Orbotech Limited

Karla G Gutierrez Cuevas

Jason S Reid

Nungavaram S Viswanathan

An electro-optic modulator is disclosed. The electro-optic modulator includes a modulator material film layer. The modulator material film layer includes a polymer matrix. Liquid crystals and getter molecules are dispersed within the polymer matrix. The liquid crystals are configured to modulate light transmissivity through the electro-optic modulator. The getter molecules capture or coordinate with cationic impurities present within the polymer matrix. By gettering the cationic impurities, switching of the device at modulated low frequencies are improved as well as a reduction on the switching voltage of the device. Three classes of getter molecules have been so far demonstrated to work: inorganic ion traps (dihydrogen ammonium phosphate), organic cation traps (EDTA), and organic ion extractors (nicotinic acid). An amount for the getter molecules may be 0.01 to 1.0 percent by weight of the polymer matrix.

Cationic gettering in liquid crystal NCAP and PDLC films

An electro-optic modulator is a liquid-crystal-based electro-optical light modulator. The liquid-crystal-based electro-optical light modulator is fabricated using surface Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS) techniques. The electro-optical light modulator is used for inspecting flat panel displays or the like. Utilizing surface MEMS techniques for fabrication considerably thins the electro-optic modulator and allows the use of pure liquid crystal without the need for thick containment plates.

Method for fabricating a liquid-crystal-based electro-optical light modulator using surface MEMS techniques for flat panel display inspection

A modulator material layer includes a polymer matrix formed of a plurality of cross-linked polymer molecules and a plurality of droplets of liquid crystals within the polymer matrix. A planar macrocycle dye is dispersed within the plurality of droplets of liquid crystals. The planar macrocycle dye can include one or more of a phthalocanine, a porphyrin, a naphthalocyanine, a metallophthalocyanine, a metalloporphyrin, or a metallonaphthalocyanine.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Karla G Gutierrez Cuevas