# US 9,519,158 B2 · Tactical lighting unit with synchronized eye protection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,519,158 B2 - Document ID: US9519158B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/510,514 - Filed: 2014-10-09 - Published: 2016-03-03 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-10 - Applicants: John Jason Brudz - Inventors: John Jason Brudz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519158B2 ## CPC - G02C 7/101: {having an electro-optical light valve (electro-optical elements per se G02F)} - F41H 13/0056: {for blinding or dazzling, i.e. by overstimulating the opponent's eyes or the enemy's sensor equipment} - G02C 7/104: {having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection} - G02F 1/13306: {Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells (G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence)} - A61F 9/023: {with variable transmission, e.g. photochromic (for welding A61F9/067)} - G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00) - F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a control unit, a light source, and an eye protection device. The light source includes a first timing circuit. The light source is configured to emit light. The first timing circuit is configured to control a flashing of the light emitted by the light source. The eye protection device includes a second timing circuit and a lens portion. The second timing circuit is configured to adjust a transparency and an opacity of the lens portion. The control unit is configured to synchronize the flashing of the light emitted by the light source with the opacity of the lens portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is connected to a first timing circuit and a second timing circuit; a light source comprising the first timing circuit, wherein the light source is configured to emit light, and wherein the first timing circuit is configured, with the processor and the memory, to control a flash rate of the light emitted by the light source; and an eye protection device comprising the second timing circuit and a lens portion, wherein the second timing circuit is configured, with the processor and the memory, to apply a voltage to the lens portion to adjust a transparency and an opacity of the lens portion; wherein the processor and the memory are configured to synchronize the flashing of the light emitted by the light source with the opacity of the lens portion when a synchronize operation is performed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a strobe unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a variable speed, high intensity strobe unit configured to provide a flash rate of about 0.5 to about 10 flashes per second (fps). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the eye protection device comprises shutterglasses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the eye protection device comprises liquid crystal display (LCD) shutterglasses having LCD lenses, wherein the LCD lenses are configured to be substantially transparent, and wherein the LCD lenses are configured to turn substantially opaque when the voltage is applied to the LCD shutterglasses. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the second timing circuit is configured to control the timing of the opacity of the LCD lenses by controlling the voltage applied to the LCD shutterglasses. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the eye protection device comprises a wearable smart device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the timing circuits, with the processor and the memory, are configured to cause the apparatus to synchronize the light source and the eye protection device such that the eye protection device is configured to be synchronized with light source to turn the lens portion opaque at the same time the light source is emitting light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the light source is a hand-held light source. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the light source is fixedly mounted to a structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the light source is mounted to a weapon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the eye protection device is synchronized with muzzle flash of the weapon. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a flash bang grenade. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the controller is housed in a portable electronic device. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: emitting light from a light source, wherein the emitted light comprises a flashing light having a flash rate; applying a voltage to a lens portion of an eye protection device to adjust the lens portion from a substantially transparent state to a substantially opaque state; and synchronizing the emitting of the light with the adjusting of the lens portion when a synchronize operation between the light source and the eye protection device is performed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method as in claim 15 wherein the flashing light comprises a variable speed, high intensity, strobe light. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method as in claim 16 wherein the synchronizing further comprises synchronizing the flashing of the strobe light with the adjustment of the lens portion to the substantially opaque state such that a wearer of the eye protection device is protected from effects of the strobe light. ### Claim 18 A non-transitory computer readable medium embodied with a computer program comprising computer program instructions which when loaded into a processor enable the processor to: control a flash rate of a flashing light emitted from a light source; and apply a voltage to a lens portion of an eye protection device in response to the flashing light such that the applied voltage to the lens portion adjusts between substantially transparent and substantially opaque. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 18 further comprising synchronizing the flashing light with the adjustment of the lens portion to be substantially opaque. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 18 wherein a first timing circuit is configured to control the flashing light and wherein a second timing circuit is configured to control the adjustment of the lens portion.