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US 12,645,107 B2Granted
Paraffinic compound addition to liquid crystals for reduced switching voltage on NCAP-based electro-optical modulator
AssigneeOrbotech Ltd.
InventorsCharlie Xiaomao Chen, Karla Gutierrez Cuevas, Jason S. Reid
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Abstract
An electro-optic modulator is disclosed with reduced switching voltage. The electro-optic modulator includes a modulator material film layer. The modulator material film layer includes a polymer matrix. Droplets of liquid crystals are dispersed within the polymer matrix. The liquid crystals are configured to modulate light transmissivity through the electro-optic modulator. Alkanes are dispersed within the droplets. The alkane additives reduce the switching voltage of the electro-optic modulator. n-decane and mineral oil compositions are experimentally demonstrated to reduce the switching voltage.
Claims29
A modulator material layer comprising:
- a polymer matrix formed of a plurality of cross-linked polymer molecules;
- a plurality of droplets of liquid crystals within the polymer matrix;
- and
- a plurality of paraffinic alkane molecules dispersed within the plurality of droplets of liquid crystals;
- wherein the plurality of paraffinic alkane molecules are soluble in the plurality of droplets of liquid crystals and are insoluble in the polymer matrix;
- wherein the paraffinic alkane molecules comprise saturated hydrocarbons having between nine and sixteen carbon atoms, including at least one of linear isomers or branched isomers;
- and wherein the paraffinic alkane molecules reduce the switching voltage of the modulator material layer.
4 more elements
An electro-optic modulator comprising:
- a transparent conductive film;
- a modulator material layer disposed on the transparent conductive film, the modulator material layer comprising:
- a polymer matrix formed of a plurality of cross-linked polymer molecules;
- a plurality of droplets of liquid crystals within the polymer matrix;
- and
- a plurality of paraffinic alkane molecules dispersed within the plurality of droplets of liquid crystals;
- wherein the plurality of paraffinic alkane molecules are soluble in the plurality of droplets of liquid crystals and are insoluble in the polymer matrix;
- wherein the paraffinic alkane molecules comprise saturated hydrocarbons having between nine and sixteen carbon atoms, including at least one of linear isomers or branched isomers;
- and wherein the paraffinic alkane molecules reduce the switching voltage of the modulator material layer.
6 more elements
An imaging system comprising:
- an illumination source configured to generate illumination;
- a stage for a sample;
- a detector to generate an image of at least a portion of the sample;
- and
- an electro-optic modulator disposed in a path of the illumination from the illumination source and separated from the sample by an air gap, wherein the electro-optic modulator comprises:
- a transparent conductive film;
- a modulator material layer disposed on the transparent conductive film, the modulator material layer comprising:
- a polymer matrix formed of a plurality of cross-linked polymer molecules;
- a plurality of droplets of liquid crystals within the polymer matrix;
- and
- a plurality of paraffinic alkane molecules dispersed within the plurality of droplets of liquid crystals;
- wherein the plurality of paraffinic alkane molecules are soluble in the plurality of droplets of liquid crystals and are insoluble in the polymer matrix;
- wherein the paraffinic alkane molecules comprise saturated hydrocarbons having between nine and sixteen carbon atoms, including at least one of linear isomers or branched isomers;
- and wherein the paraffinic alkane molecules reduce the switching voltage of the modulator material layer.
11 more elements
A method comprising:
- obtaining an emulsion by mixing water, liquid crystals, a plurality of paraffinic alkane molecules, and a plurality of hydrophilic polymer molecules;
- coating the emulsion onto a substrate;
- and
- drying the emulsion;
- wherein the emulsion forms a modulator material layer comprising:
- a polymer matrix formed by cross-linking the plurality of hydrophilic polymer molecules;
- a plurality of droplets of the liquid crystals within the polymer matrix;
- and
- the plurality of paraffinic alkane molecules dispersed within the plurality of droplets of liquid crystals;
- wherein the plurality of paraffinic alkane molecules are soluble in the plurality of droplets of liquid crystals;
- wherein the paraffinic alkane molecules comprise saturated hydrocarbons having between nine and sixteen carbon atoms, including at least one of linear isomers or branched isomers;
- and wherein the paraffinic alkane molecules reduce the switching voltage of the modulator material layer.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.