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US 2002/0154261 A1Published application
Switchable mirrors and retarders based on imbibed nano-column films
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorJohn C. Kralik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Switchable optical components such as switchable mirrors and variable retarders are fabricated using a unique class of materials. These materials are thin film composites comprising of porous inorganic films imbibed with liquid crystal materials.
Claims16
A variable retarder comprising:
- a first substrate coated with a transparent conductor;
- a porous, optically anisotropic thin film positioned on said transparent conductor with its optic axis pointing in a direction that falls between a plane that is parallel with said first substrate and a normal to said first substrate;
- said porous thin film imbibed with a liquid crystal;
- a second substrate coated with a transparent conductor disposed on said liquid crystal-imbibed porous thin film;
- and
- a surface of said transparent conductor of said second substrate being in contact with said liquid crystal-imbibed porous thin film.
3 more elements
A switchable mirror comprising:
- a first substrate coated with a transparent conductor;
- a plurality of porous, optically anisotropic thin film layers positioned on said transparent conductor;
- each of said plurality of porous thin film layers having an optic axis pointing in a direction that falls between a normal to said first substrate and a plane that is parallel with said first substrate, and said optic axis of each of said plurality of porous thin film layers having a component that lies in said plane that is parallel with said first substrate;
- said optic axis component of each of said plurality of porous thin film layers having an azimuthal angular orientation about said normal to said first substrate;
- said plurality of porous thin film layers being arranged according to said azimuthal angular orientation of said optic axis component;
- said plurality of porous thin film layers imbibed with a liquid crystal;
- a second substrate coated with a transparent conductor disposed on said plurality of said liquid crystal-imbibed porous thin film layers;
- and
- a surface of said transparent conductor of said second substrate being in contact with an adjacent said liquid crystal-imbibed porous thin film layer.
6 more elements
A method of fabricating a switchable optical component comprising the steps of:
- providing a first substrate with a transparent conductor;
- positioning at least one porous, optically anisotropic thin film on said transparent conductor with its optic axis pointing in a direction that falls between a plane that is parallel with said first substrate and a normal to said first substrate;
- imbibing said at least one porous thin film with a liquid crystal;
- providing a second substrate with a transparent conductor disposed on said liquid crystal-imbibed porous thin film;
- and
- contacting a surface of said transparent conductor of said second substrate with said liquid crystal-imbibed porous thin film.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.