Switchable polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical elements
First Claim
1. A wavelength selective optical element comprising:
- a first polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a first wavelength of an incident beam wherein, a second wavelength of the incident beam passes through the first polymer dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component without being diffracted thereby; and
a second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting the second wavelength, wherein the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components are located in stacked relationship with one another and placed in the path of the incident beam, wherein each of the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components is 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) vinyl neononanoate;
(c) a liquid crystal;
(d) a coinitiator; and
(e) a photoinitiator dye.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Transmission and reflection type holograms may be formed utilizing a novel polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material and its unique switching characteristics to form optical elements. Applications for these switchable holograms include communications switches and switchable transmission, and reflection red, green, and blue lenses. The PDLC material of the present invention offers all of the features of holographic photopolymers with the added advantage that the hologram can be switched on and off with the application of an electric field. The material is a mixture of a polymerizable monomer and liquid crystal, along with other ingredients, including a photoinitiator dye. Upon irradiation, the liquid crystal separates as a distinct phase of nanometer-size droplets aligned in periodic channels forming the hologram. The material is called a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC).
124 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wavelength selective optical element comprising:
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a first polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a first wavelength of an incident beam wherein, a second wavelength of the incident beam passes through the first polymer dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component without being diffracted thereby; and
a second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting the second wavelength, wherein the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components are located in stacked relationship with one another and placed in the path of the incident beam, wherein each of the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components is 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) vinyl neononanoate;
(c) a liquid crystal;
(d) a coinitiator; and
(e) a photoinitiator dye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A wavelength selective optical element comprising:
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a first polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a first wavelength of an incident beam wherein, a second wavelength of the incident beam passes through the first polymer dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component without being diffracted thereby; and
a second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting the second wavelength, wherein the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components are located in stacked relationship with one another and placed in the path of the incident beam, wherein each of the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components is 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) 5-15% chain-extending monomer;
(c) 10-40% liquid crystal;
(d) 10(−
4) to 10(−
4) gram moles coinitiator; and
(e) 10(−
5) to 10(−
6) gram moles photoinitiator dye.
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5. A wavelength selective optical element comprising:
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a first polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a first wavelength of an incident beam wherein, a second wavelength of the incident beam passes through the first polymer dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component without being diffracted thereby; and
a second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting the second wavelength, wherein the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components are located in stacked relationship with one another and placed in the path of the incident beam, wherein each of the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components is 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) 10-18% chain-extending monomer;
(c) 10-40% liquid crystal;
(d) 2-3% coinitiator; and
(e) 0.2-0.4% photoinitiator dye. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification