Patents Assigned to Switch Materials Inc.
  • Publication number: 20220220100
    Abstract: A diarylethene compound reversibly convertible under photochromic and electrochromic conditions between a ring-open isomer of Formula (1A) and a ring-closed isomer of Formula (IB) wherein R5 is a substituted phenyl ring and Re is a substituted thiophene ring is provided. The photochromic-electrochromic diarylethene compound of Formula (1A)/(1B) have improved photochromic, electrochromic or photochromic and electrochromic properties, and is useful to provide variation of the light transmission properties of optical filters. The compound also possesses improved solubility making it suitable for incorporation in commercial products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: SWITCH MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: SHAO-KAI CHEN, RICHARD JOHN BURFORD, AMIR MAHMOUD ASADIRAD, TUOQI WU, JAMES DANIEL SENIOR, NATALIE ELAINE CAMPBELL, GLEN RAMSAY BREMNER, NEIL ROBIN BRANDA, JEREMY GRAHAM FINDEN
  • Patent number: 10647913
    Abstract: A composition comprising a diarylethene photochromic anodic species, a cathodic species and an electrolyte that comprises a supporting electrolyte and a solvent. Electrochromic devices such as optical filters are prepared from such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SWITCH MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Neil Robin Branda, Glen Ramsay Bremner, Jeremy Graham Finden, Matt Andrew Pilapil, Matthew Neal Roberts, Jonathan Ross Sargent, James Daniel Senior, Veronica Elizabeth Patricia Marshman, Natalie E. Campbell
  • Patent number: 10539812
    Abstract: An eyewear control system for a variable transmittance optical filter assembly configurable to cover at least a portion of a lens of an eyewear device. The eyewear control system includes a controller communicatively coupled to a pair of load terminals. The eyewear control system also includes a light sensor communicatively coupled to the controller to provide a detector output signal, the light sensor being positioned to receive sunlight transmitted through the optical filter assembly and towards an eye of a person wearing the eyewear device, the detector output signal being set in dependence on an amount of sunlight received by the light sensor. The eyewear control system also includes a memory communicatively coupled to the controller and having encoded thereon computer program code executable by the controller to transition the optical filter assembly between operating states when coupled to the pair of load terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SWITCH MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Smit, Simon Gauthier, Duhane Lam
  • Patent number: 10401654
    Abstract: A optical filter comprising a variable transmittance layer having a first spectrum in a dark state, and a second spectrum in a faded state; and a color balancing layer having a third spectrum; each of the first, second and third spectra comprising a visible portion; the first and third spectra combining to provide a dark state spectrum approximating a dark state target color; and the second and third spectra combining to provide a fades state spectrum approximating a faded state target color. The optical filter may further comprise a light attenuating layer. The optical filter may further comprise part of a laminated glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SWITCH MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Neil Robin Branda, Zachary Bryce Erno, Jeremy Graham Finden, Duhane Lam, Charles Joseph Gongming Loo, Jonathan Ross Sargent, Matthew Paul Smit, Peter Alexander Von Hahn, Douglas Malcolm Wiggin
  • Patent number: 10353264
    Abstract: A layered structure for a variable transmittance optical filter includes a transparent conductive electrode and a substrate layer. The transparent conductive electrode includes a charge injection layer that has one or more of gold, molybdenum, palladium, reduced graphene oxide, amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO), platinum, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, asmium, selenium, tellurium, graphene, and carbon nanotubes. The substrate layer includes a transparent substrate and is positioned relative to the transparent conductive electrode such that light passing through the transparent conductive electrode passes through the substrate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SWITCH MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Duhane Lam, Glen R. Bremner, Jonathan R. Sargent, Jeremy G. Finden, Peter A. Von Hahn
  • Patent number: 10254617
    Abstract: A simplified switchable object and methods of making same are provided. The methods may include steps of applying a switchable material on a first surface of a first substrate, the switchable material having a thickness and a shape; applying a barrier material on the first substrate, circumferential to the switchable material; and applying a second substrate over top of, and in contact with, the switchable material and the barrier material, the first substrate, second substrate and barrier material defining a closed chamber encapsulating the switchable material. The methods may further include a step of applying a seal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SWITCH MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Simon James Gauthier, Duhane Lam, Jonathan Ross Sargent, James Daniel Senior, Cynthia Elizabeth Shippam, Peter Alexander Von Hahn
  • Publication number: 20170031226
    Abstract: A simplified switchable object and methods of making same are provided. The methods may include steps of applying a switchable material on a first surface of a first substrate, the switchable material having a thickness and a shape; applying a barrier material on the first substrate, circumferential to the switchable material; and applying a second substrate over top of, and in contact with, the switchable material and the barrier material, the first substrate, second substrate and barrier material defining a closed chamber encapsulating the switchable material. The methods may further include a step of applying a seal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: SWITCH MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Simon James GAUTHIER, Duhane LAM, Jonathan Ross SARGENT, James Daniel SENIOR, Cynthia Elizabeth SHIPPAM, Peter Alexander VON HAHN
  • Publication number: 20150109651
    Abstract: A optical filter comprising a variable transmittance layer having a first spectrum in a dark state, and a second spectrum in a faded state; and a color balancing layer having a third spectrum; each of the first, second and third spectra comprising a visible portion; the first and third spectra combining to provide a dark state spectrum approximating a dark state target color; and the second and third spectra combining to provide a fades state spectrum approximating a faded state target colour. The optical filter may further comprise a light attenuating layer. The optical filter may further comprise part of a laminated glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Switch Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Robin Branda, Zachary Bryce Erno, Jeremy Graham Finden, Duhane Lam, Charles Joseph Gongming Loo, Jonathan Ross Sargent, Matthew Paul Smit, Peter Alexander Von Hahn, Douglas Malcolm Wiggins
  • Patent number: 8536205
    Abstract: Photochromic and electrochromic hexadiene compounds that are reversibly convertible between ring-open and ring-closed isomeric forms. The conversion between the different isomeric forms may be induced by light or electricity. The compounds may include a charge transfer moiety including electron donor and acceptor groups. The electron donor and acceptor are linearly conjugated in the ring-open form to enable electron transfer but are electrically insulated in the ring-closed form. Photoresponsive compounds may be synthesized by any of several methods disclosed, e.g., by reacting diene precursors with dienophiles in a condensation reaction. The compounds may be utilized in reactivity-gated photochromic or electrochromic applications. Compounds may be used in a method to selectively release a releasable agent, such as a small molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Switch Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Neil R. Branda, Bettina Wuestenberg, Vincent Lemieux, Michael Adams, Simon Gauthier
  • Patent number: 8450503
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel photochromic and electrochromic monomers and polymers based on 1,2-dithienylcyclopentene derivatives and method of using and synthesizing same. The compounds are reversibly interconvertible between different isomeric forms under suitable photochromic or electrochromic conditions. The electrochromic conversion may be catalytic. The application also relates to ultra-high density homopolymers prepared using ring-opening methathesis polymerization (ROMP) where the central ring of the 1,2-bis(3-thienyl)-cyclopentene is incorporated directly into the polymer backbone. The monomer units may be readily functionalized to enable the synthesis of polymers with diverse structural and electronic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Switch Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Neil R. Branda, Andrea Peters, Anthony J. Wigglesworth
  • Publication number: 20110003966
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel photochromic and electrochromic monomers and polymers based on 1,2-dithienylcyclopentene derivatives and method of using and synthesizing same. The compounds are reversibly interconvertible between different isomeric forms under suitable photochromic or electrochromic conditions. The electrochromic conversion may be catalytic. The application also relates to ultra-high density homopolymers prepared using ring-opening methathesis polymerization (ROMP) where the central ring of the 1,2-bis(3-thienyl)-cyclopentene is incorporated directly into the polymer backbone. The monomer units may be readily functionalized to enable the synthesis of polymers with diverse structural and electronic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: SWITCH MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Neil R. Branda, Andrea Peters, Anthony J. Wigglesworth
  • Patent number: 7777055
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel photochromic and electrochromic monomers and polymers based on 1,2-dithienylcyclopentene derivatives and method of using and synthesizing same. The compounds are reversibly interconvertible between different isomeric forms under suitable photochromic or electrochromic conditions. The electrochromic conversion may be catalytic. The application also relates to ultra-high density homopolymers prepared using ring-opening methathesis polymerization (ROMP) where the central ring of the 1,2-bis(3-thienyl)-cyclopentene is incorporated directly into the polymer backbone. The monomer units may be readily functionalized to enable the synthesis of polymers with diverse structural and electronic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Switch Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Neil R. Branda, Andrea Peters, Anthony J. Wigglesworth
  • Publication number: 20100190868
    Abstract: Novel photochromic and electrochromic hexadiene compounds are described. The compounds are reversibly convertible between ring-open and ring-closed isomeric forms as indicated in structures I(o) and I(c) below. (See formula in original abstract of application) The conversion between the different isomeric forms may be induced by light or electricity. In one embodiment the compounds may include a charge transfer moiety including electron donor and acceptor groups. The electron donor and acceptor are linearly conjugated in the ring-open form to enable electron transfer but are electrically insulated in the ring-closed form. Methods for synthesizing the compounds from photochemically and/or electrically inert precursors are also described. For example, the photoresponsive compounds may be synthesized by reacting diene precursors with dienophiles in a condensation reaction. The compounds may be utilized in reactivity-gated photochromic or electrochromic applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: SWITCH MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Neil R. Branda, Bettina Wuestenberg, Vincent Lemieux, Michael Adams, Simon Gauthier