US5359439A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical elements based on liquid-crystalline substances with no birefringence in a non-perpendicular direction and a process for their preparation
Assignee: Consortium fuer Elektrochemische Industrie GmbH
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Filing: 1993-02-01
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Granted: 1994-10-25
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Expires: 2013-02-01
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to optical elements based on liquid-crystalline substances, and to a process for the production thereof. The optical elements based on liquid-crystalline substances are ones which exhibit no birefringence in a defined direction of incidence, optical elements in which no birefringence occurs perpendicularly to the surface being excepted. The process for preparing the optical elements comprises illuminating a liquid-crystalline substance with unpolarized light of suitable wavelength at a defined angle in such a way that, after illumination, the director of this substance is aligned parallel to the direction of the illuminating light on passing through said substance.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred Miller
- 👤 Horst Leigeber
- 👤 Franz-Heinrich Kreuzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:55
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/133365; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/30; G02B5/3016; G02F1/1337
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
30 words
Optical elements based on liquid-crystalline substances which exhibit no birefringence in a defined direction of incidence, wherein said defined direction is not perpendicular to the surface of the liquid-crystalline substances.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
Optical elements based on liquid-crystalline substances which exhibit no birefringence in a defined direction of incidence, wherein said defined direction is not perpendicular to the surface of the liquid-crystalline substances.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process for the production of optical elements based on liquid-crystalline substances, which comprises illuminating a liquid-crystalline substance with unpolarized light of suitable wavelength at a defined angle in such a way that, after illumination, the director of said substance is aligned parallel to the direction of the illuminating light on passing through said substance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process for the production of optical elements based on liquid-crystalline substances, which comprises illuminating a liquid-crystalline substance with unpolarized light of suitable wavelength at a defined angle in such a way that, after illumination, the director of said substance is aligned parallel to the direction of the illuminating light on passing through said substance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 2, wherein the liquid-crystalline substance contains at least one photoisomerizable compound.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 3, wherein the photoisomerizable compound is a photoisomerizable dye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 3, wherein unpolarized light having a wavelength in the region in which the absorption of the photoisomerizable dye of the liquid-crystalline substance lies is used.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 2, wherein the illumination is carried out at an angle of 90° to the surface of the liquid-crystalline substance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
Information storage systems which contain the optical elements of claim 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Lens-type optical elements which contain the optical elements obtained from the process of claim 2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device for varying diffusion constant of liquid-crystalline membranes which contains the optical elements obtained from the process of claim 2.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Optical elements which appear transparent only in a narrow angular range but are opaque at other viewing angles which are obtained from the process of claim 2.
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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) | 1997-10-24 | 1998-04-25 | 1998-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-24 | 2002-04-25 | 2002-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-24 | 2006-04-25 | 2006-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |