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US3744126A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for controlling bowing in light valves
Assignee: Research Frontiers Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-26
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for controlling the bowing of the walls of light valves. This is especially necessary when large sized valves contain a liquid suspension. To reduce this distortion of shape and thereby eliminate bowing, an amount of fluid is withdrawn from the cell prior to sealing the cell hermetically. Fluid is withdrawn, thereby reducing the pressure on the inside of the walls, until the pressure at least one point inside the walls, and preferably toward the lower center of a light valve positioned vertically, is substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure on the outside of the light valve walls.
Inventors
- 👤 M Forlini
- 👤 F Lowell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:37
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/66; E06B3/67; E06B3/6715; E06B3/6722; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1341; G02F1/17; G02F1/172; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49805
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
The method of causing at least one wall of a deformed cell to return substantially to its undeformed condition by reducing the pressure of fluid inside the cell where the pressure of the fluid is at least at one point inside the wall of the cell greater than pressure of fluid at a corresponding point on the other side of the wall outside the cell comprising the steps of: causing the wall to return to its undeformed condition by reducing the pressure inside the cell by removing fluid until the pressure of the fluid inside the cell at that point is substantially equal to the pressure of the fluid outside the cell at the corresponding point, and hermetically sealing the cell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
The method of causing at least one wall of a deformed cell to return substantially to its undeformed condition by reducing the pressure of fluid inside the cell where the pressure of the fluid is at least at one point inside the wall of the cell greater than pressure of fluid at a corresponding point on the other side of the wall outside the cell comprising the steps of: causing the wall to return to its undeformed condition by reducing the pressure inside the cell by removing fluid until the pressure of the fluid inside the cell at that point is substantially equal to the pressure of the fluid outside the cell at the corresponding point, and hermetically sealing the cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein prior to reducing the pressure inside the cell by removing fluid the pressure at the point inside the cell is caused by the sum of hydrostatic pressure and a pressure equal to atmospheric pressure and the pressure at the corresponding point outside the cell is caused by atmospheric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 2 wherein that part of the pressure inside the cell caused by the pressure equal to atmospheric pressure is reduced by removing fluid so that the part of the pressure equal to atmospheric pressure plus the hydrostatic pressure at the point inside the cell are substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure outside the cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the fluid in the cell comprises a liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the fluid Removed is some of the liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the fluid comprises a liquid and a gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the fluid removed comprises the gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the fluid removed comprises the gas and some liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the fluid is withdrawn under suction conditions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the fluid is removed by reducing the volume of the cell without allowing any other fluid to enter the cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 including means defining the cell comprising two interconnected substantially parallel, flat walls at least one of which is transparent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the cell comprises a light valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the liquid inside the cell comprises a liquid suspension having particles in suspension which can have their orientation changed by the application of an electric or magnetic field to control the passage of radiation through the cell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the liquid at the point in the cell at which its pressure is greater than the pressure of the liquid outside the cell causes the walls of the cell to bulge outwardly, and wherein the step of reducing the pressure causes the walls to return to their flat, parallel form.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the fluid outside the cell comprises air at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 wherein a tube is mounted to connect with the interior of the cell and whereby the fluid is removed through said tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of removing fluid includes applying a suction device to the tube so as to prevent fluid such as air from entering the cell while the fluid inside the cell is being removed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 wherein hermetically sealing the cell includes the step of collapsing the tube so that it is hermetically sealed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of reducing the pressure is effected when the cell is in a substantially vertical orientation with the walls of the cell vertically oriented.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the suction device comprises a syringe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 including means defining the cell comprising two interconnected substantially flat, parallel walls.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the fluid is removed by moving the walls toward each other and permitting some fluid to be ejected through a means comprising an opening.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the walls of the cell are squeezed together to cause the ejection of fluid.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
160 words
The method of filling a cell where one wall is deformable so that the cell will not become deformed when fluid is placed therein comprising the steps of: determining substantially the maximum amount of fluid which when placed in the cell will enable the cell to remain in substantially its original undeformed shape, where if more than this amount of fluid were placed in the cell the walls of the cell would deform, the determination being made by determining the amount of fluid that will remain in a cell which had deformed walls where fluid was removed to return the walls of the cell to their original undeformed condition where the deformation is caused by the pressure of the fluid inside the wall at a point being greater than the pressure of fluid at a corresponding point on the otherside of the wall outside of the cell, filling the cell with this amount of fluid, and hermetically sealing the cell.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
160 words
The method of filling a cell where one wall is deformable so that the cell will not become deformed when fluid is placed therein comprising the steps of: determining substantially the maximum amount of fluid which when placed in the cell will enable the cell to remain in substantially its original undeformed shape, where if more than this amount of fluid were placed in the cell the walls of the cell would deform, the determination being made by determining the amount of fluid that will remain in a cell which had deformed walls where fluid was removed to return the walls of the cell to their original undeformed condition where the deformation is caused by the pressure of the fluid inside the wall at a point being greater than the pressure of fluid at a corresponding point on the otherside of the wall outside of the cell, filling the cell with this amount of fluid, and hermetically sealing the cell.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 wherein as the cell is being filled with the liquid the cell is positioned in a substantially horizontal direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |