US4435047A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Encapsulated liquid crystal and method
Assignee: Manchester R&D Partnership
•
Filing: 1981-09-16
•
Granted: 1984-03-06
•
Expires: 2001-09-16
Abstract
Abstract Briefly, according to one aspect of the invention, liquid crystal material, and especially nematic material, is encapsulated; according to another aspect the encapsulated liquid crystal material is used in liquid crystal devices, such as relatively large size visual display devices; and according to further aspects there are provided methods for encapsulating liquid crystal material and for making a liquid crystal device using such encapsulated liquid crystal material.
Inventors
- 👤 James L. Fergason
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:06
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; C; C09; C09K; C09K19/00; C09K19/52; C09K19/54; C09K19/542; C09K19/544; G02F1/1334; G02F1/137; G02F2202/00; G02F2202/04; G02F2202/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 138
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and surface means for affecting the natural structure of said liquid crystal material to induce a distorted alignment thereof in the absence of an electric field to reduce optical transmission independent of polarization, said liquid crystal material being responsive to the presence of an electric field to increase such optical transmission.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and surface means for affecting the natural structure of said liquid crystal material to induce a distorted alignment thereof in the absence of an electric field to reduce optical transmission independent of polarization, said liquid crystal material being responsive to the presence of an electric field to increase such optical transmission.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, surface means for affecting the natural structure of said liquid crystal material to induce a distorted alignment thereof in the absence of an electric field to reduce optical transmission independent of polarization, said liquid crystal material being responsive to the pesence of an electric field to increase such optical transmission, and pleochroic dye contained in said liquid crystal material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, surface means for affecting the natural structure of said liquid crystal material to induce a distorted alignment thereof in the absence of an electric field to reduce optical transmission independent of polarization, said liquid crystal material being responsive to the pesence of an electric field to increase such optical transmission, and pleochroic dye contained in said liquid crystal material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electro-optic display comprising the apparatus of claim 1 or 2, and further comprising electrical means for applying such electric field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said medium having dielectric constant that is no less than the lower dielectric constant value of said material, and wherein when exposed to an electric field the electrical impedance of said medium and liquid crystal material exposed to such field along an electrical path through both said medium and liquid crystal material are related such that the electrical impedance of said medium is less than the electrical impedance of said liquid crystal material exposed to such field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said medium having dielectric constant that is no less than the lower dielectric constant value of said material, and wherein when exposed to an electric field the electrical impedance of said medium and liquid crystal material exposed to such field along an electrical path through both said medium and liquid crystal material are related such that the electrical impedance of said medium is less than the electrical impedance of said liquid crystal material exposed to such field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electro-optic display comprising the material of claim 4, and further comprising electrical means for applying such electric field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said medium having a dielectric constant that is no less than the lower dielectric constant value of said material, wherein said medium is an encapsulating medium for said liquid crystal material, and wherein said liquid crystal material and said encapsulating medium have electrical properties such that upon application of an electric field across a capsule along an electrical path through said encapsulating medium and liquid crystal material there is a greater voltage drop across said liquid crystal material than across said encapsulating medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said medium having a dielectric constant that is no less than the lower dielectric constant value of said material, wherein said medium is an encapsulating medium for said liquid crystal material, and wherein said liquid crystal material and said encapsulating medium have electrical properties such that upon application of an electric field across a capsule along an electrical path through said encapsulating medium and liquid crystal material there is a greater voltage drop across said liquid crystal material than across said encapsulating medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electro-optic display comprising the material and medium of claim 4 or 6, and further comprising electrical means for applying such electric field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A material comprising a containment medium having an index of refraction, and optically anisotropic liquid crystal means contained in said containment medium and having an ordinary index of refraction in the presence of an electric field substantially equal to the index of refraction of said containment medium for maximizing optical transmission in the presence of an electric field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A material comprising a containment medium having an index of refraction, and optically anisotropic liquid crystal means contained in said containment medium and having an ordinary index of refraction in the presence of an electric field substantially equal to the index of refraction of said containment medium for maximizing optical transmission in the presence of an electric field.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
24 words
A method of making encapsulated nematic liquid crystals, comprising mixing at least an encapsulating medium, a nematic liquid crystal material, and a pleochroic dye.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
24 words
A method of making encapsulated nematic liquid crystals, comprising mixing at least an encapsulating medium, a nematic liquid crystal material, and a pleochroic dye.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of making encapsulated nematic liquid crystals, comprising mixing at least an encapsulating medium and a nematic liquid crystal material, and further comprising selecting such liquid crystal material and such encapsulating medium such that the liquid crystal material has a positive dielectric anisotropy and the dielectric constant of such encapsulating medium is at least as great as the lower dielectric constant of such liquid crystal material.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of making encapsulated nematic liquid crystals, comprising mixing at least an encapsulating medium and a nematic liquid crystal material, and further comprising selecting such liquid crystal material and such encapsulating medium such that the liquid crystal material has a positive dielectric anisotropy and the dielectric constant of such encapsulating medium is at least as great as the lower dielectric constant of such liquid crystal material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 10, said selecting further comprising selecting such liquid crystal material and such encapsulating medium such that the liquid crystal material has an ordinary index of refraction substantially the same as the index of refraction of the encapsulating medium.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of making encapsulated nematic liquid crystals, comprising mixing at least an encapsulating medium and a nematic liquid crystal material, and further comprising selecting such liquid crystal material and such encapsulating medium such that the liquid crystal material has an ordinary index of refraction substantially the same as the index of refraction of the encapsulating medium.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of making encapsulated nematic liquid crystals, comprising mixing at least an encapsulating medium and a nematic liquid crystal material, and further comprising selecting such liquid crystal material and such encapsulating medium such that the liquid crystal material has an ordinary index of refraction substantially the same as the index of refraction of the encapsulating medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting such liquid crystal material and encapsulating medium such that the liquid crystal material has an extraordinary index of refraction that is different from the index of refraction of the encapsulating medium.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of making encapsulated nematic liquid crystals, comprising mixing at least an encapsulating medium and a nematic liquid crystal material, and further comprising causing such liquid crystal material to perform substantially independently of the optical polarization direction of incident light, including confining such liquid crystal material in a capsule formed by such encapsulating medium that causes distortion of the direction of the liquid crystal molecules when no electric field is applied thereto.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of making encapsulated nematic liquid crystals, comprising mixing at least an encapsulating medium and a nematic liquid crystal material, and further comprising causing such liquid crystal material to perform substantially independently of the optical polarization direction of incident light, including confining such liquid crystal material in a capsule formed by such encapsulating medium that causes distortion of the direction of the liquid crystal molecules when no electric field is applied thereto.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of claims 9, 10, 12 or 14, wherein such encapsulating medium comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of claims 9, 10, 12 or 14, further comprising mixing a carrier material with such encapsulating medium and liquid crystal material to form an emulsion therewith, such liquid crystal material and encapsulating medium being insoluble in such carrier material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising removing such carrier material from such emulsion and curing such encapsulating medium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17, such carrier material comprising water, and said removing comprising drying.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 16, said mixing further comprising mixing in a colloid mill to obtain particles suspended in such emulsion of substantially uniform size.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising forming capsules from such emulsion of a size on the order of from about 2 microns to about 25 microns.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 14, the nematic liquid crystal material comprising from about 5 to about 20% by volume, the encapsulating medium comprising from about 5 to about 20% by volume, and the remainder of the material mixed comprising water.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
42 words
The method of claims 9, 10, 12 or 14, said encapsulating medium forming plural capsules of such nematic liquid crystal material, and further comprising applying the plural capsules of such encapsulated liquid crystal material to a substrate or to an electrode thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising applying a further electrode on the side of the encapsulated liquid crystal material relatively remote from such substrate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising applying a protective coating over such second mentioned electrode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising forming at least one of such electrodes in a preestablished pattern and forming both of such electrodes to be substantially optically transparent to electromagnetic radiation in at least a portion of the visible range.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of causing nematic liquid crystal material to perform substantially independently of the optical polarization direction of incident light, comprising confining such nematic liquid crystal material in a capsule which causes distortion of the direction of the liquid crystal material.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of causing nematic liquid crystal material to perform substantially independently of the optical polarization direction of incident light, comprising confining such nematic liquid crystal material in a capsule which causes distortion of the direction of the liquid crystal material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
9 words
An article made in accordance with the preceding claim.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
42 words
A method of causing liquid crystal material to perform substantially independently of the optical polarization direction of incident light, comprising combining pleochroic dye with the liquid crystal material and confining such dyed liquid crystal material as a suspension in a confining medium.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
42 words
A method of causing liquid crystal material to perform substantially independently of the optical polarization direction of incident light, comprising combining pleochroic dye with the liquid crystal material and confining such dyed liquid crystal material as a suspension in a confining medium.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising liquid crystal material, and containment means for inducing a distorted alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
50 words
Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising liquid crystal material, and containment means for inducing a distorted alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 29, said liquid crystal material consisting essentially of nematic liquid crystal material.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 30, said liquid crystal material comprising nematic NM8250 liquid crystal material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 29, said liquid crystal material being reversible.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 29, wherein such containment means forms a capsule containing such liquid crystal material, and wherein the size of such capsules is from about 2 microns to about 25 microns.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 29, said containment means comprising resin or polymer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 34, said containment means being selected from the group comprising gelatin, Carbopole, Gantrez and polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 35, said containment means comprising polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 29, wherein said containment means forms a generally spherical capsule for containing such liquid crystal material.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention of claim 37, wherein the dielectric constant of the wall of such capsule results in a capacitance in a radial direction that does not drop the voltage appreciably relative to the voltage drop across the liquid crystal material upon application of an electric field across the capsule.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 23, said containment means comprising a containment medium that tends to align at least some of the liquid crystal material generally parallel to a wall of such medium when in the absence of an electric field.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 29, said containment means comprising an encapsulating medium that distorts the internal structure of the liquid crystal material in the absence of an electric field.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 29, further comprising substrate means for supporting the combination of said liquid crystal material and containment means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 41, further comprising means for adhering the combination of said liquid crystal material and containment means to said substrate means.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 41, further comprising electrode means on said substrate means for applying an electric field to said liquid crystal material.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 43, further comprising means for adhering the combination of said liquid crystal material and containment means to said electrode means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 29, said containment means forming discrete curved volumes containing discrete quantities of liquid crystal material, and said distorted alignment comprising alignment at least partly paralleling the curvature of such volumes.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 29, said liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 29, said liquid crystal material having optical anisotropy.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 29, the combination of said liquid crystalmaterial and containment means forming a plurality of encapsulated liquid crystals, and further comprising substrate means for supporting said plurality of encapsulate liquid crystals.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 29, further comprising electrode means for applying an electrical field to said liquid crystal material as such prescribed input.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 49, further comprising circuit means for applying electrical energy to said electrode means to enable the same to apply such electric field.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 29, wherein such prescribed input is an electric field, and further comprising means for applying such electric field to such liquid crystal material.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising pleochroic dye in combination with said liquid crystal material.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 29, said liquid crystal material and containment means being cooperative at least one of to absorb and to scatter light independently of the polarization of the light incident thereon.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 29, said liquid crystal material and said containment means having substantially matched indices of refraction in the presence of such prescribed input.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 54, said liquid crystal material and said containment means having different indices of refraction in the absence of such prescribed input.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 29, wherein such prescribed input is an electric field, and said liquid crystal material and said containment means have substantially related dielectric constants in the presence of an electric field such that the electrical impedance of the containment means exposed to such field is less than the electrical impedance of the liquid crystal material exposed to such field.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said liquid crystal material and said containment means have substantially related dielectric constants in the presence of an electric field such that there is a greater voltage drop across the liquid crystal material than across the containment means.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein such prescribed input is an electric field, and said liquid crystal material and said containment means have substantially related dielectric constants in the presence of an electric field such that there is a greater voltage drop across the liquid crystal material than across the containment means.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention of clim 29, said containment means comprising means for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material causing the structure of such material to fold in on itself creating storage of elastic energy in such structure.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention of clim 29, said containment means comprising means for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material causing the structure of such material to fold in on itself creating storage of elastic energy in such structure.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
82 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and wherein when exposed to an electric field the electrical impedance of said medium and liquid crystal material exposed to such field along an electrical path through both said medium and liquid crystal material are related such that the electrical impedance of said medium is less than the electrical impedance of said liquid crystal material exposed to such field.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
82 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and wherein when exposed to an electric field the electrical impedance of said medium and liquid crystal material exposed to such field along an electrical path through both said medium and liquid crystal material are related such that the electrical impedance of said medium is less than the electrical impedance of said liquid crystal material exposed to such field.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
87 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, wherein said medium is an encapsulating medium for said liquid crystal material, and wherein said liquid crystal material and said encapsulating medium have electrical properties such that upon application of an electric field across a capsule along an electrical path through said encapsulating medium and liquid crystal material there is a greater voltage drop across said liquid crystal material than across said encapsulating medium.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
87 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, wherein said medium is an encapsulating medium for said liquid crystal material, and wherein said liquid crystal material and said encapsulating medium have electrical properties such that upon application of an electric field across a capsule along an electrical path through said encapsulating medium and liquid crystal material there is a greater voltage drop across said liquid crystal material than across said encapsulating medium.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
39 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and mixed with the liquid crystal material a pleochroic dye that is soluble in the liquid crystal material.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
39 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and mixed with the liquid crystal material a pleochroic dye that is soluble in the liquid crystal material.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 62, said pleochroic dye being selected from the group consisting of indophenol blue, Sudan black, Sudan 3 and Sudan 2.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
42 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal material having an ordinary index of refraction substantially the same as the index of refraction of said medium.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
42 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal material having an ordinary index of refraction substantially the same as the index of refraction of said medium.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 64, said liquid crystal material having an extraordinary index of refraction that is different from the index of refraction of said medium.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
55 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal material comprising nematic liquid crystal material, and said medium comprising means for aligning the liquid crystal material to achieve a substantially maximum absorption of light energy under a no field condition.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
55 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material, said material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal material comprising nematic liquid crystal material, and said medium comprising means for aligning the liquid crystal material to achieve a substantially maximum absorption of light energy under a no field condition.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 66, further comprising pleochroic dye in said liquid crystal material.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
45 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said material comprising nematic liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said medium having a dielectric constant that is no less than the lower dielectric constant value of said material.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
45 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of said liquid crystal material, said material comprising nematic liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, said medium having a dielectric constant that is no less than the lower dielectric constant value of said material.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claims 27, 60, 61, 62, 64, or 68, said liquid crystal material consisting essentially of nematic liquid crystal material.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of nematic liquid crystal material contained in a generally spherical capsule of encapsulating medium, said encapsulating medium having a wall, and wherein the ordinary index of refraction of said liquid crystal material is approximately the same as the index of refraction of the encapsulating medium.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of nematic liquid crystal material contained in a generally spherical capsule of encapsulating medium, said encapsulating medium having a wall, and wherein the ordinary index of refraction of said liquid crystal material is approximately the same as the index of refraction of the encapsulating medium.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claims 27, 60, 61, 62, 64, 68, 70 or 29, said liquid crystal material consisting substantially of operationally nematic liquid crystal material.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claims 27, 60, 61, 62, 64, 68 or 70, further comprising means for applying an electric field to said liquid crystal material to affect the alignment thereof and at least one of the absorbence and scattering of light thereby.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 72, said means for applying comprising electrode means for applying the electric field across said liquid crystal material.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 73, said means for applying further comprising circuit means for providing electrical energy to said electrode means to create such electric field.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 70, wherein the extraordinary index of refraction of such liquid crystal material is different from the index of refraction of the encapsulating medium.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention of claim 75, wherein said encapsulating medium aligns the liquid crystal material substantially parallel to at least a portion of the direction of a proximate wall portion of such encapsulating medium, thereby distorting the internal structure of the liquid crystal material.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
95 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material, said material comprising an operationally nematic material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and said medium comprising means for tending physically to align said liquid crystal material with respect to said medium, said medium comprising encapsulating means for substantially encapsulating said material in substantially spherical capsules, and said means for tending physically to align comprising wall means of said capsules for tending to align said liquid crystal material generally in parallel with said wall means in the absence of an electric field.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
95 words
Liquid crystal material and a medium for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material, said material comprising an operationally nematic material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and said medium comprising means for tending physically to align said liquid crystal material with respect to said medium, said medium comprising encapsulating means for substantially encapsulating said material in substantially spherical capsules, and said means for tending physically to align comprising wall means of said capsules for tending to align said liquid crystal material generally in parallel with said wall means in the absence of an electric field.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
35 words
An operationally nematic liquid crystal material and a containment means for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material causing said material to fold in on itself creating storage of elastic energy in said material.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
35 words
An operationally nematic liquid crystal material and a containment means for containing discrete quantities of such liquid crystal material causing said material to fold in on itself creating storage of elastic energy in said material.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
22 words
A display device comprising a substrate and supported thereby encapsulated liquid crystal which is operationally nematic and has a positive dielectric anisotropy.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
22 words
A display device comprising a substrate and supported thereby encapsulated liquid crystal which is operationally nematic and has a positive dielectric anisotropy.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device of claim 79, said encapsulated liquid crystal comprising plural encapsulated liquid crystals, each capsule including liquid crystal material and an encapsulating medium, electrode means for applying an electric field across at least some of said encapsulated liquid crystals, and means for adhering said encapsulated liquid crystal to at least one of said electrode means and said substrate.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
31 words
A liquid crystal apparatus comprising an operationally nematic liquid crystal material contained in discrete quantities by a matrix formed of an emulsion of such liquid crystal material and a further medium.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
31 words
A liquid crystal apparatus comprising an operationally nematic liquid crystal material contained in discrete quantities by a matrix formed of an emulsion of such liquid crystal material and a further medium.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
12 words
A display device formed of the liquid crystal apparatus of claim 81.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claims 27, 70, 78, 81, or 82, said liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
42 words
Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising liquid crystal material, and containment means for inducing a distorted alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such absorption.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
42 words
Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising liquid crystal material, and containment means for inducing a distorted alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such absorption.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 84, said liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 84, further comprising substrate means for supporting the combination of said liquid crystal material and containment means.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 86, further comprising means for adhering the combination of said liquid crystal material and containment means to said substrate means.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 86, further comprising electrode means on said substrate means for applying an electric field to said liquid crystal material.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 88, further comprising means for adhering the combination of said liquid crystal material and containment means to said electrode means.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 84, said containment means forming discrete curved volumes containing discrete quantities of liquid crystal material, and said distorted alignment comprising alignment at least partly paralleling the curvature of such volumes.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 84, said liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 84, said liquid crystal material having optical anisotropy.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 84, the combination of said liquid crystal material and containment means forming a plurality of encapsulated liquid crystals, and further comprising substrate means for supporting said plurality of encapsulated liquid crystals.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 84, further comprising electrode means for applying an electrical field to said liquid crystal material as such prescribed input.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 94, further comprising circuit means for applying electrical energy to said electrode means to enable the same to apply such electric field.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 84, wherein such prescribed input is an electric field, and further comprising means for applying such electric field to such liquid crystal material.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 84, further comprising pleochroic dye in combination with said liquid crystal material.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 84, said liquid crystal material and containment means being cooperative to absorb light independently of the polarization of the light incident thereon.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 84, said liquid crystal material and said containment means having substantially matched indices of refraction in the presence of such prescribed input.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 99, said liquid crystal material and said containment means having different indices of refraction in the absence of such prescribed input.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 84, wherein such prescribed input is an electric field, and said liquid crystal material and said containment means have substantially related dielectric constants in the presence of an electric field such that the electrical impedance of the containment means exposed to such field is less than the electrical impedance of the liquid crystal material exposed to such field.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 84, wherein such prescribed input is an electric field, and said liquid crystal material and said containment means have substantially related dielectric constants in the presence of an electric field such that there is a greater voltage drop across the liquid crystal material than across the containment means.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 84, said liquid crystal material consisting substantially of operationally nematic liquid crystal material.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
87 words
A liquid crystal device comprising liquid crystal material and containment means, said containment means forming a plurality of capsules each having a curved interior wall surface, said capsules containing said liquid crystal material; which liquid crystal material in the absence of an applied electric field at least one of scatters or absorbs incident light independently of the polarization of said light, and which device in the presence of an applied electric field displays decreased scattering or absorption at least in the direction of the applied electric field.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
87 words
A liquid crystal device comprising liquid crystal material and containment means, said containment means forming a plurality of capsules each having a curved interior wall surface, said capsules containing said liquid crystal material; which liquid crystal material in the absence of an applied electric field at least one of scatters or absorbs incident light independently of the polarization of said light, and which device in the presence of an applied electric field displays decreased scattering or absorption at least in the direction of the applied electric field.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 104 wherein the liquid crystal material consists essentially of nematic liquid crystal material having a positive dielectric anisotropy.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 104 wherein the liquid crystal material contains a pleochroic dye.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 104 wherein the liquid crystal material is optically anisotropic and the ordinary refractive index of the liquid crystal is substantially the same as the refractive index of the containment means.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 104 which further comprises electrodes for applying such electric field.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 108 which further comprises a substrate means for supporting said electrodes, liquid crystal material and containment means.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 108 which further comprises circuit means for energizing said electrodes to apply such electric field.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
71 words
Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising nematic liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and a plurality of containment means with curved surfaces for inducing a distorted alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such distortion at least one of scatters and absorbs light when pleochroic dye is present in the liquid crystal material and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
71 words
Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising nematic liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, and a plurality of containment means with curved surfaces for inducing a distorted alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such distortion at least one of scatters and absorbs light when pleochroic dye is present in the liquid crystal material and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3341466A
Cited
GB1161039A
Cited
US3565818A
Cited
US3578844A
Cited
US3600060A
Cited
US3585381A
Cited
US3617374A
Cited
US3578482A
Cited
US3697297A
Cited
GB1376926A
Cited
DE2103591A1
Cited
US3720623A
Cited
US3871904A
Cited
US3852092A
Cited
US3787110A
Cited
US3951845A
Cited
US3872050A
Cited
US3974087A
Cited
US4048358A
Cited
US4077260A
Cited
US4182700A
Cited
US4161557A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-06 | 1987-09-05 | 1988-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-06 | 1991-09-05 | 1992-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-06 | 1995-09-05 | 1996-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |