Transitions Optical, Inc.

Alan M Grubb

Ramaiahgari Reddy

Anil Kumar

Yannian Li

Cory S Brown

Meng He

Henry Nguyen

Ruisong Xu

Suvagata Tripathi

Provided are photochromic optical articles including an optical substrate and an at least partial anisotropic layer disposed on the at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. The anisotropic layer includes an anisotropic polymer; a photochromic-dichroic dye, a photochromic dye, or combination thereof; a mesogenic hindered amine light stabilizer; and a mesogenic antioxidant. Provided are photochromic coated articles including a substrate and an anisotropic coating layer on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. The anisotropic coating layer is formed from a polymerizable composition including a polymerizable anisotropic material; a photochromic-dichroic dye, a photochromic dye, or combination thereof; a mesogenic hindered amine light stabilizer; and a mesogenic antioxidant.

Photochromic-dichroic articles

Optionally polymerizable mesogen compounds are disclosed that include a polyvalent non-mesogenic core X to which is bonded three or four separate extensions, where each extension independently includes, in sequence, a linking group -L-, and a mesogen group—[Mesogen]. The mesogen compounds are represented by the following Formula (I), With reference to Formula (I), v is 3 or 4; t is 0 or 1; at least one Mesogen includes at least four cyclic groups; each -L- independently has an average chain length of at least 15 bonds; and at least one -L- has an average chain length of at least 25 bonds. Liquid crystal compositions are disclosed that include such mesogen compounds, and optical elements that include such mesogen compounds.

Mesogen compounds

The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include a first mesogen (Mesogen-1) and a second mesogen (Mesogen-2) that are connected by a linking group (-L-), as represented by the following Formula (I): Mesogen-1, and optionally Mesogen-2, each independently include the following terminal group, where R is hydrogen, alkyl, or alkoxy. Mesogen-2 optionally includes a terminal group P—, which is selected from R, acrylate, methacrylate, trihalomethacrylate, oxirane, hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, and carboxylic acid ester. Mesogen-1 and Mesogen-2 together include a total of at least seven, or at least eight, cyclic groups. In some cases, Mesogen-1 and Mesogen-2 are the same. The present invention also relates to liquid crystal compositions that include such mesogen compounds, and to optical elements that include such mesogen compounds.

The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include first, second, and third mesogens, in which the first and second mesogens are connected by a first linking group (-L-), and the second and third mesogens are connected by a second linking group (-L-), as represented by the following Formula (I), and as graphically illustrated by Formula (Ia) of FIG.of the drawing:(Mesogen-1)-L-(Mesogen-2)-L-(Mesogen-3)&#x2003;&#x2003;(I)At least one of Mesogen-1, Mesogen-2, or Mesogen-3 include at least four cyclic groups. The linking groups -L- and -L- are each free of mesogen properties (are each non-mesogenic) and each independently have an average chain length of at least 20 bonds. The mesogen compounds are optionally polymerizable. The present invention also relates to liquid crystal compositions that include such mesogen compounds, and to optical elements that include such mesogen compounds, such as in one or more mesogen-containing layers.

The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include a first mesogen (Mesogen-1) and a second mesogen (Mesogen-2) that are connected by a linking group (-L-), as represented by the following Formula (I): Mesogen-1, and optionally Mesogen-2, each independently include the following terminal group,

Compounds that have ultraviolet light absorbing properties, and which can also have mesogenic properties. Compositions that include one or more such compounds. Articles of manufacture that include one or more such compounds, such as optical elements that include an optical substrate and a layer that includes at least one such compound.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Alan M Grubb