Ashwin-Ushas Corporation — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NIOSH

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant With regard to Personal Protective Eyewear PPE technologies a major occupational hazard in high risk industrial sectors such as manufacturing mining construction and warehousing 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 protective eyewear exacerbates the situation Per OSHA statistics the number of fatal accidents potentially caused by light dark L D issues may be up to of the total in with non fatal accidents having similar proportion Current PPE technologies e g photochromics which change color with light or clip on sunshades extra sunglasses for L D control and superhydrophilic coatings or double pane polycarbonate for anti fogging are all grossly inadequate in addressing this risk Indeed the US Army Public Health Command specifically prohibits photochromics or clip ons for military personnel in outdoor indoor settings 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 VDC applied voltage This has excellent performance and overcomes drawbacks that have heretofore prevented practical commercial electrochromic eyewear Typical performance very high L D contrast to vs air reference thin andlt mm flexible durable lens construction unique applied potential algorithm residing on an inexpensive andlt $ Microcontroller yielding switching times of andlt s Landgt D instantaneous Dandgt L automated function photosensor based Li battery powered electrochromic spectacles goggles demonstrated very low power h with L D L switches per h before batteries need recharging uW cm VDC demonstrated as retrofit to spectacles goggles conforming to ANSI Z and US military specifications Furthermore this firm has also just developed a new active anti fogging technology proof of concept data given in this proposal The proposed work will combine these anti fogging and electrochromics technologies and will also address high volume manufacture issues It will specifically Fabricate extensively test optimize the active anti fog coatings Further optimize electrochromic lenses Modify existing electrochromics Microcontroller for anti fog operation with input from tiny cheap temperature humidity sensor Fabricate test full function electrochromics anti fog spectacles goggles Address specific high volume manufacture issues The firmandapos s ongoing collaborations or teaming relationships with several established eyewear manufacturers details herein will assist the work If successful the inexpensive andlt $ product resulting from this work will be the first commercially viable electrochromics eyewear product and also the first combining electrochromics anti fogging functionalities It will address a serious occupational hazard and drastically upgrade PPE Ancillary markets skiwear motor sports military may further lower cost PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE With regard to Personal Protective Eyewear technologies PPE a major occupational hazard in high risk industrial sectors such as manufacturing mining construction and warehousing but one which has received very limited attention to date is that associated with the worker transitioning from very bright to dark areas with fogging of protective eyewear exacerbating the situation 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 CP electrochromics with excellent performance and which overcomes drawbacks that have heretofore prevented practical commercial electrochromic eyewear electrochromic spectacles and goggles have been demonstrated with photosensor based automated function and major eyewear manufacturer partners identified The proposed work will combine a new active anti fogging technology proof of concept data given in this proposal with this electrochromics technology and will also address high volume manufacture issues leading to a commercially viable inexpensive est andlt $ PPE product that combines electrochromism anti fog functionalities for the first time potential extensions to the military soldier use and recreational e g skiwear motor sports football markets with the potential to eventually replace the $ B est photochromics market will further lower costs for the occupational safety market