US4593975A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image-transmitting synthetic resin rod and a process for producing the same
Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corp
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Filing: 1983-11-03
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Granted: 1986-06-10
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Expires: 2003-11-03
Abstract
Abstract An improved image-transmitting synthetic resin rod comprising a reaction product of an acrylic resin ○1 containing epoxy groups with a material ○2 having a refractive index 0.15-0.35 lower than that of said acrylic resin ○1 , and distributed in said rod so as to satisfy equation (1): n.sub.r.sup.2 =n.sub.a.sup.2 [1-(gr).sup.2 +h.sub.4 (gr).sup.4 +h.sub.6 (gr) 6 ] (1) 0.03≦gr.sub.0 ≦0.45 |h.sub.4 -2/3|≦100 |h.sub.6 +17/45|≦1,000 wherein r is the radial distance from the center axis of the rod (0≦r≦r 0 ), r 0 is the radius of the rod, n r is the refractive index at point r, n a is the refractive index at the center of the rod, g is the distribution constant of the refractive index, and h 4 and h 6 are high order coefficients, and a process for producing the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Jun Nakauchi
- 👤 Yasuteru Tahara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:57
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; G02B6/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A method of modifying the structure of a (meth)acrylate rod such that it has a refractive index distribution that satisfies the equation (1): n.sub.r.sup.2 =n.sub.a.sup.2 [1-(gr).sup.2 +h.sub.4 (gr).sup.4 +h.sub.6 (gr).sup.6 ] (1) 0.03≦gr.sub.0 ≦0.45 |h.sub.4 -2/3|≦100 |h.sub.6 +17/45|≦1,000 wherein r is the radial distance from the center axis of the rod (0≦r≦r 0 ), r 0 is the radius of the rod, n r is the refractive index at point r, n a is the refractive index at the center of the rod, g is the distribution constant of the refractive index, and h 4 and h 6 are high order coefficients in a cross section taken perpendicular to the center axis of the (meth)acrylate resin rod, which comprises the steps of: (a) swelling a rod formed from a glycidyl(meth)acrylate resin or a resin formed by polymerizing at least one glycidyl(meth)acrylate monomer with another copolymerizable monomer such that the polymer product has a glycidyl group content of at least 10 mole % with a swelling agent such that the rods satisfies the conditions of equation (2): 1.1≦V/V.sub.o ≦3.0 (2) wherein V o is the volume of the rod before immersion in the swelling agent, and V is the volume of the rod after immersion and swelling in said swelling agent until the volume has substantially stabilized; (b) immersing the swollen rod in a solution containing a compound having at least one fluoroalkyl group, wherein the fluorine bearing carbon atom content in said at least one group ranges from 1 to 8, said compound having a refractive index 0.15-0.35 lower than that of the acrylic resin of the rod and a reactivity to the epoxy groups in the glycidyl component of said resin such that the treated rod satisfies the condition of 0.8≦V'/V≦1.2 (3) wherein V' is the volume of the rod after immersion in said solution at a constant temperature for a predetermined period of time; and then (c) drying the rod.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
322 words
A method of modifying the structure of a (meth)acrylate rod such that it has a refractive index distribution that satisfies the equation (1): n.sub.r.sup.2 =n.sub.a.sup.2 [1-(gr).sup.2 +h.sub.4 (gr).sup.4 +h.sub.6 (gr).sup.6 ] (1) 0.03≦gr.sub.0 ≦0.45 |h.sub.4 -2/3|≦100 |h.sub.6 +17/45|≦1,000 wherein r is the radial distance from the center axis of the rod (0≦r≦r 0 ), r 0 is the radius of the rod, n r is the refractive index at point r, n a is the refractive index at the center of the rod, g is the distribution constant of the refractive index, and h 4 and h 6 are high order coefficients in a cross section taken perpendicular to the center axis of the (meth)acrylate resin rod, which comprises the steps of: (a) swelling a rod formed from a glycidyl(meth)acrylate resin or a resin formed by polymerizing at least one glycidyl(meth)acrylate monomer with another copolymerizable monomer such that the polymer product has a glycidyl group content of at least 10 mole % with a swelling agent such that the rods satisfies the conditions of equation (2): 1.1≦V/V.sub.o ≦3.0 (2) wherein V o is the volume of the rod before immersion in the swelling agent, and V is the volume of the rod after immersion and swelling in said swelling agent until the volume has substantially stabilized; (b) immersing the swollen rod in a solution containing a compound having at least one fluoroalkyl group, wherein the fluorine bearing carbon atom content in said at least one group ranges from 1 to 8, said compound having a refractive index 0.15-0.35 lower than that of the acrylic resin of the rod and a reactivity to the epoxy groups in the glycidyl component of said resin such that the treated rod satisfies the condition of 0.8≦V'/V≦1.2 (3) wherein V' is the volume of the rod after immersion in said solution at a constant temperature for a predetermined period of time; and then (c) drying the rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said fluoroalkyl group containing compound has a molecular weight of from 80 to 900.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said glycidyl(meth)acrylate based resin is prepared by bulk polymerization.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said fluoroalkyl group containing compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of the compounds of formulas (I) through (XII) below: C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 COOH (I), C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 CH.sub.2 COOH (II), H(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.m COOH (III), H(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.m CH.sub.2 COOH (IV), ##STR3## C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 CH.sub.2 OH (IX), C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH (X), H(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.m CH.sub.2 OH (XI) and H(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.m CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH (XII), wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m is an integer of from 1 to 4.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the swelling agent comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1,1-dimethoxypropane, 2,2-dimethoxypropane, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, 1,1-diethoxyethane, and 1,1-dimethoxycyclohexane, or is a mixture of ethylene glycol dimethyl ether and isopropyl ether.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said solution is prepared by dissolving said fluoroalkyl group containing compound in at least one compound selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1,1-diethoxypropane, 2,2-dimethoxypropane, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, 1,1-diethoxypropane and 1,1-dimethoxycyclohexane, or in a mixture of ethylene glycol dimethyl ether and isopropyl ether.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said another copolymerizable monomer is methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, styrene, α-methyl styrene, trifluoroethyl methacrylate, hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate, pentafluoropropyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol diacrylate or trimethylolpropane, triacrylate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
An image-transmitting (meth)acrylate resin rod prepared by the process of claim 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rod of claim 8, wherein the resin of said rod has a glass transition temperature of at least 70° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The rod of claim 8 or 9, wherein said (meth)acrylate resin is a β-methylglycidyl methacrylate based polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rod of claim 10, wherein the content of β-methylglycidyl methacrylate units in said polymer is at least 10 mole %.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rod of claim 10, wherein the content of β-methylglycidyl methacrylate unit in said polymer is at least 40 mole %.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The rod of claim 8, wherein the fluoroalkyl groups of said fluoroalkyl group containing compound have the structures: C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 -, C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 CH.sub.2 -, H(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.m -, H(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.m CH.sub.2 - wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m is an integer of from 1 to 4.
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) | 1989-06-09 | 1989-12-09 | 1990-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-09 | 1993-12-09 | 1994-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-09 | 1997-12-09 | 1998-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |