US3856381A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voltage-controlled dispersion of light by liquid crystals
Assignee: SCM Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-22
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-08-22
Abstract
Abstract Light of different colors is produced by using as a ''''diffraction grating'''' a cell containing a liquid crystal material, with selectively variable fields being applied across the cell to present the different colors at a viewing station. Application is made to monochromators and other devices.
Inventors
- 👤 C Hedman
- 👤 K Myrenne
- 👤 P Vartanian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:44
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/23; G02F1/29; G02F1/292; G02F1/13; G02F1/137; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/22; G02F2203/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING POLYCHROMATIC LIGHT INTO ITS SPECTRAL COMPONENTS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A SOURCE OF POLYCHROMATIC LIGHT, A BEAM-DEFINING MEMBER COOPERATING WITH SAID SOURCE, A DISPERSION MEMBER ALIGNED WITH THE BEAM, AND A VIEWING STATION FOR THE DISPERSED LIGHT, SAID VIEWING STATION HAVING PORTIONS NON-ALIGNED WITH SAID BEAMS AND SAID DISPERSION MEMBER BEING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID BEAM-DEFINING MEMBER AND SAID VIEWING STATION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID DISPERSION MEMBER COMPRISES: A CELL HAVING WALLS TRANSPARENT TO SAID LIGHT, A MESOMORPHIC MATERIAL IN SAID CELL, SAID MESOMORPHIC MATERIAL HAVING LIGHT-DISPERSION CHARACTERISTICS WHEN SUBJECTED TO A FIELD OF PARTICULAR MAGNITUDE, SAID DISPERSION COMPRISING FORMATION OF A PLURALITY OF SPECTRA, DISPLACED ANGULARLY FROM SAID BEAM AND ONTO NON-ALIGNED PORTIONS OF SAID VIEWING STATION.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING POLYCHROMATIC LIGHT INTO ITS SPECTRAL COMPONENTS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A SOURCE OF POLYCHROMATIC LIGHT, A BEAM-DEFINING MEMBER COOPERATING WITH SAID SOURCE, A DISPERSION MEMBER ALIGNED WITH THE BEAM, AND A VIEWING STATION FOR THE DISPERSED LIGHT, SAID VIEWING STATION HAVING PORTIONS NON-ALIGNED WITH SAID BEAMS AND SAID DISPERSION MEMBER BEING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID BEAM-DEFINING MEMBER AND SAID VIEWING STATION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID DISPERSION MEMBER COMPRISES: A CELL HAVING WALLS TRANSPARENT TO SAID LIGHT, A MESOMORPHIC MATERIAL IN SAID CELL, SAID MESOMORPHIC MATERIAL HAVING LIGHT-DISPERSION CHARACTERISTICS WHEN SUBJECTED TO A FIELD OF PARTICULAR MAGNITUDE, SAID DISPERSION COMPRISING FORMATION OF A PLURALITY OF SPECTRA, DISPLACED ANGULARLY FROM SAID BEAM AND ONTO NON-ALIGNED PORTIONS OF SAID VIEWING STATION.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said field-generating means comprises a source of electrical potential and said field-subjecting means comprise electrically-conductive, light-transmitting coatings on said cell walls and electrical conductors connecting said coatings in circuit with said source of potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein said source of potential comprises an alternating current source having a frequency between 10 Hz and 1000 Hz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein said coatings are on opposed ones of said cell walls, said walls being spaced apart less than 25 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said mesomorphic material has a nematic mesophase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said nematic mesomorphic material comprises an isomer of p Butyl-p'' methoxy asoxybenzene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said mesomorphic material comprises a mixture of N-(p Methoxybenzylidine)-p n-butylaniline and N-(p Ethoxybenzylidine)-p n-butylaniline.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |