US6707517B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transparent field spreading layer for dispersed liquid crystal coatings
Assignee: Iris Optronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 2001-12-26
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Granted: 2004-03-16
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Expires: 2021-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A display sheet having polymer dispersed liquid crystals, includes a substrate and a state changing layer disposed over the substrate and defining first and second surfaces, such state changing layer having the polymer dispersed liquid crystals having first and second optical states, which can change state. The display sheet further includes first and second conductors disposed respectively over first and second surfaces of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state; and a nonconductive, field spreading layer having a transparent electrically conductive polymer dispersed sub-micron particles disposed between the state changing layer and the first conductor to provide a change of state in the state changing layer in the areas between both conductors in response to a field applied between the first and second conductors which changes the state of the liquid crystals.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley W. Stephenson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1337; G02F1/133707; G02F1/1334; G02F1/137; G02F1/13718; G02F1/133305; G02F1/13345; G02F2201/00; G02F2201/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A display sheet having polymer dispersed liquid crystals, comprising: a) a substrate; b) a state changing layer disposed over the substrate and defining first and second surfaces, such state changing layer having the polymer dispersed liquid crystals having first and second optical states, which can change state; (c) a first conductor disposed over the first surface of the state changing layer; d) a second conductor on the second surface of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state; and e) a nonconductive, field spreading layer having transparent electrically conductive polymer dispersed sub-micron particles, said nonconductive field spreading layer disposed between the state changing layer and the first conductor to provide a change of state in the state changing layer outside of areas between both conductors in response to a field applied between the first and second conductors which changes the state of the liquid crystals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A display sheet having polymer dispersed liquid crystals, comprising: a) a substrate; b) a state changing layer disposed over the substrate and defining first and second surfaces, such state changing layer having the polymer dispersed liquid crystals having first and second optical states, which can change state; (c) a first conductor disposed over the first surface of the state changing layer; d) a second conductor on the second surface of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state; and e) a nonconductive, field spreading layer having transparent electrically conductive polymer dispersed sub-micron particles, said nonconductive field spreading layer disposed between the state changing layer and the first conductor to provide a change of state in the state changing layer outside of areas between both conductors in response to a field applied between the first and second conductors which changes the state of the liquid crystals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display sheet of claim 1 wherein the same polymer is used to disperse the liquid crystals and the conductive polymer sub-micron particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The display sheet of claim 2 wherein the polymer is gelatin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display sheet of claim 2 wherein the polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer and the conductive sub-micron particles are sequentially or simultaneously deposited.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The display sheet of claim 2 wherein the polymer material for the liquid crystal layer and the nonconductive field spreading means are sequentially or simultaneously deposited.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display sheet of claim 1 wherein the index of refraction of the first conductor and the field spreading layer are substantially the same.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The display sheet of claim 1 wherein the polymer dispersed sub-micron particles include polythiophene.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of making a display sheet having polymer dispersed liquid crystals comprising the steps of: a) providing a substrate; b) coating a state changing layer over the substrate having a first and second surface, such state changing layer having the polymer dispersed liquid crystals having first and second optical states; c) providing a first transparent conductor disposed over the first surface of the state changing layer and a second conductor on the second surface of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state; and d) coating a nonconductive, field spreading layer having polymer dispersed sub-micron particles of a transparent electrically conductive polymer, said nonconductive, filed spreading layer disposed between the state changing layer and the first conductor to provide a change of state in the state changing layer outside of areas between both conductors in response to a field applied between the first and second conductors which changes the state of the liquid crystals.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of making a display sheet having polymer dispersed liquid crystals comprising the steps of: a) providing a substrate; b) coating a state changing layer over the substrate having a first and second surface, such state changing layer having the polymer dispersed liquid crystals having first and second optical states; c) providing a first transparent conductor disposed over the first surface of the state changing layer and a second conductor on the second surface of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state; and d) coating a nonconductive, field spreading layer having polymer dispersed sub-micron particles of a transparent electrically conductive polymer, said nonconductive, filed spreading layer disposed between the state changing layer and the first conductor to provide a change of state in the state changing layer outside of areas between both conductors in response to a field applied between the first and second conductors which changes the state of the liquid crystals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the display sheet is in the form of a web that is sequentially moved through one or more stations which sequentially or simultaneously deposits the state changing layer of field spreading layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein indium-tin-oxide is sputtered to form the first transparent conductor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 further including patterning the first and second conductors to produce an addressable matrix.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
A display sheet having polymer dispersed liquid crystals, comprising: a) a substrate; b) a state changing layer disposed over the substrate and defining first and second surfaces, such state changing layer having the polymer dispersed liquid crystals having first and second optical states, which can change state; c) a first conductor disposed over the first surface of the state changing layer; d) a second conductor on the second surface of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state; and e) nonconductive means for spreading an electrical field, said nonconductive filed spreading means disposed between the state changing layer and the first conductor to provide a change of state in the state changing layer outside of areas between both conductors in response to a field applied between the first and second conductors which changes the state of the liquid crystals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
A display sheet having polymer dispersed liquid crystals, comprising: a) a substrate; b) a state changing layer disposed over the substrate and defining first and second surfaces, such state changing layer having the polymer dispersed liquid crystals having first and second optical states, which can change state; c) a first conductor disposed over the first surface of the state changing layer; d) a second conductor on the second surface of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state; and e) nonconductive means for spreading an electrical field, said nonconductive filed spreading means disposed between the state changing layer and the first conductor to provide a change of state in the state changing layer outside of areas between both conductors in response to a field applied between the first and second conductors which changes the state of the liquid crystals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The display sheet of claim 12 wherein the nonconductive field spreading means includes a nonconductive polymer material with transparent and electrically conductive sub micron polymer particles dispersed in said nonconductive polymer material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display sheet of claim 13 wherein the same polymer material is used to disperse the liquid crystals and the conductive polymer sub-micron particles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The display sheet of claim 14 wherein the polymer material is gelatin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display sheet of claim 12 wherein the index of refraction of the first conductor and the nonconductive field spreading means are substantially the same.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display sheet of claim 12 wherein the nonconductive field spreading means comprises sub-micron particles of polythiophene.
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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) | 2007-03-16 | 2007-09-15 | 2008-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-16 | 2011-09-15 | 2012-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-16 | 2015-09-15 | 2016-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |