Dynamic optical components based on thermochromic materials

摘要

A dynamic optical device including: a substantially transmissive substrate with a dynamic material surface; a layer of thermochromic (TC) material formed on at least a portion of the dynamic material surface of the substrate; and a heating means thermally coupled to the layer of TC material to controllably vary a temperature of the layer of TC material. The TC material has a first temperature dependent state, which the TC material is in when the temperature of the layer of TC material is less than a transition temperature of the TC material, and a second temperature dependent state, which the TC material is in when the temperature of the layer of TC material is greater than the transition temperature.