Lixys SA

Lixys is developing products related to individual protection for welders and for any anti-blooming applications. Lixys, a spin-off company of the optics Department of the Télécom Bretagne, was spun out in July 2006.

The welders are conventionally protected by filters absorbing an important part of the visible light, and making the vision of the welding task difficult. Ergonomic improvement is achieved by liquid crystal filters. They switch to a dark state at the time when the welding electric arc is established. This allows a good vision for the welders before or after welding but not during.

Lixys breakthrough is to propose a welding mask that will combine security before, during and after welding and vision comfort. The security is achieved by using a liquid crystal polymer composite which is fast, exhibits a high robustness and a dark state in case of failure. The synchronization between the welding arc pulses (pulses are used in most of the modern generation of MIG/MAG and TIG welding sources) and the mask liquid crystal filter improves the vision comfort by offering to the welder the accurate protection in real time. The vision of the welding scene is clearer thanks to the retina persistence. For example, for a set of welding parameters that requires a protection level of 13, the welder will have the vision equivalent to a level 9 but with still the same level of protection. Protection levels are defined by the norm EN379. Lixys will also develop a range of products related to anti-blooming in various areas such as defence and automotive applications.

Lixys has been laureate of the Innovation Award from the Louis Leprince Ringuet Foundation in 2005.

 

  • Télécom Bretagne Alumni
  • UEB
  • Fondation Télécom
  • Institut Mines-Télécom
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