Smartershade, Inc.

Vg Smartglass, LLC

Steelcase Inc.

Ryan Tatzel

William McLeod

Andrew D Graham

William Glaser

Carl C Cobb

Abhiroop Chattopadhyay

Skylar Thorne Kelly

Michael Stacey

A system includes a view screen with polarized output. A window capable of blocking the polarized output at least in part cloaks the view screen to frustrate viewing of the view screen through the window. In some cases, the window comprises an array of panels capable of blocking multiple polarizations. The array may disrupt multiple different polarized view screen outputs while maintaining transparency to unpolarized light. In some cases, the window capable of blocking polarized output may be paired with view screen cover that converts view screen output in an unblocked polarization to one of the one or more polarizations blocked by the window.

Multiple-polarization cloaking

A variable transmission window includes a patterned first polarizer and an opposing patterned second polarizer. The first polarizer includes an optically transmissive first substrate; alternating first and second domains attached to the first substrate, the first domains having a polarization axis that is perpendicular to a polarization axis of the second domains; and blackout bars configured to block visible light, each blackout bar overlapping opposing edge regions of adjacent corresponding first and second domains. The second polarizer includes an optically transmissive second substrate; and alternating third and fourth domains attached to the second substrate, the third domains having a polarization axis that is perpendicular to a polarization axis of the fourth domains. The second polarizer may also include blackout bars overlapping opposing edge regions of adjacent corresponding third and fourth domains.

Variable transmission window with blackout bars

Various embodiments include a variable transmission device including a first smart window panel, a second smart window panel, and a mechanical device configured to linearly translate at least a portion of the first panel relative to the second panel. Further embodiments include a method of varying radiation transmission including the steps of providing a variable transmission device, comprising a first smart window panel, a second smart window panel, and a mechanical device and actuating the mechanical device to linearly translate at least a portion of the first panel relative to the second panel.

Mechanical translation of a variable radiation transmission device

The various embodiments include variable optical transmission devices with uniform or patterned polarizers or wave retarders configured to provide continuous or nearly continuous variations in light transmission based on linear translation. For example, embodiments include a variable transmission window including a first uniform polarizer with a first polarization axis, a second uniform polarizer with a second polarization axis, a first patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and including a first plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence, and a second patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and including a second plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence. The first or second wave retarder is configured to be linearly translatable relative to the other wave retarder.

Variable transmission window

A light transmissive panel comprising a first sheet and a second sheet, wherein each sheet is made up of a non-birefringent substrate and a wire grid polarizer pattern of continuously varying absorption axis orientation formed on the non-birefringent substrate. The wire grid polarizer patterns on each of the first and second sheet are mechanically translatable relative to each other, wherein the mechanical translation controls transmission of light through the light transmissive panel. Light transmissive panels wherein each sheet of the panel is made of a wire grid polarizer that is laminated with a continuous variable thickness wave plate retarder, wherein the continuous variable thickness wave plate retarder rotates input light by an amount determined by the thickness of the wave plate retarder.

Growing community of inventors

Syosset, NY, United States of America

Ryan Tatzel