Polymers responsive to radiation pressures
US8169680B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 2007 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2202/022
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Polymers that undergo a reversible phase change in response to being exposed to a light from a laser having a radiation pressure greater than a threshold level. The phase changeable polymers have the ability to reduce the intensity of the laser and can advantageously scatter laser light incident on the polymers. The on-off response of such polymers is in the microsecond range and the light scattering property is independent of laser wavelength. The polymers can beneficially be incorporated into devices to protect human vision and optical instruments that are vulnerable to lasers at high intensities. Methods for making and using such devices are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.