Optics

Optics System

    In order to re-set the body’s clock during the course of the travel, well-timed light exposure and behavioral modifications aimed at synchronizing the body to the destination’s time zone is needed. The optics system is designed to simulate day and night at the correct times in order to adjust the body to the day-night cycle of the user's destination.

Simulating Day: Blue LEDs                

    To simulate day time, blue light must be added to the user's field of vision with a irradiance of at least 12.1 W/cm^2. to achieve this an array of surface mount (SMD) LEDs were placed on the upper portion of the frame. Light flows through a diffuser to evenly spread the light over the face of the user.         

  Figure 1. Surface Mount (SMD) LED                                         Figure 2. LEDs on user                                 Figure 3. LEDs on Upper Ledge  (Diffuser not shown)

Simulating Night: Optical Filter

   To simulate night time, blue light must be blocked form the user's fields of vision, achieve this a multi layer filter was designed. In the lenses area of the device a filter made from  polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film and two layers of the blue light blocking optical filter. The goal was to stop blue light from being transmitted as well as show how the active filter material would function. Additionally, the combination of the layers created a more rigid structure that could be inserted into the frame without more reinforcement.

    Figure 4. Diagram of Filter                                Figure 5. Transmission Function of 2 LBL Filters                             Figure 6. Filter Fitted into Frame

The filter is mechanically and electrically similar to the ideal filter material which would transition from clear to an amber-yellow color.