US5368770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of preparing thin liquid crystal films
Assignee: Kent State University
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Filing: 1992-06-01
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Granted: 1994-11-29
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Expires: 2012-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystalline paste material is formed by polymerization of a solution containing a mesogenic solvent and monomeric material in bulk. The paste provides an improved method of preparing thin electrically addressable light modulating films by coating the paste onto a suitable substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred Saupe
- 👤 Antal Jakli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:51
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K19/00; C09K19/52; C09K19/54; C09K19/542
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of producing a thin electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline film comprising the steps of: a) preparing a solution comprising a polymerizable monomeric material in a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy; b) polymerizing said solution in bulk until said monomeric material polymerizes and phase separates from the mesogenic solvent to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste; and thereafter, c) coating said liquid crystal paste onto a substrate to form a thin electrically addressable film.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of producing a thin electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline film comprising the steps of: a) preparing a solution comprising a polymerizable monomeric material in a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy; b) polymerizing said solution in bulk until said monomeric material polymerizes and phase separates from the mesogenic solvent to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste; and thereafter, c) coating said liquid crystal paste onto a substrate to form a thin electrically addressable film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the polymerizing step is carried out when the mesogenic solvent is in the isotropic phase.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said monomeric material is added in an amount from about 0.5 to 5% by weight based on the weight of solvent and monomer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the solution is photopolymerized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the solution is thermally polymerized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1, which includes adding nematic liquid crystal as a component of the mesogenic solvent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 6, further including adding a cholesteric liquid crystal material as a component of the mesogenic solvent.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of producing a thin electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline film comprising the steps of: a) polymerizing a monomeric material to form a light transmissive polymer; b) dissolving said light transmissive polymer in a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy; c) cooling the solution in bulk until said polymer material phase separates from the mesogenic solvent to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste; and thereafter, d) coating said liquid crystalline paste onto a substrate to form a thin electrically addressable film thereon.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of producing a thin electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline film comprising the steps of: a) polymerizing a monomeric material to form a light transmissive polymer; b) dissolving said light transmissive polymer in a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy; c) cooling the solution in bulk until said polymer material phase separates from the mesogenic solvent to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste; and thereafter, d) coating said liquid crystalline paste onto a substrate to form a thin electrically addressable film thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein said monomeric material is added in an amount from about 0.5 to 5% by weight based on the weight of the solvent and monomer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 8, which includes adding nematic liquid crystal as a component of the mesogenic solvent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 10, further including adding cholesteric liquid crystal material as a component of the mesogenic solvent.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of producing a thin electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline film comprising the steps of: a) dissolving a monomeric material in a non-mesogenic solvent; b) polymerizing said monomeric material; c) adding a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy to the bulk solution of monomeric material and non-mesogenic solvent; d) removing said non-mesogenic solvent until the polymerized monomeric material phase separates from said solution to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste; and thereafter, e) coating said liquid crystalline paste onto a substrate to form a thin electrically addressable film thereon.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of producing a thin electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline film comprising the steps of: a) dissolving a monomeric material in a non-mesogenic solvent; b) polymerizing said monomeric material; c) adding a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy to the bulk solution of monomeric material and non-mesogenic solvent; d) removing said non-mesogenic solvent until the polymerized monomeric material phase separates from said solution to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste; and thereafter, e) coating said liquid crystalline paste onto a substrate to form a thin electrically addressable film thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said monomeric material is added in an amount from about 0.5 to 5% by weight based on the weight of the solvent and monomer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 12, which includes adding nematic liquid crystal material as a component of said mesogenic solvent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 14, further including adding cholesteric liquid crystal material as a component of said mesogenic solvent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline paste formed by the process comprising the steps of: a) preparing a solution comprising a polymerizable monomeric material in a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy; b) polymerizing said solution in bulk until said monomeric material polymerizes and phase separates from the mesogenic solvent to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline paste formed by the process comprising the steps of: a) preparing a solution comprising a polymerizable monomeric material in a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy; b) polymerizing said solution in bulk until said monomeric material polymerizes and phase separates from the mesogenic solvent to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The liquid crystalline paste according to claim 16, wherein said polymerization is carried out when the mesogenic solvent is in the isotropic phase.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline paste formed by the process comprising the steps of: a) polymerizing a monomeric material to form a light transmissive polymer; b) dissolving said light transmissive polymer in a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy; c) cooling the solution in bulk until said polymer material phase separates from the mesogenic solvent to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline paste formed by the process comprising the steps of: a) polymerizing a monomeric material to form a light transmissive polymer; b) dissolving said light transmissive polymer in a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy; c) cooling the solution in bulk until said polymer material phase separates from the mesogenic solvent to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
71 words
An electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline paste formed by the process comprising the steps of: a) dissolving a monomeric material in a non-mesogenic solvent; b) polymerizing said monomeric material; c) adding a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy to the bulk solution of monomeric material and non-mesogenic solvent; d) removing said non-mesogenic solvent until the polymerized monomeric material phase separates from said solution to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
71 words
An electrically addressable light modulating liquid crystalline paste formed by the process comprising the steps of: a) dissolving a monomeric material in a non-mesogenic solvent; b) polymerizing said monomeric material; c) adding a mesogenic solvent having positive dielectric anisotropy to the bulk solution of monomeric material and non-mesogenic solvent; d) removing said non-mesogenic solvent until the polymerized monomeric material phase separates from said solution to form a spreadable liquid crystalline paste.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-28 | 1998-05-30 | 1998-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-28 | 2002-05-30 | 2002-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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