# US 10,310,349 B2 · Variable light attenuating devices and arrangements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,349 B2 - Document ID: US10310349B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/804,409 - Filed: 2015-07-21 - Published: 2015-11-12 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-24 - Assignees: Alphamicron Incorporated - Applicants: Alphamicron Incorporated - Inventors: Bahman Taheri; Tamas Kosa; Christine Baker; Volodymyr Bodnar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310349B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/13762: {containing luminescent or electroluminescent additives} - E06B 9/24: Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) - E06B 9/264: Combinations of lamellar blinds with roller shutters, screen windows, windows, or double panes; Lamellar blinds with special devices - G02F 1/13306: {Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells (G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence)} - G02F 1/13737: {in liquid crystals doped with a pleochroic dye} - H10F 77/45: Wavelength conversion means, e.g. by using luminescent material, fluorescent concentrators or up-conversion arrangements - H10F 77/488: {Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection} - E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels} - E06B 2009/2476: {Solar cells} - E06B 2009/2643: {Screens between double windows} - G02F 1/13324: {Circuits comprising solar cells} - G02F 1/13706: {the liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy} - G02F 2202/046: fluorescent - G02F 2203/48: Variable attenuator - Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A non-polarizer based variable light attenuating device includes a guest-host solution having a liquid crystal host and a guest dichroic dye disposed between first and second conducting layers provided on first and second transparent substrates. The guest-host solution has a low-haze while the guest dye orientation alters between a low light transmitting orientation and a high light transmitting orientation in response to a first voltage supplied to the first and second conducting layers. In response to a second voltage supplied to the first and second conducting layers, the guest-host solution changes to a focal conic light scattering orientation to achieve a high-haze translucent state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A non-polarizer based variable light attenuating device comprising: a non-polarization based liquid crystal cell comprising first and second transparent substrates having first and second conducting layers provided thereon; and a guest-host solution comprising a liquid crystal and a dichroic dye disposed between the first and second conducting layers; wherein the guest-host solution has a low-haze while the dye orientation alters between a low light transmitting orientation and a high light transmitting orientation in response to a first voltage supplied to the first and second conducting layers; further wherein the guest-host solution is arranged in a droplet-sized light scattering orientation causing high-haze in response to a second voltage supplied to the first and second conducting layers and wherein the guest-host solution reverts to the low-haze state when no voltage is applied to the first and second conducting layers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the dye is substantially perpendicular to the first and second substrates when no voltage is supplied to the conducting layers and substantially parallel to the first and second substrates when the first voltage is supplied to the conducting layers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the dye is substantially parallel to the first and second substrates when no voltage is supplied to the conducting layers and substantially perpendicular to the first and second substrates when the first voltage is supplied to the conducting layers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit for supplying a variable voltage to the first and second conducting layers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, further comprising a user interface to give a user complete or partial control over light transmittance through the device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, further comprising a photovoltaic cell configured to generate a voltage in response to light detected by the photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the control circuit performs at least one of: (a) control the first voltage to vary light transmission through the device automatically, in response to user manipulation of the control circuit, or a combination thereof; (b) control the second voltage to vary light diffusion through the device automatically, in response to user manipulation of the control circuit, or a combination thereof; (c) set a threshold level for supplying the first voltage automatically or as set by a user; and (d) set a threshold level for supplying the second voltage automatically or as set by a user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein at least one transparent substrate further comprises a luminescent dye that absorbs light at a first wavelength and emits light at a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the guest-host solution further comprises a luminescent dye that absorbs light at a first wavelength and emits light at a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the guest-host mixture comprises a positive dielectric anisotropy chiral liquid crystal host, a dichroic dye guest having positive dichroism, a polymerizable material and an initiator; and wherein at least one of the transparent substrates comprises a planar alignment layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the chiral liquid crystal has a pitch longer than 850 nm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device has a low-haze value that is equal to or less than 15%. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device has a high-haze value that is higher than 15%. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said device is used with windows, goggles, glasses, or protective eye shielding devices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the chiral liquid crystal has a pitch between 2-5 μm. ### Claim 16 A non-polarizer based variable light attenuating device comprising: a non-polarization based liquid crystal cell comprising first and second conducting layers provided on first and second transparent substrates and a guest-host mixture disposed between said conducting layers, wherein said guest-host mixture is in a low-haze low light-transmitting state when no voltage is applied to the cell; a low-haze high light-transmitting state when a first voltage is applied to the cell; and a focal conic light diffusing state to achieve high-haze when a second voltage is applied to the cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the guest-host mixture comprises a positive dielectric anisotropy chiral liquid crystal host, a dichroic dye guest having positive dichroism, a polymerizable material and an initiator; and wherein at least one of the transparent substrates comprises a planar alignment layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the chiral liquid crystal has a pitch longer than 850 nm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the guest-host mixture in a low-haze state has a haze value equal to or less than 15%. ### Claim 20 A non-polarizer based variable light attenuating device comprising: a non-polarization based liquid crystal cell comprising a guest-host mixture disposed between first and second conducting layers provided on first and second transparent substrates; wherein at least one transparent substrate comprises a planar alignment layer; wherein the guest-host mixture comprises a positive dielectric anisotropy chiral liquid crystal host having a pitch longer than 850 nm, a dichroic dye guest having positive dichroism, a polymerizable material and an initiator; wherein in the absence of a voltage the liquid crystal host has a planar-helical orientation with minimal light scattering and the cell is in a low-haze high light-absorption state, wherein when a first voltage is applied to the cell the liquid crystal has a light scattering focal conic orientation and the cell is in a high-haze state, wherein when a second voltage is applied to the cell the liquid crystal has a homeotropic orientation with minimal light scattering and the cell is in a low-haze low-light absorption state. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, further comprising a control circuit for supplying the first and second voltage to the liquid crystal cell. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the chiral liquid crystal has a pitch between 2-5 μm.