With longtime ties and cross fertilization with Kent State Universitys Liquid Crystal Institute - the worlds first research center focused on the basic and applied science of liquid crystals - to include hiring LCI graduates, AlphaMicron is a mjor player in liquid crystal based light management technologies. The firm developed the capability to put Liquid Crystal-based electronic Tint-on-Demand (e-Tint®) on flexible plastic films and use it to provide protection against sun for war fighters. The firm has since expanded the capabilities, unique materials and processes to create the ability to control lights of different color and intensity in applications ranging from eyewear and protective goggles to automotive applications, head-up, near-eye and see-through displays, and architectural glass. Now the effort is to explore the VR/AR world where light control will be the next problem to solve. With an almiost decade gap beteen Phase I (in 2006), the firm returned to the SBIR space with an AF Phase II in 2016onthe same project. Though not SBIR directly funded, the firm also more recently is now working with Boeing on a NASA project developing the next generation of suit technologies that will enable deep space exploration by developing and incorporating technological advancements. An important part of the next generation suit is the visor on the astronauts helmet. Electronically tintable visors enable astronauts to remotely change the tint of their visor when exposed to intense light and is considered an essential feature of the spacesuit. In Dec., 2017, AlphaMicron and Boeing were the two companies were chosed to conduct research and development into the nexty generation visor with electronic tint capability.
