Photographic products for direct observation and optical projection, and photographic processes for their production and utilization, photographic devices for use therewith

Claim 2

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated superposition: a. a photographic stratum composed of a photosensitive material; b. a liquid crystal stratum composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage and a clear optical texture in response to a second voltage; c. a first electrically conducting stratum and a second electrically conducting stratum having a region interposed therebetween; d. said liquid crystal stratum being within said region between said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum; e. said photographic stratum being external of said region between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; f. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said light scattering texture as a function of said first voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; g. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said clear optical texture as a function of said second voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; h. one of said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum being interposed between said liquid crystal stratum and said photographic stratum and being optically clear; i. whereby, with said first voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for viewing in terms of light scattered from said liquid crystal stratum and, with said second voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for imaging in terms of light directed through said liquid crystal stratum.

Claim 3

The photographic assemblage of claim 1 wherein said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum are composed of metal.

Claim 4

The photographic assemblage of claim 1 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystal materials, said liquid crystal stratum assuming one of a focal conic texture and a Grandjean texture with one of said first voltage and said second voltage.

Claim 5

The photographic assemblage of claim 1 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystal materials, said liquid crystal stratum assuming a scattering cholesteric texture with said first voltage and a clear nematic texture with said second voltage.

Claim 6

The photographic assemblage of claim 1 wherein said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum are composed of at least one noble metal that is sufficiently thin to be substantially transparent.

Claim 7

The photographic assemblage of claim 1 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-butylaniline and cholesteryl oleyl carbonate.

Claim 8

The photographic assemblage of claim 1 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of an asymetric, optically active, p-alkoxybenzylidene-p'-amino-benzonitrile, and (b) a dielectrically positive, anisotropic member of the class consisting of alkoxy-and acyloxybenzilidene anils.

Claim 9

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated superposition: a. a photographic stratum composed of a photosensitive material; b. a liquid crystal stratum composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage and a clear optical texture in response to a second voltage; c. a first electrically conducting stratum and a second electrically conducting stratum having a region interposed therebetween; d. said liquid crystal stratum being within said region between said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum; e. said photographic stratum being external of said region between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; f. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said light scattering texture as a function of said first voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; g. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said optically clear texture as a function of said second voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; h. one of said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum being interposed between said liquid crystal stratum and said photographic stratum and being optically clear; i. first electrode means contacting said first electrically conducting stratum; j. second electrode means contacting said second electrically conducting stratum; k. said first electrode means and said second electrode means being accessible externally of said photographic assemblage; l. whereby with said first voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for viewing in terms of light scattered from said liquid crystal stratum and, with said second voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for imaging in terms of light directed through said liquid crystal stratum.

Claim 10

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated superposition: a. a photographic stratum composed of a photosensitive material; b. a liquid crystal stratum composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage and a clear optical texture in response to a second voltage; c. a first electrically conducting stratum and a second electrically conducting stratum having a region interposed therebetween; d. said liquid crystal stratum being within said region between said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum; e. said photographic stratum being external of said region between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; f. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said light scattering texture as a function of said first voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; g. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said optically clear texture as a function of said second voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; h. one of said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum being interposed between said liquid crystal stratum and said photographic stratum and being optically clear; i. first electrode means contacting said first electrically conducting stratum; j. second electrode means contacting said second electrically conducting stratum; k. said first electrode means and said second electrode means being accessible externally of said photographic assemblage; l. whereby with said first voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for viewing in terms of light scattered from said liquid crystal stratum and, with said second voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for imaging in terms of light directed through said liquid crystal stratum.

Claim 11

The photographic assemblage of claim 8 wherein said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum are composed of metal.

Claim 12

The photographic assemblage of claim 9 wherein said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum are composed of at least one noble metal that is sufficiently thin to be substantially transparent.

Claim 13

The photographic assemblage of claim 9 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-butylaniline and cholesteryl oleyl carbonate.

Claim 14

The photographic assemblage of claim 9 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of (a) an asymetric, optically active, p-alkoxybenzylidene-p'-amino-benzonitrile, and (b) a dielectrically positive, anisotropic member of the class consisting of alkoxy-and acyloxybenzilidene anils.

Claim 15

The photographic assemblage of claim 9 wherein each of said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum is no more than 300 angstrom units thick.

Claim 16

The photographic assemblage of claim 9 wherein each of said electrodes is thicker than each of said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum.

Claim 17

The photographic assemblage of claim 8 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystal materials, said liquid crystal stratum assuming one of a focal conic texture and a Grandjean texture at one of said first voltage and said second voltage.

Claim 18

The photographic assemblage of claim 8 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystal materials, said liquid crystal stratum assuming a scattering cholesteric state at said first voltage and a clear nematic state at said second voltage.

Claim 19

Photographic assemblage means for presenting a stack of superposed components in a photographic frame, said components comprising: a. photographic stratum means for optical registration in said stack and composed of a photosensitive material; b. liquid crystal stratum means for optical registration in said stack and composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage condition and a light transmitting optical texture in response to a second voltage condition; c. first electrode stratum means for optical registration in said stack; d. second electrode stratum means for optical registration in said stack; e. said liquid crystal stratum means being located for operation between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; f. one of said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means being located for operation between said liquid crystal stratum means and said photographic stratum means and being optically clear; g. said liquid crystal stratum means constituting a background when said material thereof exhibits said light scattering optical texture and constituting a window when said material thereof exhibits said light transmitting optical texture; h. said background being constituted as a function of said first voltage condition between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; i. said window being constituted as a function of said second voltage condition between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; j. whereby, when said liquid crystal stratum means is in said first voltage condition, said photographic stratum means establishes viewing in terms of light directed through said photographic stratum means and scattered from said liquid crystal stratum means and, when said liquid crystal stratum means is in said second voltage condition, said photographic stratum means establishes imaging in terms of light directed through said photographic stratum means and through said liquid crystal stratum means.

Claim 20

Photographic assemblage means for presenting a stack of superposed components in a photographic frame, said components comprising: a. photographic stratum means for optical registration in said stack and composed of a photosensitive material; b. liquid crystal stratum means for optical registration in said stack and composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage condition and a light transmitting optical texture in response to a second voltage condition; c. first electrode stratum means for optical registration in said stack; d. second electrode stratum means for optical registration in said stack; e. said liquid crystal stratum means being located for operation between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; f. one of said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means being located for operation between said liquid crystal stratum means and said photographic stratum means and being optically clear; g. said liquid crystal stratum means constituting a background when said material thereof exhibits said light scattering optical texture and constituting a window when said material thereof exhibits said light transmitting optical texture; h. said background being constituted as a function of said first voltage condition between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; i. said window being constituted as a function of said second voltage condition between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; j. whereby, when said liquid crystal stratum means is in said first voltage condition, said photographic stratum means establishes viewing in terms of light directed through said photographic stratum means and scattered from said liquid crystal stratum means and, when said liquid crystal stratum means is in said second voltage condition, said photographic stratum means establishes imaging in terms of light directed through said photographic stratum means and through said liquid crystal stratum means.

Claim 21

The photographic assemblage of claim 17 wherein said photosensitive material is silver containing.

Claim 22

The photographic assemblage of claim 17 wherein said photosensitive material is silver halide.

Claim 23

The photographic assemblage of claim 17 wherein the other of said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means is optically clear.

Claim 24

The photographic assemblage of claim 17 wherein the other of said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means is specularly reflecting.

Claim 25

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated sequence; a. a polymeric support stratum; b. a first electrode stratum; c. a liquid crystal stratum containing a mixture of nematic material and cholesteric material, exhibiting a scattering optical texture under at least one voltage condition and a clear texture under at least another voltage condition; d. a second electrode stratum; e. a polymeric support stratum; and f. a photographic stratum composed of a photosensitive material.

Claim 26

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated sequence; a. a polymeric support stratum; b. a first electrode stratum; c. a liquid crystal stratum containing a mixture of nematic material and cholesteric material, exhibiting a scattering optical texture under at least one voltage condition and a clear texture under at least another voltage condition; d. a second electrode stratum; e. a polymeric support stratum; and f. a photographic stratum composed of a photosensitive material.

Claim 27

The photographic assemblage of claim 22 wherein said first electrode stratum and said second electrode stratum are composed of metal.

Claim 28

The photographic assemblage of claim 22 wherein said photosensitive material is silver containing.

Claim 29

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated superposition; a. a photographic stratum incorporating a photograph; b. a liquid crystal stratum composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage and a clear optical texture in response to a second voltage; c. a first electrically conducting stratum and a second electrically conducting stratum having a region interposed therebetween; d. said liquid crystal stratum being within said region between said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum; e. said photographic stratum being external of said region between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; f. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said light scattering texture as a function of said first voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; g. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said clear optical texture as a function of said second voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; h. one of said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum being interposed between said liquid crystal stratum and said photographic stratum and being opticallly clear; i. whereby, with said first voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for viewing in terms of light scattered from said liquid crystal stratum and with said second voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for imaging in terms of light directed through said liquid crystal stratum.

Claim 30

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated superposition; a. a photographic stratum incorporating a photograph; b. a liquid crystal stratum composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage and a clear optical texture in response to a second voltage; c. a first electrically conducting stratum and a second electrically conducting stratum having a region interposed therebetween; d. said liquid crystal stratum being within said region between said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum; e. said photographic stratum being external of said region between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; f. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said light scattering texture as a function of said first voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; g. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said clear optical texture as a function of said second voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; h. one of said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum being interposed between said liquid crystal stratum and said photographic stratum and being opticallly clear; i. whereby, with said first voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for viewing in terms of light scattered from said liquid crystal stratum and with said second voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for imaging in terms of light directed through said liquid crystal stratum.

Claim 31

The photographic assemblage of claim 25 wherein said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum are composed of metal.

Claim 32

The photographic assemblage of claim 25 wherein said material of said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystal materials, said liquid crystal stratum assuming one of a focal conic texture and a Grandjean texture with one of said first voltage and said second voltage.

Claim 33

The photographic assemblage of claim 25 wherein said material of said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystal materials, said liquid crystal stratum assuming a scattering cholesteric state with said first voltage and a clear nematic state with said second voltage.

Claim 34

The photographic assemblage of claim 25 wherein said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum are composed of at least one noble metal that is sufficiently thin to be substantially transparent.

Claim 35

The photographic assemblage of claim 25 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)p-butylanidine and cholesteryl oleyl carbonate.

Claim 36

The photographic assemblage of claim 25 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of (a) an asymetric, optically active, p-alkoxybenzylidene-p'-amino-benzonitrile, and (b) a dielectrically positive, anisotropic member of the class consisting of alkoxy-and acyloxybenzilidene anils.

Claim 37

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated superposition: a. a photographic stratum incorporating a photograph; b. a liquid crystal stratum composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage and a clear optical texture in response to a second voltage; c. a first electrically conducting stratum and a second electrically conducting stratum having a region interposed therebetween; d. said liquid crystal stratum being within said region between said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum; e. said photographic stratum being external of said region between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; f. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said light scattering texture as a function of said first voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; g. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said optically clear texture as a function of said second voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; h. one of said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum being interposed between said liquid crystal stratum and said photographic stratum and being optically clear; i. first electrode means contacting said first electrically conducting stratum; j. second electrode means contacting said second electrically conducting stratum; k. said first electrode means and said second electrode means being accessible externally of said photographic assemblage;

Claim 38

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated superposition: a. a photographic stratum incorporating a photograph; b. a liquid crystal stratum composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage and a clear optical texture in response to a second voltage; c. a first electrically conducting stratum and a second electrically conducting stratum having a region interposed therebetween; d. said liquid crystal stratum being within said region between said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum; e. said photographic stratum being external of said region between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; f. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said light scattering texture as a function of said first voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; g. said liquid crystal stratum being characterized substantially throughout by said optically clear texture as a function of said second voltage between said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum; h. one of said first electrically conductive stratum and said second electrically conductive stratum being interposed between said liquid crystal stratum and said photographic stratum and being optically clear; i. first electrode means contacting said first electrically conducting stratum; j. second electrode means contacting said second electrically conducting stratum; k. said first electrode means and said second electrode means being accessible externally of said photographic assemblage;

Claim 39

whereby, with said first voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for viewing in terms of light scattered from said liquid crystal stratum and, with said second voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for imaging in terms of light directed through said liquid crystal stratum.

Claim 40

whereby, with said first voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for viewing in terms of light scattered from said liquid crystal stratum and, with said second voltage, said photographic stratum constitutes means for imaging in terms of light directed through said liquid crystal stratum.

Claim 41

The photographic assemblage of claim 32 wherein said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum are composed of metal.

Claim 42

The photographic assemblage of claim 32 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystal materials, said liquid crystal stratum assuming one of a focal conic texture and a Grandjean texture with one of said first voltage and said second voltage.

Claim 43

The photographic assemblage of claim 32 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystal materials, said liquid crystal stratum assuming a scattering cholesteric state at said first voltage and a clear nematic state at said second voltage.

Claim 44

The photographic assemblage of claim 32 wherein said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum are composed of at least one noble metal that is sufficiently thin to be substantially transparent.

Claim 45

The photographic assemblage of claim 32 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-butylaniline and cholesteryl oleyl carbonate.

Claim 46

The photographic assemblage of claim 32 wherein said liquid crystal stratum is composed of a mixture of (a) an asymetric, optically acitve, p-alkoxybenzylidene-p'-amino-benzonitrile, and (b) a dielectrically positive, anisotropic member of the class consisting of alkoxy-and acyloxybenzilidene anils.

Claim 47

The photographic assemblage of claim 32 wherein each of said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum is no more than 300 angstrom units thick.

Claim 48

The photographic assemblage of claim 32 wherein each of said electrodes is thicker than each of said first electrically conducting stratum and said second electrically conducting stratum.

Claim 49

Photographic assemblage means for presenting a stack of superposed components in a photographic frame, said components comprising: a. photographic stratum means for optical registration in said stack and incorporating photograph means; b. liquid crystal stratum means for optical registration in said stack and composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage condition and a light transmitting optical texture in response to a second voltage condition; c. first electrode stratum means for optical registration in said stack; d. second electrode stratum means for optical registration in said stack; e. said liquid crystal stratum means being located for operation between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; f. one of said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means being located for operation between said liquid crystal stratum means and said photographic stratum means and being optically clear; g. said liquid crystal stratum means constituting a background when said material thereof exhibits said light scattering optical texture and constituting a window when said material thereof exhibits said light transmitting optical texture; h. said background being constituted as a function of said first voltage condition between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; i. said window being constituted as a function of said second voltage condition between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode means; j. whereby, when said liquid crystal stratum means is in said first voltage condition, said photographic stratum means establishes viewing in terms of light directed through said photographic stratum means and scattered from said liquid crystal stratum means and, when said liquid crystal stratum means is in said second voltage condition, said photographic stratum means establishes imaging in terms of light directed through said photographic stratum means and through said liquid crystal stratum means.

Claim 50

Photographic assemblage means for presenting a stack of superposed components in a photographic frame, said components comprising: a. photographic stratum means for optical registration in said stack and incorporating photograph means; b. liquid crystal stratum means for optical registration in said stack and composed of a material selected from the class consisting of nematic materials, smectic materials, cholesteric materials and mixtures thereof, exhibiting a light scattering optical texture in response to a first voltage condition and a light transmitting optical texture in response to a second voltage condition; c. first electrode stratum means for optical registration in said stack; d. second electrode stratum means for optical registration in said stack; e. said liquid crystal stratum means being located for operation between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; f. one of said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means being located for operation between said liquid crystal stratum means and said photographic stratum means and being optically clear; g. said liquid crystal stratum means constituting a background when said material thereof exhibits said light scattering optical texture and constituting a window when said material thereof exhibits said light transmitting optical texture; h. said background being constituted as a function of said first voltage condition between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means; i. said window being constituted as a function of said second voltage condition between said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode means; j. whereby, when said liquid crystal stratum means is in said first voltage condition, said photographic stratum means establishes viewing in terms of light directed through said photographic stratum means and scattered from said liquid crystal stratum means and, when said liquid crystal stratum means is in said second voltage condition, said photographic stratum means establishes imaging in terms of light directed through said photographic stratum means and through said liquid crystal stratum means.

Claim 51

The photographic assemblage of claim 41 wherein said photographic means is silver containing.

Claim 52

The photographic assemblage of claim 41 wherein said photographic means is exposed and developed silver halide.

Claim 53

The photographic assemblage of claim 41 wherein the other of said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means is optically clear.

Claim 54

The photographic assemblage of claim 41 wherein the other of said first electrode stratum means and said second electrode stratum means if specularly reflecting.

Claim 55

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated sequence: a. a polymeric support stratum; b. a first electrode stratum; c. a liquid crystal stratum containing a mixture of nematic material and cholesteric material exhibiting a scattering optical texture under at least one voltage condition and a clear optical texture under at least another voltage condition; d. a second electrode stratum; e. a polymeric support stratum; and f. a photographic stratum incorporating a photograph.

Claim 56

A photographic assemblage comprising, in laminated sequence: a. a polymeric support stratum; b. a first electrode stratum; c. a liquid crystal stratum containing a mixture of nematic material and cholesteric material exhibiting a scattering optical texture under at least one voltage condition and a clear optical texture under at least another voltage condition; d. a second electrode stratum; e. a polymeric support stratum; and f. a photographic stratum incorporating a photograph.

Claim 57

The photographic assemblage of claim 46 wherein said first electrode stratum and said second electrode stratum are composed of metal.

Claim 58

The photographic assemblage of claim 46 wherein said photographic is silver containing.