An electronically controllable optical device, comprising: a cell comprising at least one liquid crystal material capable of changing from a clear state of highest light transmittance when no voltage is applied to a tinted state of lower light transmittance upon application of a voltage and vice versa; a photosensor associated with the cell, said photosensor generating an input signal based on ambient light level to operate said cell in an auto mode; a control circuit; a single switch connected to the control circuit and capable of generating a switch signal; said control circuit capable of receiving said input signal and said switch signal and generating at least one output signal to operate said cell; wherein actuation of said switch in a predetermined sequence enables three functions: (i) a state change of the liquid crystal material from its clear state to its tinted state or vice versa; (ii) a system change between an auto mode and a manual mode; and (iii) a change in a threshold value at which the photosensor generates said input signal when being in the auto mode by taking the light level of the photosensor in the form of a voltage value and creating an upper threshold and a lower threshold to enable hysteresis in said output signal such that oscillation of the cell between the clear state and the tinted state does not take place when the ambient light level is between the upper and lower thresholds. a cell comprising at least one liquid crystal material capable of changing from a clear state of highest light transmittance when no voltage is applied to a tinted state of lower light transmittance upon application of a voltage and vice versa; a photosensor associated with the cell, said photosensor generating an input signal based on ambient light level to operate said cell in an auto mode; a control circuit; a single switch connected to the control circuit and capable of generating a switch signal; said control circuit capable of receiving said input signal and said switch signal and generating at least one output signal to operate said cell; wherein actuation of said switch in a predetermined sequence enables three functions: (i) a state change of the liquid crystal material from its clear state to its tinted state or vice versa; (ii) a system change between an auto mode and a manual mode; and (iii) a change in a threshold value at which the photosensor generates said input signal when being in the auto mode by taking the light level of the photosensor in the form of a voltage value and creating an upper threshold and a lower threshold to enable hysteresis in said output signal such that oscillation of the cell between the clear state and the tinted state does not take place when the ambient light level is between the upper and lower thresholds. (i) a state change of the liquid crystal material from its clear state to its tinted state or vice versa; (ii) a system change between an auto mode and a manual mode; and (iii) a change in a threshold value at which the photosensor generates said input signal when being in the auto mode by taking the light level of the photosensor in the form of a voltage value and creating an upper threshold and a lower threshold to enable hysteresis in said output signal such that oscillation of the cell between the clear state and the tinted state does not take place when the ambient light level is between the upper and lower thresholds. <EOS>