Variable transmittance optical filter and uses thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A variable tint window, comprising:
- (a) at least one sheet of transparent substrate;
(b) a variable transmittance optical filter comprising a first and a second electrode and a switching material in contact with the first and second electrodes and disposed on the at least one sheet of transparent substrate, wherein the switching material transitions from a light state to a dark state on exposure to ultraviolet radiation and absent application of an electric voltage required to trigger lightening from the dark state across the first and second electrodes and from the dark state to the light state with application of the voltage across the first and second electrodes, and wherein a visible light transmittance of the optical filter is lower when in the dark state than when in the light state; and
(c) power control electronics comprising a switch for electrically coupling to a power source, the power control electronics electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes and operable to transition the variable transmittance optical filter from the dark state to the light state by applying the voltage from the power source across the first and second electrodes, wherein the switch in the power control electronics comprises a multi-state control device operable to permit a user to select an intermediate transmittance for the optical filter, wherein the power control electronics applies the voltage across the first and second electrodes for a duration sufficient to achieve the intermediate state.
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Abstract
Variable transmittance optical filters capable of transitioning from a light state to a dark state on exposure to UV radiation and from a dark state to a light state with application of an electric voltage are provided. The optical filters comprise a switching material that comprises one or more chromophores that have electrochromic and photochromic properties.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A variable tint window, comprising:
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(a) at least one sheet of transparent substrate; (b) a variable transmittance optical filter comprising a first and a second electrode and a switching material in contact with the first and second electrodes and disposed on the at least one sheet of transparent substrate, wherein the switching material transitions from a light state to a dark state on exposure to ultraviolet radiation and absent application of an electric voltage required to trigger lightening from the dark state across the first and second electrodes and from the dark state to the light state with application of the voltage across the first and second electrodes, and wherein a visible light transmittance of the optical filter is lower when in the dark state than when in the light state; and (c) power control electronics comprising a switch for electrically coupling to a power source, the power control electronics electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes and operable to transition the variable transmittance optical filter from the dark state to the light state by applying the voltage from the power source across the first and second electrodes, wherein the switch in the power control electronics comprises a multi-state control device operable to permit a user to select an intermediate transmittance for the optical filter, wherein the power control electronics applies the voltage across the first and second electrodes for a duration sufficient to achieve the intermediate state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A variable tint window, comprising:
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(a) at least one sheet of transparent substrate; (b) a variable transmittance optical filter comprising a first and a second electrode and a switching material in contact with the first and second electrodes and disposed on the at least one sheet of transparent substrate, wherein the switching material transitions from a light state to a dark state on exposure to ultraviolet radiation and absent application of an electric voltage required to trigger lightening from the dark state across the first and second electrodes and from the dark state to the light state with application of the voltage across the first and second electrodes, and wherein a visible light transmittance of the optical filter is lower when in the dark state than when in the light state; and (c) power control electronics comprising a switch for electrically coupling to a power source, the power control electronics electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes and operable to transition the variable transmittance optical filter from the dark state to the light state by applying the voltage from the power source across the first and second electrodes, wherein the switch comprises a multi-state control device operable to permit a user to select an intermediate transmittance for the optical filter, wherein the power control electronics apply the voltage across the first and second electrodes to achieve the intermediate state based on feedback from one or more light sensors. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A variable tint window, comprising:
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(a) at least one sheet of transparent substrate; (b) a variable transmittance optical filter comprising a first and a second electrode and a switching material in contact with the first and second electrodes and disposed on the at least one sheet of transparent substrate, wherein the switching material transitions from a light state to a dark state on exposure to ultraviolet radiation and absent application of an electric voltage required to trigger lightening from the dark state across the first and second electrodes and from the dark state to the light state with application of the voltage across the first and second electrodes, and wherein a visible light transmittance of the optical filter is lower when in the dark state than when in the light state; and (c) power control electronics comprising a switch for electrically coupling to a power source, the power control electronics electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes and operable to transition the variable transmittance optical filter from the dark state to the light state by applying the voltage from the power source across the first and second electrodes, wherein the switch comprises a multi-state control device operable to permit a user to select an intermediate transmittance for the optical filter, wherein the power control electronics apply the voltage across the first and second electrodes to achieve the intermediate state based on feedback from one or more light sensors, wherein the power control electronics further comprise a voltage or a current sensor that senses when the switching material has transitioned to the light state, and wherein the power control electronics cease to apply the voltage across the first and second electrodes when the switching material has transitioned to the light state.
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Specification