Abstract: A multi-color variable transmission optical device (“MC-VTOD”) includes a first cell having a first electro-optic material provided between a first pair of substrates and a second cell having a second electro-optic material provided between a second pair of substrates. The first electro-optic material can change from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a first wavelength region upon a change in an electric field applied across the first electro-optic material. The second electro-optic material can change from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a second wavelength region different from the first wavelength region upon a change in an electric field applied across the second electro-optical material.

Abstract: An adjustable breading machine for applying a coating material onto a food product, the machine includes a frame and a breading chamber enclosure through which the food product travels along the food path to receive a coating material. The adjustable breading machine may also include a hopper fixedly connected to the frame to deliver a coating material into the breading chamber enclosure. At least partially within the breading chamber enclosure is a main conveyor and an outfeed conveyor. In a first mode of operation, the outfeed conveyor lies in the food path and receives food product from the main conveyor. The adjustable breading machine includes a drum assembly operatively disposed above the outfeed conveyor having a rotatable drum for transporting food product and coating material to the outfeed conveyor. The adjustable breading machine also includes a drum adjustment assembly for moving the drum assembly between modes of operation.

Abstract: A multi-color variable transmission optical device (“MC-VTOD”) includes a first cell having a first electro-optic material provided between a first pair of substrates and a second cell having a second electro-optic material provided between a second pair of substrates. The first electro-optic material can changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a first wavelength region upon a change in an electric field applied across the first electro-optical material. The second electro-optic material is capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a second wavelength region different from the first wavelength region upon a change in an electric field applied across the second electro-optical material.

Abstract: An adjustable breading machine for applying a coating material onto a food product, the machine includes a frame and a breading chamber enclosure through which the food product travels along the food path to receive a coating material. The adjustable breading machine may also include a hopper fixedly connected to the frame to deliver a coating material into the breading chamber enclosure. At least partially within the breading chamber enclosure is a main conveyor and an outfeed conveyor. In a first mode of operation, the outfeed conveyor lies in the food path and receives food product from the main conveyor. The adjustable breading machine includes a drum assembly operatively disposed above the outfeed conveyor having a rotatable drum for transporting food product and coating material to the outfeed conveyor. The adjustable breading machine also includes a drum adjustment assembly for moving the drum assembly between modes of operation.

Abstract: A variable transmission optical device (“VTOD”) includes a cell having an electro-optic material capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance upon a change of an electric field applied across the electro-optic material. The VTOD is switchable between i) a clear state having chromaticity CCS and a photopic transmission PTCS of at least 20%, ii) a first darkened state having chromaticity CD1 and a photopic transmission PTD1 lower than PTCS, and iii) a second darkened state having chromaticity CD2 and a photopic transmission PTD2 that is lower than PTD1. CD1 and CD2 each fall within chroma 2 when their respective PT values correspond to a Munsell value of 5 or less.

Abstract: A variable transmission optical device (“VTOD”) includes first and second cells in optical communication, each cell having an electro-optic material capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance upon a change of an electric field applied across the electro-optic material. The VTOD is switchable between i) a clear state having chromaticity CCS and a photopic transmission PTCS of at least 20% wherein the first cell and second cell are each in the state of higher light transmission, ii) a first darkened state having chromaticity CD1 and a photopic transmission PTD1 lower than PTCS, and iii) a second darkened state having chromaticity CD2 and a photopic transmission PTD2 that is lower than PTD1. CD1 and CD2 each fall within chroma 2 when their respective PT values correspond to a Munsell value of 5 or less.

Abstract: A variable transmission optical device includes first and second cells, each capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance. The first cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a first peak absorption wavelength and a first FWHM of 175 nm or less, and the second cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a second peak absorption wavelength and a second FWHM of 175 nm or less. The optical device is capable of switching from a clear state having a clear state transmittance % TCS-P to a darkened state having a darkened state transmittance % TDS-P, wherein a change between % TCS-P and % TDS-P corresponds to an optical density difference (?OD) of greater than 0.5 OD for at least one of the first or second peak absorption wavelengths. Both the first and second peak absorption wavelengths are in a range of 380-780 nm.

Abstract: A laser protection variable transmission optical device (“LP-VTOD”) includes first and second cells, each capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance. The first cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a first peak absorption wavelength and a first FWHM of 175 nm or less, and the second cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a second peak absorption wavelength and a second FWHM of 175 nm or less. The first peak absorption wavelength may be the same or different than the second peak absorption wavelength. The LP-VTOD is capable of switching from a clear state to a darkened state having a darkened state transmittance % TDS-P that is equal to or less than 10% for at least one of the first or second peak absorption wavelengths.

Abstract: A machine for applying a granular food coating to a food upon a conveyor is provided. The machine includes an endless belt conveyor, and a looped elevator disposed around the first conveyor. The elevator includes a plurality of plates that are moved around the perimeter of the conveyor. The plurality of plates are disposed in a substantially vertical orientation when traveling above and below the first conveyor and the plurality of plates are in a substantially horizontal orientation when traveling in the upward direction. The plurality of plates are configured to receive granular food thereupon when traveling in the upward direction, and the food thereupon falls downwardly from the plurality of plates when the plurality of plates travel above the first conveyor, wherein a portion of the granular food falling from the plurality of plates eventually falls onto food that travels along the first conveyor below the plurality of plates.

Abstract: A multi-color variable transmission optical device (“MC-VTOD”) includes a first cell having a first electro-optic material provided between a first pair of substrates and a second cell having a second electro-optic material provided between a second pair of substrates. The first electro-optic material can changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a first wavelength region upon a change in an electric field applied across the first electro-optical material. The second electro-optic material is capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a second wavelength region different from the first wavelength region upon a change in an electric field applied across the second electro-optical material.

Abstract: A laser protection variable transmission optical device (“LP-VTOD”) includes first and second cells, each capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance. The first cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a first peak absorption wavelength and a first FWHM of 175 nm or less, and the second cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a second peak absorption wavelength and a second FWHM of 175 nm or less. The first peak absorption wavelength may be the same or different than the second peak absorption wavelength. The LP-VTOD is capable of switching from a clear state to a darkened state having a darkened state transmittance % TDS-P that is equal to or less than 10% for at least one of the first or second peak absorption wavelengths.

Abstract: A variable transmission optical device (“VTOD”) includes first and second cells in optical communication, each cell having an electro-optic material capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance upon a change of an electric field applied across the electro-optic material. The VTOD is switchable between i) a clear state having chromaticity CCS and a photopic transmission PTCS of at least 20% wherein the first cell and second cell are each in the state of higher light transmission, ii) a first darkened state having chromaticity CD1 and a photopic transmission PTD1 lower than PTCS, and iii) a second darkened state having chromaticity CD2 and a photopic transmission PTD2 that is lower than PTD1. CD1 and CD2 each fall within chroma 2 when their respective PT values correspond to a Munsell value of 5 or less.

Abstract: A method of creating a visual impairment zone includes producing at least one beam of intense light having a bandwidth of less than 50 nm. The beam of intense light is modulated to produce a spatial array having a pattern of light beams illuminating the visual impairment zone. The pattern of light beams is altered as a function of time to form a varying spatial array, wherein the varying spatial array has the requisite irradiance to cause visual impairment.

Abstract: A visual impairment device includes a power supply, an intense light source having two or more beams of intense light with different peak wavelengths and a wavelength bandwidth less than 50 nm, a modulator and a control circuit. The modulator operates to modulates the two or more beams of intense light to produce a spatial array such that at least one of the beams used to produce the spatial array has the requisite irradiance to cause visual impairment. In some examples, the beams of intense light are laser beams. Also included are methods of using the device to cause visual impairment of an intruder who enters a visual impairment zone created by said device.

Abstract: A visual impairment device includes a light source, a modulator, and a controller. The light source capable of generating two or more high intensity light beams having different peak wavelengths, wherein at least one of the light beams has a wavelength bandwidth of less than 100 nm. The modulator modulates the two or more beams of intense light to produce a spatial array comprising a first array of first light beams having a first peak wavelength and a second array of second light beams having a second peak wavelength different from the first wavelength. The controller includes control circuitry for controlling the light source, the modulator, or both. The spatial array is projected into a space such that a lateral distance of at least one first light beam to a second light beam is in a range of 40-110 mm within at least one area of the space.

Abstract: A visual impairment device includes a light source, a modulator, and a controller. The light source capable of generating two or more high intensity light beams having different peak wavelengths, wherein at least one of the light beams has a wavelength bandwidth of less than 100 nm. The modulator modulates the two or more beams of intense light to produce a spatial array comprising a first array of first light beams having a first peak wavelength and a second array of second light beams having a second peak wavelength different from the first wavelength. The controller includes control circuitry for controlling the light source, the modulator, or both. The spatial array is projected into a space such that a lateral distance of at least one first light beam to a second light beam is in a range of 40-110 mm within at least one area of the space.

Abstract: An adjustable breading machine for applying a coating material onto a food product, the machine includes a frame and a breading chamber enclosure through which the food product travels along the food path to receive a coating material. The adjustable breading machine may also include a hopper fixedly connected to the frame to deliver a coating material into the breading chamber enclosure. At least partially within the breading chamber enclosure is a main conveyor and an outfeed conveyor. In a first mode of operation, the outfeed conveyor lies in the food path and receives food product from the main conveyor. The adjustable breading machine includes a drum assembly operatively disposed above the outfeed conveyor having a rotatable drum for transporting food product and coating material to the outfeed conveyor. The adjustable breading machine also includes a drum adjustment assembly for moving the drum assembly between modes of operation.

Abstract: An adjustable breading machine for applying a coating material onto a food product, the machine includes a frame and a breading chamber enclosure through which the food product travels along the food path to receive a coating material. The adjustable breading machine may also include a hopper fixedly connected to the frame to deliver a coating material into the breading chamber enclosure. At least partially within the breading chamber enclosure is a main conveyor and an outfeed conveyor. In a first mode of operation, the outfeed conveyor lies in the food path and receives food product from the main conveyor. The adjustable breading machine includes a drum assembly operatively disposed above the outfeed conveyor having a rotatable drum for transporting food product and coating material to the outfeed conveyor. The adjustable breading machine also includes a drum adjustment assembly for moving the drum assembly between modes of operation.

Abstract: A visual impairment device includes a power supply, an intense light source having two or more beams of intense light with different peak wavelengths and a wavelength bandwidth less than 50 nm, a modulator and a control circuit. The modulator operates to modulates the two or more beams of intense light to produce a spatial array such that at least one of the beams used to produce the spatial array has the requisite irradiance to cause visual impairment. In some examples, the beams of intense light are laser beams. Also included are methods of using the device to cause visual impairment of an intruder who enters a visual impairment zone created by said device.

Abstract: An adjustable breading machine for applying a coating material onto a food product, the machine includes a frame and a breading chamber enclosure through which the food product travels along the food path to receive a coating material. The adjustable breading machine may also include a hopper fixedly connected to the frame to deliver a coating material into the breading chamber enclosure. At least partially within the breading chamber enclosure is a main conveyor and an outfeed conveyor. In a first mode of operation, the outfeed conveyor lies in the food path and receives food product from the main conveyor. The adjustable breading machine includes a drum assembly operatively disposed above the outfeed conveyor having a rotatable drum for transporting food product and coating material to the outfeed conveyor. The adjustable breading machine also includes a drum adjustment assembly for moving the drum assembly between modes of operation.