Nanovoided holographic structures and corresponding systems and methods
AssigneeMeta Platforms Technologies, LLC
InventorsAndrew John Ouderkirk, Qi Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interference structure having a nanovoided hologram material is described. The nanovoided hologram material may have an index of refraction difference of approximately 0.4. The interference structure may include about 10% to 90% nanovoids by volume. The interference structure may be formed using a mixture of a monomer, an initiator, and solvent. The mixture may be disposed on a substrate and irradiated with two sources of light spaced apart from each other and shining on the same region of the mixture to generate an interference pattern in the mixture, leading to the selective polymerization of regions of the mixture where there is constructive interference of light. Various other devices, methods, and systems are also disclosed.
Claims20
An interference structure configured to generate a hologram, the interference structure comprising:
- a polymer matrix material defining a plurality of fluid-filled nanovoids arrayed in a periodic arrangement, the polymer matrix material comprising:
- a first region having a first refractive index;
- and
- a second region having a second refractive index, wherein the polymer matrix material comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the polymer matrix material having a thickness of from approximately 10 nm to approximately 2 μm between the first surface and the second surface;
- a first transparent conductor electrically coupled to the first surface of the polymer matrix material;
- and
- a second transparent conductor electrically coupled to the second surface of the polymer matrix material,
- wherein:
- the polymer matrix material has a first thickness between the first surface and the second surface when a first voltage is applied between the first transparent conductor and the second transparent conductor;
- the polymer matrix material has a second thickness between the first surface and the second surface when a second voltage is applied between the first transparent conductor and the second transparent conductor;
- and
- the first thickness is different than the second thickness.
An optical system, comprising:
- an optical component;
- and
- an interference structure coupled to the optical component, the interference structure configured to generate a hologram, the interference structure comprising:
- a polymer matrix material defining a plurality of fluid-filled nanovoids arrayed in a periodic arrangement, the polymer matrix material comprising:
- a first region having a first refractive index;
- and
- a second region having a second refractive index, wherein the polymer matrix material comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the polymer matrix material having a thickness of from approximately 10 nm to approximately 2 μm between the first surface and the second surface;
- a first transparent conductor electrically coupled to the first surface of the polymer matrix material;
- and
- a second transparent conductor electrically coupled to the second surface of the polymer matrix material,
- wherein:
- the polymer matrix material has a first thickness between the first surface and the second surface when a first voltage is applied between the first transparent conductor and the second transparent conductor;
- the polymer matrix material has a second thickness between the first surface and the second surface when a second voltage is applied between the first transparent conductor and the second transparent conductor;
- and
- the first thickness is different than the second thickness.
A method, comprising:
- providing an interference structure comprising:
- a polymer matrix material defining a plurality of fluid-filled nanovoids arrayed in a periodic arrangement, the polymer matrix material comprising:
- a first region having a first refractive index;
- and
- a second region having a second refractive index, wherein the polymer matrix material comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the polymer matrix material having a thickness of from approximately 10 nm to approximately 2 μm between the first surface and the second surface;
- a first transparent conductor electrically coupled to the first surface of the polymer matrix material;
- and
- a second transparent conductor electrically coupled to the second surface of the polymer matrix material,
- applying a first voltage between the first transparent conductor and the second transparent conductor, the polymer matrix material having a first thickness between the first surface and the second surface when the first voltage is applied;
- applying a second voltage between the first transparent conductor and the second transparent conductor, the polymer matrix material having a second thickness between the first surface and the second surface when the second voltage is applied, wherein the first thickness is different than the second thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.