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US 12,001,114 B2Granted
Optical modulator
AssigneeElstar Dynamics Patents B.V.
InventorRomaric Mathieu Massard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure is in the field of an electrophoretic device for switching between a transparent and non-transparent mode, comprising a fluid and particles, electrodes for moving said particles, and comprising various further elements, as well as uses thereof, in particular as a window blind.
Claims37
An optical modulator for electrophoretic switching between a transparent state and a non-transparent state and vice versa, the optical modulator comprising:
- at least first and second substrates, wherein the first and second substrates are optically transparent,
- four or more electrodes, wherein at least two electrodes are provided at an internal side of the first substrate, and at least two electrodes are provided at an internal side of the second substrate,
- a fluid provided in between the substrates, the fluid comprising nanoparticles and/or microparticles, wherein the particles are electrically charged or chargeable, and wherein the particles are adapted to absorb and/or reflect light,
- a connection for applying an electro-magnetic field to the electrodes, wherein the applied electro-magnetic field to the electrodes provides movement of the nano- and microparticles from a first electrode to a second electrode and vice versa,
- wherein the at least four electrodes comprise an electrically conducting material with a resistivity of less than 100 nΩm at 273 K,
- the at least two electrodes on the first substrate and the at least two electrodes on the second substrate electrodes are adapted to provide an electrical force between the electrodes in an orientation with respect to the substrates when switching to a non-transparent state or when switching to a transparent state, wherein the orientation is selected from parallel to the substrates, perpendicular to the substrates, diagonal with respect to the substrates, and combinations thereof,
- a power provider in electrical connection with the at least four electrodes, wherein the power provider is adapted to provide a waveform power, wherein at least one of amplitude, frequency, and phase is adaptable, wherein the power provider is configured to switch the device to a transparent state through a first signal and to maintain the transparent state through a second signal, the second signal having a lower potential than the first signal.
4 more elements
A method of operating an optical modulator, the method comprising:
- providing an optical modulator, wherein the optical modulator comprises:
- at least first and second substrates, wherein the first and second substrates are optically transparent,
- four or more electrodes, wherein at least two electrodes are provided at an internal side of the first substrate, and at least two electrodes are provided at an internal side of the second substrate,
- a fluid provided in between the substrates, the fluid comprising nanoparticles and/or microparticles, wherein the particles are electrically charged or chargeable, and wherein the particles are adapted to absorb and/or reflect light,
- wherein the at least four electrodes comprise an electrically conducting material with a resistivity of less than 100 nΩm at 273 K;
- switching the optical modulator to an on-state, comprising:
- applying a positive potential to an electrode on the first substrate, and applying a negative potential to an electrode on the second substrate, causing particles to flow to the vicinity of the electrode of the first substrate, and to substantially align with the electrode on the first substrate.
4 more elements
A method of operating an optical modulator, the method comprising:
- providing an optical modulator, wherein the optical modulator comprises:
- at least first and second substrates, wherein the first and second substrates are optically transparent,
- four or more electrodes, wherein at least two electrodes are provided at an internal side of the first substrate, and at least two electrodes are provided at an internal side of the second substrate,
- a fluid provided in between the substrates, the fluid comprising nanoparticles and/or microparticles, wherein the particles are electrically charged or chargeable, and wherein the particles are adapted to absorb and/or reflect light,
- wherein the at least four electrodes comprise an electrically conducting material with a resistivity of less than 100 nΩm at 273 K;
- switching the optical modulator to an off-state, comprising:
- on the first substrate, applying alternating potentials to immediate neighboring electrodes of the first substrate, and applying to electrodes of the second substrate an opposite potential as to the electrodes of the first substrate.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.