The present disclosure is related to a non-volatile thermotropic composite material comprising a first component comprising a non-aqueous and non-volatile proton donating material; a second component comprising a monomer, an oligomer or a polymer as a proton accepting material; a non-volatile polymeric matrix; and wherein the non-volatile polymeric matric, the first component and the second component are configured to maintain at least one property which is reversibly changeable based on thermal energy received by or given out from the non-volatile thermotropic composite material. Proton donating materials include ionic liquid, poly(ionic liquid) and deep eutectic salt. The proton accepting material comprises at least an ether, a phenyl ester, an amide and an acrylate functional group. Also disclosed is a method of making said composite material comprising providing the first and second components and a non-volatile polymeric matrix and curing the mixture to form the non-volatile thermotropic composite material. The non-volatile thermotropic composite material can be used in smart windows.

A phase shifting optical device and method of manufacture is provided. In an embodiment, the phase shifting optical device may include a first arm defining a first arm optical path, a second arm defining a second arm optical path, a beam splitter for splitting an input optical beam into first and second sub-beams for propagating in the first and second arm optical paths, respectively, and a beam combiner for combining the first and second sub-beams propagated in the first and second arm optical paths, respectively, into an output optical beam. The first arm including a carrier modification element to induce a phase shift in the first arm optical path relative to the second arm optical path. A cladding may be provided proximate to the first arm, the cladding having a temperature coefficient of refractive index (dn/dT)cl opposite in sign to a temperature coefficient of refractive index (dn/dT)a of the first arm.

An optical device may include at least one optical fiber, and a phase change material (PCM) layer on the at least one optical fiber. The PCM layer may include Ge.sub.xSe.sub.y, where x is in a range of 20-40, and y is in a range of 60-80.

Provided are a liquid crystal device, a composition capable of forming a liquid crystal layer, a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal device, a system for manufacturing the liquid crystal device, and a use of the liquid crystal device. The liquid crystal device is a device capable of exhibiting, for example, a normally white or black mode, exhibiting a high contrast ratio, driven with a low driving voltage, and exhibiting excellent durability such as thermal stability. Such a liquid crystal device may be applied to various optical modulators such as a smart window, a window protective film, a flexible display device, an active retarder for displaying 3D images, or a viewing angle control film.

Implantable corneal and intraocular implants such as a mask are provided. The mask can improve the vision of a patient, such as by being configured to increase the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. The mask can include an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all visible incident light. The mask can further include a transition portion that surrounds at least a portion of the aperture. This portion can be configured to switch from one level of opacity to another level of opacity through the use of a controllably variable absorbance feature such as a switchable photochromic chromophore within a polymer matrix.

A display apparatus and a method for controlling the display apparatus are provided. The display apparatus includes a display panel unit, a reflector disposed on the display panel unit, a radiator, an illumination sensing unit, and a controller. A color of the reflector is changeable according to a temperature thereof, and the reflector is positioned to reflect light incident on the reflector from outside the display apparatus. The heat radiator generates heat to control the temperature of the reflector, and the illumination sensing unit senses an illumination value of light incident on the display apparatus from outside. The controller controls the heat radiator to change the temperature of the reflector according to the illumination value sensed by the illumination sensing unit.

Thermochromic low-emissivity films can comprise a vanadium dioxide thin film or a thin film of vanadium dioxide nanoparticles incorporated into a polymer matrix, and a layer comprising a transparent conductive oxide to modify solar heat gain, solar reflectivity and thermal resistance of windows. The thermochromic low-emissivity films transition from infrared (IR) reflective when warm, to IR transparent when cool. This dynamic reflectivity is passive by nature, and requires no electronics or power source to shift. In addition, this dynamic transition can occur at any design temperature, and when the nanoparticles are dispersed, they remain transparent in the visible spectrum during both phases.

A display substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, a display panel, and a display device are disclosed. The display substrate includes a display region and a non-display region located around the display region, the display substrate includes: a base substrate and a black matrix located in the non-display region on the base substrate; at least one concave portion is located in the black matrix, and the at least one concave portion is filled with a non-transparent insulating material.

A device includes a comparator configured to compare a transmission phase of light in a photonic component with a reference phase. The device further includes a heater configured to control a temperature of the photonic component. The heater includes a plurality of heater segments, and a plurality of switches, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is between a pair of heater segments of the plurality of heater segments. The device further includes a controller configured to control operation of each switch of the plurality of switches based on results from the comparator for selectively connecting heater segments of the plurality of heater segments in series.

An imaging system includes an indicator installed around an antenna, wherein optical characteristics of the indicator change as a function of an electromagnetic field formed by the antenna, an imaging apparatus for imaging a change in optical characteristics of the indicator, a transmitter for radiating radio waves toward the antenna, and a receiver for receiving a signal from the antenna.