ELECTRO-OPTICAL DIPOLAR MATERIAL
First Claim
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2. The material of claim 1, wherein the dipoles are metallic.
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Abstract
An article of manufacture is provided as a matrix having dispersed substantially uniformly therethrough a plurality of electro-optically responsive dipole particles selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive and semi-conductive material and dichroic crystals, the matrix being a transparent medium capable of being in the fluid state during the initial orientation of the dipoles, whereby the dipoles are capable of rotation to a desired preferred orientation upon the application of a force field, the medium being thereafter solidified. A method of applying the force field is disclosed.
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Citations
26 Claims
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2. The material of claim 1, wherein the dipoles are metallic.
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3. The material of claim 1, wherein the dipoles have an average length of about lambda /2n + or - 50 percent and an average diameter ranging up to about lambda /10n + or - 50 percent, lambda being the wavelength of light and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'n'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' the index of refraction of the matrix medium.
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4. The material of claim 3, wherein the dipoles range in length from about 1,000A to 10,000A.
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5. The material of claim 4, wherein the number of particles per unit area is at least the reciprocal of the effective cross section per particle.
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6. A material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said material comprises a transparent optical coating on a substrate of transparent material, said coating having said dipole particles oriented in the plane thereof, said dipole particles having an average length of about lambda /2n + or - 50 percent and an average diameter ranging up to about lambda /10n + or - 50%, where lambda is the wavelength of light and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'n'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' the index of refraction of the transparent coating.
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7. The material of claim 6, wherein the substrate and the coating are selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.
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8. The material of claim 6, wherein the dipole particles are metallic.
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9. The material of claim 8, wherein the dipole particles have an average length of about 1,000A to 10,000A.
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10. The material of claim 9, wherein the number of particles per unit area is at least the reciprocal of the effective cross section per particle.
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11. A film, sheet, or block of matter for a light-controlling device comprising a transparent suspending medium and a plurality of dipole particles selected from the group consisting of conductive and semi-conductive material, and dichroic crystals, suspended in the medium, said medium having separate fluid and solid states and being in a fluid state to enable the dipoles to be rotated to a predetermined orientation upon the application of a force field, and said medium being solidified to permanently fix the rotational position oF the dipole particles.
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12. The matter of claim 11, wherein the transparent suspending medium is selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.
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13. The matter of claim 12, wherein the dipole particles have an average length of about lambda /2n + or - 50 percent, and an average diameter ranging up to about lambda /10n + or - 50 percent, lambda being the wavelength of light and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'n'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' the index of refraction of the suspending medium.
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14. The matter of claim 13, wherein the dipoles range from about 1,000A to 10,000A in length.
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15. The matter of claim 14, wherein the dipole particles are metallic.
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16. A film, sheet or block of material comprising a solid transparent layer of a medium having substantially uniformly dispersed therethrough dipole particles selected from the group consisting of conductive and semi-conductive material, and dichroic crystals, said particles having a preferred orientation relative to the plane of the transparent layer, and wherein the dipoles have an average length of about lambda /2n + or - 50 percent, and an average diameter ranging up to about lambda /10n + or - 50 percent, lambda being the wavelength of light and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'n'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' the index of refraction of the transparent medium.
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17. The material of claim 16, wherein the dipoles are metallic and have an average length falling within the range of about 1, 000A to 10,000A.
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18. The material of claim 16, wherein the umber of particles per unit area is at least the reciprocal of the effective cross section per particle.
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19. A polarizer comprising a solid layer of transparent medium having a substantially uniform dispersion therethrough of dipole particles oriented in the plane of said layer selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive and semi-conductive particles, and dichroic crystals, said dipole particles having an average length of about lambda /2n + or - 50 percent and an average diameter ranging up to about lambda /10n + or - 50 percent, where lambda is the wavelength of light and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'n'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' the index of refraction of the transparent material.
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20. The polarizer of claim 19, wherein the transparent material is selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.
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21. The polarizer of claim 19, wherein the dipole particles are metallic.
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22. The polarizer of claim 21, wherein the dipole particles have an average length of about 1,000A to 10,000A.
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23. The polarizer of claim 22, wherein the number of particles per unit area is at least the reciprocal of the effective cross section per particle.
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24. A polarizer comprising a layer of transparent material containing a uniform dispersion of flake particles selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive and semi-conductive material, and dichroic crystals, the plane of the layer being referenced to a coordinate system having three mutually perpendicular axes described as the X-, Y- and Z-axes, and the flakes being oriented such that the plane of substantially each of the flakes is parallel to a plane formed by two of said axes.
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25. The polarizer of claim 24, wherein the flakes are substantially normal to the plane of the layer.
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26. The polarizer of claim 25, wherein the flakes are aluminum.
Specification