A switchable optical device is provided having a first substrate (11), a second substrate (12) and a seal (114). The two substrates (11, 12) and the seal (114) are arranged such that a cell having a cell gap is formed and a switchable medium (10) is located inside the cell gap. The first substrate (11) has a first transparent electrode (21) and the second substrate (12) has a second transparent electrode (22). The electrodes (21, 22) are facing towards the cell gap. The two substrates (11, 12) are arranged such that the first substrate (11) has a first region (71) adjacent to a first edge (41) of the first substrate (11) which does not overlap with the second substrate (12) and the second substrate (12) has a second region (72) which does not overlap with the first substrate (11). A first electrically conducting busbar (31) is arranged in the first region (71) and a second electrically conducting busbar (32) is arranged in the second region (72). A first terminal is electrically connected to the first busbar (31) and a second terminal is electrically connected to the second busbar (32). The first substrate (11) and the second substrate (12) each have an edge deletion (116) in which the respective transparent electrode (21, 22) is removed. The edge deletion (116) is complete on the edges non-adjacent to a busbar (31, 32) and there is no edge deletion or only partial edge deletion on edges adjacent to a busbar (31, 32). Further aspects of the invention relate to a method for designing a switchable optical device, a method for driving a switchable optical device, a method for manufacturing a switchable optical device and a system comprising a switchable optical device and a controller for driving the switchable optical device.

A transmittance-variable device is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the transmittance-variable device includes a retardation film, a liquid crystal alignment film, and a liquid crystal layer configured to implement a twist orientation mode, wherein the retardation film, the liquid crystal alignment film and the liquid crystal layer are sequentially arranged, wherein a twist angle (T) is in a range of 50 degrees to 180 degrees, and wherein the smallest angle A between a slow axis of the retardation film and an alignment direction of the liquid crystal alignment film satisfies Equation 1 when a product (Δnd) of a refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and a thickness (d) is 0.7 μm or less, and satisfies Equation 2 when the product (Δnd) is more than 0.7 μm. The transmittance-variable device can be applied to various applications without causing problems such as a crosstalk phenomenon, a rainbow phenomenon or a mirroring phenomenon.

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.

Provided is a liquid crystal display device including: a liquid crystal panel; and a control circuit, the liquid crystal panel sequentially including an active matrix substrate, a first alignment film, a liquid crystal layer, a second alignment film, and a counter substrate, the active matrix substrate sequentially including a first substrate, a first electrode, a first insulating layer, and a second electrode including a linear electrode portion, the counter substrate including a second substrate and a third electrode, the third electrode extending in a longitudinal direction of the sub-pixel at a right or left end of the sub-pixel, a ratio of a width of the third electrode to a width of the first electrode in a widthwise direction being 0.14 or greater and 0.25 or smaller, the control circuit being configured to switch between application of an alternating voltage and application of a constant voltage to the third electrode.

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.

An optical lens having a tunable focal length and a display device including the same are provided. The optical lens includes a control electrode including a plurality of electrode elements, an electroactive material layer provided on the control electrode, and a common electrode spaced apart from the control electrode. The electroactive material layer is interposed between the common electrode and the control electrode. The optical lens includes a plurality of bus sets, each bus set of the plurality of bus sets including a plurality of buses, wherein the plurality of bus sets include a first bus set and a second bus set, the first bus set is configured to apply a first voltage to the plurality of electrode elements to generate a first phase profile of light, and the second bus set is configured to apply a second voltage to the plurality of electrode elements to generate a second phase profile of light.

A transmittance-variable device is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the transmittance-variable device includes a retardation film, a liquid crystal alignment film, and a liquid crystal layer configured to implement a twist orientation mode, wherein the retardation film, the liquid crystal alignment film and the liquid crystal layer are sequentially arranged, wherein a twist angle (T) is in a range of 50 degrees to 180 degrees, and wherein the smallest angle A between a slow axis of the retardation film and an alignment direction of the liquid crystal alignment film satisfies Equation 1 when a product (Δnd) of a refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and a thickness (d) is 0.7 μm or less, and satisfies Equation 2 when the product (Δnd) is more than 0.7 μm. The transmittance-variable device can be applied to various applications without causing problems such as a crosstalk phenomenon, a rainbow phenomenon or a mirroring phenomenon.

A switchable privacy display comprises a spatial light modulator (SLM), a first switchable liquid crystal (LC) retarder and first passive retarder between a first pair of polarisers and a second switchable LC retarder and second passive retarder between a second pair of polarisers. The first switchable LC retarder comprises a homeotropic alignment layer and a homogeneous alignment layer. The second switchable LC crystal retarder comprises two homeotropic alignment layers or two homogeneous alignment layers. In landscape or portrait privacy mode, on-axis light from the SLM is directed without loss, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance to reduce visibility to off-axis snoopers. 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 LC retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified. The display may switch between day-time and night-time operation.

A switchable window element with a layer structure comprising a switchable layer, two polarizers and two optical retarders; wherein a first polarizer and a first optical retarder are arranged in an optical path prior to the switchable layer and a second polarizer and a second optical retarder are arranged in the optical path after the switchable layer wherein the switchable layer is a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystalline medium and wherein the product of the thickness d of the switchable layer 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.

A liquid crystal projection layer for use in a glass, the glass including a first glass which includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the liquid crystal projection layer includes a transparent projection layer disposed on a side of the first glass close to the second surface and configured to display a projected image received from a projector; and a liquid crystal module disposed between the first glass and the transparent projection layer and configured to be switchable between a transparent mode and a privacy mode, wherein in the transparent mode, the liquid crystal module allows the projected image displayed on the transparent projection layer to be transmitted towards the first glass, and in the privacy mode, the liquid crystal module prevents the projected image displayed on the transparent projection layer from being transmitted towards the first glass.