US6369869B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical component and method of manufacture
Assignee: Rolic Technologies Ltd
•
Filing: 2001-02-09
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Granted: 2002-04-09
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Expires: 2021-02-09
Abstract
Abstract An optical component having a hybrid layer structure includes an orienting layer, a further layer in contact with the orienting layer and incorporating a cross-linked liquid crystalline monomer and at least one additional orienting layer on top of the liquid crystalline layer, and preferably includes one additional cross-linked liquid crystalline monomer. The layers have different functions, such as orienting or retarding. At least one of the orienting layers should be a photo-orientating polymer network layer, or have locally varying orienting pattern. These optical components are useful in transmittance and reflective liquid crystal displays, such as rotation cells, STN cells, ferroelectric cells, and cells having an addressable active matrix. Such cells are useful in optical and integrated optical devices, and may be used for safeguarding against counterfeiting and copying in transmission.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Schadt
- 👤 Andreas Schuster
- 👤 Hubert Seiberle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:27
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08F; C08F246/00; C08G; C08G77/00; C08G77/04; C08G77/38; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/30; G02B5/3016; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/133365; G02F1/1335; G02F1/13363; G02F1/133636; G02F1/1337; G02F1/133711; G02F1/133753; G02F1/133765; G02F1/13378; G02F1/133788
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
An optical component having a layer structure, which comprises only one substrate, a first orientating layer, a cross-linked liquid crystalline monomer layer, and a second orientating layer, the first orientating layer and the second orientating layer being located on opposite sides of the liquid crystalline monomer layer, with at least one of the orientating layers comprising a photo-oriented material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
An optical component having a layer structure, which comprises only one substrate, a first orientating layer, a cross-linked liquid crystalline monomer layer, and a second orientating layer, the first orientating layer and the second orientating layer being located on opposite sides of the liquid crystalline monomer layer, with at least one of the orientating layers comprising a photo-oriented material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical component according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the orientating layers has a locally varying orientation pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical component according to claim 1 further comprising an additional anisotropic layer of oriented cross-linked liquid crystal monomers located adjacent the second orientating layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical component according to claim 3 , wherein one of the cross-linked liquid crystal monomer layers is an optical retarder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical component according to claim 4 further comprising a plurality of liquid crystal monomer layers functioning as optical retarders.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical component according to claim 4 wherein one of the cross-linked liquid crystalline monomer layer is constructed as a twisted optical retarder, and incorporates a cholesteric liquid crystal material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The optical component according to claim 3 , wherein one or more of the liquid crystalline monomers layers comprises a highly twisted cholesteric liquid crystal material so as to act as an optical filter or circular polarizer in predetermined light wavelength ranges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical component according to claim 1 , wherein the second orientating layer has a surface orientation structure produced by rubbing or oblique sputtering.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical component according to claim 1 , wherein an isotropic de-coupling layer is provided between the liquid crystalline monomer layer and the second orientation layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical component of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first orientating layer, the second orientating layer, and the cross-linked liquid crystal monomer layer cover only a portion of the substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The optical component according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystalline monomer layer comprises a highly twisted cholesteric liquid crystal material so as to act as an optical filter or circular polarizer in certain light wavelength ranges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical component according to claim 1 further comprising an absorptive color filter layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystalline monomer layer is ferroelectric.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical component according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystalline monomer layer has non-linear optical activity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The optical component according to claim 1 further comprising a second cross-linked liquid crystal monomer layer and a second photo-oriented material, which is a photo-orientating polymer network layer, wherein the uppermost monomer layer is constructed as an orientating layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
The optical component according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystalline monomer layer contains dichroic dye molecules. 17 .The optical component according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystalline monomer layer consists essentially of a cross-linked monomer or a monomer mixture which in the monomeric state is liquid crystalline between a temperature range of about 15° C. and about 80° C., at least while being processed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical component according to claim 17 , wherein the temperature range is from about 15° C. to about 50° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical component according to claim 1 , wherein the photo-oriented material is a photo-oriented polymer network.
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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) | 2005-04-08 | 2005-10-08 | 2006-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-04-08 | 2009-10-08 | 2010-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-04-08 | 2013-10-08 | 2014-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |