Abstract: A color-changing product includes a fabric. The fabric includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is arranged using at least one fiber. The at least one fiber includes (a) an electrically conductive core and (b) a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core. The second layer is printed onto the first layer. The second layer includes a foreground thermochromic pigment that is selectively activatable by providing an electrical current to the electrically conductive core of the at least one fiber to change at least one of a foreground color or a pattern of the second layer.

Abstract: A color-changing product includes a fabric and a connection bus disposed along at least a portion of the fabric. The fabric includes a plurality of color-changing fibers. Each of the plurality of color-changing fibers has an electrically conductive core and a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core. The coating includes a color-changing pigment. The connection bus has a multi-layer structure including a metallic foil layer and a film layer. The metallic foil layer forms a weld between at least a subset of the plurality of color-changing fibers so that current can flow through the connection bus and into the electrically conductive core of at least the subset of the plurality of color-changing fibers. The film layer at least partially isolates the weld from a surrounding environment.

Abstract: A color-changing product includes a fabric. At least a portion of the fabric includes or is arranged using at least one of (i) a color-changing fiber or (ii) a color-changing yarn including the color-changing fiber. The color-changing fiber includes an electrically conductive core having a first tensile strength, a reinforcement core having a second tensile strength that is greater than the first tensile strength, and a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core and the reinforcement core. The coating includes a polymeric material having a color-changing pigment.

Abstract: A color-changing product includes a fabric. At least a portion of the fabric includes or is arranged using at least one of (i) a color-changing fiber or (ii) a color-changing yarn including the color-changing fiber. The color-changing fiber includes an electrically conductive core having a first tensile strength, a reinforcement core having a second tensile strength that is greater than the first tensile strength, and a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core and the reinforcement core. The coating includes a polymeric material having a color-changing pigment.

Abstract: A color-changing product includes a fabric. The fabric includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is arranged using at least one fiber. The at least one fiber includes (a) an electrically conductive core and (b) a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core. The second layer is printed onto the first layer. The second layer includes a foreground thermochromic pigment that is selectively activatable by providing an electrical current to the electrically conductive core of the at least one fiber to change at least one of a foreground color or a pattern of the second layer.

Abstract: A color-changing product includes a fabric and a color-changing fiber embroidered into a portion of the fabric. The color-changing fiber includes an electrically conductive core and a coating disposed around the electrically conductive core. The coating includes a thermochromic pigment.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a color-changing fiber includes loading a polymeric material and a thermochromic pigment material into a fiber fabrication machine that comprises an extruder and a spinneret, operating the extruder to provide a molten mixture of the polymeric material and the thermochromic pigment material, providing a volume of the molten mixture to the spinneret, and operating the spinneret to coat an electrically conductive core with the molten mixture to form a coating layer around the electrically conductive core to produce the color-changing fiber. The polymeric material and the thermochromic pigment material are provided as (a) a first raw material comprising the polymeric material and a second raw material comprising the thermochromic pigment material or (b) a thermochromic pigment and polymer mixture.

Abstract: A color-changing monofilament includes an electrically conductive core and a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core. The coating includes a layer of polymeric material having a color-changing pigment.

Abstract: A structured granular optical component for use within an optical apparatus includes a primary optically active component comprising a first optical material and a secondary optically active component contained within the first optically active component and comprising a second optical material different than the first optical material. The first optical material and the second optical material are selected to influence scattering. When incorporated into a macroscopic optical apparatus the structured granular optical component provides enhanced performance.

Abstract: In one embodiment a system and method for harvesting optical energy employ an optical energy harvesting fiber including a core having active elements that absorb light at one wavelength of range of wavelengths and emit light at one or more different wavelengths, a guiding structure that guides the emitted light along a length of the fiber, and a cladding that surrounds the core.