Color-changing panel for active camouflage configurations

Abstract

A color-changing panel that includes: (a) a transparent substrate with a bottom surface and a top surface, (b) a bottom polarization film arranged on the bottom surface of the transparent substrate, (c) a liquid crystal region comprising anisotropic liquid crystal material and configured over the top surface of the transparent substrate, and (d) an optical retardation film arranged over the liquid crystal region and above the top surface. Further, movement of the top polarization layer to a plurality of predetermined positions results in a plurality of corresponding, predetermined visible optical patterns.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A color-changing panel, comprising:
 a transparent substrate with a bottom surface and a top surface;   a bottom polarization film arranged on the bottom surface of the substrate;   a liquid crystal region comprising an anisotropic liquid crystal material, the region configured over the top surface of the substrate;   an optical retardation film arranged over the liquid crystal region and above the top surface; and   a top polarization film arranged over the optical retardation film, the top polarization film further adapted to move relative to the bottom polarization film,   wherein movement of the top polarization film to a first position results in a first visible optical pattern, and   further wherein movement of the top polarization film to a second position results in a second visible optical pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The panel according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fixed color pattern below the bottom polarization film.   
     
     
         3 . The panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the top polarization film is further adapted to rotate relative to the bottom polarization film. 
     
     
         4 . The panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a glass, a ceramic or a glass-ceramic material. 
     
     
         5 . The panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal region further comprises a container, the anisotropic liquid crystal material sealed within the container. 
     
     
         6 . The panel according to  claim 5 , wherein the bottom polarization film is arranged in contact with the bottom surface of the substrate and the optical retardation film is arranged in contact with a top surface of the container of the liquid crystal region. 
     
     
         7 . A color-changing panel, comprising:
 a transparent substrate with a bottom surface and a top surface;   a bottom polarization film arranged on the bottom surface of the substrate;   a liquid crystal region comprising a container and an anisotropic liquid crystal material sealed within the container, the region configured over the top surface of the substrate;   an optical retardation film arranged over the liquid crystal region and above the top surface; and   a top polarization film arranged over the optical retardation film, the top polarization film further adapted to move relative to, and substantially over, the optical retardation film and the bottom polarization film,   wherein movement of the top polarization film to a first position results in a first visible optical pattern, and   further wherein movement of the top polarization film to a second position results in a second visible optical pattern.   
     
     
         8 . The panel according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a fixed color pattern below the bottom polarization film.   
     
     
         9 . The panel according to  claim 7 , wherein the top polarization film is further adapted to rotate relative to, and substantially over, the optical retardation film and the bottom polarization film. 
     
     
         10 . The panel according to  claim 7 , wherein the substrate comprises a glass, a ceramic or a glass-ceramic material. 
     
     
         11 . The panel according to  claim 7 , wherein the bottom polarization film is arranged in contact with the bottom surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The panel according to  claim 7 , wherein the optical retardation film is arranged in contact with the top surface of the container of the liquid crystal region. 
     
     
         13 . A color-changing panel, comprising:
 a transparent substrate with a bottom surface and a top surface;   a bottom polarization film arranged on the bottom surface of the substrate;   a liquid crystal region comprising a container and an anisotropic liquid crystal material sealed within the container, the region configured over the top surface of the substrate;   an optical retardation film arranged over the liquid crystal region and above the top surface; and   a top polarization film arranged over the optical retardation film, the top polarization film further adapted to move relative to the bottom polarization film,   wherein the top polarization film is configured for movement to a plurality of discrete positions, each position resulting in a visible optical pattern.   
     
     
         14 . The panel according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a fixed color pattern below the bottom polarization film.   
     
     
         15 . The panel according to  claim 13 , wherein the top polarization film is further adapted to rotate relative to the bottom polarization film. 
     
     
         16 . The panel according to  claim 13 , wherein the substrate comprises a glass, a ceramic or a glass-ceramic material. 
     
     
         17 . The panel according to  claim 13 , wherein the bottom polarization film is arranged in contact with the bottom surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The panel according to  claim 13 , wherein the optical retardation film is arranged in contact with a top surface of the container of the liquid crystal region. 
     
     
         19 . The panel according to  claim 13 , wherein the top polarization film is further adapted to move relative to, and substantially over, the optical retardation film and the bottom polarization film. 
     
     
         20 . The panel according to  claim 13 , wherein the top polarization film is further configured for movement to a plurality of discrete positions, each position resulting in a visible optical pattern that differs from the visible optical patterns of the other discrete positions.