Electrically switchable polymer-dispersed liquid crystal materials including switchable optical couplers and reconfigurable optical interconnects
First Claim
1. A method for preparing a switchable grating, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing a mixture between a first and second slide, wherein the mixture comprises;
a photopolymerizable monomer;
a second phase material;
a photoinitiator dye; and
a chain extender or cross-linker;
exposing the mixture to a laser; and
applying an optical intensity pattern to induce photopolymerization.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. A method for preparing a switchable grating can comprise the steps of placing a mixture between a first and second slide, wherein the mixture has a photopolymerizable monomer, a second phase material, a photoinitiator dye, and a chain extender or cross-linker. The mixture is exposed to a laser and optical intensity pattern is applied to induce photopolymerization. A method for recording slanted reflection gratings can comprise the steps of placing a sample between a first and second glass prism, the sample comprising a polymerizable monomer, a liquid crystal, a chain-extending monomer, a coinitiator, and a photoinitiator. An incident light is split into two beams, wherein the beams enter the sample from opposite sides. The first and second prism are rotated to adjust the slant of the grating.
188 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for preparing a switchable grating, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a mixture between a first and second slide, wherein the mixture comprises; a photopolymerizable monomer; a second phase material; a photoinitiator dye; and a chain extender or cross-linker; exposing the mixture to a laser; and applying an optical intensity pattern to induce photopolymerization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for recording slanted reflection gratings, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a sample between a first and second glass prism; the sample comprising; a polymerizable monomer; a liquid crystal; a chain-extending monomer; a coinitiator; and a photoinitiator; splitting an incident light into two beams, wherein the beams enter the sample from opposite sides; and rotating the first and second prism to adjust the slant of the grating. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method for forming a slanted grating, the method comprising the steps of:
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directing overlapping first and second incident beams through a prism assembly towards a sample, wherein the angle of incidence of the first beam is different from the angle of incidence of the second beam and wherein the incident beams enter the sample from the same side, wherein the prism assembly comprises a first and a second prism and is substantially disposed on the surface of the sample, and wherein the sample comprises; a polymerizable monomer; a liquid crystal; a chain-extending monomer; a coinitiator; and a photoinitiator. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A transmission grating comprising:
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a plurality of alternating polymer planes and polymer dispersed liquid crystal planes disposed perpendicular to the front surface of the transmission grating; and an optical axis disposed perpendicular to the plurality of alternating polymer planes and polymer dispersed liquid crystal planes; wherein the combined thickness of a polymer plane and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal plane is substantially less than an optical wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification