SWITCHABLE LENS APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A window apparatus comprising:
- at least one transparent substrate and a lens element having an optical effect upon incident light;
an apparatus configured to disable the optical effect and neutralize the lens element;
wherein the apparatus may be operated in reverse to enable the optical effect and restore the lens element to effectiveness.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switchable window apparatus capable of being placed in a transparent condition in which light passes through the window unobstructed, and in an obstructed condition in which light passing through the window is obstructed by an optical element in the window. The switchable window apparatus is placed in the transparent state by contacting a lens element with a material of matching refractive index, and placed in the obstructed state by contacting the lens element with a material with a non-matching refractive index.
44 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A window apparatus comprising:
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at least one transparent substrate and a lens element having an optical effect upon incident light; an apparatus configured to disable the optical effect and neutralize the lens element; wherein the apparatus may be operated in reverse to enable the optical effect and restore the lens element to effectiveness.
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2. A method for redirecting incident light, comprising the steps of:
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providing a lens element having an optical effect upon light passing therethrough; neutralizing the optical effect when redirection of incident light is not desired; and enabling the optical effect when redirection of incident light is desired. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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3. The method of claim 2, wherein the lens element comprises a pair of complementary lenses;
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wherein the step of neutralizing the optical effect comprises bringing together the pair of complementary lenses into intimate contact, and wherein the step of enabling the optical effect comprises separating the pair of complimentary lenses such that the pair of complimentary lenses are no longer in intimate contact.
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6. A switchable window apparatus, comprising:
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a first transparent substrate; a second transparent substrate; a cavity disposed between the first and second transparent substrates; a glazing material disposed near a periphery of each of the first and second transparent substrates, the glazing material being further disposed between the first and second transparent substrates and sealing the cavity therebetween; a lens element having an optical effect upon light passing therethrough, the lens element having a certain index of refraction depending upon a material from which the lens element is made, the lens element being disposed within the cavity between the first and second transparent substrates; a first port in fluid communication with the cavity between the first and second transparent substrates; a second port in fluid communication with the cavity between the first and second transparent substrates; a quantity of fluid having an index of refraction that does not match the index of refraction of the material from which the lens element is made; a quantity of fluid having an index of refraction that matches, or is at least approximately equal to, the index of refraction of the material from which the lens element is made; and a pumping apparatus coupled to at least one of the first port and the second port for causing at least one fluid to enter or exit the cavity between the first and second transparent substrates. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for redirecting incident light, comprising the steps of:
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providing a switchable window apparatus having a lens element for redirecting incident light disposed within a sealed transparent cavity, wherein the lens element has a pre-determined index of refraction; filling the cavity with an index-matching fluid having an index of refraction that matches, or is at least approximately equal to, the index of refraction of the lens element, such that any optical effect of the lens element is negated, and a portion of the incident light is directed in a first direction; and filling the cavity with a second, non-index-matching fluid having an index of refraction that does not match the index of refraction of the lens element, such that the lens element exhibits an optical effect upon the incident light, thereby redirecting a portion of the incident light in other than the first direction.
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14. The method of claim 13, wherein the optical effect of the lens element is diffusion of incident light upon the switchable window apparatus.
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14-1. A switchable window apparatus, comprising:
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a first transparent substrate; a second transparent substrate; a cavity disposed near a periphery of each of the first and second transparent substrates, a glazing material being further disposed between the first and second transparent substrates and sealing the cavity therebetween; a pair of lens elements having an optical effect upon light passing therethrough, the lens elements possessing complementary geometries such that the lens elements may be intimately contacted to form a homogenous volume of material, the lens elements having a certain index of refraction depending upon a material from which the lens element is made, the lens element being disposed within the cavity between the first and second transparent substrates, with one lens element contacting the first transparent substrate and one lens element contacting the second transparent substrate; a port in fluid communication with the cavity between the first and second transparent substrates; a pumping apparatus coupled to the port causing at least one fluid to enter or exit the cavity between the first and second transparent substrates.
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15. The method of claim 13, wherein the optical effect of the lens element is diffraction of incident light upon the switchable window apparatus.
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15-2. A switchable window apparatus, comprising:
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a first transparent substrate; a second transparent substrate; a cavity disposed near a periphery of each of the first and second transparent substrates, a glazing material being further disposed between the first and second transparent substrates and sealing the cavity therebetween; a lens element having an optical effect upon light passing therethrough, the lens element having a degree of elasticity depending upon the material from which the lens element is made and allowing for repeated deformations, the lens elements having a certain index of refraction depending upon a material from which the lens element is made, the lens element being disposed within the cavity between the first and second transparent substrates; and a port in fluid communication with the cavity between the first and second transparent substrates.
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- 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the optical effect of the lens element is refraction of incident light upon the switchable window apparatus.
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16-3. A window or window covering comprised of at least two lenses, the window being switchable between a first and second state, wherein the window transmits more electromagnetic radiation in the first state than in the second state, and wherein the window reflects or diffuses more electromagnetic radiation in the second state than in the first state.
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17-4. A window or window covering according to claim 16 comprising lenses which are not separated by any distance or are separated by small distance relative to the area of the window, wherein the distance between the lenses is articulated by mechanical means.
Specification