A switchable one-way mirror device dividing first and second spaces includes a switchable electro-optic layer facing the second space and configured to be electronically switchable between a transmissive state and one or more opaque states, and a partial reflector incorporated within or adjacent the switchable electro-optic layer and facing the first space and configured to partially reflect light. The switchable one-way mirror partially transmits a first light going from the first space to the second space, and a second light going from the second space to the first space. When the switchable electro-optic layer is in an opaque state, transmission of light through the device is reduced thereby changing the ratio between the transmission of the second light to the first space and the reflection of the first light by the partial reflector resulting in reduced visibility of the second space by a viewer in the first space.

An optical device includes a first outer substrate; a second outer substrate disposed opposite to the first outer substrate; and an active liquid crystal film or a polarizer, wherein the active liquid crystal film or the polarizer is encapsulated by an encapsulating agent between the first and second outer substrates and wherein a shrinkable film adjacent to any one of the first and second outer substrates is further included. The optical device is capable of varying transmittance. The optical device can be used for various applications such as an eyewear, for example, sunglasses or AR (augmented reality) or VR (virtual reality) eyewears, an outer wall of a building or a sunroof for a vehicle.

The present application relates to a polarization-variable element. The polarization-variable element of the present application has a fast response speed and excellent variable characteristics of polarization degree and transmittance. Such polarization-variable element may be applied to various applications including various architectural or vehicle materials requiring transmittance-variable characteristics, or eyewear such as goggles for augmented reality experience sports, sunglasses or helmets.

In one example, a liquid crystal (LC) assembly includes a first curved glass layer and a second curved glass layer. The LC assembly further includes a film-based, flexible LC stack structure between the first curved glass layer and the second curved glass layer. The film-based, flexible LC stack structure includes Guest-Host (GH) liquid crystals. The film-based, flexible LC stack structure is configured to provide both a display operation for displaying content to one or more user and a dimming operation for reducing a transmittance level of light passing through the LC assembly.

Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first, second, and third glazing layers, first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers, and a third switchable component extending between the second and third glazing layers. The switchable components include a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC) device having a clear state and a hazy state, a guest-host liquid-crystal (GHLC) device having a clear state and a tinted state, and a light-guide device having a clear state and a bright state.

Described herein are liquid crystal (LC) assemblies that are dimmable and techniques for manufacturing LC assemblies. In some embodiments, an LC assembly includes a Guest-Host (GH) liquid crystal layer containing nematic liquid crystals, dye molecules, and a chiral dopant. The GH liquid crystal layer is located between a pair of substrates. The LC assembly is a film assembly, with each of the substrates including a flexible film and a conductive layer formed on the flexible film. The substrates are separated by spacers that define a cell gap. The GH liquid crystal layer is configured to transition the LC assembly between darkened and lightened states depending on the voltage across the conductive layers. The flexible films allow the LC assembly to conform to the surface of a window or other rigid surface to which the LC assembly is attached. The LC assembly can be attached via a liquid or film-based adhesive.

A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material, such as a liquid crystal material, sandwiched between a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. The flexible substrate and the rigid substrate may each have a conductive layer deposited on the surface facing the optically active material. The flexible substrate may be bonded about its perimeter to the rigid substrate and may be sufficiently flexible to conform to non-planarity of the rigid substrate. As a result, the flexible substrate may adopt the surface contour of the rigid substrate to maintain a uniform thickness of optically active material between the flexible substrate and the rigid substrate.

Liquid crystal is prevented from leaking out into a terminal hole in a liquid crystal injection process, and the productivity of a liquid crystal light control device is improved. A liquid crystal light control device according to the present technology includes a plurality of liquid crystal layers, terminals provided for respective electrodes disposed to face each other across the liquid crystal layers, and terminal holes formed above the terminals, and an injection mark of a liquid crystal for the liquid crystal layer is formed on a back face side which is a face on a side opposite to a face that has been opened by the terminal hole.

A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material, such as a liquid crystal material, sandwiched between a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. The flexible substrate and the rigid substrate may each have a conductive layer deposited on the surface facing the optically active material. The flexible substrate may be bonded about its perimeter to the rigid substrate and may be sufficiently flexible to conform to non-planarity of the rigid substrate. As a result, the flexible substrate may adopt the surface contour of the rigid substrate to maintain a uniform thickness of optically active material between the flexible substrate and the rigid substrate.

A light modulating device is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a light modulating device includes a first substrate having a first surface, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer or an adhesive layer formed on the first surface of the first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates; and a partition wall spacer, wherein the partition wall spacer maintains a distance between the first and second substrates, wherein the liquid crystal layer is capable of being configured in a twist orientation, and wherein a ratio of thickness of the liquid crystal layer relative to a pitch of the liquid crystal layer in the twist orientation is more than 2.8 and 10 or less. The light modulating device can have a wide transmittance variable range and does not have problems, such as liquid crystal defects or visibility deterioration, while implementing low transmittance in a black mode.