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US 5,317,667 AGranted
Electrophoretic switch for a light pipe
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsWilles H. Weber, Jeffrey T. Remillard, John M. Ginder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrophoretic light switch is provided for controlling light in a light pipe having a transparent inner conductor, an outer conductor and a solution containing charged particles. Light is absorbed by the solution when the particles are attracted to the inner conductor causing the light intensity in the light pipe to be reduced.
Claims15
A device for modulating light output of a light pipe comprising:
- a light pipe having a first index of refraction;
- a transparent first conductor coating said light pipe having a second index of refraction greater than said first index of refraction;
- a cylindrical second conductor located substantially concentrically with respect to said light pipe and having a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of said first conductor forming a space therebetween;
- and
- a solution having a third index of refraction less than said first index of refraction containing charged particles having a fourth index of refraction greater than said third index of refraction filling the space between said first conductor and said second conductor, said charged particles adapted to move in response to a potential difference between said first conductor and said second conductor;
- and
- retaining means for holding said second conductor in a fixed location with respect to said first conductor and for retaining said solution in said space.
4 more elements
A method for controlling the light output of a light pipe comprising the steps of:
- providing a transparent first conductor adjacent to and surrounding said light pipe, a second conductor located substantially concentrically with respect to said first conductor and forming a space therebetween and a solution containing charged particles filling said space;
- applying a potential difference between said first conductor and said second conductor;
- and
- controlling the movement of said charged particles in said solution by changing the potential difference of said first conductor with respect to said second conductor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.