Optical element, optical element composition and method for controlling stimuli-responsive polymer gel
AssigneeFuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
InventorsTakashi Uematsu, Akinori Komura, Hiroaki Tsutsui, Jun Kawahara, Masato Mikami, Ryojiro Akashi
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Abstract
Described is an optical element having plural electrodes and, disposed therebetween, a stimuli-responsive polymer gel, a liquid which can be absorbed therein and an ion supplying material. As the ion supplying material, preferred is a material showing a volumetric change, in the form of the element, of 0 to 100% under external stimuli. According to the present invention, a novel optical element showing a large change in light transmittance, reflectance or absorption amount and exhibits stable optical properties in repetition can be provided.
Claims19
An optical element comprising:
- plural electrodes;
- and, disposed therebetween,
- a stimuli-responsive polymer gel which undergoes expansion or contraction under external stimuli;
- a liquid which can be absorbed therein;
- and
- an ion supplying material having an ability of delivering or receiving ions in response to at least an electric field, wherein the stimuli-responsive polymer gel is of a particulate form having a range of average particle sizes between 0.1 μm to 5 mm.
An optical element, comprising
- plural electrodes;
- and, disposed therebetween,
- a stimuli-responsive polymer gel which undergoes expansion or contraction under external stimuli;
- a liquid which can be absorbed therein;
- and
- an ion supplying material having an ability of delivering or receiving ions in response to at least an electric field, wherein the stimuli-responsive polymer gel contains a light modulation material that has a concentration not less than a saturated absorption concentration or not less than a saturated scattering concentration when the stimuli-responsive polymer gel is contracted.
An optical element composition comprising:
- an ion supplying material having an ability of delivering or receiving ions in response to at least an electric field;
- a stimuli-responsive polymer gel including a light modulation material;
- and
- a liquid absorbable therein, wherein the light modulation material contained in the stimuli-responsive polymer gel has a concentration not less than a saturated absorption concentration or not less than a saturated scattering concentration when the stimuli-responsive polymer gel is contracted.
A method for controlling a stimuli-responsive polymer gel, the method comprising:
- controlling expansion or contraction of the stimuli-responsive polymer gel based on the delivery or receipt of ions from an ion supply material source having an ability of delivering or receiving ions in response to at least an electric field, wherein the ion supply material source undergoes a volumetric change of up to 100% under external stimuli.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.