US 2006/0132927 A1 · Electrowetting chromatophore

Abstract

A biomimetic optical stack that operates on the basis of electrowetting. The stack is comprised of several layers of solid and liquid materials sandwiched together to form a single hermetic panel. The first layer in the stack is a dielectric (10). The second layer in the stack is an electrode (12). The third layer in the stack is a discriminator (14). The fourth layer in the stack is an electrode (20) that is spaced apart from discriminator (14). The space between discriminator (14) and electrode (20) is filled with an anterior liquid (16) and a posterior liquid (18) that are immiscible. Liquid (16) is composed of an insulating fluid that exhibits a stronger affinity for the surface of discriminator (14) than does liquid (18). Liquid (18) is composed of a conducting fluid that exhibits a stronger affinity for the surface of electrode (20) than does liquid (16). The final layer in the stack is a dielectric (26).

Claims16

Dependent claims

An electrowetting optical stack, comprising:

(a) an anterior dielectric layer,
(b) an anterior electrode layer that coats the posterior surface of said anterior dielectric layer,
(c) a discriminator layer composed of a nonporous dielectric that coats the posterior surface of said anterior electrode layer,
(d) a posterior electrode layer that is spaced apart from said discriminator layer,
(e) an anterior liquid composed of an insulating fluid that partly fills the space between said discriminator layer and said posterior electrode layer,
(f) a posterior liquid composed of a conducting fluid that partly fills the space between said discriminator layer and said posterior electrode layer,
(g) said anterior liquid and said posterior liquid are immiscible,
(h) said anterior liquid exhibits a stronger affinity for the surface of said discriminator layer than does said posterior liquid,
(i) said posterior liquid exhibits a stronger affinity for the surface of said posterior electrode layer than does said anterior liquid,
(j) a posterior dielectric layer that coats the posterior surface of said posterior electrode layer.

7 more elements

An electrowetting optical stack, comprising:

(a) an anterior dielectric layer,
(b) an anterior electrode layer that coats the posterior surface of said anterior dielectric layer,
(c) a discriminator layer composed of a nonporous dielectric that coats the posterior surface of said anterior electrode layer,
(d) a posterior electrode layer that is spaced apart from said discriminator layer,
(e) an array or network of wicks composed of a conductor that spans the space between said discriminator layer and said posterior electrode layer, and which is electrically continuous with the latter,
(f) a posterior discriminator composed of materials similar to those used in said discriminator that coats the anterior surface of said posterior electrode between the array or network of said wicks,
(g) an anterior liquid composed of a conducting fluid that partly fills the space between said discriminator layer and said posterior discriminator layer,
(h) a posterior liquid composed of an insulating fluid that partly fills the space between said discriminator layer and said posterior discriminator layer,
(i) said anterior liquid and said posterior liquid are immiscible,
(j) said anterior liquid exhibits a stronger affinity for the surface of said wicks than does said posterior liquid,
(k) said posterior liquid exhibits a stronger affinity for the surfaces of said discriminator layer and said posterior discriminator layer than does said anterior liquid,
(l) a posterior dielectric layer that coats the posterior surface of said posterior electrode layer.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrowetting chromatophore

Life of this patent

Electrowetting chromatophore

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16