Patent · US Expired

Ultraviolet radiation-curable light-modulating film for a light valve, and method of making same

US6114405A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
5References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 9, 1997
Grant dateSep 5, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 9, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/172
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for preparing a film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of an SPD light valve, which film comprises a cross-linked polymer matrix having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix. The light valve suspension comprises particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium. The method comprises admixing a UV cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer and the liquid light valve suspension, emulsifying the resulting admixture to form an emulsion of the liquid light valve suspension in the UV cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer, and cross-linking the UV cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer while the mixture is in the form of a thin layer of the emulsion by exposing the layer to UV radiation or to an electron beam, such that the film is not damaged due to such exposing. The oligomer or polymer and the particles are free of deleterious effects on one another. The index of refraction of the polymer matrix and the liquid light valve suspensions are the same or as near to equal as possible.

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