A method of marking a glass-ceramic article includes the steps of: illuminating a glass-ceramic article with a beam from a laser, the glass-ceramic article having a thickness, T; and forming a mark in the glass-ceramic article while translating at least one of the glass-ceramic article or laser. The mark has a Contrast Ratio greater than 10. The step of forming a mark includes focusing the beam from the laser within the thickness, T, of the glass-ceramic article. The focusing of the beam results in alteration of a chemical property or a physical property of the glass-ceramic article. The mark produced by the beam from the laser extends through at least 50% of the thickness, T, of the glass-ceramic article. The glass-ceramic article may have a global temperature less than 100° C. during the marking process and does not fracture as the mark is formed.

The present invention is directed towards a display element comprising a photochromic-dichroic compound and a dichroic compound, the display element having a first absorption state and a second absorption state and being operable for switching from the first absorption state to the second absorption state in response to actinic radiation and to revert back to the first absorption state in response to actinic radiation and/or thermal energy, wherein the first absorption state has a transmittance percentage of 50% to 80%, and the second absorption state has a transmittance percentage of 10% to 50%. The invention is further directed to display devices comprising the display element, and methods of making the display element.

An article that includes: SiO.sub.2 from 40 mol % to 80 mol %; Al.sub.2O.sub.3 from 1 mol % to 15 mol %; B.sub.2O.sub.3 from 5 mol % to 50 mol %; WO.sub.3 from 1 mol % to 15 mol %; WO.sub.3 plus MoO.sub.3 from 1 mol % to 18 mol %; SnO.sub.2 from 0.01 mol % to 1 mol %; and R.sub.2O from 1.1 mol % to 16 mol %. The R.sub.2O is one or more of Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, K.sub.2O, Rb.sub.2O and Cs.sub.2O. R.sub.2O minus Al.sub.2O.sub.3 ranges from +0.1 mol % to +4 mol %.

A photochromic glass that includes a base glass and a photochromic agent is described. The base glass is a modified boroaluminosilicate glass and the photochromic agent is a nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase. The photochromic glass exhibits a sharp cutoff in the UV or short wavelength visible portion of the spectrum along with an absorption band at longer wavelengths in the visible. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase includes Cu.sup.2+, which provides states within the bandgap of the cuprous halide that permit the glass to absorb visible light. Absorption of visible light drives a photochromic transition without compromising the sharp cutoff. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase may optionally include Ag.

Borosilicate glasses are disclosed having (in weight %) 66-76% SiO.sub.2, 0-8% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 10-18% B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0-4% Li.sub.2O, 0-12% Na.sub.2O, 0-12% K.sub.2O, 1-1.5% Ag, 1.5-2.5% Cl.sup. and 0.01-0.06% of a summed amount of CuO and NiO, wherein the glass composition is bleachable upon exposure to ultraviolet irradiation from a stable state color or shade to a lighter color or shade. Such reverse photochromic borosilicate glass compositions may be thermally darkenable. The borosilicate glasses may be strengthened via ion-exchange strengthening treatment. The borosilicate glasses may retain their reverse photochromic and thermally darkenable properties even after ion-exchange strengthening treatment.

Borosilicate glasses are disclosed having (in weight %) 66-76% SiO.sub.2, 0-8% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 10-18% B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0-4% Li.sub.2O, 0-12% Na.sub.2O, 0-12% K.sub.2O, 1-1.5% Ag, 1.5-2.5% Cl.sup. and 0.01-0.06% of a summed amount of CuO and NiO, wherein the glass composition is bleachable upon exposure to ultraviolet irradiation from a stable state color or shade to a lighter color or shade. Such reverse photochromic borosilicate glass compositions may be thermally darkenable. The borosilicate glasses may be strengthened via ion-exchange strengthening treatment. The borosilicate glasses may retain their reverse photochromic and thermally darkenable properties even after ion-exchange strengthening treatment.

A multi-pane window having a low emissivity layer and a photochromic glass. The window includes at least two panes of glass. An outside pane for interaction with the outdoors and an inside pane spaced apart from the outside pane. The outside pane includes a low emissivity coating. The inside pane includes a photochromic glass. The outside pane transmits solar light wavelengths. The photochromic glass is darkened upon exposure to light transmitted by the outside pane.

A multi-pane window having a low emissivity layer and a photochromic glass. The window includes at least two panes of glass. An outside pane for interaction with the outdoors and an inside pane spaced apart from the outside pane. The outside pane includes a low emissivity coating. The inside pane includes a photochromic glass. The outside pane transmits solar light wavelengths. The photochromic glass is darkened upon exposure to light transmitted by the outside pane.

The present invention is directed towards a display element comprising a photochromic-dichroic compound and a dichroic compound, the display element having a first absorption state and a second absorption state and being operable for switching from the first absorption state to the second absorption state in response to actinic radiation and to revert back to the first absorption state in response to actinic radiation and/or thermal energy, wherein the first absorption state has a transmittance percentage of 50% to 80%, and the second absorption state has a transmittance percentage of 10% to 50%. The invention is further directed to display devices comprising the display element, and methods of making the display element.

An aspect of the present disclosure is a device that includes a switchable material and an intercalating species, such that when a first condition is met, at least a portion of the intercalating species is associated with the switchable material and the switchable material is substantially transparent and substantially colorless, and when a second condition is met, at least a fraction of the portion of the intercalating species is transferred from the switchable material and the switchable material is substantially transparent and substantially colored.