Surface mode nematic liquid crystal light shutters have previously been shown to supply sufficient switching speeds and optical densities to serve as thermal flash blindness (TFB) protection shields. Ferroelectric liquid crystal light shutters exhibit similar switching speeds and contrast ratios to… More

In Dynamic Eye's Phase I project, it was shown that a standard twisted nematic liquid crystal cell, when driven with the appropriate waveforms, can act with sufficient speed and contrast to provide flash blindness protection, even in a segmented shield. Segmenting the shields would improve the… More

ABSTRACT: Space-based wide field of view cameras can be enabled to point near or directly at the sun if the sunlight is prevented from reaching any lens surfaces. A pixellated glare shield placed in front of the first lens surface that darkens in a region sufficient to shade the lens will… More