PRINTING OF LIQUID CRYSTAL DROPLET LASER RESONATORS ON A WET POLYMER SOLUTION AND PRODUCT MADE THEREWITH
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing a photonic device, the method comprising the steps of:
- (i) providing an aliquot of a liquid crystal (LC) material of volume V, volume V being the same volume as that of a sphere of diameter D1; and
(ii) depositing the aliquot onto the surface of a flowable material layer to form a liquid crystal deposit, the flowable material and the LC material being substantially immiscible,wherein the liquid crystal deposit adopts a deformed shape relative to the shape of the aliquot due to interaction with the flowable material layer, the liquid crystal deposit having a maximum length L1, measured in a direction parallel to the flowable material layer surface before deposition, wherein L1 is greater than D1.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A photonic device is manufactured by: (i) providing (e.g. by inkjet printing) an aliquot of a liquid crystal (LC) material; and (ii) depositing the aliquot onto the surface of a flowable material layer to form a liquid crystal deposit, the flowable material and the LC material being substantially immiscible. The liquid crystal deposit adopts a deformed shape relative to the shape of the aliquot due to interaction with the flowable material layer. This promotes alignment of the LC material. Incorporation of a laser dye allows the photonic device to function as a laser, which can be operated above or below threshold depending on the circumstances. The photonic device can also be used as a passive device based on the photonic bandgap of the aligned LC material.
5 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a photonic device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(i) providing an aliquot of a liquid crystal (LC) material of volume V, volume V being the same volume as that of a sphere of diameter D1; and (ii) depositing the aliquot onto the surface of a flowable material layer to form a liquid crystal deposit, the flowable material and the LC material being substantially immiscible, wherein the liquid crystal deposit adopts a deformed shape relative to the shape of the aliquot due to interaction with the flowable material layer, the liquid crystal deposit having a maximum length L1, measured in a direction parallel to the flowable material layer surface before deposition, wherein L1 is greater than D1. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. (canceled)
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20. (canceled)
- 21. A photonic device having at least one liquid crystal (LC) material deposit formed on an underlayer, the underlayer having an underlayer surface surrounding the LC material deposit, wherein the LC material deposit has a maximum length L2, measured in a direction parallel to the underlayer surface surrounding the LC material deposit, and a maximum height H2, measured in a direction perpendicular to the underlayer surface surrounding the LC material deposit, so that L2 is greater than H2, wherein the liquid crystal deposit is shaped to project above the underlayer surface surrounding the LC material deposit.
- 25. A method of operation of a photonic device having at least one liquid crystal (LC) material deposit formed on an underlayer, the underlayer having an underlayer surface surrounding the LC material deposit, wherein the LC material deposit has a maximum length L2, measured in a direction parallel to the underlayer surface surrounding the LC material deposit, and a maximum height H2, measured in a direction perpendicular to the underlayer surface surrounding the LC material deposit, so that L2 is greater than H2, wherein the liquid crystal deposit is shaped to project above the underlayer surface surrounding the LC material deposit, the method comprising the step of subjecting the photonic device to illumination by a source of electromagnetic radiation, the photonic device providing a corresponding response which is detected by a detector or by observation.
Specification