An optical apparatus includes an active optical element including an active material encased between a first substrate and a second substrate. Means for selectively controlling the active material in a central portion and a plurality of sectors of the active optical element is employed. The central portion and the plurality of sectors are arranged around an optical axis of the active optical element, wherein the plurality of sectors surround the central portion. A processor of the optical apparatus is configured to generate a drive signal to drive said means to selectively control the active material in at least one of: the central portion, at least one of the plurality of sectors to produce a given optical power thereat.

The present disclosure provides a display panel and a manufacturing method for the display panel. The display panel includes a substrate, a switch assembly disposed on the substrate, and a light-sensing assembly disposed on a side of the switch assembly. The switch assembly comprises an indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) layer.

According to various embodiments, a LIDAR system (100) may have: a detector (104) having a plurality of detector pixels (106) arranged along a first direction, wherein each detector pixel (106) of the plurality of detector pixels (106) is assigned to a respective sub-section of the field of view (102); a light source (110) having a plurality of sub-light sources (112) arranged along a second direction at an angle to the first direction, wherein each sub-light source (112) of the plurality of sub-light sources (112) is assigned to a respective sub-section of the field of view (102); a coarse angle control element (114) which is configured to deflect light from the light source (110) to the field of view and to deflect light from the field of view (102) to the detector (104); and a light emission controller (118) which is configured to control the sub-light sources (112) of the plurality of sub-light sources (112) in such a way that each sub-light source (112) of the plurality of sub-light sources (112) emits light in a respective emission time period.

Devices for the regulation of light transmission and in particular switchable windows, including window elements containing a switchable optical cell having a homeotropically aligned liquid crystal layer with a pretilt angle in the range of 77° to 88°.

A switchable window element (10) having a layer structure is proposed. The layer structure comprises a switchable layer (20), two polarizers and two optical retarders, wherein a first polarizer and a first optical retarder are arranged in an optical path (40) prior to the switchable layer (20) and a second polarizer and a second optical retarder are arranged in the optical path (40) after the switchable layer (20). Further, the switchable layer (20) is a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystalline medium, wherein the product of the thickness d of the switchable layer (20) and the optical anisotropy Δn of the liquid crystalline medium is in the range of from 0.05 μm to 3.0 μm and the liquid crystalline medium has a clearing point of at least 70° C.

Further aspects of the invention relate to the use of the switchable window element as window for a building or a vehicle.

A liquid-crystalline media having a negative dielectric anisotropy and a high clearing point as specified herein, is suitable for use of in switchable optical cells in window elements, in particular laminated window elements.

A liquid crystal cell, a manufacturing method thereof and a use thereof are provided in the present disclosure. The liquid crystal cell is in a normally transparent mode, and has excellent transmittance-variable characteristics in a transparent mode and a scattering mode and excellent haze characteristics in the scattering mode. Such liquid crystal cell may be applied to various light modulation devices, such as a smart window, a window protective film, a flexible display element, a light shielding plate for transparent displays, an active retarder for 3D image displays or a viewing angle control film.

A switchable privacy display comprises a spatial light modulator (SLM), a first switchable liquid crystal (LC) retarder and first passive retarder arranged between a first pair of polarisers and a second switchable LC retarder and second passive retarder arranged between a second pair of polarisers. Each switchable LC retarder comprises a homeotropic alignment layer and a homogeneous alignment layer. In privacy mode, on-axis light from the SLM is directed without loss, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance to reduce the visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers. The display may achieve privacy operation in landscape and portrait orientations. Further, display reflectivity may be reduced for on-axis reflections of ambient light, while reflectivity may be increased for off-axis light to achieve increased visual security. In public mode, the liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified. The display may be switched between day-time and night-time operation.

A switchable privacy display for an automotive vehicle comprises a spatial light modulator, a first switchable liquid crystal retarder and first passive retarder arranged between a first pair of polarisers and a second switchable liquid crystal retarder and second passive retarder arranged between a second pair of polarisers. The first switchable liquid crystal retarder comprises a homeotropic alignment layer and a homogeneous alignment layer. The second switchable liquid crystal retarder comprises two homeotropic alignment layers or two homogeneous alignment layers. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss to the passenger, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance to reduce the visibility of the display to off-axis driver leaning towards the display. In a shared mode of operation, the liquid crystal layers are controlled so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified.

A viewing angle switching module includes a first viewing angle controlling device, a second viewing angle controlling device, a first polarizer, and a second polarizer. The first viewing angle controlling device includes a first alignment layer, a second alignment layer, and a first liquid crystal layer. The second viewing angle controlling device includes a third alignment layer, a fourth alignment layer, and a second liquid crystal layer. The first polarizer is disposed on a side of the first viewing angle controlling device, and an axial direction of a first absorption axis thereof is perpendicular or parallel to a first alignment direction of the first alignment layer. The second polarizer is disposed on a side of the second viewing angle controlling device, and an axial direction of a second absorption axis thereof is perpendicular or parallel to a third alignment direction of the third alignment layer. A display apparatus including the same is also disclosed.