Abstract: The thermally switched absorptive optical shutter may be a self-regulating “switchable absorber” device that may absorb approximately 100% of incoming light above a threshold temperature, and may absorb approximately 50% of incoming light below a threshold temperature. The shutter may be formed by placing a thermotropic depolarizes between two absorptive polarizers. This control over the flow of radiant energy may occur independently of the thermal conductivity or insulation of the shutter device and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. This has energy-efficiency implications as it can be used to regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The shutter device has unique optical properties that are not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, walls, or other building materials.

Abstract: Thermochromic filters are constructed using absorptive, reflective, or fluorescent dyes, molecules, polymers, particles, rods, or other orientation-dependent colorants that have their orientation, order, or director influenced by carrier materials, which are themselves influenced by temperature. These order-influencing carrier materials include thermotropic liquid crystals, which provide orientation to dyes and polymers in a Guest-Host system in the liquid-crystalline state at lower temperatures, but do not provide such order in the isotropic state at higher temperatures. The varying degree to which the absorptive, reflective, or fluorescent particles interact with light in the two states can be exploited to make many varieties of thermochromic filters. Thermochromic filters can control the flow of light and radiant heat through selective reflection, transmission, absorption, and/or re-emission.

Abstract: The thermally switched reflective optical shutter is a self-regulating “switchable mirror” device that reflects up to 100% of incident radiant energy above a threshold temperature, and reflects up to 50% of incident radiant energy below a threshold temperature. Control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating value of the device, and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The device can be used as a construction material to efficiently regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The device can be tailored to transmit sufficient visible light to see through in both the transparent and reflective states, while still providing significant control over the total energy transmission across the device.

Abstract: The thermally switched absorptive optical shutter may be a self-regulating “switchable absorber” device that may absorb approximately 100% of incoming light above a threshold temperature, and may absorb approximately 50% of incoming light below a threshold temperature. The shutter may be formed by placing a thermotropic depolarizer between two absorptive polarizers. This control over the flow of radiant energy may occur independently of the thermal conductivity or insulation of the shutter device and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. This has energy-efficiency implications as it can be used to regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. It also has aesthetic implications since the shutter device has unique optical properties that are not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls.

Abstract: A thermally switched optical downconverting (TSOD) filter is a self-regulating device including a downconverter that converts incoming light at a variety of wavelengths into longer-wavelength radiation and then directs it using one or more bandblock filters in either the inward or outward direction, depending on the temperature of the device. This control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating properties of the device and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The TSOD filter is energy-efficient as it can be used to regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The TSOD filter has unique aesthetic and optical properties not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls.

Abstract: The thermally switched reflective optical shutter is a self-regulating “switchable mirror” device that reflects up to 100% of incident radiant energy above a threshold temperature, and reflects up to 50% of incident radiant energy below a threshold temperature. Control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating value of the device, and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The device can be used as a construction material to efficiently regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The device has unique aesthetic optical properties that are not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls.

Abstract: A multifunctional building component is capable of serving as one or more of a window, a wall, a shading device, a roofing element, a color panel, a display, and an energy harvesting, storage, and distribution element.

Abstract: A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.

Abstract: A thermally switched optical downconverting (TSOD) filter is a self-regulating device including a downconverter that converts incoming light at a variety of wavelengths into longer-wavelength radiation and then directs it using one or more bandblock filters in either the inward or outward direction, depending on the temperature of the device. This control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating properties of the device and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The TSOD filter is energy-efficient as it can be used to regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The TSOD filter has unique aesthetic and optical properties not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls.

Abstract: A wavelength-specific optical switch combines one or more tunable filters and bandblock reflectors such that the absorption or reflection of selected wavelength bands in the optical spectrum (visible, near infrared, or near ultraviolet) can be switched on and off. The wavelength switch is programmable, multifunctional, general-purpose, solid-state optical filter. The wavelength switch may serve as a tunable notch or bandblock filter, a tunable bandpass filter, a tunable highpass or lowpass filter, or a tunable band reflector. The wavelength switch has particular, but not exclusive, application in optics as a filter, band reflector, and as a means of isolating particular wavelengths or wavelength bands from a collimated light stream for transmission to, or rejection from, a sensor.

Abstract: A thermochromic optical filter incorporating quantum confinement devices is formed as multilayered composite film of semiconducting materials. A quantum well adjacent a barrier layer ensures proper confinement of charge carriers within the well. A transition wavelength (i.e., the energy/wavelength at which the filter becomes transparent) is established by selecting a quantum well material with a bandgap near the desired energy and a barrier layer material with a higher bandgap. For a given reference temperature (e.g., room temperature), the exact transition wavelength is fixed by the thickness of the quantum well. The quantum confinement energy is added to the bandgap energy to yield the transition energy. A thermal control system varies the temperature of the thermochromic filter to adjust the transition wavelength. Temperature changes affect both the bandgap and the quantum confinement energy, and thus the optical properties of the thermochromic filter.

Abstract: Thermochromic filters use combinations of absorptive, reflective, thermoabsorptive, and thermoreflective elements covering different portions of the solar spectrum, to achieve different levels of energy savings, throw, shading, visible light transmission, and comfort. Embodiments include stopband filters in the near-infrared spectrum.

Abstract: A wavelength-specific optical switch combines one or more tunable filters and bandblock reflectors such that the absorption or reflection of selected wavelength bands in the optical spectrum (visible, near infrared, or near ultraviolet) can be switched on and off. The wavelength switch is programmable, multifunctional, general-purpose, solid-state optical filter. The wavelength switch may serve as a tunable notch or bandblock filter, a tunable bandpass filter, a tunable highpass or lowpass filter, or a tunable band reflector. The wavelength switch has particular, but not exclusive, application in optics as a filter, band reflector, and as a means of isolating particular wavelengths or wavelength bands from a collimated light stream for transmission to, or rejection from, a sensor.

Abstract: A thermochromic, thermotropic, or thermoreflective filter relies on a mismatch between the index of refraction of a thermotropic material (e.g., a liquid crystal) and a substrate material that includes refractive or diffractive features. At colder operating temperatures, the refraction mismatches are eliminated or minimized such that the filter becomes transparent, whereas at high operating temperatures the refraction mismatches are increased such that for light at appropriate incidence angles, the structure becomes highly reflective. This filter has particular but not exclusive application as a temperature-controlled “smart mirror” for use in windows, walls, roofing, and other building materials.

Abstract: A thermally switched optical downconverting (TSOD) filter is a self-regulating device including a downconverter that converts incoming light at a variety of wavelengths into longer-wavelength radiation and then directs it using one or more bandblock filters in either the inward or outward direction, depending on the temperature of the device. This control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating properties of the device and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The TSOD filter is energy-efficient as it can be used to regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The TSOD filter has unique aesthetic and optical properties not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls.

Abstract: The thermally switched reflective optical shutter is a self-regulating “switchable mirror” device that reflects up to 100% of incident radiant energy above a threshold temperature, and reflects up to 50% of incident radiant energy below a threshold temperature. Control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating value of the device, and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The device can be used as a construction material to efficiently regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The device has unique aesthetic optical properties that are not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls.

Abstract: Thermochromic filters are constructed using absorptive, reflective, or fluorescent dyes, molecules, polymers, particles, rods, or other orientation-dependent colorants that have their orientation, order, or director influenced by carrier materials, which are themselves influenced by temperature. These order-influencing carrier materials include thermotropic liquid crystals, which provide orientation to dyes and polymers in a Guest-Host system in the liquid-crystalline state at lower temperatures, but do not provide such order in the isotropic state at higher temperatures. The varying degree to which the absorptive, reflective, or fluorescent particles interact with light in the two states can be exploited to make many varieties of thermochromic filters. Thermochromic filters can control the flow of light and radiant heat through selective reflection, transmission, absorption, and/or re-emission.

Abstract: An optical metapolarizer device polarizes light while mitigating the absorptive or reflective losses associated with traditional polarizers. The metapolarizer device transmits light of one polarity and rotates the other polarity so that it is closer to the transmitted polarity. As a result, although the light exiting the metapolarizer device is highly polarized, the total transmissivity of the device can be well in excess of 50%, and can approach 100% in the theoretical limit.

Abstract: A thermally switched optical downconverting (TSOD) filter is a self-regulating device including a downconverter that converts incoming light at a variety of wavelengths into longer-wavelength radiation and then directs it using one or more bandblock filters in either the inward or outward direction, depending on the temperature of the device. This control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating properties of the device and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The TSOD filter has energy-efficiency implications, as it can be used to regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The TSOD filter also has aesthetic implications, since the device has unique optical properties that are not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls.

Abstract: The thermally switched reflective optical shutter is a self-regulating “switchable mirror” device that reflects up to 100% of incident radiant energy above a threshold temperature, and reflects up to 50% of incident radiant energy below a threshold temperature. Control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating value of the device, and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The device can be used as a construction material to efficiently regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The device has unique aesthetic optical properties that are not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls.