Patent ID: 8089678

Claim:
An optical element comprising: (a) a photochromic linear polarizing element comprising: (i) a substrate; and (ii) at least one coating connected to the substrate, the coating having a first absorption state and a second absorption state and being operable for switching from the first absorption state to the second absorption state in response to actinic radiation, to revert back to the first absorption state in response to actinic radiation and/or thermal energy, and to linearly polarize transmitted radiation in the first absorption state and/or the second absorption state; wherein the coating (ii) comprises an at least partially aligned, reversible photochromic-dichroic material having an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in an activated state; and (b) at least one birefringent layer comprising a polymeric coating or polymeric sheet connected to the photochromic linear polarizing element (a), the birefringent layer being operable to circularly or elliptically polarize transmitted radiation.