# Electrochromic + Anti-Fog + Prescription Lens Personal-Protective Equipment (PPE) Eyewear Based on Unique, Very Low Power, Conductive Coatings and Leveraging Unique, ANSI Z87.1-/Military-Qualified Ele

> **NIH ALLCDC R43** · ASHWIN-USHAS CORPORATION, INC. · 2020 · $149,989

## Abstract

With regard to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Eyewear technologies, a major occupational hazard in
high risk occupations such as manufacturing, mining, construction, warehousing, environmental remediation/-
cleanup, biomedical cleanup, and in work needing protection against bio-particles, chemical agents and
nanomaterials, but one which has received very limited attention to date, is that associated with the worker
transitioning from very bright to dark areas; fogging of PPE exacerbates this. The PPE wearer critically
needs automated, hands-free light/dark (L/D) and defogging control, while accommodating prescription
lenses. Per OSHA/DoL, 5,147 workers were killed on the job in 2017 (3.5/100,000), with 20.7% in
construction, a slightly smaller number in indoor/outdoor warehousing; non-fatal injuries are many times this; a
significant portion of these are ascribable to L/D transition, fogging and prescription lens issues. Current PPE
technologies, e.g., photochromics (needing UV light, not working indoors/in cars), clip-on sunshades, are
grossly inadequate; indeed, US Army Public Health Command specifically prohibits photochromics/clip-ons for
military personnel; OSHA strongly recommends against them. Other electrochromics (changing color with
<5VDC applied voltage), e.g. those based on metal oxides, Conducting Polymers (CPs), LCDs and
nanocrystals, have shown poor performance. For defogging, superhydrophilic, surfactant coatings, double-
pane polycarbonate, remain inadequate. Thus, an effective eyewear technology, combining electrochromism
with good defogging capability and prescription lenses, would eminently address this occupational hazard.
Now in very recent prior/ongoing work, this firm has developed, patented a new electrochromics technology,
based on unique, matched-dual-polymer CP electrochromics, overcoming drawbacks preventing commercial
electrochromic eyewear heretofore. Typical performance: L/D contrast 1% - 70% (vs. air reference); thin (< 0.4
mm), flexible, durable; unique applied-V algorithm yields switching times of <2s L→D, ~instantaneous D→L;
automated-function (photosensor-based); very low power (72h with 12 L/D/L switches per h before batteries
need recharging; 15 µW/cm2, +/- 3.0 VDC); conforming to ANSI Z87.1-2015, US military (APEL)
specifications. We have also developed a unique, active defogging technology. Combining our proven
electrochromics/defogging technology with prescription lenses will however require a radical redesign
of our current frames/layout. The proposed work will: study 2 different designs for prescription lens
incorporation; develop 2 eyewear versions: hermetically-sealed (~biohazard) + non-sealed; develop
spectacles/goggles for more, less hazardous workplaces; incorporate voice-activated + humidity-sensor-
activated defogging; extensively test/optimize; assess manufacture; finalize commercial partnerships; resulting,
<$100 product will be first commercially viable electrochromics + defogging + presc...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10153324
- **Project number:** 1R43OH012080-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** ASHWIN-USHAS CORPORATION, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** PRASANNA CHANDRASEKHAR
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $149,989
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2021-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10153324

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10153324, Electrochromic + Anti-Fog + Prescription Lens Personal-Protective Equipment (PPE) Eyewear Based on Unique, Very Low Power, Conductive Coatings and Leveraging Unique, ANSI Z87.1-/Military-Qualified Ele (1R43OH012080-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10153324. Licensed CC0.

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