Chanath Cha using a personal energy shield
A personal energy shield, which is also referred to as a personal deflector shield, was a type of protective technology. It generated a field of energy that could defend the user against various dangers, including blaster weapon attacks and harsh environmental conditions. These shields typically came in smaller sizes, enabling them to be worn on an arm or belt, like the projected energy shield or the Personal Combat Shield. Others were made to be held, functioning similarly to a standard physical shield, examples of which include the Gungan personal energy shield and the droid commando personal shield.
The Galactic Empire developed a deflector shield for the droideka to reduce the number of casualties on the battlefield. The energy field emitted by this device shielded its user from blaster projectiles. However, it did not offer any protection from kinetic weapons such as slugthrowers and grenades. Even though the Empire improved the personal shield, the Alliance to Restore the Republic recognized the value of this technology for their own purposes and started using it during the Galactic Civil War.