Liquid crystal modulator optical devices and more specifically shutters and smart windows are presented. The liquid crystal modulator devices are characterized by a reduced polymer content which is eliminated from the material composition of the liquid crystal layer and characterized by non-uniform electrode structures in the liquid crystal structure configured to generate spatially non-uniform electric fields and therefore non-uniform molecular reorientation of liquid crystal molecules. This arrangement advantageously makes light scattering electrically controllable.

Disclosed are a liquid crystal mixture and a temperature-responsive infrared reflection device made by using the liquid crystal mixture containing potassium laurate. Infrared light can pass through the device within a non-working temperature range, and a chiral dopant enables potassium laurate to form a cholesteric phase within a working temperature range. The birefringence value of the potassium laurate gradually increases with the increase of temperature between 12.5 C. and 26 C., so that the infrared reflection bandwidth of the device constantly increases. The birefringence value of the potassium laurate gradually decreases with the increase of temperature between 26 C. and 54.5 C., so that the infrared reflection bandwidth of the device constantly decreases. The infrared reflection bandwidth of the infrared reflection device can vary with temperature by adjusting the proportions of the ingredients of the liquid crystal mixture containing potassium laurate, so that the device can satisfy the demands of people which vary with the environment, and can be applied in many fields such as households and buildings.

Thermal control logic receives a temperature signal representative of a temperature of a liquid crystal display (LCD). The thermal control logic is configured to selectively drive a motion actuator to couple a heat conduction element with a heat sinking layer that receives heat from one or more processors. The heat conduction element is coupled between the heat sinking layer and the LCD.

An optical device includes a first optically dimmable switch for providing a first transmittance while the first optically dimmable switch is in a first state and providing a second transmittance distinct from the first transmittance while the first optically dimmable switch is in a second state distinct from the first state. The optical device also includes a dynamic heat source thermally coupled with the first optically dimmable switch. The dynamic heat source is at a first temperature at a first time and is at a second temperature distinct from the first temperature at a second time mutually exclusive from the first time. The optical device may operate as an optical dimming device, which may be used in head-mounted display devices or as dimmable windows or shutters.

A color changing glasses frame apparatus for showing body temperature change and stylistic expression includes a glasses frame including a pair of rim portions and a bridge portion extending between the pair of rim portions. A pair of end pieces is coupled to a left distal end and a right distal end of the pair of rim portions of the glasses frame. A pair of temples is hingingly coupled to the pair of end pieces and moves between a folded position and an extended position. The glasses frame, the pair of end pieces, and the pair of temples each have an inner core and a coating layer continuously disposed around the inner core. The coating layer is heat sensitive and changes colors with the user's body temperature. A pair of lenses is coupled to the glasses frame within the pair of rim portions.

A planar light modulation apparatus includes first and second planar, transparent substrates, each with a transparent, electrically conductive coating. The coatings are connectable to an electrical voltage source. A light modulation element in the space between the coatings includes a first dielectric material with a predefinable concentration of particles dispersed therein. While the particles are randomly arranged in the first dielectric material they render the light modulation element substantially nontransmissive for light impinging thereon or cause the light modulation element to appear opaque. Up to about 25 C. or higher and at atmospheric pressure, the first dielectric material is solid or has a viscosity that does not allow the particles to change their alignment based on Brownian motion. The material can be heated with a heating device to lower the viscosity and to allow the particles to alter their alignment in the first dielectric material on the basis of Brownian motion.

A touchscreen panel is configured to accept an input touch command. The touchscreen panel includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer. The touchscreen panel also includes a touch sensor having a receiving element and a transmitting element, each arranged on the LCD layer. The receiving element and the transmitting element together are configured to detect an impending touch of the touch sensor via a hover system and a touch event in a touch-detecting mode. At least one of the receiving element and the transmitting element is configured to operate in a heating mode, as a heating element, when the impending touch of the touch sensor is not detected. The resultant heating element generates a heat energy input to the LCD layer and accelerates responsiveness of the LCD layer to the touch event. A method of controlling a touchscreen panel is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to devices for the regulation of light transmission and in particular to switchable windows. The present invention in particular relates to window elements which comprise electrically switchable optical cells with a switchable layer containing a liquid-crystalline medium having a clearing point which is within the working temperature of the window element. The present invention also relates to liquid-crystalline media for use in the window elements.

A liquid crystal display device, being widely used in the fields such as electronic tags, electronic papers, business cards and flexible display screens or the like, and a driving method for the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device has an upper substrate, a lower substrate and one or more layers of an encapsulated liquid crystal sandwiched between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The layers of the encapsulated liquid crystal include two different liquid crystal microcapsules uniformly mixed. Combined with a driving method of a combination of high-low voltage and high-low temperature, a color display effect of high contrast and repeatable writing can be achieved.

The present invention relates to a temperature-controlled dimming film with a function of shielding near-infrared light, which comprises a polymer network skeleton and liquid crystal molecules, wherein the polymer network skeleton consists of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal network structure and a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal network structure and comprises a polymer matrix with pores inside which polymer networks are vertically aligned; and the liquid crystal molecules are dispersed in the polymer network skeleton and have smectic (SmA)-cholesteric (N*) phase transition. Between the skeleton and the liquid crystal molecules, nanoparticles, having absorption at 800-3000 nm, are dispersed. In the invention, a stepwise polymerization method is utilized to construct a PD&SLC network structure between two substrates, which greatly improve the bonding strength between the two substrates and the heat insulation performance of the temperature-controlled liquid crystal dimming film.