Reduction of driving voltage in a switchable element
First Claim
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1. A switchable element comprising:
- a chamber (111), comprising a first body of fluid (101) and a second body of fluid (102), said first body of fluid being at least one of a of a polar liquid and a conducting liquid and said second body of fluid being a non-conducting liquid;
a first electrode (103) and a second electrode (104), which are arranged to control spatial distribution of said first and second liquids upon the application of a voltage between said first and second electrodes; and
wherein at least one of said first and second bodies of fluid comprises a surfactant (105) for affecting surface tension to lower the magnitude of said voltage required to control the switchable element.
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Abstract
A switchable element is described, which comprises a fluid chamber (111) containing a polar (101) and a non-polar (102) liquid, which are immiscible. The element is further provided with two electrodes (103,104), which are arranged to control the spatial distribution of the liquids, by means of an applied voltage across two the two electrodes. By the addition of surfactant to one or both of the liquids, the actuation voltage of the element is lowered. The element can work for example as an optical device or a motor.
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11 Claims
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1. A switchable element comprising:
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a chamber (111), comprising a first body of fluid (101) and a second body of fluid (102), said first body of fluid being at least one of a of a polar liquid and a conducting liquid and said second body of fluid being a non-conducting liquid; a first electrode (103) and a second electrode (104), which are arranged to control spatial distribution of said first and second liquids upon the application of a voltage between said first and second electrodes; and wherein at least one of said first and second bodies of fluid comprises a surfactant (105) for affecting surface tension to lower the magnitude of said voltage required to control the switchable element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification