Ultraviolet radiation-curable light-modulating film for a light valve, and method of making same
First Claim
1. A method for preparing a film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of an SPD light valve, comprising a cross-linked polymer matrix having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix, said light valve suspension comprising particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium;
- which comprises admixing a UV-cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer and said liquid light valve suspension, emulsifying the resulting admixture to form an emulsion of said liquid light valve suspension in said UV-cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer, and cross-linking said UV-cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer while said mixture is in the form of a thin layer of said emulsion by exposing said thin layer of said emulsion to UV-radiation or to an electron beam such that said film is not damaged due to said exposing, said oligomer or polymer and said particles being free of deleterious effects on one another wherein the index of refraction of the polymer matrix and the liquid light valve suspension are the same or as near to equal as possible.
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Abstract
A method for preparing a film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of an SPD light valve, which film comprises a cross-linked polymer matrix having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix. The light valve suspension comprises particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium. The method comprises admixing a UV cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer and the liquid light valve suspension, emulsifying the resulting admixture to form an emulsion of the liquid light valve suspension in the UV cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer, and cross-linking the UV cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer while the mixture is in the form of a thin layer of the emulsion by exposing the layer to UV radiation or to an electron beam, such that the film is not damaged due to such exposing. The oligomer or polymer and the particles are free of deleterious effects on one another. The index of refraction of the polymer matrix and the liquid light valve suspensions are the same or as near to equal as possible.
38 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for preparing a film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of an SPD light valve, comprising a cross-linked polymer matrix having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix, said light valve suspension comprising particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium;
- which comprises admixing a UV-cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer and said liquid light valve suspension, emulsifying the resulting admixture to form an emulsion of said liquid light valve suspension in said UV-cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer, and cross-linking said UV-cross-linkable liquid oligomer or polymer while said mixture is in the form of a thin layer of said emulsion by exposing said thin layer of said emulsion to UV-radiation or to an electron beam such that said film is not damaged due to said exposing, said oligomer or polymer and said particles being free of deleterious effects on one another wherein the index of refraction of the polymer matrix and the liquid light valve suspension are the same or as near to equal as possible.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of preparing a film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of an SPD light valve, comprising a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix, said light valve suspension comprising particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium;
- which comprises admixing a UV-cross-linkable liquid polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer and said liquid light valve suspension, emulsifying the resulting admixture to form an emulsion of said liquid light valve suspension in said UV-cross-linkable liquid polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer, and cross-linking said UV-cross-linkable liquid polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer while said admixture is in the form of a thin layer of said emulsion by exposing said thin layer of said emulsion to UV-radiation or to an electron beam such that said film is not damaged due to said exposing, wherein the index of refraction of the polymer matrix and the liquid light valve suspension are the same or as near to equal as possible.
Specification