Clear to circular polarizing photochromic devices and methods of making the same
First Claim
1. An optical element comprising:
- (a) a photochromic linear polarizing element comprising;
(i) a substrate; and
(ii) at least one coating connected to the substrate, the coating having a first absorption state and a second absorption state and being operable for switching from the first absorption state to the second absorption state in response to actinic radiation, to revert back to the first absorption state in response to actinic radiation and/or thermal energy, and to linearly polarize transmitted radiation in the first absorption state and/or the second absorption state;
wherein the coating (ii) comprises an at least partially aligned, reversible photochromic-dichroic material having an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in an activated state; and
(b) at least one birefringent layer comprising a polymeric coating or polymeric sheet connected to the photochromic linear polarizing element (a), the birefringent layer being operable to circularly or elliptically polarize transmitted radiation.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An optical element comprising:
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(a) a photochromic linear polarizing element comprising; (i) a substrate; and (ii) at least one coating connected to the substrate, the coating having a first absorption state and a second absorption state and being operable for switching from the first absorption state to the second absorption state in response to actinic radiation, to revert back to the first absorption state in response to actinic radiation and/or thermal energy, and to linearly polarize transmitted radiation in the first absorption state and/or the second absorption state;
wherein the coating (ii) comprises an at least partially aligned, reversible photochromic-dichroic material having an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in an activated state; and(b) at least one birefringent layer comprising a polymeric coating or polymeric sheet connected to the photochromic linear polarizing element (a), the birefringent layer being operable to circularly or elliptically polarize transmitted radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification