Variable Transmission Window
First Claim
1. A variable transmission device, comprising:
- a first uniform polarizer with a first polarization axis;
a second uniform polarizer with a second polarization axis;
a first patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and comprising a first plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence; and
a second patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and comprising a second plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence,wherein the first or second wave retarder is configured to be linearly translatable relative to the other one of the first or second wave retarder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The various embodiments include variable optical transmission devices with uniform or patterned polarizers or wave retarders configured to provide continuous or nearly continuous variations in light transmission based on linear translation. For example, embodiments include a variable transmission window including a first uniform polarizer with a first polarization axis, a second uniform polarizer with a second polarization axis, a first patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and including a first plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence, and a second patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and including a second plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence. The first or second wave retarder is configured to be linearly translatable relative to the other wave retarder.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A variable transmission device, comprising:
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a first uniform polarizer with a first polarization axis; a second uniform polarizer with a second polarization axis; a first patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and comprising a first plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence; and a second patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and comprising a second plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence, wherein the first or second wave retarder is configured to be linearly translatable relative to the other one of the first or second wave retarder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19)
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17. A variable transmission device, comprising:
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a first polarizer; and a second polarizer; a first patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and comprising a first plurality of domains configured to vary in orientation of optic axis; and a second patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and comprising a second plurality of domains configured to vary in orientation of optic axis, wherein the first or second wave retarder is configured to be linearly translatable relative to the other one of the first or second wave retarder. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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20. A method of making a patterned wave retarder for a variable transmission window, comprising:
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providing a substrate containing an alignment layer; exposing the alignment layer to radiation to generate a patterned alignment layer; depositing a liquid crystal polymer layer on the patterned alignment layer; and polymerizing the liquid crystal polymer layer such that the liquid crystal polymer layer adopts a pattern of the patterned alignment layer to form the patterned wave retarder with a variable optic axis.
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Specification