Patent · US Expired

Optical article for multicolor imaging

US5075796A · kind A · utility

225Cited by
6References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 17, 1990
Grant dateDec 24, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 17, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03C7/00
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An optical article capable of modulating the reflection of polarized monochromatic electromagnetic radiation is disclosed comprising a reflective metal layer having a thickness of less than 0.5 .mu.m, means acting as a support for directing polarized electromagnetic radiation to the reflective metal layer, a dielectric layer interposed between the support and the reflective metal layer having a refractive index less than that of the support and a thickness in the range of from 0.1 to 10 times the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation directed toward the reflective metal layer, an electrooptic medium that exhibits a refractive index which is a function of an applied electrical potential, and a counter electrode. The optical article is characterized in that it is capable of modulating the reflection of polarized monochromatic electromagnetic radiation from differing wavelength sources to produce a multicolor image. To this end, the reflective metal layer is divided into a plurality of electrically isolated zones each intended to be addressed by electromagnetic radiation from a different wavelength source, the dielectric layer exhibits a different thickness adjacent each of the zone…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.