US4900135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical element
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1986-04-10
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Granted: 1990-02-13
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Expires: 2006-04-10
Abstract
Abstract An optical element comprised 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 not heated and exhibiting transparency caused by dissolution of fine particle polymer when heated, the change of such light scattering property to transparency being reversible.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoshi Yuasa
- 👤 Yukuo Nishimura
- 👤 Yoko Yoshinaga
- 👤 Hirohide Munakata
- 👤 Masahiro Haruta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0147; B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/36; B41M5/363; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/1238; G06K15/1242; G06K15/1252
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
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 not heated and exhibiting transparency caused by dissolution of fine particle polymer when 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 not heated and exhibiting transparency caused by dissolution of fine particle polymer when 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
24 words
An optical element according to claim 1, in which the optical modulation liquid layer contains a solvent and fine particle polymer when not heated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical element according to claim 1, in which the polymer is at least one of polymers selected from a group consisting of polyalkenes, polydienes, polyvinyls, polystylenes, polyethers, polyimines, polyesters and polyamides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical element according to claim 1, in which the polymer is formed from at least one selected from the monomer group consisting of slkenes, dienes, vinyls and styrenes.
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, halogenated 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 in the modulation liquid at a concentration of 10 -5 to 10 -2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A light modulation apparatus comprising a signal input portion, a light receiving medium and a light modulation element between said signal input portion and said light receiving medium, wherein said light modulation element comprises the optical element of claim 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The light modulation apparatus of claim 10 further comprising an image-forming optical system for allowing light to form an image on the light receiving medium, wherein said light passes through the light modulation element.
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) | 1993-02-12 | 1993-08-14 | 1994-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-12 | 1997-08-14 | 1998-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-12 | 2001-08-14 | 2002-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |