US4446305A
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Optical device including birefringent polymer
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1981-03-02
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Granted: 1984-05-01
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Expires: 2001-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Optical devices including a molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer are disclosed. The devices include molecularly oriented polymers comprising recurring units which exhibit a distribution of high electron density about the long axes of the polymer and the recurring units thereof. Transparent birefringent polymers comprising a plurality of recurring units having a substantially cylindrical distribution of electron density about the long axis of such units and the chain-extended polymers are included in optical devices and articles. The polymers exhibit high birefringence and simulate in a polymer the optical properties of a uniaxial crystal.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard G. Rogers
- 👤 Ruth C. Bilofsky
- 👤 Russell Gaudiana
- 👤 Ronald A. Sahatjian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:48
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B1/00; G02B1/08; G02B5/00; G02B5/30; G02B5/3025; G02B5/3033; G02B5/3041; G02B5/305; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
An optical device comprising a transparent molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer, said highly birefringent polymer comprising repeating molecular units exhibiting high electron density substantially cylindrically distributed about the long axes of the polymer and the repeating units thereof, said highly birefringent polymer being substantially optically uniaxial exhibiting only two indices of refraction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
An optical device comprising a transparent molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer, said highly birefringent polymer comprising repeating molecular units exhibiting high electron density substantially cylindrically distributed about the long axes of the polymer and the repeating units thereof, said highly birefringent polymer being substantially optically uniaxial exhibiting only two indices of refraction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
128 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the birefringence of said polymer is in relation to the molecular configuration of said repeating molecular units and the cylindrical or ellipsoidal electron density distribution about said axes according to a dimensionless geometric index G represented by the relationship G=0.222×E×(L/D) wherein E is a dimensionless eccentricity factor defined by the relationship ##EQU10## where e L is the longitudinal eccentricity of the electron polarizability of the repeating mojlecular unit and e T is the transverse eccentricity of the polarizability of the repeating molecular unit, L is the length of the repeating molecular unit along the main axis thereof and D is the mean diameter of the repeating molecular unit and wherein said geometric index G has a value of about 0.5 or higher.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said geometric index G has a value of one or higher.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said geometric index G has a value of 1.2 or higher.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer has a birefringence of at least 0.2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer has a birefringence of at least about 0.4.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer has a birefringence of at least about 0.2.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer has a birefringence of at least 0.4.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer is in the form of a unidirectionally stretched polymer layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
203 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer comprises: recurring units of the formula ##STR69## wherein R and R 1 are each hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl, and each of A and B is a divalent radical, at least one of said A and B radicals being a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of: ##STR70## where U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and r is an integer from 1 to 4, said U, Wp and Xr substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration; and ##STR71## where each of Y and Z is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and each t is an integer from 1 to 4, with the provisio that when each said Z is hydrogen, at least one said Y substituent is a substituent other than hydrogen positioned on the corresponding nucleus ortho with respect to the ##STR72## moiety of said radical, said Z and Yt substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
The device of claim 10 wherein each of said A and B radicals of said recurring units of formula I is a divalent radical having the formula ##STR73## wherein U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and r is an integer from 1 to 4, said U, Wp and Xr substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 11 wherein each said A and B radical is a divalent radical having the formula ##STR74## wherein each of U and X is a substituent other than hydrogen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 12 wherein each of said U and X substituents is selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, alkoxy and substituted-alkyl.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 13 wherein each said U and X substituent is bromo.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 13 wherein each of said U and X substituent is nitro.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 13 wherein each said U and X substituent is trifluoromethyl.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 16 wherein said divalent radical A is a radical having the formula ##STR75## wherein p is the integer 3, r is the integer 4 and each of U, W and X is a substituent other than hydrogen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 17 wherein each said U, W and X substituent is halogen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 18 wherein each said U, W and X substituent is fluoro.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said divalent radical A is a radical having the formula ##STR76## wherein p is the integer 3 r is the integer 4 and each of U, W and X is a substituent other than hydrogen; and said divalent radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR77## wherein each of U and X is a substituent other than hydrogen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device of claim 20 wherein, in said radical A having the formula ##STR78## where p is the integer 3 and r is the integer 4, each of said U, W and X substituents is fluoro, and wherein, in said radical B having the formula ##STR79## each said U and X substituent is bromo.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
97 words
The device of claim 10 wherein, in the recurring units of formula I, said divalent radical A is the radical having the formula ##STR80## said divalent radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR81## wherein U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and r is an integer from 1 to 4, said U, Wp and Xr substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 22 wherein said divalent radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR82## wherein each of U and X is a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitrogen, nitro, alkoxy and substituted-alkyl.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 23 wherein each of said U and X is halogen.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 23 wherein each of said U and X is bromo.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 23 wherein each of said U and X is trifluoromethyl.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
110 words
The device of claim 10 wherein, in the recurring units of formula I, said divalent radical A is a radical having the formula ##STR83## wherein each of U and X is a substituent other than hydrogen, and said divalent radial B is a radical having the formula ##STR84## wherein U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and r is an integer from 1 to 4, said U, Wp and Xr substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 27 wherein, in said radical A, each of said U and X substituents is halogen; and wherein, in said radical B, p is the integer one, r is the integer two and each X substituent is selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkoxy and substituted-alkyl.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 28 wherein said radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR85## where W and X are each alkoxy.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
The device of claim 10 wherein, in the recurring units of formula I, said divalent radical is the radical having thje formula ##STR86## and said divalent radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR87## wherein U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and r is an integer from 1 to 4, said U, Wp and Xr substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 30 wherein said divalent radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR88## wherein each of U and X is a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, alkoxy and substituted-alkyl.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 31 wherein each of said U and X is halogen.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 32 wherein each of said U and X is bromo.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 31 wherein each of said U and X is trifluoromethyl.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
98 words
The device of claim 10 wherein, in the recurring units of formula I, said divalent radical A is the radical having the formula ##STR89## and said divalent radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR90## wherein U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and r is an integer from 1 to 4, said U, Wp and Xr substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 35 wherein said divalent radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR91## wherein each of U and X is a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, alkoxy and substituted-alkyl.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 36 wherein each of said U and X is halogen.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 37 wherein each of said U and X is bromo.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 36 wherein each of said U and X is trifluoromethyl.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
103 words
The device of claim 10 wherein, in the recurring units of formula I, each of said A and B radicals is a divalent having the formula ##STR92## where each of Y and Z is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and each t is n integer from 1 to 4, with the proviso that when each said Z is hydrogen, at least one Y substituent is a substituent other than hydrogen positioned on the corresponding nucleus ortho with respect to the ##STR93## moiety of said radical, said Z and Yt substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar moelcular configuration.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 40 wherein, in each of said radicals A and B, each said Z is hydrogen, each said t is the integer one and each corresponding Y substituent is a substituent other than hydrogen position on the corresponding nucleus ortho with respect to the ##STR94## moiety of the radical.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 41 wherein each said Y substituent is selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro and alkoxy.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 40 wherein, in each of said radicals A and B, each Y is hydrogen, each t is the integer four, one said Z is hydrogen and the remaining and Z substituent is halogen.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 43 wherein said halogen is bromo.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
174 words
The device of claim 10 wherein, in the recurring units of formula I, said divalent radical A is a radical having the formula ##STR95## where each of Y and Z is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and each t is an integer from 1 to 4, with the proviso that when each said Z is hydrogen, at least one said Y substituent is a substituent other than hydrogen positioned on the corresponding nucleus ortho with respect to the ##STR96## moiety of said radical, said Z and Yt substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-planar molecular configuration; and said divalent radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR97## wherein U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and r is an integer from 1 to 4, said U, Wp and Xr substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar configuration.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 45 wherein, in said radical A, each said t is the integer four, each corresponding Y is hydrogen, one said Z is hydrogen and the remaining said Z is halogen.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 46 wherein said halogen is bromo.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 46 wherein said radical B is a radical having the formula ##STR98## wherein each of U and X is a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, alkoxy and substituted-alkyl.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 48 wherein each of U and X is halogen.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 49 wherein each halogen is bromo.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
101 words
The device of claim 10 wherein, in said recurring units of formula I, radical A is the radical having the formula ##STR99## said divalent radical B is a substituted-quaterphenylene radical having the formula ##STR100## wherein each U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, each P is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and each r is an integer from 1 to 4, said U, W p and X r substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
38 words
the device of claim 51 wherein said divalent radical B is a substituted-quaterphenylene radical having the formula ##STR101## wherein each of U and X is a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, alkoxy and trifluoromethyl.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 52 wherein each of said U and X substituents is trifluoromethyl.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
102 words
The device of claim 10 wherein, in said recurring units of formula I, said divalent radical A is the radical having the formula ##STR102## and said divalent radical B is a substituted-quaterphenylene radical having the formula ##STR103## wherein each U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, each p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and each r is an integer from 1 to 4, said U, Wp and Xr substitution being sufficient to provide said radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 54 wherein said divalent radical B is a substituted-quaterphenylene radical having the formula ##STR104## wherein each of U and X is a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, alkoxy and trifluoromethyl.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 55 wherein each of said U and X substituents is trifluoromethyl.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-01 | 1987-10-31 | 1988-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-01 | 1991-10-31 | 1992-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-01 | 1995-10-31 | 1996-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |