# US 12,222,623 B2 · Laser-protection variable transmission optical device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,623 B2 - Document ID: US12222623B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/505,144 - Filed: 2023-11-09 - Published: 2024-03-07 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-22 - Assignees: Alphamicron Incorporated - Applicants: Alphamicron Incorporated - Inventors: Bahman Taheri; Ludmila Sukhomlinova; Antonio Munoz; Joseph Angelo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222623B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/137: characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering - G02F 1/13725: {based on guest-host interaction (G02F1/13762, G02F1/13737, take precedence)} - G02F 1/1347: Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells - G02F 1/13475: {in which at least one liquid crystal cell or layer is doped with a pleochroic dye, e.g. GH-LC cell (G02F1/13476 takes precedence)} - 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 ## Abstract A laser protection variable transmission optical device (“LP-VTOD”) includes first and second cells, each capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance. The first cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a first peak absorption wavelength and a first FWHM of 175 nm or less, and the second cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a second peak absorption wavelength and a second FWHM of 175 nm or less. The first peak absorption wavelength may be the same or different than the second peak absorption wavelength. The LP-VTOD is capable of switching from a clear state to a darkened state having a darkened state transmittance % TDS-P that is equal to or less than 10% for at least one of the first or second peak absorption wavelengths. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laser protection variable transmission optical device (“LP-VTOD”) comprising: a first cell comprising a first electro-optic material provided between a first pair of substrates, wherein the first electro-optic material is capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a first wavelength region upon a change in a first electric field applied across the first electro-optical material, and wherein the first cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a first peak absorption wavelength and a first FWHM of 175 nm or less; and a second cell in optical communication with the first cell, the second cell comprising a second electro-optic material provided between a second pair of substrates, wherein the second electro-optic material is capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a second wavelength region upon a change in a second electric field applied across the second electro-optical material, and wherein the second cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a second peak absorption wavelength and a second FWHM of 175 nm or less, wherein the LP-VTOD is capable of switching from a clear state to a darkened state having a darkened state transmittance % TDS-P that is equal to or less than 10% for at least one of the first or second peak absorption wavelengths, and wherein both the first and second peak absorption wavelengths are in a range of 380-780 nm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein the first peak absorption wavelength is different than the second peak absorption wavelength. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein the first and second peak absorption wavelengths are independently selected from the following ranges: 100-380 nm, 380-780 nm, 780-1300 nm, 1300-3000 nm, or 3000 nm-1 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein the clear state has a clear state transmittance % TCS-P of at least 20% for the at least one peak absorption wavelength. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The LP-VTOD of claim 4, wherein at each of the first and second peak absorption wavelengths, the LP-VTOD is capable of switching from a % TCS-P of at least 30% to a % TDS-P that is no more than 1.0%. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein switching between the clear state and the darkened state corresponds to a change in optical density, ΔOD, of at least 1.0 for at least one of the first or second peak absorption wavelengths. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein the first electro-optic material comprises a first LC host and a first DC dye composition, the second electro-optic material comprises a second LC host and a second DC dye composition, and the second DC dye composition is different than the first DC dye composition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein the first peak absorption wavelength is substantially the same as the second peak absorption wavelength. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein the clear state is characterized by a photopic transmission PTCS of at least 40% and the darkened state is characterized by a photopic transmission PTDS of at least 10%. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The LP-VTOD of claim 9, wherein the PTCS is greater than the PTDS by more than 20 percentage units. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The LP-VTOD of claim 9, wherein a ratio of PTDS/PTCS is at least 0.35. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein the first electro-optic material comprises a first Narrow Band guest-host liquid crystal mixture having a narrow or ultra-narrow band absorption, and the second electro-optic material comprises a second Narrow Band guest-host liquid crystal mixture having a narrow or ultra-narrow band absorption. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The LP-VTOD of claim 12, wherein the first and second Narrow Band guest-host liquid crystal mixtures have substantially the same optical performance selected from: peak absorption wavelength, FWHM absorption band, overall absorbance, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein the darkened state is characterized by an optical density of at least 2.0 measured at 532 nm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second FWHM is 60 nm or less. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The LP-VTOD of claim 1, further comprising a third cell in optical communication with the first and second cells, the third cell comprising a third electro-optic material provided between a third pair of substrates, wherein the third electro-optic material is capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a third wavelength region upon a change in a third electric field applied across the third electro-optical material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The LP-VTOD of claim 16, wherein the third cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a third peak absorption wavelength and a third FWHM of 175 nm or less. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The LP-VTOD of claim 16, wherein the third cell is characterized by a wide band absorption having a third FWHM of greater than 175 nm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The LP-VTOD of claim 18, wherein the state of lower light transmittance of the third cell has a photopic transmission that is less than a photopic transmission of the state of higher transmittance of the third cell by at least 30%. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The LP-VTOD of claim 18, wherein the state of lower light transmittance of the third cell is colorimetrically neutral. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An article of manufacture comprising the LP-VTOD of claim 1, wherein the article of manufacture includes a camera filter, eyewear, a visor, goggles, a face shield, an AR/VR headset, a near-eye display, a window, a windshield, a sunroof, a heads-up display, or an optical instrument. ### Claim 22 A laser protection variable transmission optical device (“LP-VTOD”) comprising: a first cell comprising a first electro-optic material provided between a first pair of substrates, wherein the first electro-optic material is capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a first wavelength region upon a change in a first electric field applied across the first electro-optical material, and wherein the first cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a first peak absorption wavelength and a first FWHM of 175 nm or less; and a second cell in optical communication with the first cell, the second cell comprising a second electro-optic material provided between a second pair of substrates, wherein the second electro-optic material is capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a second wavelength region upon a change in a second electric field applied across the second electro-optical material, and wherein the second cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a second peak absorption wavelength and a second FWHM of 175 nm or less, wherein the LP-VTOD is capable of switching from a clear state to a darkened state having a darkened state transmittance % TDS-P that is equal to or less than 10% for at least one of the first or second peak absorption wavelengths, and wherein the first peak absorption wavelength is substantially the same as the second peak absorption wavelength. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) An article of manufacture comprising the LP-VTOD of claim 22, wherein the article of manufacture includes a camera filter, eyewear, a visor, goggles, a face shield, an AR/VR headset, a near-eye display, a window, a windshield, a sunroof, a heads-up display, or an optical instrument. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The LP-VTOD of claim 22, wherein the clear state is characterized by a photopic transmission PTCS of at least 40% and the darkened state is characterized by a photopic transmission PTDS of at least 10%. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The LP-VTOD of claim 24, wherein the PTCS is greater than the PTDS by more than 20 percentage units. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The LP-VTOD of claim 24, wherein a ratio of PTDS/PTCS is at least 0.35. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The LP-VTOD of claim 22, wherein the first electro-optic material comprises a first Narrow Band guest-host liquid crystal mixture having a narrow or ultra-narrow band absorption, and the second electro-optic material comprises a second Narrow Band guest-host liquid crystal mixture having a narrow or ultra-narrow band absorption. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The LP-VTOD of claim 27, wherein the first and second Narrow Band guest-host liquid crystal mixtures have substantially the same optical performance selected from: FWHM absorption band, overall absorbance, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The LP-VTOD of claim 22, wherein the darkened state is characterized by an optical density of at least 2.0 measured at 532 nm. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The LP-VTOD of claim 22, wherein at least one of the first and second FWHM is 60 nm or less. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The LP-VTOD of claim 22, further comprising a third cell in optical communication with the first and second cells, the third cell comprising a third electro-optic material provided between a third pair of substrates, wherein the third electro-optic material is capable of changing from a state of higher light transmittance to a state of lower light transmittance in a third wavelength region upon a change in a third electric field applied across the third electro-optical material. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The LP-VTOD of claim 31, wherein the third cell is characterized by a narrow band absorption having a third peak absorption wavelength and a third FWHM of 175 nm or less. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The LP-VTOD of claim 31, wherein the third cell is characterized by a wide band absorption having a third FWHM of greater than 175 nm. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The LP-VTOD of claim 31, wherein the state of lower light transmittance of the third cell is colorimetrically neutral.