Alphamicron, Inc.

Essilor International (compagnie Generale D'optique)

Essilor International

Ludmila Sukhomlinova

Bahman Taheri

Tamas Kosa

Paul Luchette

Linli Su

Roy E Miller, Iv

Christine Baker

Eui-Yeul Park

Antonio Munoz

William Ryan

Pedro Coutino Soto

Volodymyr Bodnar

Jean-Paul Cano

Timothy J Bunning

Timothy J White

Bernard Mark Heron

Stuart Aiken

Christopher David Gabbutt

Christine Martincic

Tim Smith

David Baker

Elliott Bardun

Joseph Angelo

Jean Paul Cano

Christoper David Gabbutt

A multi-color variable transmission optical device (“MC-VTOD”) includes a first cell having a first electro-optic material provided between a first pair of substrates and a second cell having a second electro-optic material provided between a second pair of substrates. The first electro-optic material can changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a first wavelength region upon a change in an electric field applied across the first electro-optical material. The second electro-optic material is capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a second wavelength region different from the first wavelength region upon a change in an electric field applied across the second electro-optical material. The MC-VTOD is switchable between i) a clear state wherein the first cell and second cell are in the state of higher light transmission, ii) a first tinted state wherein the first cell is in a state of lower light transmittance and the second cell is in a state of higher light transmittance, and iii) a colorimetrically neutral darkened state wherein at least the second cell is in a state of lower light transmittance. At least the first cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption of 175 nm or less in its state of lower light transmittance.

Multi-color variable transmission optical device

A laser protection variable transmission optical device ('LP-VTOD') includes first and second cells, each capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance. The first cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a first peak absorption wavelength and a first FWHM of 175 nm or less, and the second cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a second peak absorption wavelength and a second FWHM of 175 nm or less. The first peak absorption wavelength may be the same or different than the second peak absorption wavelength. The LP-VTOD is capable of switching from a clear state to a darkened state having a darkened state transmittance % Tthat is equal to or less than 10% for at least one of the first or second peak absorption wavelengths.

Laser-protection variable transmission optical device

A variable transmission optical device includes a cell having d/p ratio of greater than 0.01. The cell includes a pair of substrates each having an electrically conductive layer and a guest-host mixture having both photochromic and dichroic properties provided between the substrates. The cell may be switched between at least three states including: a first state having a first optical transmission when the optical device is not exposed to UV radiation and no voltage is applied to the cell; a second state having a second optical transmission different from the first optical transmission when the optical device is exposed to UV radiation and no voltage is applied to the cell; and a third state having a third optical transmission different from the first or second optical transmission when the optical device is exposed to UV radiation and a voltage is applied to the cell.

Hybrid variable transmission optical device

Provided is a flexible cell unit and a method of manufacturing the same. The cell unit includes first and second substrates separated by a controlled distance maintained by spacers, filled with an electro-optic material and enclosed by a border seal. The method includes providing two sheets to form the first and second substrates, where at least one of the sheets is flexible, depositing an electro-optic material on at least one substrate, and roll-filling the cell by using one or more lamination rollers to pair the first and second substrates to within the controlled distance of each other and filling the controlled distance with the electro-optic material.

Method for producing a flexible electro-optic cell

Provided is a method of producing a flexible cell unit enclosed by a border seal and filled with an electro-optic material. The flexible cell includes a first and a second substrate separated by a controlled distance maintained by spacers. The method includes providing two continuous sheets of flexible plastic material to form the first and second substrates and depositing an electro-optic material on at least one substrate. The electro-optic material is non-encapsulated, non-polymeric, and contains less than 1% polymerizable material. The method also includes pairing the first and second substrates while roll-filling the flexible cell with the electro-optic material using one or more lamination rollers so that the electro-optic material completely fills the controlled distance between the first and second substrates.

A structural interface having an adaptive liquid crystal material that is positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation and adapted to reflect a selective band of the received electromagnetic radiation so as to help with cooling of a structure in the summer and/or heating of the structure in the winter. The adaptive liquid crystal material is designed to change its selective reflection band when exposed to an activating temperature or an activating light or both. Depending on the interior and/or exterior conditions, the adaptive liquid crystal material has one or more selective reflection bands with a peak wavelength selected from the following: within a sunlight wavelength span, outside a thermal infrared wavelength span, outside the sunlight wavelength span, or within the thermal infrared wavelength span. The structural interface may be applied to an exterior or interior surface of a structural envelop or be integrated into a structural envelope material.

Adaptive liquid crystal structural interface

We describe a wide band variable transmission optical device having an electronically active cell comprising a guest-host mixture of a liquid crystal host and a dichroic guest dye material contained between a pair of plastic substrates. The liquid crystal host has an axis orientation that is alterable between a clear state orientation and a dark state orientation and the dichroic guest dye material includes one or more dichroic dyes. The optical device is characterized in that it exhibits a wide absorption band that is greater than 175 nm within a visible wavelength range of 400-700 nm, has a clear state transmission equal to or above 30% and a dark state transmission equal to or below 40%.

Wide band variable transmittance optical device

A light emitting photonic bandgap (PBG) material, and devices uses the same, having (a) a polymer network exhibiting a non-uniform pitch; (b) a small molecule liquid crystal material with a birefringence&#x3e;0.04; and (c) one or more light emitting dyes having a low triplet state absorption. The light emitting PBG material has a defect-induced density of states enhancing feature at a wavelength that overlaps the emission spectrum of the light emitting dye. Excitation of the light emitting PBG material by a light source causes a directional electromagnetic emission from the light emitting material. The PBG material, and device, are capable of emitting continuous wave laser light as a result of excitation by a low-power incoherent light source.

Continuous wave directional emission liquid crystal structures and devices

A naphthopyran compound represented by the formula (I): wherein:

3H-naphtho [2,1-B] pyrans as photochromic dichroic dyes and optical article containing them

A new class of phototropic liquid crystal mixture comprises a liquid crystal host and one or more photodichroic dyes, wherein exposure of the mixture to an activating light causes a light-induced increase in order parameter of the mixture. In some examples, in the absence of the activating light, the phototropic mixture has a lower order parameter than the liquid crystal host, while in the presence of activating light, the phototropic mixture has a higher order parameter than the liquid crystal host. In some examples, upon exposure to the activating light, the phototropic mixture undergoes a phase transition from a material with a lower order to a material with higher liquid crystalline order. In some examples, activating light causes the mixture to transition from an isotropic phase to a nematic phase, from an isotropic phase to a cholesteric phase or form a nematic phase to a smectic phase.

Phototropic liquid crystal material and processes

We describe a wide band variable transmission optical device, mixtures for use in such a device, and methods of making the same. The wide band optical device includes a cell comprising a guest-host mixture of a liquid crystal host and a dichroic guest dye material contained between a pair of plastic substrates. The optical device does not use polarizers. The liquid crystal host has an axis orientation that is alterable between a clear state orientation and a dark state orientation perpendicular thereto and the dichroic guest dye material includes one or more dichroic dyes. The optical device is characterized in that it exhibits a wide absorption band that is greater than 175 nm within a visible wavelength range of 400-700 nm and has a clear state transmission equal to or above 30% and a dark state transmission equal to or below 40%.

Wide band variable transmittance optical device and mixture

Provided is a liquid crystal light variable device having a liquid crystal cell, comprising a mixture of a liquid crystal material and one or more dichroic dyes interposed between a first and a second substrate, each substrate having a conductive layer disposed thereon. The device further includes a voltage supply or controller coupled with the conductive layers for application of a voltage waveform across the liquid crystal cell. The liquid crystal cell is configured so that based on the voltage waveform applied, the device transitions between a low-haze low-tint state ('clear state'), a low-haze high-tint state ('tinted state'), and a high-haze high-tint state (&#x201c;opaque state&#x201d;). The high-haze state is caused by dynamic scattering in the liquid crystal-dye mixture.

Liquid crystal light variable device

A naphthopyran compound represented by the formula Band Bare selected independently from the group consisting of a phenyl, naphthyl, or heterocyclic aromatic group, or may combine to form one or more aromatic rings. Band Bmay further include one or more substituents. R, R, R, R, and Rare selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, &#x2014;R, &#x2014;OH, &#x2014;OR, &#x2014;O&#x2014;CO&#x2014;R, &#x2014;CN, &#x2014;NO, &#x2014;SOR, &#x2014;SOR, &#x2014;SH, &#x2014;SR, &#x2014;NH, &#x2014;NHR, &#x2014;NRR, or &#x2014;NRR; or wherein Rand Rcombine to form a cyclic group. Rmay include an alkyl, polycycloalkyl, alkenyl, polyalkenyl, haloalkyl, perhaloalkyl, alkynyl, polyalkynyl, hydroxyalkynyl, polyhydroxyalkynyl; or (C)cycloalkyl group. Rand Rmay include hydrogen or alkyl groups, or may combine to form a saturated heterocyclic group, or together with an adjacent phenyl group may form a julolidinyl group. Ris a mesogenic group. And the naphthopyran, which may be referred to as a dichroic-photochromic compound, may be incorporated into an optical article.

Dichroic-photochromic 2H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran compounds and devices

A mixture used in photochromic devices comprises a photochromic dye and a thermoset adhesive. An optical device using the mixture may include a carrier substrate which may then be secured to another substrate or a lens. Assembly of the carrier substrate and mixture to another substrate and/or lens may be accomplished by thermoforming, lamination, insert molding or the like.

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Kent, OH, United States of America

Ludmila Sukhomlinova