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US 12,258,509 B2Granted
Optical component
AssigneeMerck Patent GmbH
InventorsIzumi Saito, Owain Llyr Parri, Andreas Taugerbeck, Carsten Fritzsch, Dagmar Klass
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical component is described which contains a liquid crystal (LC) medium, operable in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The LC medium, which can be used in the infrared (IR) region, can contain one or more compounds of the formulae I, II, and III in which the occurring groups and parameters have the meanings defined herein, and preferably contain one or more compounds of the formula RO in which the occurring groups and parameters have the meanings defined herein.
Claims18
An optical component (100) operable in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising:
- a liquid crystal medium (140) sandwiched between a first substrate (110) and a second substrate (160) facing each other, and
- first and second electrodes (120, 150) for supplying an electric potential across said liquid crystal medium to drive liquid crystals in a predetermined configuration,
- wherein said liquid crystal medium comprises:
- one or more compounds selected from formulae I, II, and III
- in which
- R1 denotes H, or a straight chain alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, a branched alkyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight chain alkenyl having 2 to 15 C atoms, or a branched alkenyl having 3 to 15 C atoms, in which one or more CH2-groups may each be replaced by
- n is 0, 1 or 2,
- on each occurrence, independently of one another, denote
- in which RL, on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes H or alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms,
- and wherein
- alternatively denotes
- R2 denotes H, or a straight chain having 1 to 12 C atoms, a branched alkyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight chain having 1 to 12 C atoms, or a branched alkenyl having 3 to 15 C atoms, in which one or more CH2-groups may each be replaced by
- Z21 denotes trans-CH═CH—, trans-CF═CF— or —C≡C—, and
- independently of one another, denote
- in which RL, on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes H or alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms,
- and wherein
- R3 denotes H, a straight chain alkyl having 1 to 12 C, a branched alkyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight chain alkenyl having 2 to 15 C atoms, or a branched alkenyl having 3 to 15 C atoms, in which one or more CH2-groups may each be replaced by
- one of Z31 and Z32, denotes trans-CH═CH—, trans-CF═CF— or —C≡C— and the other one, independently thereof, denotes —C≡C—, trans-CH═CH—, trans-CF═CF— or a single bond;
- independently of one another, denote
- in which RL, on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes H or alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms,
- and wherein
- alternatively denotes
- one or more compounds of formula RO
- in which
- RRO denotes straight chain having 1 to 12 C atoms, a branched alkyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight chain alkenyl having 2 to 12 C atoms, or a branched alkenyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, in each of which one or more CH2-groups may each be replaced by
- ZT1, ZT2 identically or differently, denote —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CF—, —CF═CH—, —C≡C— or a single bond,
- X1, X2,
- X3 and X4 identically or differently, denote H, Cl, F or CH3,
- t is 0 or 1, and
- denote a radical selected from the following groups:
- a) the group consisting of 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-naphthylene, and 2,6-naphthylene, in which one or two CH groups may each be replaced by N and in which one or more H atoms may each be replaced by L,
- b) the group consisting of thiophene-2,5-diyl, thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-2,5-diyl, selenophene-2,5-diyl, furan-2,5-diyl, each of which is optionally mono- or polysubstituted by L,
- L on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes F, Cl, a straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy, in each case optionally fluorinated, having 1 to 12 C atoms, a branched alkyl or alkoxy having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight-chain alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 2 to 12 C atoms, or branched alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 2 4 to 12 C atoms;
- wherein
- said medium contains one or more compounds of the formula I in a total concentration of 30% or more, and
- said medium contains one or more compounds of formula III in a total concentration of 2% to 30%.
33 more elements
A method of manufacturing an optical phase modulator, comprising:
- a) providing a first substrate with a first electrode, optionally having a two dimensional array of individually electrically drivable cells;
- b) depositing a liquid crystal medium over the first substrate;
- and
- c) mounting a second substrate with a second electrode onto the liquid crystal material,
- wherein said liquid crystal medium comprises:
- one or more compounds selected from formulae I, II, and III
- in which
- R1 denotes H, or a straight chain alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, a branched alkyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight chain alkenyl having 2 to 15 C atoms, or a branched alkenyl having 3 to 15 C atoms, in which one or more CH2-groups may each be replaced by
- n is 0, 1 or 2,
- on each occurrence, independently of one another, denote
- in which RL, on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes H or alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms,
- and wherein
- alternatively denotes
- R2 denotes H, or a straight chain having 1 to 12 C atoms, a branched alkyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight chain having 1 to 12 C atoms, or a branched alkenyl having 3 to 15 C atoms, in which one or more CH2-groups may each be replaced by
- Z21 denotes trans-CH═CH—, trans-CF═CF— or —C≡C—, and
- independently of one another, denote
- in which RL, on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes H or alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms,
- and wherein
- R3 denotes H, a straight chain alkyl having 1 to 12 C, a branched alkyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight chain alkenyl having 2 to 15 C atoms, or a branched alkenyl having 3 to 15 C atoms, in which one or more CH2-groups may each be replaced by
- one of Z31 and Z32, denotes trans-CH═CH—, trans-CF═CF— or —C≡C— and the other one, independently thereof, denotes —C≡C—, trans-CH═CH—, trans-CF═CF— or a single bond;
- independently of one another, denote
- in which RL, on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes H or alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms,
- and wherein
- alternatively denotes
- one or more compounds of formula RO
- in which
- RRO denotes straight chain having 1 to 12 C atoms, a branched alkyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight chain alkenyl having 2 to 12 C atoms, or a branched alkenyl having 3 to 12 C atoms, in each of which one or more CH2-groups may each be replaced by
- ZT1, ZT2 identically or differently, denote —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CF—, —CF═CH—, —C≡C— or a single bond,
- X1, X2,
- X3 and X4 identically or differently, denote H, Cl, F or CH3,
- t is 0 or 1, and
- denote a radical selected from the following groups:
- a) the group consisting of 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-naphthylene, and 2,6-naphthylene, in which one or two CH groups may each be replaced by N and in which one or more H atoms may each be replaced by L,
- b) the group consisting of thiophene-2,5-diyl, thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-2,5-diyl, selenophene-2,5-diyl, furan-2,5-diyl, each of which is optionally mono- or polysubstituted by L,
- L on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes F, Cl, a straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy, in each case optionally fluorinated, having 1 to 12 C atoms, a branched alkyl or alkoxy having 3 to 12 C atoms, a straight-chain alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 2 to 12 C atoms, or branched alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 2 4 to 12 C atoms;
- wherein
- said medium contains one or more compounds of the formula I in a total concentration of 30% or more, and
- said medium contains one or more compounds of formula III in a total concentration of 2% to 30%.
35 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.