Encapsulated liquid crystal and filler material
US4643528A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 1985 |
| Grant date | Feb 17, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/2985
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A liquid crystal apparatus includes a plurality of volumes of liquid crystal material in a containment medium. At least some of the volumes also have a filler or spacer material therein. Some volumes may be interconnected. The walls defining the volumes and the wall of the spacer tend to distort the natural liquid crystal structure in the absence of an electric field, and the optical and electrical properties of the materials are such that in the absence of a field incident light is scattered or absorbed and in the presence of a field, scattering and/or absorption are reduced. The apparatus may be used in an optical display, optical shutter, billboard, etc., and it functions independently of polarization. Methods of making and using the apparatus also are included in the invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.