Method and apparatus for temporarily increasing the absorptance of optical transmitting components
First Claim
1. Apparatus for charge control of an electrochromic layer, said layer being uncolored for the condition of no charge in said layer and said layer being in a predetermined colored state for a predetermined charge in said layer, said apparatus comprising:
- said layer; and
control means for changing from one to the other of said states;
said control means including first limited-current means connected to charge said layer and second limited-current means connected to discharge said layer, actuating means including a flip-flop circuit for initiating a change from one to the other of said colored and uncolored states, timing means connected (a) to initiate a predetermined timed interval in response to said actuating means and (b) to return said flip-flop circuit to said one state thereof upon completion of the timed interval, and gating means connected to said flip-flop circuit and operative (a), in the uncolored state of said layer, to operate said first limited-current means for charging said layer during said interval upon operation of said actuating means and (b), in the colored state of said layer, to operate said second limited-current means for discharging said layer during said interval upon operation of said actuating means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochromic layer is applied to optical transmitting components, and electric-circuit connection to the layer enables temporary increase and decrease in the absorptance of the component. To increase the absorptance, a well-defined quantity of charge is supplied to the electrochromic layer; and to restore the initial condition, a well-defined quantity of charge is removed from the layer. Preferred fields of use are lenses, particularly eyeglass lenses, filters, and dimmable mirrors.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for charge control of an electrochromic layer, said layer being uncolored for the condition of no charge in said layer and said layer being in a predetermined colored state for a predetermined charge in said layer, said apparatus comprising:
- said layer; and
control means for changing from one to the other of said states;
said control means including first limited-current means connected to charge said layer and second limited-current means connected to discharge said layer, actuating means including a flip-flop circuit for initiating a change from one to the other of said colored and uncolored states, timing means connected (a) to initiate a predetermined timed interval in response to said actuating means and (b) to return said flip-flop circuit to said one state thereof upon completion of the timed interval, and gating means connected to said flip-flop circuit and operative (a), in the uncolored state of said layer, to operate said first limited-current means for charging said layer during said interval upon operation of said actuating means and (b), in the colored state of said layer, to operate said second limited-current means for discharging said layer during said interval upon operation of said actuating means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- said layer; and
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12. Apparatus for the selective coloring and decoloring of sunglass spectacles having two lens elements, wherein each of said lens elements includes an electrochromic layer which is in an uncolored state for the condition of no charge in the layer, and which is in a predetermined colored state for a predetermined charge in the layer, said apparatus comprising:
- said layers; and
control means operative upon both said layers for changing both said layers from one to the other of said states;
said control means including first limited-current means connected to charge said layers and second limited-current means connected to discharge said layers, actuating means including a flip-flop circuit for initiating a change from one to the other of said colored and uncolored states, timing means connected (a) to initiate a predetermined timed interval in response to said actuating means and (b) to return said flip-flop circuit to said one state thereof upon completion of the timed interval, and gating means connected to said flip-flop circuit and operative (a), in the uncolored state of said layer, to operate said first limited-current means for charging said layer during said interval upon an operation of said actuating means and (b), in the colored state of said layer, to operate said second limited-current means for discharging said layer during said interval upon an operation of said actuating means. - View Dependent Claims (13)
- said layers; and
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14. Apparatus for the selective coloring and decoloring of an optical microscope containing an electrochromic layer as an element of the optical system of the microscope, said layer being an uncolored state for the condition of no charge in said layer, said layer being in a predetermined colored state for a predetermined charge in said layer, said apparatus comprising:
- said layer; and
control means for changing from one to the other of said states;
said control means including first limited-current means connected to charge said layer and second limited-current means connected to discharge said layer, actuating means including a flip-flop circuit for initiating a change from one to the other of said colored and uncolored states, timing means connected (a) to initiate a predetermined timed interval in response to said actuating means and (b) to return said flip-flop circuit to said one state thereof upon completion of the timed interval, and gating means connected to said flip-flop circuit and operative (a), in the uncolored state of said layer, to operate said first limited-current means for charging said layer during said interval upon an operation of said actuating means and (b), in the colored state of said layer, to operate said second limited-current means for discharging said layer during said interval upon an operation of said actuating means;
said actuating means including optical-sensor means which produces an electrical output signal in response to light and which is positioned to monitor brightness of the viewing field of the microscope, and a threshold device which produces a first output signal for brightness levels below a predetermined threshold and a second output signal for brightness levels above said threshold, said threshold device being set at a predetermined level of viewing the field with approximately identical image brightness upon different magnification via the optical system.
- said layer; and
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15. Apparatus for selective coloring and decoloring of an automobile rear-view mirror wherein an electrochromic layer is a part of the mirror, said layer being in uncolored state for the condition of no charge in said layer, said layer being in a predetermined colored state for a predetermined charge in said layer, said apparatus comprising:
- said layer; and
control means for changing from one to the other of said states;
said control means including first limited-current means connected to charge said layer and second limited-current means connected to discharge said layer, actuating means including a flip-flop circuit for initiating a change from one to the other of said colored states, timing means connected (a) to initiate a predetermined timed interval in response to said actuating means and (b) to return said flip-flop circuit to said one state thereof upon completion of the timed interval, and gating means connected to said flip-flop circuit and operative (a), in the uncolored state of said layer, to operate said first limited-current means for charging said layer during said interval upon an operation of said actuating means and (b), in the colored state of said layer, to operate said second limited-current means for discharging said layer during said interval upon an operation of said actuating means.
- said layer; and
Specification