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US 11,428,964 B2Granted
Transparent phase change actuator
AssigneeMeta Platforms Technologies, LLC
InventorsSpencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transparent optical element may include a layer of an electroactive ceramic disposed between transparent electrodes, such that the electrodes are each oriented perpendicular to a non-polar direction of the ceramic layer. Optical properties of the optical element, including transmissivity, haze, and clarity may be improved by the application of a voltage to the electroactive ceramic, and an associated phase transformation.
Claims20
An optical element, comprising:
- a primary electrode layer;
- a secondary electrode layer overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode layer;
- an electroactive ceramic disposed between and abutting the primary electrode layer and the secondary electrode layer, wherein:
- a top surface of the primary electrode layer and a bottom surface of the secondary electrode layer are each oriented perpendicular to a non-polar direction of the electroactive ceramic;
- and
- the electroactive ceramic, when exposed to an applied field of at least approximately 0.5 MV/m, comprises at least one of:
- an optical transmissivity within a visible spectrum of at least approximately 50%;
- bulk haze of less than approximately 50%;
- and optical clarity of at least approximately 75%;
- and
- a power source connected to at least one of the primary electrode layer or the secondary electrode layer.
8 more elements
An optical element, comprising:
- a primary transparent electrode layer;
- a secondary transparent electrode layer overlapping at least a portion of the primary transparent electrode layer;
- a transparent electroactive ceramic layer disposed between and abutting a top surface of the primary transparent electrode layer and a bottom surface of the secondary transparent electrode layer, wherein:
- the electroactive ceramic layer comprises a plurality of domains in an absence of an applied voltage between the electrode layers and a single domain when a voltage is applied between the electrode layers;
- and
- the electroactive ceramic layer, when exposed to an applied field of at least approximately 0.5 MV/m, comprises at least one of:
- an optical transmissivity within a visible spectrum of at least approximately 50%;
- bulk haze of less than approximately 50%;
- and optical clarity of at least approximately 75%;
- and
- a power source connected to at least one of the primary electrode layer or the secondary electrode layer.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- forming a primary electrode layer;
- forming an electroactive ceramic layer over and abutting a top surface of the primary electrode layer, wherein the electroactive ceramic layer, when exposed to an applied field of at least approximately 0.5 MV/m, comprises at least one of:
- an optical transmissivity within a visible spectrum of at least approximately 50%;
- bulk haze of less than approximately 50%;
- an optical clarity of at least approximately 75%;
- forming a secondary electrode layer, wherein a bottom surface of the secondary electrode layer is over and abutting the electroactive ceramic layer and overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode layer;
- and
- applying a voltage to the primary electrode layer, wherein the electroactive ceramic layer comprises:
- a first bulk haze and a first optical clarity prior to applying the voltage, and
- a second bulk haze less than the first bulk haze and a second optical clarity greater than the first optical clarity during application of the voltage.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.