Abstract: A scope protector for a weapon scope includes a scope adapter defining a cylindrical bore, the scope adapter having a first end that is configured to connect to an end of the weapon scope to align the cylindrical bore of the scope adapter with a lens of the weapon scope. The scope protector may further include a lens cover defining a cylindrical bore, the lens cover being configured to connect to a second end of the scope adapter opposite the first end (and/or to an intervening diffuser adapter housing a diffuser such as a honeycomb diffuser) to align the cylindrical bore of the lens cover with the lens of the weapon scope. The scope protector may further include one or more transparent polymer films housed within the lens cover so as to cover the cylindrical bore thereof.

Abstract: A lens stack may include a polymer film, a coating containing one or more dyes, and a protective layer covering or encapsulating the coating. Each of the one or more dyes may be a narrow band dye and may have a full width at half maximum (FWHM) absorption bandwidth of 40 nm or less, for example. The coating may be an adhesive, and the protective layer may be an additional polymer film adhered to the first polymer film by the adhesive. Alternatively, the protective layer may be a scratch resistant topcoat or other layer that covers or encapsulates the coating. The lens stack may be the base layer of a removable lens stack including one or more removable lens layers.

Abstract: An eye protector includes a lens configured to protect the wearer from projectiles, and an optically clear stack attached to the lens. The stack can have one or more removable layers. The eye protector also includes an optically clear dry mount adhesive layer attaching the stack to the lens. The dry mount adhesive may be self-wetting to attach the stack to the lens so that air between the stack and the lens can be removed after the stack is attached and/or adhered to the lens, for example, by applying pressure across the surface of the stack. The refractive indices of the lens, the dry mount adhesive, and each removable layer are matched to within about 0.2.

Abstract: A protective lens stack comprises a base layer including a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film containing a UV blocking additive and one or more removable lens layers stacked on top of the base layer. Each of the removable lens layers may include a PET film and a first adhesive disposed on a bottom surface of the PET film. Refractive indices of the base layer and the one or more removable lens layers may be matched to within 0.2. Each layer of the protective lens stack, including the base layer and each of the removable lens layer(s), may have less than 0.5% haze. The protective lens stack may be used as a face shield or may be surface mountable using a second adhesive disposed on a bottom surface of the PET film containing the UV blocking additive.

Abstract: Manufacturing a pre-molded stack of one or more lenses to be installable on a curved substrate such as a vehicle windshield includes placing a moldable stack of one or more lenses and adhesive layer(s) on a mold, applying heat and pressure to the moldable stack to produce a pre-molded stack of one or more lenses from the moldable stack, and removing the pre-molded stack from the mold. The pre-molded stack may have a compound curvature, which may match a curvature of the curved substrate. The mold may be formed using three-dimensional shape data derived from the curved substrate, such as by optically scanning the curved substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sterile stack of peelable lenses includes coating a first lens (or stack of lenses) with a first adhesive coating, heating the first adhesive coating to initiate curing, exposing the first adhesive coating to ultraviolet light to continue curing, laminating a second lens (or stack of lenses) onto a surface of the first adhesive coating to produce a stack of lenses, coating the second lens with a second adhesive coating, heating the second adhesive coating to initiate curing, exposing the second adhesive coating to ultraviolet light to continue curing, laminating a third lens (or stack of lenses) onto a surface of the second adhesive coating to add the third lens to the stack of lenses, and exposing the stack of lenses to an electron beam to continue curing of the first and second adhesive coatings.

Abstract: A removable lens stack includes a base layer and one or more removable lens layers. The base layer may include a substrate and moth eye coatings on first and second sides of the substrate. A first removable lens layer may include a substrate and an acrylic or fluoropolymer coating on a first side of the substrate and may be stacked on top of the base layer such that the second side of the substrate faces the first side of the substrate of the base layer. A second removable lens layer may include a substrate and an acrylic or fluoropolymer coating on a first side of the substrate and may be stacked on top of the first removable lens layer such that the second side of the substrate faces the first side of the substrate of the first removable lens layer. The acrylic or fluoropolymer coating may comprise a hard coat.

Abstract: A protective lens stack comprises a base layer including a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film containing a UV blocking additive and one or more removable lens layers stacked on top of the base layer. Each of the removable lens layers may include a PET film and a first adhesive disposed on a bottom surface of the PET film. Refractive indices of the base layer and the one or more removable lens layers may be matched to within 0.2. Each layer of the protective lens stack, including the base layer and each of the removable lens layer(s), may have less than 0.5% haze. The protective lens stack may be used as a face shield or may be surface mountable using a second adhesive disposed on a bottom surface of the PET film containing the UV blocking additive.

Abstract: Manufacturing a pre-molded stack of one or more lenses to be installable on a curved substrate such as a vehicle windshield includes placing a moldable stack of one or more lenses and adhesive layer(s) on a mold, applying heat and pressure to the moldable stack to produce a pre-molded stack of one or more lenses from the moldable stack, and removing the pre-molded stack from the mold. The pre-molded stack may have a compound curvature, which may match a curvature of the curved substrate. The mold may be formed using three-dimensional shape data derived from the curved substrate, such as by optically scanning the curved substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polymer film includes melting a resin, extruding the melted resin through a die to produce a polymer film, shaping the polymer film, cooling the polymer film, illuminating a surface with a light source, capturing an image of a shadow cast by the polymer film on the surface while the polymer film is between the light source and the surface, calculating a frequency spectrum of at least a portion of the captured image, and adjusting a process parameter of the melting, the extruding, the shaping, or the cooling based on the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A tear-off capture system includes an eye protector with a base lens. The eye protector has a retention mechanism mounted on one side, and a support mechanism that supports the eye protector on the head of a wearer. A two-tabbed stack of laminated tear-off lenses mounts to the eye protector via an adhesive. The stack mounts so that the first tab of the stack aligns with the first side of the eye protector and the second tab engages with the retention mechanism. Via the second tab and the retention mechanism, released tear-off layers are directed toward the second side of the eye protector away from the base lens. A capturer helps hold the initially released tear-off layer to the eye protector. An exposed tacky surface on each released tear-off helps hold the subsequently removed tear-off layers.

Abstract: A removable lens stack includes a base layer and one or more removable lens layers. The base layer may include a substrate and moth eye coatings on first and second sides of the substrate. A first removable lens layer may include a substrate and an acrylic or fluoropolymer coating on a first side of the substrate and may be stacked on top of the base layer such that the second side of the substrate faces the first side of the substrate of the base layer. A second removable lens layer may include a substrate and an acrylic or fluoropolymer coating on a first side of the substrate and may be stacked on top of the first removable lens layer such that the second side of the substrate faces the first side of the substrate of the first removable lens layer. The acrylic or fluoropolymer coating may comprise a hard coat.

Abstract: A protective barrier affixable to a curved substrate comprises a stack of two or more lenses, each of the two or more lenses including a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, a hard coat on a first side of the PET film, and an adhesive layer on a second side of the PET film opposite the first side. The stack of two or more lenses may have a modulation transfer function that exhibits a contrast value greater than 75% for a spatial resolution of one line-pair per 0.0003 radians at 65 degrees angle of incidence. Heat and pressure may be applied to conform the stack of two or more lenses to the shape of the curved substrate.

Abstract: A protective barrier is affixable to a curved substrate such as a vehicle windshield. The protective barrier may include a stack of three or more lenses. Each of the three or more lenses may include a thermoplastic film (preferably a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film) and an adhesive layer on a first side of the thermoplastic film. The three or more lenses may have respective thicknesses that define a monotonically decreasing function in a stacking direction of the stack and that include at least three different thicknesses. The protective barrier may be placed on the curved substrate with the adhesive layer of an innermost lens of the stack in contact with the curved substrate, and heat and pressure may be applied to conform the stack to the shape of the curved substrate. Thereafter, an outermost lens of the stack may be peeled off to reveal the next lens of the stack.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sterile stack of peelable lenses includes coating a first lens (or stack of lenses) with a first adhesive coating, heating the first adhesive coating to initiate curing, exposing the first adhesive coating to ultraviolet light to continue curing, laminating a second lens (or stack of lenses) onto a surface of the first adhesive coating to produce a stack of lenses, coating the second lens with a second adhesive coating, heating the second adhesive coating to initiate curing, exposing the second adhesive coating to ultraviolet light to continue curing, laminating a third lens (or stack of lenses) onto a surface of the second adhesive coating to add the third lens to the stack of lenses, and exposing the stack of lenses to an electron beam to continue curing of the first and second adhesive coatings.

Abstract: A protective barrier affixable to a curved substrate comprises a stack of two or more lenses, each of the two or more lenses including a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, a hard coat on a first side of the PET film, and an adhesive layer on a second side of the PET film opposite the first side. The stack of two or more lenses may have a modulation transfer function that exhibits a contrast value greater than 75% for a spatial resolution of one line-pair per 0.0003 radians at 65 degrees angle of incidence. Heat and pressure may be applied to conform the stack of two or more lenses to the shape of the curved substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polymer film includes melting a resin, extruding the melted resin through a die to produce a polymer film, shaping the polymer film, cooling the polymer film, illuminating a surface with a light source, capturing an image of a shadow cast by the polymer film on the surface while the polymer film is between the light source and the surface, calculating a frequency spectrum of at least a portion of the captured image, and adjusting a process parameter of the melting, the extruding, the shaping, or the cooling based on the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A removable lens stack includes a base layer and one or more removable lens layers. The base layer may include a substrate and moth eye coatings on first and second sides of the substrate. A first removable lens layer may include a substrate and an acrylic or fluoropolymer coating on a first side of the substrate and may be stacked on top of the base layer such that the second side of the substrate faces the first side of the substrate of the base layer. A second removable lens layer may include a substrate and an acrylic or fluoropolymer coating on a first side of the substrate and may be stacked on top of the first removable lens layer such that the second side of the substrate faces the first side of the substrate of the first removable lens layer. The acrylic or fluoropolymer coating may comprise a hard coat.

Abstract: A protective barrier is affixable to a curved substrate such as a vehicle windshield. The protective barrier may include a stack of three or more lenses. Each of the three or more lenses may include a thermoplastic film (preferably a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film) and an adhesive layer on a first side of the thermoplastic film. The three or more lenses may have respective thicknesses that define a monotonically decreasing function in a stacking direction of the stack and that include at least three different thicknesses. The protective barrier may be placed on the curved substrate with the adhesive layer of an innermost lens of the stack in contact with the curved substrate, and heat and pressure may be applied to conform the stack to the shape of the curved substrate. Thereafter, an outermost lens of the stack may be peeled off to reveal the next lens of the stack.

Abstract: A removable lens stack includes a base layer and one or more removable lens layers. The base layer may include a substrate and moth eye coatings on first and second sides of the substrate. A first removable lens layer may include a substrate and an acrylic or fluoropolymer coating on a first side of the substrate and may be stacked on top of the base layer such that the second side of the substrate faces the first side of the substrate of the base layer. A second removable lens layer may include a substrate and an acrylic or fluoropolymer coating on a first side of the substrate and may be stacked on top of the first removable lens layer such that the second side of the substrate faces the first side of the substrate of the first removable lens layer. The acrylic or fluoropolymer coating may comprise a hard coat.