Balder LTD is a spin-off Company of Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia, EU. Balder was funded in late 1990s in order to commercialize the IP of the Institute in the field of Liquid Crystals - automatic LCD light filters for eye protection (varjenje , medicina,…). Balder actively participated (final end-user) in a number of the Institute’s applied research projects financed by International Research Programs.The research results of these projects provided Balder the key novel knowledge in the field of LCD light shutters - summarized in 6 patents (EU and USA). Since 2000, Balder’s world market share was constantly growing ( 15%/year). However, there were hurdles along the way to the top of the niche world market – lawsuit and the global economic crisis. Thanks to the new-generation products launched on the market during the crisis Balder managed to fully recover. see also attachment 2
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 26506023Measurements of the dynamics of the visually evoked potentials on human retina are very demanding, as these signals are extremely weak. Experiments have to be conducted in electrically isolated laboratories, where any outside electrical noise is reduced as much as possible (IJS). The reduction of the signal noise is further reduced by synchronizing the experiments with the line voltage and in particular with adaptive digital filtration of the electric noise predominantly resulting from various frequency components of the line voltage. Such a signal-to-noise improvement results in the fact that the experiments are no longer limited only to the static measurements (e.g. standard Clinical analyses) but can be extended also to the measurements of the dynamic, transient phenomena (e.g. temporary blindness). The use of the standard “ISO light source” that simulates the TIG welding process (without typical electric noise generated by the welding device) further helped organizing a set of various measurements of the visually evoked potentials on human retina as well as neurons in the visual part of the cortex as evoked by the strong light pulses (e.g. VEP, Pattern VEP, Pattern ERG). These measurements were finally used to evaluate the performance of the automatic protective welding filters, as manufactured by the project’s industrial partner, Balder.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 25657127The project leader, IJS, is in fact also the author of the two most important novel testing methods to be introduced in the new ISO Standard to come. These tests (angular dependence of the light attenuation and light sensitivity) will importantly affect the quality of the personal protection. Within the scope of the "sensitivity test" IJS developed also an "artificial plasma light source, which is presently in the last phase of international expert acceptation as an ISO Standard light source for welding. The new ISO Standard will emphasize the comparative advantages of Balder's products, as the latter in particularly excel in the specific performances (angular dependence, light sensitivity), as tested and controlled by the new Standard.
F.31 Development of standards
COBISS.SI-ID: 25656871