Abstract: Provided is an optical element including: a substrate; at least one at least partially ordered orientation facility connected to at least a portion of the substrate; and an at least partial coating connected to at least a portion of the at least partially ordered orientation facility. The at least partial coating includes at least one at least partially ordered anisotropic material. At least one photochromic-dichroic compound is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially ordered anisotropic material.

Abstract: Provided is a photochromic optical articleincluding: (a) an optical substrate; (b) a thermally reversible photochromic material; and (c) reversible thermochromic material capable of at least partially filtering UV/visible light at or below room temperature and becoming less capable of filtering UV/visible light at temperatures greater than room temperature.

Abstract: Provided is an optical element with an electrochromic apodized aperture having variable light transmittance in response to the amplitude of an applied voltage. The apodized aperture includes (i) a first substrate having a planar inner surface and an outer surface, (ii) a second substrate having an outer surface and a non-planar inner surface opposing and spaced from the planar inner surface of the first substrate, wherein each of the planar inner surface of the first substrate and the non-planar inner surface of the second substrate has an at least partial layer of transparent conductive material thereover; and (iii) an electrochromic medium disposed between the planar inner surface of the first substrate and the non-planar inner surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to photochromic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to photochromic-dichroic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a thermally reversible, photochromic compound adapted to have at least a first state and a second state, wherein the thermally reversible, photochromic compound has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in at least one state as determined according to CELL METHOD.

Abstract: Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to photochromic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to photochromic-dichroic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a thermally reversible, photochromic compound adapted to have at least a first state and a second state, wherein the thermally reversible, photochromic compound has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in at least one state as determined according to CELL METHOD.

Abstract: Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to photochromic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to photochromic-dichroic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a thermally reversible, photochromic compound adapted to have at least a first state and a second state, wherein the thermally reversible, photochromic compound has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in at least one state as determined according to CELL METHOD.

Abstract: Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to photochromic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to photochromic-dichroic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a thermally reversible, photochromic compound adapted to have at least a first state and a second state, wherein the thermally reversible, photochromic compound has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in at least one state as determined according to CELL METHOD.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical elements comprising a photochromic linear polarizing element and a birefringent layer that circularly or elliptically polarizes transmitted radiation. The photochromic linear polarizing element comprises a substrate and either: (1) a coating comprising an aligned, thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound having an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in an activated state, and being operable for switching from a first absorption state to a second absorption state in response to actinic radiation, to revert back to the first absorption state in response to thermal energy, and to linearly polarize transmitted radiation in at least one of the two states; or (2) an at least partially ordered polymeric sheet connected to the substrate; and a thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with the polymeric sheet and has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in the activated state.

Abstract: Provided is an optical element including: a substrate; and at least one at least partially aligned thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound connected to at least a portion of the substrate and having an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in an activated state.

Abstract: A security element connected to at least a portion of a substrate, the security element including an at least partial coating having a first state and a second state connected to at least a portion of the substrate, the at least partial coating being adapted to switch from a first state to a second state in response to at least actinic radiation, to revert back to the first state in response to thermal energy, and to linearly polarize at least transmitted radiation in at least one of the first state and the second state.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element including forming an at least partial coating of at least one at least partially aligned thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound on at least a portion of a substrate.

Abstract: A method of making a composite element including: forming a sheet of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal polymer having at least a first general direction, a liquid crystal material having at least a second general direction distributed within at least a portion of the liquid crystal polymer; and at least one photochromic-dichroic compound having an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in an activated state that is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the liquid crystal material; and connecting at least a portion of the sheet to at least a portion of an optical substrate to form the composite element.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element including overmolding an at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material and at least one at least partially aligned photochromic-dichroic compound on at least a portion of an optical substrate.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element including: forming an at least partial coating of an alignment medium to at least a portion of at least one surface of a substrate and at least partially ordering at least a portion of the alignment medium; forming at least one at least partial coating of an alignment transfer material on at least a portion of the coating of the alignment medium and aligning the alignment transfer material with at least a portion of the ordered alignment medium; and forming an at least partial coating including an anisotropic material and at least one photochromic-dichroic compound on the alignment transfer material, aligning at least a portion of the anisotropic material with the at least partially aligned alignment transfer material, and aligning at least a portion of the photochromic-dichroic compound with aligned anisotropic material.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element including: forming an at least partial coating of an alignment medium to at least a portion of at least one surface of a substrate and at least partially ordering at least a portion of the alignment medium; forming at least one at least partial coating of an alignment transfer material on at least a portion of the coating of the alignment medium and aligning the alignment transfer material with at least a portion of the ordered alignment medium; and forming an at least partial coating including an anisotropic material and at least one photochromic-dichroic compound on the alignment transfer material, aligning at least a portion of the anisotropic material with the at least partially aligned alignment transfer material, and aligning at least a portion of the photochromic-dichroic compound with aligned anisotropic material.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element including: (a) forming an at least partial coating on at least a portion of a substrate; and (b) adapting at least a portion of the at least partial coating to switch from a first state to a second linearly polarizing state in response to actinic radiation and to revert back to the first sate in response to thermal energy.

Abstract: An optical element including: a substrate; and an at least partial coating having a first state and a second state on at least a portion of the substrate, the at least partial coating being adapted to be circularly polarizing or elliptically polarizing in at least one state and containing: a chiral nematic or cholesteric liquid crystal material having molecules that are helically arranged through a thickness of the at least partial coating; and at least one photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with the liquid crystal material such that a long axis of a molecule of the photochromic-dichroic compound is generally parallel to the molecules of the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: Provided is a composite optical element including: a substrate; an at least partially ordered polymeric sheet connected to at least a portion of the substrate; and at least one thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially ordered polymeric sheet and has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in the activated state.

Abstract: Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to photochromic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to photochromic-dichroic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a thermally reversible, photochromic compound adapted to have at least a first state and a second state, wherein the thermally reversible, photochromic compound has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in at least one state as determined according to CELL METHOD.

Abstract: Described are photochromic articles that include a substrate, a temperature dependent reducing amount of at least one organic photochromic material (b) that changes from more absorbing to less absorbing of radiation in its activating spectral absorbance as the temperature increases from 10° C. to 35° C. and at least one other photochromic material (c) that is different from photochromic material (b). In the article, photochromic material (b) is interposed between photochromic material (c) and a source of activating radiation. The photochromic article demonstrates a more consistent photochromic response, for example, an optical density response loss of 50 percent or less over a temperature range of from 10° C. to 35° C. as measured in the Photochromic Temperature Dependence Test. Methods for producing the aforedescribed articles are also disclosed.