Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a display module for generating CGI light, an eyepiece, and a frame assembly to support the eyepiece in front of an eye of the user. The eyepiece includes a viewing region to emit the CGI light along an eye-ward direction, an input end peripherally located from the viewing region and optically coupled to receive the CGI light into the eyepiece from the display module, and light bending optics to redirect the CGI light. The eyepiece further includes an ambient scene side through which ambient scene light is received into the eyepiece and an eye-ward side opposite the ambient scene side out of which the ambient scene light and the CGI light are passed along the eye-ward direction. A photo-chromic coating is disposed on the ambient scene and eye-ward sides.

Abstract: Variable transmittance optical filters capable of transitioning from a light state to a dark state on exposure to UV radiation and from a dark state to a light state with application of an electric voltage are provided. The optical filters comprise a switching material that comprises one or more chromophores that have electrochromic and photochromic properties.

Abstract: An energy efficient optical window has different optical properties when irradiated by solar light from front or back side of the window. The window is used to reflect most of the infrared light at summer times, leaving the interior cooler and to absorb most of the infrared light at winter times, making the interior hotter by heat transfer from the hot window pane. Mechanical reversal of the window, inside out, is used to apply the needed version for winter and summer. The window is coated with alternating thin metallic and dielectric layers that transmit most of the visible light while reflecting most of the infrared part of the spectrum when impinged by solar light on one side and transmit most of the visible light while absorbing most of the infrared part of the spectrum when impinged by solar light on the other side.

Abstract: A front windshield glass of an automobile with sunshine-shielding plate function comprises a lower glass layer, a lower polyvinyl butyral (PVB) layer, a flexible allochroic layer, an upper polyvinyl butyral (PVB) layer, and an upper glass layer consecutively laminated and connected with one another from bottom to top. The flexible allochroic layers are positioned at the upper portion of the front windshield glass of an automobile, the light transmittance of which reduces as the intensification of the light increases, thus functioning as sunshine-shielding plates. Due to the flexible allochroic layers being positioned at the upper portion of the front windshield glass of an automobile, such that the remaining portions of the front windshield glass of the automobile are still transparent glass, the view of the driver would be unaffected. The flexible allochroic layer is applicable to the production of curved front windshield glass having a certain radian.

Abstract: Photochromic-dichroic articles are provided, which include a substrate, a first photochromic-dichroic layer over the substrate, and a second photochromic-dichroic layer over the first photochromic-dichroic layer. The first photochromic-dichroic layer includes a first photochromic-dichroic compound that is laterally aligned within the first photochromic-dichroic layer, and which defines a first polarization axis of the first photochromic-dichroic layer. The second photochromic-dichroic layer includes a second photochromic-dichroic compound that is laterally aligned within the second photochromic-dichroic layer, and which defines a second polarization axis of the second photochromic-dichroic layer. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are oriented relative to each other at an angle of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photochromic lens, which comprises a photochromic layer comprising a photochromic dye and a resin component, and an organic hardcoat layer in this order, wherein the resin component is an acrylic resin, and the photochromic layer further comprises a piperidine ring-containing compound having a molecular weight of equal to or greater than 1,000.

Abstract: The invention includes a composite material for use in a security device including a radiation diffracting component that exhibits a first optical effect and a photochromic component that exhibits a second optical effect. The composite material is particularly suited for use in authenticating articles, such as currency.

Abstract: Provided is a photochromic composition which can function as an adhesive layer for bonding optical sheets made from a polycarbonate resin or the like and a laminated article using said composition exhibits excellent tight adhesion, heat resistance and photochromic properties. In particular, provided is a photochromic composition which can prevent an elution of the composition from the optical sheets when embedding and polymerizing in a polymerizable monomer. The photochromic composition comprises a polyurethane resin (A) having an isocyanurate structure and a photochromic compound (B).

Abstract: A photochromic composition for making optical materials comprising a polyurethane prepolymer formed by combining an isocyanate and a compound having an active hydrogen containing group, a polysilsequioxane and a photochromic compound. The photochromic composition may also include a monomer that has both an active hydrogen containing group and an unsaturated group. The polysilsesquioxane is incorporated as a copolymer and/or as a polysilsequioxane-chemically modified polyurethane.

Abstract: Some embodiments provided herein relate to filters for electromagnetic radiation. Some embodiments provided herein relate to phototunable compounds for which at least one optical characteristic can be changed. Some embodiments herein relate to methods of manipulating a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A method for providing a printed optical illusion image having first and second illusion states, comprising: receiving a specification of an optical illusion image having one or more mutable portions; and printing the optical illusion image on a printing device using a plurality of colorants, wherein one or more of the colorants are appearance mutable colorants having spectral characteristics can be switched between a first colorant state and a second colorant state by application of an appropriate external stimulus. The printed optical illusion image can be switched between the first and second illusion states by applying the appropriate external stimulus to controllably switch the one or more appearance mutable colorants between their first and second colorant states, thereby switching the mutable portions of the printed optical illusion image between corresponding first and second appearance states.

Abstract: A printed dynamic optical illusion printed on a printing device using a plurality of colorants, wherein one or more of the colorants are appearance mutable colorants having spectral characteristics that can be controllably switched between a first colorant state and a second colorant state by application of an appropriate external stimulus, and wherein one or more mutable portions of the optical illusion image are printed using at least one appearance mutable colorant. The mutable portions are controllable such that when they are in a first appearance state the printed optical illusion image has a first illusion state, and when they are in a second appearance state the printed optical illusion image has a second illusion state, thereby changing the optical illusion image from the first illusion state to the second illusion state so as to affect the perception of an optical illusion by a human observer.

Abstract: A radiation-protection device is provided that includes a substrate and a surface structure formed on the substrate. The surface structure has an arrangement and interacts with radiation and the substrate to at least (a) substantially transmit or attenuate radiation at a wavelength and an energy below a threshold energy, and (b) substantially reflect radiation at the wavelength and an energy above the threshold energy.

Abstract: Provided are photochromic articles that include a substrate, a primer layer that includes a first photochromic compound, and a photochromic-dichroic layer over the primer layer that includes a photochromic-dichroic compound. The first photochromic compound and the photochromic-dichroic compound each are selected such that the photochromic-dichroic compound has an absorbance of less than or equal to 0.1 at the wavelength of peak absorbance of the underlying first photochromic compound. The present invention also relates to such photochromic articles that further include a topcoat layer over the photochromic-dichroic layer. The topcoat layer can include a second photochromic compound that has an absorbance of less than 0.1 at the wavelength of peak absorbance of the underlying photochromic-dichroic compound. The photochromic articles provide, for example, a combination of linear polarizing properties, and reduced percent transmittance when in a colored or darkened state, such as when exposed to actinic light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid casting composition for producing photochromic optical elements, the composition including: (i) an acrylate or methacrylate monomer; (ii) a photochromic compound; (iii) a terpinolene-based radical chain transfer agent; and (iv) a thermal free radical initiator. Also provided are methods for producing photochromic optical elements using the liquid casting composition and photochromic optical elements produced thereby. The photochromic optical elements include, for example, ophthalmic lenses.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes preparing a first substrate and a second substrate, forming a thin film transistor including a gate electrode, semiconductor layer, source electrode, and a drain electrode on the first substrate, forming a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode on the first substrate, forming a color filter having a transmissive pattern with a plurality of periodic holes, forming a sealant between the first substrate and the second substrate, and bonding the first and second substrates to each other.

Abstract: Variable transmittance optical filters capable of transitioning from a light state to a dark state on exposure to UV radiation and from a dark state to a light state with application of an electric voltage are provided. The optical filters comprise a switching material that comprises one or more chromophores that have electrochromic and photochromic properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical power-limiting device, and more particularly, to an optical power-limiting passive device and to a method for limiting optical power transmission in lenses and windows, using absorption changes in a photochromic material with a fast response, featuring under a millisecond rise time and one to five seconds return/decay time.

Abstract: Input light, such as from an optical sensor or stimulus-wavelength converter, includes one or more light or dark sub-bands. The input light is transmitted, such as through a transmissive layer or transmission component, to obtain effects due to transmission with lateral variation. A detector can, for example, obtain spectral information or other photon energy information about the sub-bands due to lateral variation. For each light or dark sub-band, a transmission component can, for example, provide a respective light or dark spot, and spot position can be used to obtain spectral information such as absolute wavelength or wavelength change. A photosensing component can sense or detect transmitted light or output photons, such as with a photosensor array or a position-sensitive detector. Circuitry can use photosensed quantities to obtain, e.g. a differential signal or information about time of wavelength change.

Abstract: The present invention is a programmable and latching retro-reflective construct suitable for use as an optical label in an optical labeling system. The invention contains retro-reflective structures such as lens beads, corner cubes or other retro-reflecting type structures. The retro-reflective construct further comprises a wavelength selective, programmable and latching reflecting structure located at the reflecting surfaces of the retro-reflective structures. The optical construct can optionally contain additional optical filtering structures. Methods for fabricating the invention are also described.

Abstract: A photochromic composition, which can function as an adhesive layer for bonding optical sheets made from a polycarbonate resin, may include a polyurethane-urea resin (A) obtained by reacting a polyol compound (A1), a polyisocyante compound (A2) that has two or more isocyanato groups in the molecule, and an amino-containing compound (A3) that contains two or more isocyanato-reactive groups in the molecule, with at least one of the isocyanato-reactive groups being an amino group; and a photochromic compound (B).

Abstract: Variable transmittance optical filters capable of transitioning from a light state to a dark state on exposure to UV radiation and from a dark state to a light state with application of an electric voltage are provided. The optical filters comprise a switching material that comprises one or more chromophores that have electrochromic and photochromic properties.

Abstract: Variable transmittance optical filters capable of transitioning from a light state to a dark state on exposure to UV radiation and from a dark state to a light state with application of an electric voltage are provided. The optical filters comprise a switching material that comprises one or more chromophores that have electrochromic and photochromic properties.

Abstract: Provided is a photochromic polarizing plate exhibiting reduced tint. The photochromic polarizing plate contains a laminate including at least one film, a polarizer, and an optically transparent substrate, wherein the photochromic polarizing plate has a single-plate transmittance T1(?)% and a crossed transmittance T2(?)% at a wavelength of ? nm satisfying Formulae (1) to (4): Formula (1) 55%?T1(430)?38%; Formula (2) 60%?T1(590)?42.5%; Formula (3) 1.0?T1(430)/T1(590)?0.9; and Formula (4) T2(430)>0.02%.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator may include a refraction layer including first and second regions with refractive indices different from each other; and/or a metal thin film on a lower face of the refraction layer configured to generate surface plasmons due to light incident on the metal thin film via the refraction layer. When first light is incident on the refraction layer, a phase difference between light reflected by the first and second regions may occur. A spatial light modulator may include a metal thin film and a refraction layer on the metal thin film. The refraction layer may include a first region with a first refractive index and a second region with a second refractive index different from the first refractive index. When first light is incident on the refraction layer, there may be a phase difference between light reflected from the first and second regions.

Abstract: A nanostructured optoelectronic device is provided which comprises a nanostructured material and a host material intermingled with the nanostructured material. The host material may have a higher index of refraction than the nanostructured material. The host material's index of refraction may be chosen to maximize the effective active area of the device. In an alternative embodiment, the host material comprises scattering centers or absorption/luminescence centers which absorb light and reemit the light at a different energy or both.

Abstract: A photochromic composition that is liquid at 20° C. and includes (a) at least one photochromic dye and (b) an ionic solvent selected from (b)(i) room-temperature ionic liquids (RTIL), (b)(ii) ionic liquid mixtures that are liquid at room temperature, and (b)(iii) room-temperature liquid mixtures of at least one ionic liquid and at least one organic solvent that is miscible therewith. The use of said photochromic composition in optical devices such as ophthalmic lenses is also described.

Abstract: A primer coating composition is provided for an optical article capable of forming a coating layer having excellent impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and adhesion to various kinds of plastic materials without occurring of appearance faulty for an optical base material, for example, a plastic lens for an eyeglass. A primer composition for an optical article comprises; (A) aqueous dispersion of urethane resin having a polycarbonate-derived skeleton and the elongation of 200˜1000%; (B) an organic solvent having 3˜9 carbon atoms and having an ether bond or carbonyl bond and one hydroxyl group in a molecule; and (C) lower alcohol having 1˜4 carbon atoms, wherein the weight ratio of said organic solvent to said lower alcohol is from 0.01 to less than 2.00.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing a partially coherent optical beam with a fast update rate are based on scanning a focused input beam across the input end of a multimode optical waveguide. The update rate of the partially coherent optical beam produced at the output of the multimode optical waveguide is increased with respect of the input beam scanning rate by a factor approximately equal to the ratio of the core size of the multimode optical waveguide to the focal spot diameter of the input optical beam. The apparatus may include an angular optical beam deflector based on an electrooptic material such as potassium tantalate niobate (KTN) crystal.

Abstract: The invention provides composite materials comprising a shape change element and an optical change element, which elements undergo a change in response to an applied stimulus. Also provided are objects that include the subject shape changing materials, as well as methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: The invention includes a composite material for use in a security device including a radiation diffracting component that exhibits a first optical effect and a photochromic component that exhibits a second optical effect. The composite material is particularly suited for use in authenticating articles, such as currency.

Abstract: The present invention provides polyurethanes including a reaction product of components including: (a) at least one polyisocyanate; (b) at least one branched polyol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups; and (c) at least one polyol having one or more bromine atoms, one or more phosphorus atoms or combinations thereof; compositions, coatings and articles made therefrom and methods of making the same.

Abstract: Provided is a compound semiconductor nanoparticle that exhibits circularly polarized luminescence characteristics. CdS prepared inside a core of ferritin, which is a cage-like protein, exhibits a high circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). A wavelength of the circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) can be controlled by laser irradiation, thereby enabling utilization of the compound semiconductor nanoparticle in the field of bionanotechnology, for example, in creating a WORM (Write-Once Read-Many times) memory. As the cage-like protein, which is a protein with a cavity formed therein, a protein belonging to the ferritin protein family, such as apoferritin, or a recombinant thereof can be used.

Abstract: A system for controlling a printed dynamic optical illusion image, comprising: an item including a printed optical illusion image having one or more mutable portions that can be controllably switched between first and second appearance states by application of an appropriate external stimulus; a stimulus source for providing the external stimulus; and a controller for controlling the stimulus source. The printed optical illusion image is printed on a printing device using a plurality of colorants, one or more of the colorants being appearance mutable colorants having spectral characteristics that can be controllably switched between a first colorant state and a second colorant state by applying the appropriate external stimulus, the one or more mutable portions of the optical illusion image being printed using at least one appearance mutable colorant.

Abstract: Provided is an optical apparatus having high durability, less optical absorption than a hole-type metal thin film filter, high transmittance and high reflectance, and variable optical characteristics. The apparatus includes: a dielectric substrate; a metal structure group including multiple metal structures two-dimensionally and discretely disposed at regular intervals; and a dielectric layer covering the metal structure group, in which: the metal structures have a first length equal to or shorter than a predetermined wavelength in a visible light region in one direction, and a second length equal to or shorter than the wavelength in a perpendicular direction; and the metal structures resonates with light entering the dielectric substrate or the dielectric layer, having a variable dielectric constant, to generate localized surface plasmon resonance on a surface of the metal structures to have a minimum transmittance or a maximum reflectance of the light having the wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention provides poly(ureaurethane)s including a reaction product of components comprising: (a) about 1 equivalent of at least one polyisocyanate; (b) about 0.1 to about 0.9 equivalents of at least one branched polyol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups; (c) about 0.1 to about 0.9 equivalents of at least one aliphatic diol having 2 to 18 carbon atoms; and (d) at least one amine curing agent, wherein the reaction product components are essentially free of polyester polyol and polyether polyol; compositions, coatings and articles made therefrom and methods of making the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a color tone variable film which is formed by a reaction of a cationic polymer containing a structural unit containing a positive ionic group in a side chain and a compound containing an acid group and a partial structure which can change color tone as a result of energy application, which can be formed by a wet method, which has flexibility and strength in practical use, and which changes color tone with high sensitivity as a result of energy application, a simple manufacturing method thereof, and an electrochromic element obtained by the manufacturing method.

Abstract: Photochromic matrix compositions and tie layer compositions useful for the preparation of photochromic polycarbonate lenses are disclosed. The tie layer compositions facilitate adhesion of the photochromic matrix composition to the polycarbonate lens. The photochromic matrix compositions can contain a flexible hydrophilic dimethacrylate monomer, one or more hydrophobic monomers, a flexible hydrophobic multi(meth)acrylate monomer, one or more urethane methacrylate oligomers, and one or more photochromic dyes. The tie layer compositions can contain one or more methacrylate monomers, a (meth)acrylated oligomer with a polycarbonate backbone, one or more urethane methacrylate oligomers, and a solvent or solvent mixture. Methods of preparing photochromic polycarbonate lenses are also disclosed, involving the serial application of the tie layer composition, then the photochromic matrix composition to the lens.

Abstract: A photochromic structure includes a plastic support of optical grade with good light transparency, having at least one face with an adhesive layer impregnated with a solution of a solvent with photochromes, having a flexible host matrix for the photochromes, which is mounted by adhesion onto another support. A structure with a uniform flexible photochromic matrix, which has rapid transition times, notably a rapid relaxation time, is thus obtained. The structure is mountable, and advantageously repositionable. It is produced via a process using roll-milling combined with a system for dispensing the solvated solution of photochromes upstream of the rolls, via which a support strip of an adhesive is entrained by the rolls, and the adhesive is gradually impregnated and then laminated on another support.

Abstract: Optical element 10 according to the present invention comprises light guide body 11, surface plasmon excitation means 14 that is provided on the interface with light guide body 11 and that allows surface plasmon to be excited by a specific polarization component of light whose polarization direction is orthogonal to the first direction y in the surface of light guide body 11, from among light entering from light guide body 11, and a light generation means that includes metal layer 12 and cover layer 13, and that generates light having the same polarization component as the specific polarization component of light, from surface plasmon produced in the interface between metal layer 12 and cover layer 13 in response to surface plasmon excited by the specific polarization component in surface plasmon excitation means 14.

Abstract: The present invention is a programmable and latching retro-reflective construct suitable for use as an optical label in an optical labeling system. The invention contains retro-reflective structures such as lens beads, corner cubes or other retro-reflecting type structures. The retro-reflective construct further comprises a wavelength selective, programmable and latching reflecting structure located at the reflecting surfaces of the retro-reflective structures. The optical construct can optionally contain additional optical filtering structures. Methods for fabricating the invention are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photochromic composition comprising multifunctional (meth)acrylate-based monomers having two or more functional groups, a photochromic dye and an aromatic vinyl compound, in which the content of the aromatic vinyl compound is more than 30% by weight and 70% by weight or less, a photochromic film produced by using the same, and a method for producing the photochromic film.

Abstract: A coated article is described. The coated article includes a substrate; and a photochromic layer formed on the substrate. The photochromic layer is a titanium layer doped with metal element ‘M’. The element ‘M’ is selected from a group consisting of nickel, iron, and chromiun. A method for applying the photochromic layer to the substrate is also described.

Abstract: The present invention is a programmable and latching retro-reflective construct suitable for use as an optical label in an optical labeling system. The invention contains retro-reflective structures such as lens beads, corner cubes or other retro-reflecting type structures. The retro-reflective construct further comprises a wavelength selective, programmable and latching reflecting structure located at the reflecting surfaces of the retro-reflective structures. The optical construct can optionally contain additional optical filtering structures. Methods for fabricating the invention are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for fast all-optical switching is presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first light transmitting medium. The apparatus may also include a second light transmitting medium coupled to the first light transmitting medium and disposed to form an interface region between the first light transmitting medium and the second light transmitting medium. Additionally, the apparatus may include a plurality of Lambda atoms disposed in the interface region, the Lambda atoms adapted to cause Electromagnetically-Induced Transparency (EIT) in the interface region in response to an incident photon.

Abstract: The present application discloses techniques and devices comprising fiber-based chirped fiber Bragg grating for compressing amplified laser pulses.

Abstract: A photochromic compound is provided, which may be a pyran, an oxazine, or a fulgide. The photochromic compound has at least one substituent Q attached thereto, each Q independently being —N3, —CN, —COOR?, —CCR?, —C(R?)C(R?)R?, —OCOR?, —OCOOR?, —SR?, —OSO2R??, and/or —CON(R?)R?, wherein each R? is hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, an unsubstituted or substituted alkene or alkyne group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents are halo or hydroxyl and R?? is —CF3 or a perfluorinated alkyl group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms. The number, locations and nature of the constituents Q are dependent upon the structure of the photochromic compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passive optical limiter having a nonlinear material capable of switching in a predetermined optical band from a transparent state to an opaque state as a function of the power of an incident laser beam. The nonlinear material is an organic dye which comprises molecules derived from 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene into which a nitrogen atom is inserted at the meso position, referred to as aza-bodipy molecules, and which have conjugated ? chains functionalized so as to exhibit absorption for two photons around an incident beam wavelength lying between 1.45 ?m and 1.6 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a process for the preparation of photochromatic optical elements, and corresponding photochromatic optical elements. Starting from a given optical body, the process according to the invention comprises the following steps: depositing a first layer comprising a transparent resin at least onto a part of said optical body; depositing onto the first layer previously deposited a second layer comprising photochromatic pigments.

Abstract: A photochromic chromene compound having an indeno(2,1-f)naphtho(1,2-b)pyran structure as its basic skeleton, an aryl group or a heteroaryl group at the 6-position carbon atom of the structure and an electron donor group having a Hammett constant ?p of not more than ?0.1 at the 7-position carbon atom.