A vehicle window has a plurality of integrated electro-optical elements, wherein the electro-optical elements have a common supply voltage, wherein the integrated electro-optical elements are controllable individually or in groups such that the electro-optical elements change the optical properties of the window at the respective location, wherein a first logical interface for feeding in the common supply voltage and a second logical interface for feeding in a common control signal are provided for controlling the electro-optical elements and for providing the common supply voltage, wherein, downstream from the logical interface, the control signal is converted into control signals for the control of the integrated electro-optical elements individually or in groups, wherein the physical interface is arranged on one of the outer faces of the window, wherein the physical interface for the first logical interface and the second logical interface has, together, 3 or 4 electrical connections.

Optical apparatus (38) includes an electro-optical layer (46), contained within a transparent envelope (43, 44) and having an effective local index of refraction at any given location that is determined by a voltage waveform applied across the electro-optical layer at the location. An array of excitation electrodes (50) is disposed over a surface of the transparent envelope. Control circuitry (42) is configured to apply voltage waveforms to the excitation electrodes so as to generate across at least a part of the active area of the electro-optical layer a phase modulation profile (60, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70) comprising spatially alternating peaks (61) and troughs (62) separated by phase transitions chosen so as to emulate a Fresnel lens. The troughs have respective phase modulation depths that vary by at least one quarter wavelength at a nominal wavelength of 500 nm across at least the part of the active area of the electro-optical layer that emulates the Fresnel lens.

Optical devices and their fabrication from thin film lithium niobate are provided. In some embodiments, an optical device includes a substrate and an optical waveguide disposed on the substrate. The optical waveguide comprises lithium niobate. The optical waveguide has a central ridge extending laterally along the substrate. A pair of electrodes is disposed on opposite sides of the central ridge of the optical waveguide.

The subject invention pertains to color changeable, film materials comprising a metal substrate layer; a conducting polymer or conducting polymer composite layer; and an electrolyte layer. The conducting polymer or conducting polymer composite layer of the film material is capable of exhibiting changes in one or more optical properties when the film material is in contact with a metal. The subject invention also pertains to methods of preparing conducting polymer films capable of exhibiting changes in optical properties.

Embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for switchable electroactive devices for head-mounted displays (HMDs). In particular, a method may include (1) applying an electric field to an electroactive element of an electroactive device via electrodes of the electroactive device that are electrically coupled to the electroactive element to compress the electroactive element, which comprises a polymer material defining nanovoids, such that an average size of the nanovoids is decreased and a density of the nanovoids is increased in the electroactive element, wherein the electroactive device is positioned at a distance from a user's eye, and (2) emitting image light from an emissive device positioned such that at least a portion of the image light is incident on a surface of the electroactive device facing the user's eye.

An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, which may be located at least in part between the electrodes. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids, including a gas, and separated from each other by polymer walls. The device may be an electroactive device, such as an actuator having a response time for a transition between actuation states. The gas may have a characteristic diffusion time (e.g., to diffuse half the mean wall thickness through the polymer walls) that is less than the response time. The nanovoids may be sufficiently small (e.g., below 1 micron in diameter or an analogous dimension), and/or the polymer walls may be sufficiently thin, such that the gas interchange between gas in the voids and gas absorbed by the polymer walls may occur faster than the response time, and in some examples, effectively instantaneously.

According to the present invention, an optical device includes: a first electro-optical member and a second electro-optical member. The first electro-optical member has two convex portions spaced from each other by a recessed portion and a connecting portion arranged under the recessed portion to connect the two convex portions, the first electro-optical member exhibiting an electro-optical effect. The second electro-optical member has a recessed portion member arranged within the recessed portion, the second electro-optical member exhibiting an electro-optical effect. The permittivity of the first electro-optical member is higher than the permittivity of the second electro-optical member. The refractive index of the first electro-optical member is higher than the refractive index of the second electro-optical member. During application of an electric field, light to be transmitted is applied to the recessed portion member.

The embodiments herein relate to methods for controlling an optical transition in an optically switchable device, and optically switchable devices configured to perform such methods. In various embodiments, non-optical (e.g., electrical) feedback is used to help control an optical transition. The feedback may be used for a number of different purposes. In many implementations, the feedback is used to control an ongoing optical transition.

Display apparatuses are disclosed. In one arrangement, a display apparatus comprises a plurality of pixel units. Each pixel unit comprises: an optically switchable element; a heater operable to apply heating to the optically switchable element and thereby change an optical property of the optically switchable element; and a drive unit for driving the heater in response to a drive signal. The drive unit is provided within a first layer. The optically switchable elements and heaters of the plurality of pixel units are separated from the first layer by at least a portion of a second layer. An average thermal conductivity of the second layer is lower than an average thermal conductivity of the first layer.

An optical device includes variable optical material that alters at least one of: incident ambient light, spectral content of incident ambient light or direction of incident ambient light through the optical device in response to a stimulus provided by the device. The device can sense intensity and/or spectral characteristics of ambient light and provide appropriate stimulus to various portions of the optical device to activate the variable optical material and alter at least one of: incident ambient light, spectral content of incident ambient light or direction of incident ambient light.