Elastomeric optical device and related operation methods
US11340479B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 1, 2020 |
| Grant date | May 24, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 6, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE06B2009/247
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The invention provides an elastomeric optical device having a first optical state and a second optical state. The device is transparent when in the first optical state and translucent or opaque when in the second optical state. The device comprises, in sequence, a first transparent electrode, a dielectric layer, an elastomer layer, and a second transparent electrode. The elastomer layer preferably has certain mechanical properties, such as a Shore OOO hardness of less than 15, and/or certain chemical properties, such as being substantially devoid of unreacted sites. The second transparent electrode is configured to compress the elastomer layer in response to an electric field between the first and second transparent electrodes, such that when the elastomeric optical device is in the second optical state, the elastomer layer is compressed between the first and second transparent electrodes. Methods of operating an elastomeric optical device are also provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.