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: An eyewear system includes a variable transmission optical device and an antenna. The variable transmission optical device includes a first transparent electrode provided over a first transparent electrode area of a first substrate, a second transparent electrode provided over a second transparent electrode area of a second substrate, and an electro-optic material provided between the substrates, wherein each transparent electrode is interposed between its respective substrate and the electro-optic material. An antenna electrode is provided over an antenna area of the first substrate, wherein the antenna electrode is electrically isolated from the first transparent electrode.

Abstract: An optical device with one or more spatially variable optical response characteristics is disclosed. The optical device includes a cell including a liquid crystal material contained between a pair of substrates, each substrate having a transparent conductive layer provided thereon. An electrode connection contacts each transparent conductive layer. A driving signal source is in electrical communication with each electrode connection for application of a driving signal to the cell. An applied driving signal to the electrode connections from the driving signal source creates a voltage gradient in a gradient direction along the pair of transparent conductive layers leading away from the electrode connections. The voltage gradient is received by the liquid crystal material to produce a gradient in at least one optical response characteristic across at least a portion of the device.

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: Disclosed is an optical assembly having a first variable transmission layer comprising a first electro-optically active material between a first pair of substrates, a second variable transmission layer comprising a second electro-optically active material between a second pair of substrates, and an electronically switchable birefringent layer, that is capable of altering the phase of incident light, situated between the first and second variable transmission layers. The layers are arranged such that light passing through the optical assembly can be altered based on the voltage applied to each layer. The light transmission levels can be altered between maximally transmissive, minimally transmissive, and semi-transparent levels between the maximally and minimally transmissive levels.

Abstract: Provided is a flexible cell unit and a method of manufacturing the same. The cell unit includes first and second substrates separated by a controlled distance maintained by spacers, filled with an electro-optic material and enclosed by a border seal. The method includes providing two sheets to form the first and second substrates, where at least one of the sheets is flexible, depositing an electro-optic material on at least one substrate, and roll-filling the cell by using one or more lamination rollers to pair the first and second substrates to within the controlled distance of each other and filling the controlled distance with the electro-optic material.

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: Disclosed is an optical assembly having a first variable transmission layer comprising a first electro-optically active material between a first pair of substrates, a second variable transmission layer comprising a second electro-optically active material between a second pair of substrates, and an electronically switchable birefringent layer, that is capable of altering the phase of incident light, situated between the first and second variable transmission layers. The layers are arranged such that light passing through the optical assembly can be altered based on the voltage applied to each layer. The light transmission levels can be altered between maximally transmissive, minimally transmissive, and semi-transparent levels between the maximally and minimally transmissive levels.

Abstract: A switchable one-way mirror device dividing first and second spaces includes a switchable electro-optic layer facing the second space and configured to be electronically switchable between a transmissive state and one or more opaque states, and a partial reflector incorporated within or adjacent the switchable electro-optic layer and facing the first space and configured to partially reflect light. The switchable one-way mirror partially transmits a first light going from the first space to the second space, and a second light going from the second space to the first space. When the switchable electro-optic layer is in an opaque state, transmission of light through the device is reduced thereby changing the ratio between the transmission of the second light to the first space and the reflection of the first light by the partial reflector resulting in reduced visibility of the second space by a viewer in the first space.

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: Provided is a flexible cell unit and a method of manufacturing the same. The cell unit includes first and second substrates separated by a controlled distance maintained by spacers, filled with an electro-optic material and enclosed by a border seal. The method includes providing two sheets to form the first and second substrates, where at least one of the sheets is flexible, depositing an electro-optic material on at least one substrate, and roll-filling the cell by using one or more lamination rollers to pair the first and second substrates to within the controlled distance of each other and filling the controlled distance with the electro-optic material.

Abstract: Provided is a flexible cell unit and a method of manufacturing the same. The cell unit includes first and second substrates separated by a controlled distance maintained by spacers, filled with an electro-optic material and enclosed by a border seal. The method includes providing two sheets to form the first and second substrates, where at least one of the sheets is flexible, depositing an electro-optic material on at least one substrate, and roll-filling the cell by using one or more lamination rollers to pair the first and second substrates to within the controlled distance of each other and filling the controlled distance with the electro-optic material.

Abstract: A switchable one-way mirror device dividing first and second spaces includes a switchable electro-optic layer facing the second space and configured to be electronically switchable between a transmissive state and one or more opaque states, and a partial reflector incorporated within or adjacent the switchable electro-optic layer and facing the first space and configured to partially reflect light. The switchable one-way mirror partially transmits a first light going from the first space to the second space, and a second light going from the second space to the first space. When the switchable electro-optic layer is in an opaque state, transmission of light through the device is reduced thereby changing the ratio between the transmission of the second light to the first space and the reflection of the first light by the partial reflector resulting in reduced visibility of the second space by a viewer in the first space.

Abstract: Provided is a flexible cell unit and a method of manufacturing the same. The cell unit includes first and second substrates separated by a controlled distance maintained by spacers, filled with an electro-optic material and enclosed by a border seal. The method includes providing two sheets to form the first and second substrates, where at least one of the sheets is flexible, depositing an electro-optic material on at least one substrate, and roll-filling the cell by using one or more lamination rollers to pair the first and second substrates to within the controlled distance of each other and filling the controlled distance with the electro-optic material.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a flexible cell unit enclosed by a border seal and filled with an electro-optic material. The flexible cell includes a first and a second substrate separated by a controlled distance maintained by spacers. The method includes providing two continuous sheets of flexible plastic material to form the first and second substrates and depositing an electro-optic material on at least one substrate. The electro-optic material is non-encapsulated, non-polymeric, and contains less than 1% polymerizable material. The method also includes pairing the first and second substrates while roll-filling the flexible cell with the electro-optic material using one or more lamination rollers so that the electro-optic material completely fills the controlled distance between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: A non-polarizer based variable light attenuating device includes a guest-host solution having a liquid crystal host and a guest dichroic dye disposed between first and second conducting layers provided on first and second transparent substrates. The guest-host solution has a low-haze while the guest dye orientation alters between a low light transmitting orientation and a high light transmitting orientation in response to a first voltage supplied to the first and second conducting layers. In response to a second voltage supplied to the first and second conducting layers, the guest-host solution changes to a focal conic light scattering orientation to achieve a high-haze translucent state.

Abstract: An electronically controllable eyewear device having a cell filled with a liquid crystal material that can be electronically operated in an auto or a manual mode. The device contains a photosensor for generating a light input signal to trigger an automatic application of voltage to the cell when the device is in an auto mode, one or more switches capable of being actuated in a series of actuation sequences each to select a distinct function, and a control circuit responsive to each actuation sequence and light input signal to operate the cell in a corresponding one of a plurality of functions, including: (i) a first sequence for affecting an ON/OFF function, (ii) a second sequence for affecting a system change from the manual mode to the auto mode, and (iii) a third sequence for changing the threshold value for triggering the automatic application of voltage.