Stand-alone and modular display station for long solar radiation exposure of sunglasses lenses

• Grant number: 16/13053-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Medical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Liliane Ventura Schiabel
• Grantee: Felipe Marques da Silva
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project is part of a broader research already being conducted by Prof. Dr. Liliane Ventura, on the effects of prolonged exposure to sunlight of the lenses material with respect to mechanical strength, transmittance of the filters and other characteristics (FAPESP process 2014 / 16938-0), which aims to conduct studies on sunglasses to help with the nationalization of Brazilian standard NBR15111, suggesting more appropriate national parameters conditions. The first Brazilian standard for UV protection sunglasses, NBR15111, was drafted and published in 2003. From 2010 to 2013, the School of Engineering of São Carlos (USP) made contribution in the review and drafting of this standard of the CB49 committee and the main committe, e attended by Prof. Dr. Liliane Ventura, in order to change this rule. This Brazilian standard was hitherto a faithful copy (mirror) of European, BSEN1836 standard, and the main change so far was about the extending interval analysis of UV protection sunglasses, from 280 - 380nm to 280-400nm; and the resistance to irradiation test increased from 25h to 50h. This was based on results of a study carried out in the process 2011/06079-2 from FAPESP and also the interaction with professionals who participate in committees of American standards, such as Herbert Hoover personally and David Sliney (distance), members of the U.S. standards committee for sunglasses. In previous conducted studies (FAPESP - 2011/06079-2)- where a self-service kiosk became available to the public, out of the 879 measurements, 20% of the glasses are not in accordance with ultraviolet protection established by the standards. This number is quite high, as the president of Sindióptica - Mr. Luis Alberto Perez has stated. This study resulted in a HIGHLY accessed article (http://www.biomedical-engineering-online.com/content/13/April/2014) and had international repercussions, where the news network BBC News did a story, which was 3 times in the air in June 2014, and the link to the article is: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28040792 or www.sel.eesc.usp.br/lio/BBCNEWS. BBC has also conducted a second story, which can be found at the link http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28452943. In previous studies, there are indications that ultraviolet protection degrades with use and exposure of sun glasses to natural ultraviolet radiation. Thus, this project aims to build a prototype for irradiation lens sunglasses, where one of the spectacles will be submitted to the solar simulator; the other in the prototype. This prototype consists of a set of panels, which should house 100 lenses arranged in the use position, vertical, which will be exposed and irradiated by the sun from sunrise until sunset. The panels will be automatically exposed to the sun and should turn towards the sun, so that the lens will always be irradiated from the front and orthogonally by the sun. Sensors of humidity and dust (for rainy and / or days with soot) will be installed to collect the panes and protect the lenses from undesirable weather conditions, as well as a camera for viewing the panel all the time. A sensor to determine the ultraviolet index which lenses are being irradiated will be coupled to the system and the data will be recorded as well as sent to a panel that will be on display to the public. The exposure time as well as the UV index (at every 21s) will be automatically recorded and automatic opening or closing the lid may also be interfered by a PC by a controlling website.The lenses are placed before being subjected to optical tests belonging to the broader project. The lens exposure period is 24 months, so it is important that the panels developed herein can operate flawlessly for this period, recording all the necessary data and allowing tests on the lenses to be performed every 30 days.