ELECTRONICALLY DIMMABLE OPTICAL DEVICE
First Claim
1. An electronically dimmable optical device, comprising:
- a. an active absorbing polarizer;
b. a first static reflective polarizer;
c. an active polarization rotator; and
d. a second static reflective polarizer;
configured so that the reflectivity and/or transmissivity of said device can be controlled (increased or decreased) by application of a voltage across the active absorbing polarizer and the active polarization rotator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronically dimmable optical device, including, in sequence, an active absorbing polarizer; a first static reflective polarizer; an active polarization rotator; and a second static reflective polarizer; configured so that the reflectivity and/or transmissivity of the device can be controlled (increased or decreased) by application of a voltage across the active absorbing polarizer and/or the active polarization rotator. One or more polarization levels can be selected by controlling the voltage at the active absorptive polarizer such that setting the active absorptive polarizer to a selected polarization level determines the brightness of an image produced by the device.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electronically dimmable optical device, comprising:
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a. an active absorbing polarizer; b. a first static reflective polarizer; c. an active polarization rotator; and d. a second static reflective polarizer; configured so that the reflectivity and/or transmissivity of said device can be controlled (increased or decreased) by application of a voltage across the active absorbing polarizer and the active polarization rotator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A device for reflecting light at variable intensity by application of a variable voltage to the device, said device comprising:
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a viewing surface having an active absorptive polarizer, adjacent a first static (non-switchable) reflective polarizer, adjacent an active (electrically switchable) polarization rotator, adjacent a second static (non-switchable) reflective polarizer, configured such that the device has maximum reflectivity when the device is in an unenergized state, and the device has minimum reflectivity when the device is activated by a maximum voltage applied to the active polarizer and/or the active polarization rotator.
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22. (canceled)
Specification