Liquid crystal-based composite material including electrically conducting elongated particles and having enhanced microwave birefringence
US5184233A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/44
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A composite material (20) has electrically conducting, elongated particles (22) dispersed in a liquid crystal (24). The index of refraction to microwaves is controllable by the application of a transverse electric field that aligns the liquid crystal material (24) and the particles (22). A phase modulating cell (31) is formed by placing the composite material (20) inside a microwave wave guide (32), with transverse electrodes (36) built into the sides of the wave guide (32). Another set of transverse electrodes or magnet pole pieces (30) can be provided to align the liquid crystal material (24) and the particles (22) in another direction, thereby switching the index of refraction of the cell (31). The particles (22) may be made of a ferromagnetic material, to permit magentic as well as electrical switching.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.