the glare.
1. A device for demonstrating the reduction of glare by a polarized lens comprising:
an array of vertically spaced-apart, substantially parallel, substantially transparent elements, oriented at an angle to the horizontal in a range between 30 and 60 degrees, the angle distinct from a Brewster's angle of the array elements;
means for directing rays of light polarized in a first unitary dimension onto the array from a first end thereof;
an indicium positioned behind the array;
a reflective surface positioned adjacent a second end of the array opposite the first end; and
a polarized lens interposable between an eye of a viewer in front of the array and the array, a polarization of the lens substantially opposed to the first unitary dimension;
wherein rays from the source of polarized light can impinge upon the array, partially pass therethrough to the reflective surface and partially be reflected onto the indicium via glare off the array; rays reflected by the reflective surface partially reflected by the array via glare thereoff toward the viewer eye; rays reflected by the indicium partially passing thorough the array toward the viewer eye; an interposition of the polarized lens serving to shield the viewer eye at least partially from the glare from the indicium and from the reflective surface.
2. The device recited in claim 1 , wherein over a range of heights of the viewer eye, a top edge of each array element at least partially vertically overlaps a bottom edge of an upwardly adjacent array element.
3. The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the array elements comprise sheets of material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of air.
4. The device recited in claim 3 , wherein the array elements refractive index is in a range of 1.1 to 2.2.
5. The device recited in claim 3 , wherein the array element angle is in a range of 43 to 47 degrees.
6. The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the light directing means comprises a polarizing film positioned between a source of unpolarized light and the array.
7. The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the reflecting surface is oriented at an angle in a range of 60 to 120 degrees to the vertical.
8. The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the polarized lens comprises a lens of a pair of sunglasses.
9. The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the first polarization dimension comprises a horizontal polarization and the lens polarization comprises a vertical polarization.
10. A method for demonstrating the reduction of glare by a polarized lens comprising:
directing rays of light polarized in a first unitary dimension onto a first end of an array of vertically spaced-apart, substantially parallel, substantially transparent elements, oriented at an angle to the horizontal in a range between 30 and 60 degrees, the angle distinct from a Brewster's angle of the array elements;
viewing light reflected via glare off the array from an indicium positioned behind the array and from glare reflected by a reflective surface positioned adjacent a second end of the array opposite the first end;
interposing a polarized lens between an eye of a viewer in front of the array and the array; and
viewing the indicium, wherein the viewer eye is at least partially shielded from the glare from the indicium and from the reflective surface.
11. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the light directing comprises positioning a polarizing film between a source of unpolarized light and the array.
12. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the polarized lens interposing comprises donning a pair of sunglasses having polarized lenses.
13. The method recited in claim 12 , wherein the first polarization dimension comprises a horizontal polarization and the lens polarization comprises a vertical polarization.
14. A polarized sunglass display comprising:
a device for demonstrating the reduction of glare by a polarized lens comprising:
an array of vertically spaced-apart, substantially parallel, substantially transparent elements, oriented at an angle to the horizontal in a range between 30 and 60 degrees, the angle distinct from a Brewster's angle of the array elements;
means for directing rays of light polarized in a first unitary dimension onto the array from a first end thereof;
an indicium positioned behind the array; and
a reflective surface positioned adjacent a second end of the array opposite the first end; and
a display element adapted to support a pair of sunglasses having polarized lenses wearable by a viewer, the sunglasses interposable between the viewer and the array, a polarization of the lens substantially opposed to the first unitary dimension;
wherein rays from the source of polarized light can impinge upon the array, partially pass therethrough to the reflective surface and partially be reflected onto the indicium via glare off the array; rays reflected by the reflective surface partially reflected by the array via glare thereoff toward the viewer eye; rays reflected by the indicium partially passing thorough the array toward the viewer eye; an interposition of the polarized lens serving to shield the viewer eye at least partially from the glare from the indicium and from the reflective surface.
15. The display recited in claim 14 , the demonstrating device is positionable so that, over a range of heights of the viewer eye, a top edge of each array element at least partially vertically overlaps a bottom edge of an upwardly adjacent array element.
16. The display recited in claim 14 , wherein the array element angle is in a range of 43 to 47 degrees.
17. The display recited in claim 14 , wherein the light directing means comprises a source of unpolarized light and a polarizing film positioned between the light source and the array.
18. The display recited in claim 14 , wherein the reflecting surface is oriented at an angle in a range of 60 to 120 degrees to the vertical.
19. The display recited in claim 14 , wherein the first polarization dimension comprises a horizontal polarization and the lens polarization comprises a vertical polarization.