| 摘要 |
A thermal and optical multi-mode window is disclosed in which a window panel can be converted from thermally insulating but optically diffuse to optically clear but thermally semi-insulating, or at least much less insulating. The window panel is made of a transparent plastic material such as Lucite acrylic and is constructed of a plurality of sheet-like layers with air cells interspersed therebetween. When the cells are empty, the panel is highly insulating but is not optically clear like ordinary window glass. However, when the cells are filled with a clear liquid which has the same index of refraction as that of the acrylic material, all of the interior surfaces of the acrylic material disappear from view and the panel is then as optically clear as ordinary window glass, but not as thermally insulating, as when the cells contain air.
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