e-Tint® 

e-Tint® is synonymous with cutting-edge visual technology.

e-Tint® is the science behind the world’s most famous high-performance, electronically tinting eyewear and visors. Designed for use by the United States military, e-Tint technology is now available in eyewear, goggles and visors for soldiers and civilians who require precision optics every step of the way.

The result of two decades of research, development, and testing by the award-winning physics team in AlphaMicron’s renowned laboratories, e-Tint® brings advanced science to bear on modern eyewear. Leveraging proprietary liquid crystal technology, e-Tint® is the world’s fastest transitional eyewear, bar none. A single e-Tint lens will transform from light to dark, or dark to light, in less than 0.1 second.

e-Tint® is the technology used in preferred eyewear for:

  • United States military personnel
  • CTRL® is the only APEL-approved eyewear
  • Tactical professionals including first-responders and the police
  • Award-winning professional athletes including Tour de France winner Andy Shcleck and Mountain Bike Champion Søren Nissen
  • Extreme sports athletes – skiing, snowboarding, motorcyclists, and more
  • Recreational hunters and outdoorsmen


AWARD-WINNING INNOVATION DESIGNED AROUND DOD STANDARDS

e-Tint’s unprecedented tint-adjustment capability and speed were designed around the needs of the most discerning users on a global scale: the United States Department of Defense. Created to address and overcome mission-critical conditions, e-Tint has a long history of meeting exceptional performance.

Working with Special Forces and the Army, e-Tint successfully developed the first military-grade liquid crystal technology for sunlight protection in the battlefield, where speed, control, and safety are essential. The eyewear is now the first-ever electronically controlled tint-changing eyewear to be approved and included on the United States Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL). The eyewear is available and approved for use by active soldiers. To serve those who serve our country has been the Company’s highest accomplishment to date.

Now, e-Tint® technology is available to members of the military and to the public. Whether day or night, in any weather condition, wearers have complete control over the tint of their impact-rated eyewear or visors.

No interchangeable lenses.

No lag time.

No settling.

Tint that automatically changes faster than the blink of an eye.

 

AlphaMicron

A recognized global leader in liquid crystal photonics, AlphaMicron solves light control problems with a vertically integrated approach that combines scientific mastery with design expertise. From solution concept to ISO compliant testing and production facilities, AlphaMicron continues to innovate and deliver optical devices that feature dynamic light management for a host of industries.

 

Flexible Functional Films

AlphaMicron scientists were the first to create flexible functional films with a unique, patented liquid crystal layer that can quickly (within 0.1-0.01 seconds) change its tint through application of a low voltage. This film can be laminated to a lens or glass to create an electronic tint-on-demand™ film. The operational characteristics of this unique guest-host LC film can be tuned using different parameters and proprietary formulations. 

 

The Science of Success

Visit AlphaMicron, creators of e-Tint® technology.

Liquid Crystal

AlphaMicron met this challenge by inventing a new electronically controllable guest-host Liquid Crystal system which can:

  • Switch from clear to dark faster than the blink of an eye, meaning faster than 0.1 second;
  • Be implemented on plastic substrates;
  • Go clear (is fail-safe) in case of a power outage; and
  • Control tint via threshold adjustment for sensitivity.

Thus was born e-Tint®, the world’s only Electronic Tint-on-Demand™ and the science behind the world’s fastest-changing eyewear.

Photograph of a guest-host LC cell

 

Founded in 1997

AlphaMicron is an award-winning, global leader in liquid crystal-based light reactive technologies. Over 22 years ago, our Company was founded to pursue research and development for the Department of Defense. U.S. Air Force fighter pilots flying in and out of clouds needed a way to keep track of the data on their Head-Mounted-Displays without intermittent bouts of the display “washing-out” in intense sunlight.

 

Flexible Functional Films

AlphaMicron scientists were the first to create flexible functional films that can quickly (within 0.1-0.01 seconds) change their tint through the application of a low voltage. This film can be laminated to a lens or glass to create an electronic tint-on-demand™ film. The operational characteristics of the film can be tuned using AlphaMicron’s dichoric dyes. Depending on the application, the device can be designed to have a fail-safe operation, i.e. switch to “clear state” in case of power failure. This technology was used to create the world’s first electronic switchable eyewear. This new category of protective eyewear has been field-tested by the US Army and is now being sold to soldiers through Approved Protective Eyewear List (APEL). This provides the user with the ability to manually or automatically change the tint of the eyewear in 0.01 seconds- 100 times faster than a blink of an eye.

The technology is now being developed for augmented reality applications and see-through displays where the simultaneous control of ambient light vs. display light is paramount.

 

Address this Growing Need.

Alpha Micron is working with both the military and private sectors to address this growing need. Our advanced scientific capabilities, materials development, and processes provide new pathways to control reactions to lights of various colors and intensities, from direct sunlight to different wavelengths of laser light. 

Applications of our work to date include:

  • Sports Eyewear
  • Automotive
  • Military/Tactical
  • Architecture
  • AR/VR/MR
  • Light Shutters
  • Security
  • Aviation
  • Medical
  • NASA’s Next Gen Space Suit

 

Today

Today, AlphaMicron continues to expand its expertise by working in different arenas, coming up with new solutions to a wide range of challenges, and growing its design, prototyping and manufacturing capabilities. At the same time, we continue to work with the military in the development of sensitive, necessary products to safeguard our servicemen and women in the field.