US4832466A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical element
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1986-04-10
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Granted: 1989-05-23
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Expires: 2006-04-10
Abstract
Abstract An optical element comprises a pair of plates between which an optical modulation liquid layer is sandwiched, the optical modulation liquid layer exhibiting a light scattering property caused by suspension of fine particle polymer when heated and exhibiting transparency caused by dissolution of fine particle polymer when not heated, the change of such light scattering property to transparency being reversible.
Inventors
- 👤 Yukuo Nishimura
- 👤 Satoshi Yuasa
- 👤 Masahiro Haruta
- 👤 Yoko Yoshinaga
- 👤 Hirohide Munakata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:04
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/36; B41M5/363; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0147; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
An optical element comprising: a pair of plates between which an optical modulation liquid layer is sandwiched, the optical modulation liquid layer exhibiting a light scattering property caused by suspension of fine particle polymer when heated and exhibiting transparency caused by dissolution of fine particle polymer when not heated, the change of such light scattering property to transparency being reversible, wherein the optical modulation liquid layer contains a light-absorbing heat-generating agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
An optical element comprising: a pair of plates between which an optical modulation liquid layer is sandwiched, the optical modulation liquid layer exhibiting a light scattering property caused by suspension of fine particle polymer when heated and exhibiting transparency caused by dissolution of fine particle polymer when not heated, the change of such light scattering property to transparency being reversible, wherein the optical modulation liquid layer contains a light-absorbing heat-generating agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical element according to claim 1, in which the optical modulation liquid layer contains a solvent and a polymer made of a hydrophilic monomer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical element according to claim 2, in which the hydrophilic monomer is acrylamide or methacrylamide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical element according to claim 2, in which the hydrophilic monomer is at least one selected from a group consisting of N-isopropylacrylamide, methyl vinyl ether, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical element according to claim 2, in which the solvent is at least one selected from a group consisting of water, alcohols, ketons, hydrocarbons, halogeneted hydrocarbons, ethers, amides and sulfoxides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical element according to claim 1, in which the pair of plates are faced to each other at a distance of 1 μm to 1000 μm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical element according to claim 1, in which the light-absorbing heat-generating agent is an infrared-ray-absorbing agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical element according to claim 7, in which the infrared-ray-absorbing agent is at least one kind of compounds selected from a group consisting of cyanines, xanthene derivatives, thiapyrylium salt derivatives and pyrylium salt derivatives.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical element according to claim 7, in which the infrared-ray-absorbing agent is contained at a concentration of 10 -5 to 10 -2 in the optical modulation liquid.
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) | 1992-05-22 | 1992-11-21 | 1993-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-22 | 1996-11-21 | 1997-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-22 | 2000-11-21 | 2001-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |