Patent US5666223A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5666223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High-efficiency K-sheet polarizer
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1995-12-01
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Granted: 1997-09-09
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Expires: 2015-12-01
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a new and improved light-polarizing sheet comprising molecularly oriented polyvinyl alcohol containing an oriented block segments of polyvinylene and said polyvinyl alcohol. In particular, the polarizing sheet comprises a polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material wherein the polyvinylene blocks thereof are formed by molecular dehydration of a sheet of polyvinylalcohol; said sheet of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material comprising a uniform distribution of light-polarizing molecules of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material varying in the length, n, of the conjugated repeating vinylene unit of the polyvinylene block of the copolymer throughout the range of from 2 to 24; the concentration of each of said polyvinylene blocks, as determined by the absorption of wavelengths ranging from 200 to 700 nm remaining relatively constant, the degree of orientation of said light-polarizing molecules, as measured by the spectral dichroic ratio, RD, of said blocks, increasing throughout said range with increasing length, n, of said polyvinylene blocks; said polyvinylene block concentration and said degree of orientation of said molecules imparting to said sheet a photopic dichroic ratio, RD, of at least approximately 45.
Inventors
- 👤 Stewart Bennett
- 👤 John J. Cael
- 👤 Narendra S. Kadaba
- 👤 Giorgio B. Trapani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:16
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/30; G02B5/3025; G02B5/3033; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A light polarizer comprising a molecularly oriented sheet of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material having the polyvinylene blocks thereof formed by molecular dehydration of a sheet of polyvinylalcohol; said molecularly oriented sheet of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material comprising a substantially uniform distribution of light-polarizing molecules of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material varying in the length, n, of the conjugated repeating vinylene unit of the polyvinylene block of the copolymer throughout the range of from 2 to 24; the degree of orientation of said light-polarizing molecules, as measured by the spectral dichroic ratio, R D , of said blocks, increasing throughout said range with increasing length, n, of said polyvinylene blocks; the concentration of each of said polyvinylene blocks, as determined by the absorption of wavelengths from 200 to 700 nm by said blocks, being such that said absorption-determined concentration of each of said polyvinylene blocks in the range of n=19 to 24 is not less than approximately 70% of the absorption-determined concentration of any of said polyvinylene blocks in the range of n=14 or 15; said light polarizer sheet exhibiting a photopic dichroic ratio, R D , of at least approximately 45.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A light polarizer comprising a molecularly oriented sheet of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material having the polyvinylene blocks thereof formed by molecular dehydration of a sheet of polyvinylalcohol; said molecularly oriented sheet of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material comprising a substantially uniform distribution of light-polarizing molecules of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material varying in the length, n, of the conjugated repeating vinylene unit of the polyvinylene block of the copolymer throughout the range of from 2 to 24; the degree of orientation of said light-polarizing molecules, as measured by the spectral dichroic ratio, R D , of said blocks, increasing throughout said range with increasing length, n, of said polyvinylene blocks; the concentration of each of said polyvinylene blocks, as determined by the absorption of wavelengths from 200 to 700 nm by said blocks, being such that said absorption-determined concentration of each of said polyvinylene blocks in the range of n=19 to 24 is not less than approximately 70% of the absorption-determined concentration of any of said polyvinylene blocks in the range of n=14 or 15; said light polarizer sheet exhibiting a photopic dichroic ratio, R D , of at least approximately 45.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The polarizer of claim 1, wherein a portion of the sheet further comprises a moisture-resistance imparting complex of said polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer and boric acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The polarizer of claim 1, wherein a portion of the sheet further comprises a moisture-resistance imparting complex of said polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer and a borax.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the orientation and the absorption-determined concentration of said molecules are such that the spectral dichroic ratio, R D , at segment specific wavelengths is not less than the corresponding values presented in the following table: ______________________________________
Conjugation Length, n
Wavelength (nm)
Dichloric Ratio, R.sub.D
______________________________________
7 392 8.4
8 416 10.9
9 442 17.0
10 465 21.5
11 486 27.1
12 503 33.4
13 522 38.2
14 538 44.7
15 550 47.3
16 574 54.4
17 590 58.8
18 606 62.8
19 622 65.7
20 638 64.8
21 653 60.3
______________________________________
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The polarizer of claim 1, wherein said sheet of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material is a stretched and extended sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The polarizer of claim 1, wherein said sheet of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylene block copolymer material is a stretched, borated, and extended sheet.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for making a polarizer from a polymeric sheet having a predetermined original length and comprising a hydroxylated linear high polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) unidirectionally stretching the polymeric sheet from approximately 2.0 to approximately 5.0 times it original length; (b) exposing the stretched sheet to fuming acidic vapors; (c) heating the fumed oriented sheet at a temperature appropriate to effect dehydration of the fumed sheet and to thereby form light absorbing, vinylene block segments; and (d) unidirectionally extending the dehydrated, fumed, and oriented sheet an additional 10 to 160% such that the overall degree of stretch is at least 4.8 times that of the predetermined original length.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for making a polarizer from a polymeric sheet having a predetermined original length and comprising a hydroxylated linear high polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) unidirectionally stretching the polymeric sheet from approximately 2.0 to approximately 5.0 times it original length; (b) exposing the stretched sheet to fuming acidic vapors; (c) heating the fumed oriented sheet at a temperature appropriate to effect dehydration of the fumed sheet and to thereby form light absorbing, vinylene block segments; and (d) unidirectionally extending the dehydrated, fumed, and oriented sheet an additional 10 to 160% such that the overall degree of stretch is at least 4.8 times that of the predetermined original length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the hydroxylated linear high polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the dehydrated, fumed, and oriented sheet is unidirectionally extended in a boric ion containing solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the polymeric sheet submitted to said acid fuming and said heating is supported on a carrier web, support by the carrier web being discontinued prior to said unidirectional extension and continued after said unidirectional extension.
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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) | 2000-09-08 | 2001-03-10 | 2001-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | 2005-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-08 | 2009-03-10 | 2009-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |