Electro-optic filament or fibre

• US 20060067621A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bechtel, Hans-Helmut, Martynov, Yourii, Eves, David A., Chaman, Jeffrey A., Wagner, Philippa C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,164,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/40
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0115 in optical fibres

Abstract

In the field of flexible displays there is a need for an electro-optic filament that is capable of being woven, knitted or crocheted. An electro-optic filament or fibre (10) includes an elongate core (11) extending lengthwise within a volume (12) of polarisable material; and an outer electrode member (13) overlying the volume (12). The core (11) and outer member (13) are electrically conducting and connectable to electrical potentials to generate a radial field in the polarisable material. The outer member (13) is optically transmissive and/or transflective. The polarisable material (12) exhibits an optical effect such as a colour change, change in polarisation or change in reflectivity, when subjected to a said field or a change in a said field. The filament or fibre may readily be woven into eg. a fabric or a garment, using conventional textile processing machinery.

Claims

1. An electro-optic filament or fibre (10) comprising an elongate core (11) within a volume (12) of polarisable material, and an outer member (13) overlying the said volume, wherein:

(i) the core (11) and the outer member (13) are electrically conducting and respectively connectable to electrical potentials to generate a field (14) therebetween; and

(ii) the polarisable material (12) exhibits an optical effect when subjected to a said field (14) and/or a change in a said field, the said optical effect being visible or otherwise optically detectable externally of the filament or fibre (10).

2. A filament or fibre according to claim 1 wherein the outer member (13) is optically transmissive and/or transflective.

3. A filament or fibre according to claim 1 whose subcomponents are flexible, whereby the filament or fibre (10) is flexible.

4. A filament or fibre according to claim 1 wherein the core (11) is or includes a flexible rod made of or from a material selected from the list including:

an electrically conducting metal;

an electrically conducting polymer;

a polyamide coated with a conducting material;

or

combinations of two or more aforesaid materials.

5. A filament or fibre according to claim 1 wherein the outer member includes a surface adjacent which the said volume lies.

6. A filament or fibre according to claim 1 wherein the outer member surrounds the said volume.

7. A filament or fibre according to claim 5 wherein the outer member and the said volume are adhered one to the other.

8. A filament or fibre, according to claim 6, of generally circular cross-section, wherein the core, the said volume and the outer member are generally mutually concentric.

9. A filament or fibre according to claim 1 wherein the volume (12) of polarisable material includes one or more of:

a liquid crystal material;

a microencapsulated, polarisable ink;

or

a “

twisting ball”

composite.

10. A filament or fibre according to claim 9 wherein the volume (12) of polarisable material includes a pigment.

11. A filament or fibre according to claim 10 wherein the pigment is an inorganic phosphor pigment;

titanium dioxide;

or a mixture thereof.

12. A filament or fibre according to claim 1 wherein the resistance of the outer member (13) is inhomogeneous.

13. A filament or fibre according to claim 11 wherein the inhomogeneity of the resistance of the outer member (13) results from one or more of:

(i) one or more discontinuities (13a) in the material of the outer member (13);

(ii) non-uniformity of the thickness (13b) of the outer member (13);

(iii) non-uniformity of the resistivity of the material of the outer member (13);

or

(iv) non-uniformity of the composition of the outer member (13).

14. A filament or fibre according to any preceding claim the core (11) and/or the outer member (13) of which is operatively connected to an electrical potential that varies in dependence on the output or state of a transducer (T).

15. A self-sustaining structure including one or more filaments or fibres (10) each according to claim 1.

16. A structure according to claim 15 wherein the or each said fibre (10) is interlaced with a further fibre.

17. A structure according to claim 15 including a plurality of fibres (10) each according to claim 1 woven, knitted or crocheted together.

18. A garment including one or more filaments or fibres each according to claim 1;

and/or a structure according to claim 15.