Abstract:
A cell for the electronic attenuation of light suitable for use in eyewear includes spaced substrates coated with a conducting layer, and preferably a passivation layer and an alignment layer. Disposed between the substrates is a guest-host solution comprising a host material and a light-absorbing dichroic dye guest. A power circuit is provided with a power supply connected to the conducting layers. Adjustment of the power supply alters the orientation of the host material which in turn alters the orientation of the dichroic dye. Light is absorbed by the dichroic dye, depending upon its orientation without the need for polarizers.
Abstract:
A device ( 100, 140, 150 ) for differentially absorbing light, depending on the state of linear polarization of the light, is disclosed. This polarizing effect is induced and controllable by the level of ambient light impinging on the device. The device ( 100, 140 ) may be used as an anti-glare vision protection device which selectively absorbs specularly reflected sunlight in brightly lit environments while permitting all light to pass in dimly lit environments. The device ( 100 ) includes a carrying medium which may be a film ( 142 ) or opposed substrates ( 112 ) that are sealed. A film or the opposed substrates carry a mixture ( 120 ) of fluid material ( 124 ) and photochromic dyestuffs ( 122 ), wherein the photochromic material is activated upon the detection of ultraviolet light so as to absorb some of the light and wherein the energization of the photochromic material effects the material so as to simultaneously selectively absorb the specularly reflected sunlight. The material ( 124 ) may be any fluid that dissolves the photochromic dyestuff material ( 122 ). The fluid is preferably a liquid crystal material such as nematic or chiral nematic. Alternatively, the material ( 124 ) may be a polymer liquid crystal. The device ( 150 ) may allow for electrical control of the absorptive properties.
Abstract:
A device ( 100, 140, 150 ) for differentially absorbing light, depending on the state of linear polarization of the light, is disclosed. This polarizing effect is induced and controllable by the level of ambient light impinging on the device. The device ( 100, 140 ) may be used as an anti-glare vision protection device which selectively absorbs specularly reflected sunlight in brightly lit environments while permitting all light to pass in dimly lit environments. The device ( 100 ) includes a carrying medium which may be a film ( 142 ) or opposed substrates ( 112 ) that are sealed. A film or the opposed substrates carry a mixture ( 120 ) of fluid material ( 124 ) and photochromic dyestuffs ( 122 ), wherein the photochromic material is activated upon the detection of ultraviolet light so as to absorb some of the light and wherein the energization of the photochromic material effects the material so as to simultaneously selectively absorb the specularly reflected sunlight. The material ( 124 ) may be any fluid that dissolves the photochromic dyestuff material ( 122 ). The fluid is preferably a liquid crystal material such as nematic or chiral nematic. Alternatively, the material ( 124 ) may be a polymer liquid crystal. The device ( 150 ) may allow for electrical control of the absorptive properties.
Abstract:
An accessory article incorporating liquid crystal materials includes at least one liquid crystal cell and at least one formable member for carrying the liquid crystal cell. The article includes a driving circuit connected to the at least one liquid crystal cell to control the appearance thereof The liquid crystal cell comprises a pair of opposed substrates, wherein each the substrate has an electrode disposed thereon and facing the other the substrate with a gap that receives the liquid crystal material. Application of an electric field by the driving circuit allows the liquid crystal cell to reflect a desired color and in a desired logo or shape.
Abstract:
Provided is a liquid crystal device having one or more liquid crystal cells, each cell having an electro-chromo-dynamic (ECD) mixture interposed between two substrates covered with a conductive layer. The ECD mixture includes a liquid crystal material, dichroic dyes and an ionic material capable of inducing dynamic scattering of liquid crystal molecules. The device has a voltage supply coupled with the conductive layers for applying a voltage waveform across the liquid crystal cell, such that upon application of a first voltage waveform, the device is in a CLEAR (low-haze, low-tint) state, and upon application of a second voltage waveform, the device achieves an OPAQUE (high-haze, high-tint) state. In some cases, the device is configured so that upon application of a third voltage waveform, the device achieves a TINTED (low-haze, high-tint) state.
Abstract:
A solar powered variable light attenuating device includes a liquid crystal cell, a photovoltaic cell in electrical communication with the liquid crystal cell, and a light concentrator having a light absorbing surface and a light emitting surface optically coupled to the photovoltaic cell. At least a portion of light impinging on the light absorbing surface of the light concentrator is concentrated and directed through the light emitting surface to a photon- absorbing portion of the photovoltaic cell to generate a voltage. The generated voltage is used to change the liquid crystal cell from a de-energized state to an energized state in response to sunlight directed toward the photovoltaic cell.
Abstract:
A device ( 100, 140, 150 ) for differentially absorbing light, depending on the state of linear polarization of the light, is disclosed. This polarizing effect is induced and controllable by the level of ambient light impinging on the device. The device ( 100, 140 ) may be used as an anti-glare vision protection device which selectively absorbs specularly reflected sunlight in brightly lit environments while permitting all light to pass in dimly lit environments. The device ( 100 ) includes a carrying medium which may be a film ( 142 ) or opposed substrates ( 112 ) that are sealed. A film or the opposed substrates carry a mixture ( 120 ) of fluid material ( 124 ) and photochromic dyestuffs ( 122 ), wherein the photochromic material is activated upon the detection of ultraviolet light so as to absorb some of the light and wherein the energization of the photochromic material effects the material so as to simultaneously selectively absorb the specularly reflected sunlight. The material ( 124 ) may be any fluid that dissolves the photochromic dyestuff material ( 122 ). The fluid is preferably a liquid crystal material such as nematic or chiral nematic. Alternatively, the material ( 124 ) may be a polymer liquid crystal. The device ( 150 ) may allow for electrical control of the absorptive properties.
Abstract:
A device ( 100, 140, 150 ) for differentially absorbing light, depending on the state of linear polarization of the light, is disclosed. This polarizing effect is induced and controllable by the level of ambient light impinging on the device. The device ( 100, 140 ) may be used as an anti-glare vision protection device which selectively absorbs specularly reflected sunlight in brightly lit environments while permitting all light to pass in dimly lit environments. The device ( 100 ) includes a carrying medium which may be a film ( 142 ) or opposed substrates ( 112 ) that are sealed. A film or the opposed substrates carry a mixture ( 120 ) of fluid material ( 124 ) and photochromic dyestuffs ( 122 ), wherein the photochromic material is activated upon the detection of ultraviolet light so as to absorb some of the light and wherein the energization of the photochromic material effects the material so as to simultaneously selectively absorb the specularly reflected sunlight. The material ( 124 ) may be any fluid that dissolves the photochromic dyestuff material ( 122 ). The fluid is preferably a liquid crystal material such as nematic or chiral nematic. Alternatively, the material ( 124 ) may be a polymer liquid crystal. The device ( 150 ) may allow for electrical control of the absorptive properties.