Changeable liquid prism array

• US 9,063,273 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Eok-su, Bae, Jung-mok, Song, Hoon, Chung, Deuk-seok, Choi, Kyu-hwan, Choi, Yoon-sun, Won, Kang-hee
• Primary Examiner(s): Chwasz, Jade R
• Application Number:
  US13/617,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20130208370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0883 the refracting element being a prism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/06 Fluid-filled or evacuated prisms

Abstract

A changeable liquid prism array and a method of manufacturing the changeable liquid prism array are provided. The changeable liquid prism array includes a substrate, a wiring layer formed on the substrate, and including conducting wire portions and non-conducting wire portions where the conducting wire portions are not formed, and barrier walls disposed on the wiring layer. The changeable liquid prism array further includes cells defined by the barrier walls, a first liquid included in the cells, and a second liquid located on the first liquid. The changeable liquid prism array further includes side electrodes disposed on side surfaces of the barrier walls, and separated from each other by spaces corresponding to the non-conducting wire portions, and an upper electrode arranged above the barrier walls, and separated from the side electrodes.

Claims

1. A changeable liquid prism array comprising:

a substrate;

a wiring layer formed on the substrate, and comprising;

conducting wire portions, and non-conducting portions wherein the conducting wire portions are not formed;

barrier walls disposed on the wiring layer;

cells defined by the barrier walls;

a first liquid included in the cells;

a second liquid located on the first liquid;

side electrodes disposed on side surfaces of the barrier walls; and

an upper electrode arranged above the barrier walls, and separated from the side electrodes;

wherein electricity is supplied to the side electrodes through the conducting wire portions, and the side electrodes are disposed depending on the position of the conducting wire portions and the non-conducting portions; and

wherein the side electrode is separated from another side electrode by a space corresponding to about a width of a non-conducting portion, among the non-conducting portions, under the barrier wall.

2. The changeable liquid prism array of claim 1, wherein:

the side electrodes comprise first side electrodes formed on first side surfaces of the barrier walls, and second side electrodes formed on second side surfaces of the barrier walls; and

the first side surfaces and the second side surfaces face each other, respectively.

3. The changeable liquid prism array of claim 1, wherein:

the wiring layer comprises the conducting wire portions separated from each other by gaps corresponding to gaps between the side electrodes.

4. The changeable liquid prism array of claim 1, wherein:

the wiring layer comprises first conducting wire portions, second conducting wire portions, and third conducting wire portions that are repeatedly formed to be separate from each other;

the barrier walls are formed on some portions of the first conducting wire portions and the third conducting wire portions; and

the side electrodes comprises first side electrodes formed on first side surfaces of the barrier walls corresponding to the first conducting wire portions, and second side electrodes formed on second side surfaces of the barrier walls corresponding to the third conducting wire portions.

5. The changeable liquid prism array of claim 1, wherein:

the wiring layer is formed of opaque metal wires.

6. The changeable liquid prism array of claim 1, wherein:

the first liquid comprises a non-polar liquid; and

the second liquid comprises a polar liquid.

7. The changeable liquid prism array of claim 1, wherein:

the first liquid comprises oil; and

the second liquid comprises an electrolyte.

8. The changeable liquid prism array of claim 1, further comprising:

a dielectric layer formed on the side electrodes, the dielectric layer comprising a hydrophobic material.

9. The changeable liquid prism array of claim 1, further comprising:

a dielectric layer formed on the side electrodes, the dielectric layer exhibiting hydrophilic properties with respect to the first liquid and exhibiting hydrophobic properties with respect to the second liquid.

10. The changeable liquid prism array of claim 1, wherein:

the side electrodes are separated from each other corresponding to the non-conducting portions.