99--TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY VARIABLE VISIBILITY GLASSES FOR FLIGHTTRAINING

NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at NASA Langley Research Center have developed eyewear which combines electroactively controlled liquid crystal lenses with a means for determining the pilots head position. When the pilots head is positioned to look outside the front or side windscreens, the lenses restrict light transmission. When the pilots head is lowered to view the instrument panel or other cockpit displays, the lenses allow light transmission so that the view of the instruments is unimpeded. The lenses consist of integrated polarizers and electroactive liquid crystals mounted on a glass or polycarbonate substrate. Light transmission through the lenses can be selectively controlled by the system, ranging from 0.1% to 10%. The lenses are laminated for safety and are mounted in conventional eyeglass frames. The frames include infrared (IR) collimator detectors that detect incident IR light from several battery-powered IR sources mounted in the cockpit. The IR detection system is used to determine the position and orientation of the pilots head. Circuits within the frames activate the lenses to restrict light transmission when the pilots head is oriented to look out the windscreen. A PC, linked to the aircraft flight computer or altimeter, is also in the control loop. It turns off the system to allow unimpeded visibility when the aircraft is below 200 feet or for other specified conditions. A prototype has been tested. NASA seeks a development partner to refine the design and commercialize the product. The technology may have additional applications, such as military aircrew eye protection or virtual reality vision systems, among others. To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to contact@example.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. Please also provide the nature of your interest in the technology along with a brief background of your company. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at http://technology.nasa.gov/ . These responses are provided to members of NASA Langleys Office of Strategic Analysis and Business Development OSACB for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. If direct licensing interest results from this posting, OSACB will follow the required formal licensing process of posting in the Federal Register. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.