Mechanical structure including a layer of polymerised liquid crystal and method of manufacturing such
US7847885B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 2005 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/11
- WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A mechanical structure comprises an element which is moveable by nonmechanical means, such as heat or radiation, between a first state having a first shape and a second state having a second shape different. To this end, the element includes a layer of oriented polymerized liquid crystal which exhibits an anisotropic expansion when subjected to such means. In order to facilitate manufacture the element is positioned on a substrate which has a region of high adhesiveness and a region of low adhesiveness for polymerized liquid crystal. To manufacture such structures a layer of oriented polymerizable liquid crystal is formed on a substrate (201) which is provided with a patterned surface that provides adhesive regions (204) with high adhesiveness to polymerized liquid crystal and nonadhesive regions (203) with low adhesiveness to polymerized liquid crystal. After polymerization, for example a thermal shock is applied which causes the layer of polymerized liquid crystal to delaminate at the non-adhering region while remaining fixed to the adhesive regions. Thus, the method does not require time-consuming under-etching steps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.