Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080246900 | Liquid Crystal Accessories - An accessory article incorporating liquid crystal materials includes at least one liquid crystal cell and at least one formable member for carrying the liquid crystal cell. The article includes a driving circuit connected to the at least one liquid crystal cell to control the appearance thereof. The liquid crystal cell comprises a pair of opposed substrates, wherein each the substrate has an electrode disposed thereon and facing the other the substrate with a gap that receives the liquid crystal material. Application of an electric field by the driving circuit allows the liquid crystal cell to reflect a desired color and in a desired logo or shape. | 10-09-2008 |
20090201461 | INTERCONNECTION TAB USED WITH OPTICAL DEVICES - An optical device with at least one interconnection tab is provided. The optical device includes a pair of opposed substrates with a gap therebetween filled with an electro-optic material. Each substrate has a facing surface with a substrate electrode disposed thereon. A sealing material is disposed between the pair of opposed substrates to contain the electro-optic material. At least one interconnection tab is interposed between the substrates. The interconnection tab includes an insulator layer with opposed surfaces. A tab electrode layer is provided on each surface, wherein each tab electrode layer contacts a corresponding substrate electrode. And each tab electrode layer includes a portion that extends from the pair of opposed substrates on selected portions of the insulator layer. | 08-13-2009 |
20090251660 | EYEWEAR INCORPORATING LENSES WITH ELECTRONICALLY VARIABLE OPTICAL PROPERTIES - An electro-optic eyewear assembly having a frame with opposed ends, a pair of temples, and a hinge mechanically interconnecting each temple to a corresponding end of the frame. Each temple moveable between a wearing position and a storage position and at least one electro-optic lens carried by the frame and a control circuit carried by at least one of the temples. The electrical connection between the control circuit and the at least one electro-optic lens being made by moving one of the temples into physical contact with the frame when the temple carrying the control circuit is moved to a wearing position. | 10-08-2009 |
20090256978 | LIQUID CRYSTAL SKI GOGGLES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A goggle includes a lens assembly which comprises a front lens, a rear lens spaced apart from the front lens, and a liquid crystal device disposed on one of the lenses. The goggle includes a frame, which defines an aperture and a peripheral channel. The peripheral channel receives the front lens and the rear lens is positioned rearward of the channel so that the aperture receives the lens assembly. A power unit includes a battery and a drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit is connected to a pair of prongs that are electrically connectable to the liquid crystal device for operation thereof. The power unit provides a master switch connected to the battery to control application of power to the drive circuit, and a state change switch to control application of power from the drive circuit, through the prongs, to the liquid crystal device. | 10-15-2009 |
20100202033 | 3H-NAPHTH0 [2,1-B] PYRANS AS PHOTOCHROMIC DICHROIC DYES AND OPTICAL ARTICLE CONTAINING THEM - A naphthopyran compound represented by the formula (I): | 08-12-2010 |
20100324296 | DICHROIC-PHOTOCHROMIC COMPOUNDS AND DEVICES - A naphthopyran compound represented by the formula | 12-23-2010 |
20110211157 | INTERCONNECTION TAB USED WITH OPTICAL DEVICES - An optical device with at least one interconnection tab is provided. The optical device includes a pair of opposed substrates with a gap therebetween filled with an electro-optic material. Each substrate has a facing surface with a substrate electrode disposed thereon. A sealing material is disposed between the pair of opposed substrates to contain the electro-optic material. At least one interconnection tab is interposed between the substrates. The interconnection tab includes an insulator layer with opposed surfaces. A tab electrode is provided on each surface, wherein each tab electrode is in electrical connection with a corresponding substrate electrode facing the tab electrode. And a pad electrode is also provided on each surface, wherein each pad electrode is in electronic connection with the substrate electrode facing the opposed surface of the insulator layer. | 09-01-2011 |
20110283431 | ATTACHABLE OPTICAL ELEMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND METHODS - A light attenuating optical arrangement for assembly to an eye-shielding device includes an optical element having an electronically controlled guest-host liquid crystal cell for variably attenuating transmission of light, the liquid crystal cell including first and second plastic substrates. A controller is electrically connected to the liquid crystal cell and is configured to selectively supply a voltage across the liquid crystal cell. The controller is provided with a means for electrically connecting the controller to a power source, and a means for attaching the controller to the eye-shielding device. The optical element is provided with a means for attaching an outer periphery of the optical element to a surface of a viewing lens of an eye-shielding device. | 11-24-2011 |
20120038841 | SOLAR POWERED VARIABLE LIGHT ATTENUATING DEVICES AND ARRANGEMENTS - A solar powered variable light attenuating device includes a liquid crystal cell, a photovoltaic cell in electrical communication with the liquid crystal cell, and a light concentrator having a light absorbing surface and a light emitting surface optically coupled to the photovoltaic cell. At least a portion of light impinging on the light absorbing surface of the light concentrator is concentrated and directed through the light emitting surface to a photon-absorbing portion of the photovoltaic cell to generate a voltage. The generated voltage is used to change the liquid crystal cell from a de-energized state to an energized state in response to sunlight directed toward the photovoltaic cell. | 02-16-2012 |
20130048836 | ELECTRONICALLY SWITCHABLE OPTICAL DEVICE WITH A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL OPTICAL CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME - An electronically controllable optical device is provided which includes a cell maintaining an electro-optically controllable material, a photosensor associated with the cell, wherein the photosensor generates an input signal based on ambient light level, and a control circuit which receives the input signal and generates at least one output signal received by the cell. The device also includes a single switch connected to the control circuit, wherein actuation of the switch in predetermined sequences enables at least two of the following features of the device, a state change of the material, a system change between auto and manual modes, or a threshold value change for generation of the ambient light input signal, a device color change, a device tint change or a reset of the threshold value to the original factory setting. Methods of operation for the device are also provided. A control apparatus for the device is also disclosed. | 02-28-2013 |
20130248350 | PHOTOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTAL MATERIAL AND PROCESSES - A new class of phototropic liquid crystal mixture comprises a liquid crystal host and one or more photodichroic dyes, wherein exposure of the mixture to an activating light causes a light-induced increase in order parameter of the mixture. In some examples, in the absence of the activating light, the phototropic mixture has a lower order parameter than the liquid crystal host, while in the presence of activating light, the phototropic mixture has a higher order parameter than the liquid crystal host. In some examples, upon exposure to the activating light, the phototropic mixture undergoes a phase transition from a material with a lower order to a material with higher liquid crystalline order. In some examples, activating light causes the mixture to transition from an isotropic phase to a nematic phase, from an isotropic phase to a cholesteric phase or form a nematic phase to a smectic phase. | 09-26-2013 |
20130258266 | WIDE BAND VARIABLE TRANSMITTANCE OPTICAL DEVICE AND MIXTURE - We describe a wide band variable transmission optical device, mixtures for use in such a device, and methods of making the same. The wide band optical device includes a cell comprising a guest-host mixture of a liquid crystal host and a dichroic guest dye material contained between a pair of plastic substrates. The optical device does not use polarizers. The liquid crystal host has an axis orientation that is alterable between a clear state orientation and a dark state orientation perpendicular thereto and the dichroic guest dye material includes one or more dichroic dyes. The optical device is characterized in that it exhibits a wide absorption band that is greater than 175nm within a visible wavelength range of 400-700nm and has a clear state transmission equal to or above 30% and a dark state transmission equal to or below 40%. | 10-03-2013 |
20140016064 | CONTINUOUS WAVE DIRECTIONAL EMISSION LIQUID CRYSTAL STRUCTURES AND DEVICES - A light emitting photonic bandgap (PBG) material, and devices uses the same, having (a) a polymer network exhibiting a non-uniform pitch; (b) a small molecule liquid crystal material with a birefringence >0.04; and (c) one or more light emitting dyes having a low triplet state absorption. The light emitting PBG material has a defect-induced density of states enhancing feature at a wavelength that overlaps the emission spectrum of the light emitting dye. Excitation of the light emitting PBG material by a light source causes a directional electromagnetic emission from the light emitting material. The PBG material, and device, are capable of emitting continuous wave laser light as a result of excitation by a low-power incoherent light source. | 01-16-2014 |
20140197361 | DICHROIC-PHOTOCHROMIC 2H-NAPHTHO[1,2-b]PYRAN COMPOUNDS AND DEVICES - A naphthopyran compound represented by the formula | 07-17-2014 |
20150323825 | VARIABLE LIGHT ATTENUATING DEVICES AND ARRANGEMENTS - A non-polarizer based variable light attenuating device includes a guest-host solution having a liquid crystal host and a guest dichroic dye disposed between first and second conducting layers provided on first and second transparent substrates. The guest-host solution has a low-haze while the guest dye orientation alters between a low light transmitting orientation and a high light transmitting orientation in response to a first voltage supplied to the first and second conducting layers. In response to a second voltage supplied to the first and second conducting layers, the guest-host solution changes to a focal conic light scattering orientation to achieve a high-haze translucent state. | 11-12-2015 |
20160070132 | WIDE BAND VARIABLE TRANSMITTANCE OPTICAL DEVICE - We describe a wide band variable transmission optical device having an electronically active cell comprising a guest-host mixture of a liquid crystal host and a dichroic guest dye material contained between a pair of plastic substrates. The liquid crystal host has an axis orientation that is alterable between a clear state orientation and a dark state orientation and the dichroic guest dye material includes one or more dichroic dyes. The optical device is characterized in that it exhibits a wide absorption band that is greater than 175 nm within a visible wavelength range of 400-700 nm, has a clear state transmission equal to or above 30% and a dark state transmission equal to or below 40%. | 03-10-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100101707 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TAPERED LOOPED SUTURE - A system and method for forming a looped suture having a tapered cut is provided. The system includes a base for selectively retaining a portion of thread, a clamping device for receiving a first end of the thread, a tensioning device for receiving a second end of the thread, and a welding/cutting assembly configured to join a first section and second section of the thread to form a loop and to form a tapered end on the first section of the thread. A die for forming a looped suture having a tapered cut is also provided. | 04-29-2010 |
20100275750 | System and Method for Forming Barbs on a Suture - A station for cutting a barb suture is provided. The barb cutting station includes a suture transport assembly for supporting a first suture, a first knife assembly for forming barbs on the first suture, and a first clamp and position assembly for approximating the at least first suture towards the at least first knife assembly. The barb cutting station may further include at least a first suture cutting mechanism configured for severing the at least first suture when a defect is detected. The station may also include at least a first visual inspection assembly configured for detecting defective barbs. | 11-04-2010 |
20100276062 | System And Method For Making Tapered Looped Suture - A system for forming a looped suture is provided. The system includes a suture supply assembly configured for supplying thread, a flipper gripping assembly configured for forming a loop in the thread, a carriage assembly configured for advancing the thread through the forming process, and a welding assembly configured for securing the loop in the thread. | 11-04-2010 |
20130139954 | SYSTEM , METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TAPERED LOOPED SUTURE - A system and method for forming a looped suture having a tapered cut is provided. The system includes a base for selectively retaining a portion of thread, a clamping device for receiving a first end of the thread, a tensioning device for receiving a second end of the thread, and a welding/cutting assembly configured to join a first section and second section of the thread to form a loop and to form a tapered end on the first section of the thread. A die for forming a looped suture having a tapered cut is also provided. | 06-06-2013 |
20130218204 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING BARBS ON A SUTURE - A station for cutting a barb suture is provided. The barb cutting station includes a suture transport assembly for supporting a first suture, a first knife assembly for forming barbs on the first suture, and a first clamp and position assembly for approximating the at least first suture towards the at least first knife assembly. The barb cutting station may further include at least a first suture cutting mechanism configured for severing the at least first suture when a defect is detected. The station may also include at least a first visual inspection assembly configured for detecting defective barbs. | 08-22-2013 |
20150135928 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING BARBS ON A SUTURE - A station for cutting a barb suture is provided. The barb cutting station includes a suture transport assembly for supporting a first suture, a first knife assembly for forming barbs on the first suture, and a first clamp and position assembly for approximating the at least first suture towards the at least first knife assembly. The barb cutting station may further include at least a first suture cutting mechanism configured for severing the at least first suture when a defect is detected. The station may also include at least a first visual inspection assembly configured for detecting defective barbs. | 05-21-2015 |