Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.

Jds Uniphase Corporation

Michael J Cumbo

Curtis Ross Hruska

Nada A O'Brien

Steven P Sapers

Jaroslaw Zieba

Bryant P Hichwa

Jerry Zieba

William T Beauchamp

James W Seeser

Robert T Scanlon

J Gordon Mathew

Richard Alan Bradley, Jr

Michael A Scobey

Robert W Hallock

Robert W Adair

Lindsey Brown

Steven P Bandettini

Glenn K Yamamoto

J Gordon H Mathew

Nada O O'Brien

A variable optical attenuator device is provided for modulating an optical signal. The attenuator device includes a variable attenuation assembly with an electrochromic structure interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrochromic structure is configured to reversibly change its optical characteristics from a bleached off state to a colored active state under the influence of an electrical potential applied to the first and second electrodes to thereby modulate the optical signal. The optical attenuator device includes at least one lens attached to the variable attenuation assembly. The lens cooperates with the variable attenuation assembly to direct the optical signal towards the electrochromic structure. Waveguides such as optical fibers define ports at the outer endface of the lens for the optical signal.

Variable optical attenuator device

An optical switch for manipulating a plurality of input optical signals incident thereupon to split one or more optical signal channels from the plurality of input optical signals. The optical switch includes an optical filter having a first reflective region and a second reflective region. One of the first and the second reflective regions is adapted with a wavelength selective filter that is capable of separating one or more optical signal channels from the input optical signal. A translating mechanism cooperates with the optical filter and is adapted to translate the optical filter in a plane substantially parallel to one of the first reflective region and the second reflective region between a first position and a second position. The translation of the optical filter causes at least one of the one or more optical signal channels to be separated from the optical signal and directed in a second direction. Additionally, another of the one or more optical signal channels to be separated from the optical signal can be directed in a third direction.

Wavelength selective optical switch

Polymeric coating materials used to protect electrochromic devices from environmental and mechanical damage arc provided. The protective polymeric coating materials are physically, chemically and optically compatible with the electrochromic cell layers of electrochromic devices. The polymeric coating materials are polymers having generic polymer back-bones selected from the group of polyimides, polybenzimidazoles, polybenzothiazoles, polybenzoxazoles, poly(phenylene ethers), polyquinolines, polycarbonates, and polysulfones.

Protective coating materials for electrochromic devices

Polymeric coating materials used to protect electrochromic devices from environmental and mechanical damage are provided. The protective polymeric coating materials are physically, chemically and optically compatible with the electrochromic cell layers of electrochromic devices. The polymeric coating materials are polymers having generic polymer back-bones selected from the group of polyimides, polybenzimidazoles, polybenzothiazoles, polybenzoxazoles, poly(phenylene ethers), polyquinolines, polycarbonates, and polysulfones.

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for enhancing the performance of visual display units which utilize plasma display panels. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for providing an electrical noise suppressing/chromaticity enhancing accessory device for positioning in front of the viewing surface of a plasma display panel. In its most basic embodiment, the accessory device of the present invention comprises a first and a second rigid substrate laminated together by a laminating layer; an optically selective coating providing high photopic transmittance, continuous high electrical conductivity for RFI shielding, and reflectivity specifically within the near-IR region that is mechanically protected by being sandwiched between one rigid substrate and the laminating layer; and, a multiple-dye coating for selectively absorbing IR energy emissions and selectively balancing the chromaticity of the PDP display. The combination of the IR absorption and color-correction due to the multiple-dye coating and the near-IR reflectivity due to the optically selective coating surprisingly results in very good suppression of IR emissions from the PDP within the spectral range of about 800 to about 2500 nm and chromaticity enhancement while simultaneously maintaining good photopic transmittance.

Methods and apparatus for providing a near-IR emission suppressing/color

The present invention is directed to apparatus for enhancing the performance of visual display units which utilize plasma display panels. More specifically, the present invention provides apparatus for providing an electrical noise suppressing/chromaticity enhancing accessory device for positioning in front of the viewing surface of a plasma display panel (PDP). In its most basic embodiment, the accessory device of the present invention comprises an optically selective coating providing high photopic transmittance, continuous high electrical conductivity for RFI shielding, and reflectivity specifically within the near-IR region. It also preferably includes a multiple-dye coating for selectively absorbing IR energy emissions and selectively balancing the chromaticity of the PDP display and a plastic substrate layer to provide impact resistance. The combination of the IR absorption and color-correction due to the multiple-dye coating and the near-IR reflectivity due to the optically selective coating surprisingly results in very good suppression of IR emissions from the PDP within the spectral range of about 800 to about 2500 nm and chromaticity enhancement while simultaneously maintaining good photopic transmittance.

Apparatus for providing a near-IR emission suppressing/color enhancing

The present invention is directed to a polymeric coating material used to protect electrochromic devices from environmental and mechanical damage. The protective polymeric coating material in the present invention are physically, chemically and optically compatible with the electrochromic cell layers. The polymeric coating materials in the present invention are polymers having generic polymer back-bones selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polybenzimidazoles, polybenzothiazoles, polybenzoxazoles, poly(phenylene ethers), polyquinolines, polycarbonates and polysulfones.

A flexible panel is provided that is easily and conformingly applied to a curved display screen of a VDU to afford, in a lightweight manner, variably adjustable contrast enhancement of the VDU while simultaneously providing a decrease in the amount of ambient light reflected from the curved display screen. The flexible panel is a glass microsheet layered, on one side thereof, with an antireflection coating and, on the other side, with an electrochromic device. The electrochrmic device allows for variable adjustment of the contrast of the VDU as a function of the voltage applied across the electrochromic device. The flexible glass microsheet dually possesses the advantages of conventional rigid glass panels, such as excellent optical performance, high durability, capability of being coated with various optical coatings under extreme temperature, pressure and chemical conditions and the additional benfeit of physical flexibility. This flexibility allows for easy application to variously sized and shaped curved VDU display screens. The electrochromic device is a six-layered structure deposited, in order from the layer adjacent the panel: a 1 quarter wavelength (QW) alumina layer; a first indium-tin-oxide (ITO) layer; a tungsten trioxide (WO.sub.3) layer; a tantalum pentoxide (Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5) layer; a nickel-oxide (NiO) layer; and a second indium-tin-oxide (ITO) layer.

Variably adjustable contrast enhancement electrochromic panel adapted

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for enhancing the performance of visual display units which utilize plasma display panels. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for providing an optically enhancing/noise suppressing device for positioning in front of the viewing surface of a plasma display panel. The device also increases the impact resistance of the PDP. The device of the present invention is manufactured separately from the PDP. The device may be provided with attachment means for securing the device to the surface of the visual display unit in a position in front of the viewing surface of the PDP or may be designed to be free-hanging, i.e., suspended, or otherwise positioned in front of the viewing surface of the PDP. In its most basic embodiment, the device of the present invention comprises multiple layers of different materials including at least one plastic substrate layer for impact resistance, an optically selective coating providing high photopic transmittance, continuous high electrical conductivity for RFI shielding, and reflectivity specifically within the near-IR region, and an IR absorbing coating for absorbing IR energy emissions. In a preferred embodiment, the IR absorbing coating constitutes a dye material which is preferably selected to also be color-correcting with respect to the particular PDP.

Plasma display panel with infrared absorbing coating

The present invention is directed to method for manufacturing electrochromic devices using laser ablation techniques. More specifically, the present invention uses laser ablation to provide a simple, noncontact method of patterning electrochromic devices to a controlled depth, to form an electrochromically active area. Furthermore, laser patterning is conducive to the formation of multiple electrochromic devices on a single substrate.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Michael J Cumbo