Electrically switchable polymer liquid crystal and polymer birefringent flake in fluid host systems and optical devices utilizing same
US6665042B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/137
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Flakes or platelets of polymer liquid crystals (PLC) or other birefringent polymers (BP) suspended in a fluid host medium constitute a system that can function as the active element in an electrically switchable optical device when the suspension is either contained between a pair of rigid substrates bearing transparent conductive coatings or dispersed as microcapsules within the body of a flexible host polymer. Optical properties of these flake materials include large effective optical path length, different polarization states and high angular sensitivity in their selective reflection or birefringence. The flakes or platelets of these devices need only a 3-20° rotation about the normal to the cell surface to achieve switching characteristics obtainable with prior devices using particle rotation or translation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.