System and method for varying the reflectance or transmittance of light
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for transmitting light at variable intensity, the device comprising:
- a front variable polarizer, polarizing incoming light at a first selected polarization level in a first direction;
a rear variable polarizer, optically coupled with said front variable polarizer, polarizing light exiting said front variable polarizer at a second selected polarization level, in a second direction; and
at least one of the front variable polarizer and the rear variable polarizer includes a mixed homeotropic and planar surface alignment material, wherein the mixed homeotropic and planar surface alignment material includes rod-shaped molecules that in the homeotropic state align substantially in one direction and in the planar state align substantially in another direction;
wherein said first selected polarization level and said second selected polarization level are substantially zero, when no substantial electric power is applied respectively, to said front variable polarizer and said rear variable polarizer.
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Abstract
Device for transmitting light at variable intensity, the device including a front variable polarizer, polarizing incoming light at a first selected polarization level, in a first direction and a rear variable polarizer, optically coupled with the front variable polarizer, polarizing light exiting the front variable polarizer at a second selected polarization level, in a second direction, wherein the first selected polarization level and the second selected polarization level are substantially zero, when no substantial electric power is applied respectively, to the front variable polarizer and the rear variable polarizer.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A device for transmitting light at variable intensity, the device comprising:
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a front variable polarizer, polarizing incoming light at a first selected polarization level in a first direction; a rear variable polarizer, optically coupled with said front variable polarizer, polarizing light exiting said front variable polarizer at a second selected polarization level, in a second direction; and at least one of the front variable polarizer and the rear variable polarizer includes a mixed homeotropic and planar surface alignment material, wherein the mixed homeotropic and planar surface alignment material includes rod-shaped molecules that in the homeotropic state align substantially in one direction and in the planar state align substantially in another direction; wherein said first selected polarization level and said second selected polarization level are substantially zero, when no substantial electric power is applied respectively, to said front variable polarizer and said rear variable polarizer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for transmitting light at variable intensity, the method comprising the procedures of:
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polarizing light, at a first selected polarization level, by a front variable polarizer; polarizing said light, at a second selected polarization level, by a rear variable polarizer; and providing in at least one of the front variable polarizer and the rear variable polarizer a mixed homeotropic and planar surface alignment material, wherein the mixed homeotropic and planar surface alignment material includes rod-shaped molecules that in the homeotropic state align substantially in one direction and in the planar state align substantially in another direction; wherein said first selected polarization level and said second polarization levels are substantially zero, when no substantial power is available. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An apparatus for viewing an image at variable intensity, the apparatus comprising:
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an optical assembly; a variable transmitter, said variable transmitter including; a front variable polarizer; a rear variable polarizer, optically coupled with said front variable polarizer; and at least one of the front variable polarizer and the rear variable polarizer includes a mixed homeotropic and planar surface alignment material, wherein the mixed homeotropic and planar surface alignment material includes rod-shaped molecules that in the homeotropic state align substantially in one direction and in the planar state align substantially in another direction; wherein said front variable polarizer applies substantially no polarization to an incoming light and transmits said incoming light as an outgoing light, when a first change in an electric field is applied to said front variable polarizer, wherein said front variable polarizer polarizes said incoming light in a first direction, thereby producing a polarized incoming light, when a second change in said electric field is applied to said front variable polarize, wherein said rear variable polarizer applies substantially no polarization to said outgoing light, when said first change is applied to said rear variable polarizer, and wherein said rear variable polarizer said polarized incoming light in a second direction, when said second change is applied to said rear variable polarizer. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. Device for transmitting light at variable intensity, the device comprising:
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a front variable polarizer, polarizing incoming light at a first selected polarization level in a first direction; and a rear variable polarizer, optically coupled with said front variable polarizer, polarizing light exiting said front variable polarizer at a second selected polarization level, in a second direction, wherein said first selected polarization level and said second selected polarization level are substantially zero, when no substantial electric power is applied respectively, to said front variable polarizer and said rear variable polarizer; and wherein each of said front variable polarizer and said rear variable polarizer comprises a light affecting substance, said light affecting substance comprising an optically active substance and a plurality of anisotropic light absorbing particles, wherein said light affecting substance polarizes said incoming light according to the direction of said anisotropic light absorbing particles, a controller for controlling at least one of said front variable polarizer and said rear variable polarizer, said controller being coupled with said front variable polarizer which is divided into a plurality of sections and said controller sets each of said sections to a respective polarization level and said controller is also coupled with said rear variable polarizer which also is divided into a plurality of rear end sections, and said controller sets each of said rear end sections to a respective polarization level, wherein said front variable polarizer further comprises; a first protective layer; a second protective layer; a first pair of multi-pronged electric conductors located between said first protective layer and said second protective layer, a first set of prongs of said first pair lying along a first multi-prong direction, said first set of prongs being intermingled; and a light affecting substance said light affecting substance comprises; an optically active substance; and a plurality of anisotropic light absorbing particles being substantially aligned with the molecules of said optically active substance, wherein said rear variable polarizer further comprises; a third protective layer; a fourth protective layer; a second pair of multi-pronged electric conductors located between said third protective layer and said fourth protective layer, a second set of prongs of said second pair lying along a second multi-prong direction, said first multi-prong direction being rotated by substantially ninety degrees relative to said second multi-prong direction, said second set of prongs being intermingled, and another light affecting substance similar to said light affecting substance, wherein said optically active substance is aligned along said first direction, when said electric power is applied to said first pair, thereby said anisotropic light absorbing particles polarizing said incoming light at a first powered condition polarization level, and wherein said other optically active substance is aligned along said second direction, when said electric power is applied to said second pair, thereby said anisotropic light absorbing particles polarizing said incoming light at a first powered condition polarization level. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification