Variable transmittance optical filter with substantially co-planar electrode system

1. A variable transmittance optical filter comprising:

a) a first layer comprising a first substantially transparent substrate with a substantially co-planar (SC) electrode system disposed thereon, the SC electrode system made of transparent electrically conductive material and comprising at least one pair of electrically separate electrodes arranged in a substantially co-planar manner on the first substantially transparent substrate, each pair of electrically separate electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode,

b) a second layer proximate to the first layer and comprising a transition material comprising a compound that is both photochromic and electrochromic, and that darkens in response to a non-electrical stimulus and lightens in response to application of an electric voltage; and

c) an electrical connection system for electrically connecting the SC electrode system to a source of electric voltage, wherein the voltage to be applied to the first electrode and the second electrode is from about 0.5V to about 3.0V, or from about 1.2V to about 2.5V, or from about 1.8V to about 2.2V, or any amount or range therebetween.

2. The variable transmittance optical filter of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter further comprises a second substantially transparent substrate.

3. The variable transmittance optical filter of claim 1 , wherein the compound that is both photochromic and electrochromic is a diarylethene.

4. The variable transmittance optical filter of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode of each pair comprise primary finger-like structures and the primary finger-like structures of the first electrode are interdigitated with the primary finger-like structures of the second electrode.

5. The variable transmittance optical filter of claim 4 , wherein each of the primary finger-like structures comprises one or more secondary finger-like structures.

6. The variable transmittance optical filter of claim 5 , wherein the one or more secondary finger-like structures of the first electrode are interdigitated with the one or more secondary finger-like structures of the second electrode.

7. A method of preparing a variable transmittance optical filter comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first layer comprising a first substantially transparent substrate; and

i. etching into a layer of substantially transparent electrically conductive material disposed thereon a substantially co-planar (SC) electrode system, the SC electrode system comprising at least one pair of electrically separate electrodes arranged in a substantially co-planar manner, each pair of electrically separate electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; or

ii. printing onto the first substrate a substantially co-planar (SC) electrode system using a conductive ink, the SC electrode system comprising at least one pair of electrically separate electrodes arranged in a substantially co-planar manner, each pair of electrically separate electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;

b) disposing a second layer proximate to the SC electrode system, the second layer comprising a transition material comprising a compound that is both photochromic and electrochromic that is capable of dynamically varying the degree of visible light transmittance on application of an electric voltage; and

c) providing an electrical connection system electrically connecting the SC electrode system to a source of electric voltage, wherein the voltage to be applied to the first electrode and the second electrode is from about 0.5V to about 3.0V, or from about 1.2V to about 2.5V, or from about 1.8V to about 2.2V, or any amount or range therebetween.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the variable transmittance optical filter further comprises a second substantially transparent substrate.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the compound that is both photochromic and electrochromic is a diarylethene.

10. A variable transmittance optical filter comprising:

a) a first layer comprising a first substantially transparent substrate with a substantially co-planar (SC) electrode system disposed thereon, the SC electrode system made of transparent electrically conductive material and comprising two or more pairs of electrically separate electrodes arranged in a substantially co-planar manner on the first substantially transparent substrate, each pair of electrically separate electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;

b) a second layer proximate to the first layer and comprising a transition material that is capable of dynamically varying the degree of visible light transmittance on application of an electric voltage; and

c) an electrical connection system for electrically connecting the SC electrode system to a source of electric voltage, wherein the voltage to be applied to the first electrode and the second electrode is from about 0.5V to about 3.0V, or from about 1.2V to about 2.5V, or from about 1.8V to about 2.2V, or any amount or range therebetween.

11. The variable transmittance optical filter of claim 10 , wherein the transition material comprises a hybrid P/E (photochromic/electrochromic) compound.

12. The variable transmittance optical filter of claim 10 , wherein after a positive voltage is applied to the first electrode and a negative voltage is applied to the second electrode, the polarity of the voltage applied to the first electrode and the second electrode is alternately reversed one or more times to transition a first state of visible light transmittance to a second state of visible light transmittance.

13. The variable transmittance optical filter of claim 12 , wherein the transition material comprises a hybrid P/E (photochromic/electrochromic) compound.

14. A method of transitioning a transition material from a dark state to a faded state comprising:

a) applying a positive voltage to a first electrode and a negative voltage to a second electrode, wherein the voltage applied to the first electrode is positive relative to the voltage applied to the second electrode, and wherein the voltage applied to the second electrode is negative relative to the voltage applied to first electrode; and

b) reversing the polarity of the voltage, thereby applying a negative voltage to the first electrode and a positive voltage to the second electrode, wherein the voltage applied to the first electrode is negative relative to the voltage applied to second electrode, and wherein the voltage applied to the second electrode is positive relative to the voltage applied to first electrode,

wherein the voltage applied to the first electrode and the second electrode is from about 0.5V to about 3.0V, or from about 1.2V to about 2.5V, or from about 1.8V to about 2.2V, or any amount or range therebetween.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transition material comprises a hybrid P/E (photochromic/electrochromic) compound.