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Optical article for multicolor imaging

  • US 5,075,796 A
  • Filed: 09/17/1990
  • Issued: 12/24/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An optical article capable of modulating the reflection of polarized monochromatic electromagnetic radiation comprisinga reflective metal layer having a thickness of less than 0.5 μ

  • m,means acting as a support for directing polarized electromagnetic radiation to said reflective metal layer,a dielectric layer interposed between said support and said reflective metal layer having a refractive index less than that of said support and a thickness in the range of from 0.1 to 10 times the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation directed toward said reflective metal layer,an electrooptic medium that exhibits a refractive index which is a function of an applied electrical potential, andcharacterized in that, to modulate the reflection of polarized monochromatic electromagnetic radiation from differing wavelength sources to produce a multicolor image,said reflective metal layer is divided into a plurality of electrically isolated zones each intended to be addressed by electromagnetic radiation from one of the differing wavelength sources,said dielectric layer is comprised of at least one metal oxide, metal fluoride, or low molecular weight aromatic compound and exhibits a different thickness adjacent each of said zones, said dielectric layer thicknesses adjacent said zones being proportional to the relative wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation from the sources intended to address each zone,said electrooptic medium is a polymer layer coated on said reflective metal layer exhibiting a second order polarization susceptibility greater than 10-9 electrostatic units and comprised of polar aligned molecular dipoles having an electron donor moiety linked through a conjugated π

    bonding system to an electron acceptor moiety,said polymeric layer exhibits a refractive index which differs from that of said dielectric layer by less than 20 percent in the absence of an applied electrical potential,said counter electrode is divided into electrically isolated zones, andsaid article additionally includes means for focusing reflected polarized electromagnetic radiation from each of said zones on a common target area.

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