OPTICAL ELEMENT HAVING AN ELECTROCHROMIC APODIZED APERTURE AND AN APERTURE BODY FORMING AN ELECTROCHROMIC APODIZED APERTURE

摘要

An optical element includes an electrochromic apodized aperture (10) having variable light transmittance through a clear aperture area (25) in response to an applied electrical current. The apodized aperture (10) incudes an aperture body (30) including an area (25) defining the clear aperture area (25), the body (30) having a fluid containment area (40) substantially overlapping the clear aperture area (25), and includes at least one fill passage (50) extending from the fluid containment area (40) to at least one fill port (52) outside of the clear aperture area (25); an electrochromic fluid (26) within the fluid containment area (40) substantially overlapping the clear aperture area (25) and having variable light transmittance in response to an applied electrical current; a cover (20) attached to the body (30) with the electrochromic fluid (26) between the cover (20) and the body (30); electrical contacts (22, 32) electrically coupled to the electrochromic fluid (26) for supplying electrical current thereto; and at least one passage seal (29) in each said fill passage (50) positioned outside of the clear aperture area (25).