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Science Technology

Electrochromic Visor Aids Motorcyclists 51

Posted by michael from the night-rider dept.
opticsorg writes "A team from Uppsala University and the firm Chromogenics Sweden AB have developed a flexible electrochromic foil and integrated it into the visor of a motorcycle helmet. The result is a visor that the rider can electronically switch between dark and transparent states. Applying a voltage of about 1V to the initially transparent visor causes it to darken in a matter of seconds. When the voltage is turned off, the visor keeps its properties, while applying a reverse voltage makes it revert to its natural lightly tinted state."
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Electrochromic Visor Aids Motorcyclists More

Electrochromic Visor Aids Motorcyclists

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  • MIT and LCDs (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Mr. Darl McBride ( 704524 ) on Friday September 05, 2003 @01:03PM (#6880724)
    Something similar was tried as a studen project at MIT. They used a flexible LCD panel, fixed over the faceplate of a motorcycle helmet. It had the desired effect, letting them dim the view during the day and lighten it at night, all with just three AA batteries, a rocker switch, and a simple 555 strobing timer circuit.

    The project lead didn't manage to show up for the project class presentation however; he'd wiped out on the way to school.

    Apparently on a colder morning, the LCD began to dim on its own as the cold wind affected the crystals, making them darken slowly and subtly. By the time he consciously realized he wasn't seeing well, he'd already skidded into the back of a flatbed truck!

    I guess the simple lessons can be painful ones at MIT.

    • That's hilarious and sad at the same time. Kinda like when a clown dies.

      Seriously, on a motorcycle what you don't expect can kill you. A related phenomenon I ran into (not literally) was discovered when riding through light fog. The centre section of my visor began to get condensation on it from driving into the suspended water droplets. It was so subtle that I just thought that the fog was getting thicker. Eventually I could hardly see and then pulled over. Only then did I realize that the fog was n

      • I had similar happen when I added a thick scarf for some late autumn riding. I thought it was gradually getting foggy, but the scarf had effectively sealed the airflow through the helmet sufficiently that the mouth grill wasn't enough to vent. I was causing vapor myself!

        Now I don't ride that late in the autumn. Instead, I spend my free time setting the stage for my wintertime barratry.

    • "The project lead didn't manage to show up for the project class presentation however; he'd wiped out on the way to school."

      I wonder if I'll find this story on snopes.com... :)

  • This isn't "transparent" (Score:5, Informative)

    by wowbagger ( 69688 ) on Friday September 05, 2003 @01:07PM (#6880779) Homepage Journal
    The maximum transmissivity is 50% - in other words, at its "light" setting, it STILL blocks half the light coming in.

    At its "dark" setting, it transmits 20%.

    So what you have is not "clear" and "krylon black", but rather "dark" and "darker". While this is useful, it still would be darker than clear.

    And for all the people who will post about "I want this on my car" - no, you don't. Many municipalities have a legal limit of about 90% on car windows - pass less than this and the nice police officer can ticket you. Since 50% < 90%, if the cop wants to give you grief he can.

    • Re:This isn't "transparent" (Score:4, Informative)

      by Shiifty ( 704247 ) on Friday September 05, 2003 @01:21PM (#6880932) Homepage
      50% still isn't good enough for night time riding. I use a tinted visor on my helmet and sometimes get caught out after dark without my clear visor. The tint isn't too dark, maybe 35% but its enough to make you feel uncomfortable on main streets, nevermind rural areas. 50% wouldn't be much better. Simple solution, just flip it up if you get caught out, thats what I do.
    • Ah, but once they've improved that tint range, we'll be able to make that post with impunity. :)
    • And for all the people who will post about "I want this on my car" - no, you don't.

      Aww, c'mon, I've been waiting 20 years to say, "KITT, darken windows".

    • And for all the people who will post about "I want this on my car" - no, you don't. Many municipalities have a legal limit of about 90% on car windows - pass less than this and the nice police officer can ticket you. Since 50% < 90%, if the cop wants to give you grief he can.

      Depends on where you live: assuming you're talking about the U.S., tint laws vary from state to state. Many states will allow you to pass much less than 90% through your windows -- often 50% or less, for which this material would

    • Many municipalities have a legal limit of about 90% on car windows - pass less than this and the nice police officer can ticket you.

      Actually, in some places, the tinting has to be removed on the spot, regardless of the tinting type.

  • Forget motorcycles... windows! (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Tom7 ( 102298 ) on Friday September 05, 2003 @01:10PM (#6880806) Homepage Journal
    Sweet. I've always wanted window panes that I can "turn off", and this is getting pretty close. Liquid crystals aren't so good because you need to keep the voltage applied in order to keep the crystals aligned.

  • I would buy one (Score:3, Insightful)

    by HotButteredHampster ( 614950 ) <s@biickert.shaw@ca> on Friday September 05, 2003 @01:19PM (#6880898) Homepage

    If this makes it to market in Canada, I will be first in line to get one. Vision is tremendously important when operating a motorcycle, and tinted visors are a bad compromise at best. Magazines suggest that you should have a second, clear visor and change it after dark, but there are different situations such as tunnels, forest roads, and even weather changes that can darken a sunny day but are easy to wave off as not bad enough to stop, dig out a clear visor and install it.

    This would be much more convenient and by extension, safer.


    • Flip it up.

      Sucks when it's cool out, like 60 degrees, and it's night time. And you've forgotten your clear shield. (People who don't ride wouldn't understand why you'd forget it) So you're riding a hour home with the shield UP and you've got a nose full of snot and watery eyes on the way home.
  • Where I live, your window tint can't be darker than a certain law-defined limit, which police can enforce with the use of a light meter once they pull you over. It'd be great to cruise around with my windows as dark as I want them to be, and then flip a switch when a suspicious cop decides to check me for a violation. :)
  • Is it sandwiched between two pieces of plastic? Is it located on the inside/outside of the visor? This is important, because by sandwiching it, the two pieces of plastic could start separating over time. If its on the outside, like current iridium coated visors (the metallic mirrored ones) it will be easily scratched and damaged by bugs and debris. Inside is obviously best, however it would still be susceptible to fingers/foggy breath/scratching that could damage it.

    I wonder how much these would cost. Curr

  • Sunscreen for the Car (Score:2, Informative)

    by sunbane ( 146740 )
    We looked into this several years ago after doing a digitized lighting system for a wealthy family up in New Hampshire who had glass capable of this effect in their shower, overlooking a beautiful valley. If you wanted the privacy you could instantly have it. We thought, this is perfect for when your car is parked... block all of the suns rays and heat with a simple switch - no more need for those cardboard sunglasses. Unfortuneately the only supplier we could find wanted $5000 / sq. foot. But, if price

  • Comment removed (Score:4, Interesting)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Friday September 05, 2003 @02:41PM (#6881661)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • I want this for my car windows when I'm making out.

    Think of the possibilities!
  • I'd love something like this for those times when you leave your car in the sun.

    Might go over big in Arizona or LA.

    Also, if you can't see into the car, you cant' see any stuff to steal.

  • Ah, a Danger-Sensitive Visor! (Score:3, Insightful)

    by ConceptJunkie ( 24823 ) on Friday September 05, 2003 @03:27PM (#6882069) Homepage Journal
    It immediately darkens when dangers is near because what you can't see can't hurt you.

    Now if they shrink it down to sunglasses size, we can all be like Zaphod Beeblebrox!

  • to protect us from the Ravenous Bugblatter Beasts of Traal [igd.fhg.de] anymore! Hooray for Technology!!
  • peril sensitive sunglasses!!
  • Anyone know what the difference is? Electrochromatic is the word car companies typically use to describe the auto-dimming rear-view mirrors. Dictionaries seem to only define electrocromic. Odd. Is electrochromatic just a made-up word that sounds better than the proper one? Sorta like disenfranchise (not proper) vis a vis disfranchise?

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