Switchable volume hologram materials and devices

• US 6,677,086 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leidos, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Inventors: Natarajan, Lalquidi V., Bunning, Timothy J., Sutehrland, Richard L., Tondiglia, Vince P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Shean C.
• Application Number:
  US09/033,514
• Time in Patent Office: 2,143 Days
• Field of Search: 252/582, 430/1, 430/20, 359/15, 349/201
• US Class Current: 430/1
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 19/544 as dispersing or encapsulating medium around the liquid crystal
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/00 Functional layers of liquid crystal optical display excluding electroactive liquid crystal layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/03 Viewing layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13342 Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/001 Phase modulating patterns, e.g. refractive index patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/031 Organic compounds not covered by group G03F7/029
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/02 Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0248 Volume holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/026 Recording materials or recording processes G03H2226/11 takes precedence; corresponding details, see subgroups of G03H2260/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2260/12 Photopolymer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2260/33 Having dispersed compound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the invention preferably comprise a homogeneous mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional pentaacrylate monomer, in combination with photoinitiator, coinitiator and cross-linking agent. Optionally, a surfactant such as octanoic acid may also be added. The PDLC material is exposed to coherent light to produce an interference pattern inside the material. Photopolymerization of the new PDLC material produces a hologram of clearly separated liquid crystal domains and cured polymer domains. Volume transmission gratings made with the new PDLC material can be electrically switched between nearly 100% diffraction efficiency and nearly 0% diffraction efficiency. By increasing the frequency of the switching voltage, switching voltages in the range of 50 Vrms can be achieved.

Claims

1. A static hologram made by exposing an interference pattern inside a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material, the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material comprising, before exposure:

(a) a polymerizable monomer;

(b) a liquid crystal;

(c) a cross-linking monomer;

(d) a coinitiator; and

(e) a photoinitiator dye;

wherein the hologram has a plurality of polymer regions having a first refractive index and polymer-dispersed liquid crystal regions having a second refractive index wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal in the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal regions has been removed.

2. A static hologram made by exposing an interference pattern inside a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material, the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material comprising, before exposure:

(a) a polymerizable monomer;

(b) a liquid crystal;

(c) a cross-linking monomer;

(d) a coinitiator; and

(e) a photoinitiator dye;

wherein the hologram has a plurality of alternating planes of polymer channels having a first refractive index and polymer-dispersed liquid crystal channels having a second refractive index wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal in the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal channels has been removed.

3. A method for preparing static hologram, comprising:

disposing a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material between transparent plates;

exposing an interference pattern inside the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material thereby forming a hologram having polymer regions having a first refractive index and polymer-dispersed liquid crystal regions having a second refractive index; and

removing at least a portion of the liquid crystal in the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal channels.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein a portion of the liquid crystal in the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal channels is removed by disposing the hologram in a solvent.

4. A method for preparing a static hologram, comprising:

disposing a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material between transparent plates;

exposing an interference pattern inside the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material thereby forming a hologram having alternating planes of polymer channels having a first refractive index and polymer-dispersed liquid crystal channels having a second refractive index; and

removing at least a portion of the liquid crystal in the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal channels.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein a portion of the liquid crystal in the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal channels is removed by disposing the hologram in a solvent.