US4815826A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Colored encapsulated liquid crystal apparatus using enhanced scattering, fluorescent dye and dielectric thin films
Assignee: Manchester R&D Partnership
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Filing: 1986-03-18
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Granted: 1989-03-28
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Expires: 2006-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal material contained in plural volumes in a containment medium and operative selectively to transmit light in the presence of a prescribed input or to scatter light, and non-pleochroic dye in at least one of the liquid crystal material and the containment medium. In one embodiment generally isotropic scattering of light by the liquid crystal together with enhanced scattering features which increase the path length of the light through dye results in increased coloration with minimum dye. The enchanced scattering features may be achieved using total internal reflection and/or optical interference principles. In an embodiment the dye is a fluorescent dye.
Inventors
- 👤 James L. Fergason
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1334; C; C09; C09K; C09K19/00; C09K19/52; C09K19/54; C09K19/542; C09K19/544; G02F1/1335; G02F2202/00; G02F2202/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A liquid crystal display comprising liquid crystal means for selectively isotropically scattering light or transmitting light, substantially transparent support medium means for supporting said liquid crystal means, and dye colorant in said support medium means for coloring light isotropically scattered in said support medium means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A liquid crystal display comprising liquid crystal means for selectively isotropically scattering light or transmitting light, substantially transparent support medium means for supporting said liquid crystal means, and dye colorant in said support medium means for coloring light isotropically scattered in said support medium means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display of claim 1, said support medium means at least substantially fully enclosing said liquid crystal means on all sides as a containment medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display of claim 1, said liquid crystal means being positioned in at least one layer in said support medium means in a pattern to display predetermined information.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
38 words
The method of making a liquid crystal apparatus comprising placing an encapsulated liquid crystal material in or on a support medium, and placing a dye in at least one of such encapsulated liquid crystal material and support medium.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
38 words
The method of making a liquid crystal apparatus comprising placing an encapsulated liquid crystal material in or on a support medium, and placing a dye in at least one of such encapsulated liquid crystal material and support medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4, said placing a dye comprising placing a non-pleochroic dye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising applying a tuned dielectric interference layer to a surface of such support medium opposite the surface at which such support medium ordinarily is viewed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination of operationally nematic liquid crystal material contained in a generally spherical capsule of encapsulating medium, said encapsulating medium having a wall, the ordinary index of refraction of said liquid crystal material being approximately the same as the index of refraction of the encapsulating medium, and non-pleochroic fluorescent dye in at least one of said liquid crystal material and encapsulating medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination of operationally nematic liquid crystal material contained in a generally spherical capsule of encapsulating medium, said encapsulating medium having a wall, the ordinary index of refraction of said liquid crystal material being approximately the same as the index of refraction of the encapsulating medium, and non-pleochroic fluorescent dye in at least one of said liquid crystal material and encapsulating medium.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-03-27 | 1992-09-26 | 1993-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-27 | 1996-09-26 | 1997-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-27 | 2000-09-26 | 2001-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |