Research Frontiers Inc.

Rsearch Frontiers Incorporated

Steven M Slovak

Robert L Saxe

Srinivasan Chakrapani

Seth Van Voorhees

Dongyan Wang

Xiao-Ping Chen

Robert I Thompson

Barry Fanning

Joseph A Check, Iii

Matthew Forlini

Joseph A Check

Joseph M Harary

Gregory M Sottile

Huifang Zhuang

A laminated light valve film comprising: (a) a film having first and second opposed outer surfaces; (b) a first layer of a polymeric interlayer material upon at least a portion of each opposed outer surface; (c) a first pair of substrates, one of which is adhered to the interlayer material upon the first outer opposed surface of the light valve film and the second is adhered to the interlayer material upon the second outer opposed surface of the light valve film, these substrates being formed from plastic or glass; (d) a second layer of polymeric interlayer material applied to at least a portion of an outer surface of each one of the first pair of substrates; and (e) a second pair of substrates, one being adhered to the interlayer upon the outer surface of one of the first pair of substrates and a second one adhered to the interlayer material on the outer surface of a second one of the first pair of substrates, the second pair of substrates being formed from plastic or glass, with the proviso that when the first pair of substrates is formed of plastic, the second pair of substrates is formed of glass, and vice-versa.

Light valve films laminated between thin glass and plastic substrates

A control system controls one or more appliances or devices and includes a remote control unit, or other device, to provide instructions for controlling the devices and appliances based on user input and other information provided to the remote control unit or other device. The other information may be information provided by sensors in the remote control device itself, or elsewhere, or information obtained by the remote control device from outside the remote control device. Information may be provided from outside the remote control device via a communication system and/or a computer system.

Control system for SPD device and home automation

A laminated glazing including a moisture-sensitive functional insert included within the glazing, the laminated glazing comprising a stack comprised of a plurality of glass or plastic plies, the plies being joined together by interlayers located between the plies, wherein a central area of the stack comprises at least one optically clear interlayer; the stack further including a moisture-sensitive functional insert; wherein an inner perimeter of the laminated glazing is formed with a frame comprised of a hydrophobic moisture-resistant material, the frame having a thickness substantially corresponding to a combined thickness of the interlayers within the glazing plus the insert. In addition, a method of reducing or eliminating exposure of a moisture-sensitive insert within a laminated glazing constructed as above is also described herein.

Laminated glazings with improved moisture protection

A display device comprising a Suspended Particle Device film or other material for controlling the amount of illumination transmitted to an object from one or more light sources to protect the object from degradation by light is described. The display is capable of being dark when the object is not being viewed and being highly transmissive when the object is to be viewed. If desired, the display device may be controlled so as to provide a substantially constant amount of illumination when the object is viewed or intended to be viewed. A method of protecting an object using the display device is also provided.

Method and device for protecting objects from degradation by light with suspended particle device light valves

A light valve film forming a light-modulating element of a light valve, the film comprised of a cross-linked polymer matrix with a plurality of droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed therein. The film has a phase ratio: % particle number value calculated by the formula: In one embodiment the light valve film has a relatively low visible transmittance in the unpowered Off state such that the film has a % T of &#x3c;0.05 and a &#x394;T of &#x3e;42%. In another embodiment the light valve film has a relatively high visible transmittance in the On state such that the film has a % T of &#x3e;70% and a &#x394;T of &#x3e;57%.

SPD films with darker off-state transmittances and lighter on-state transmittances

A moisture-resistant suspended particle device film comprising a cured suspended particle device emulsion having a plurality of uncrosslinked droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed throughout the cured emulsion; first and second glass or plastic sheets located outwardly from and sandwiching the cured emulsion, wherein located on an inner aspect of each sheet, adjacent the cured emulsion, is a thin, transparent, electrically conductive coating, the coating serving as an electrode to permit passage of an applied electric field through the cured emulsion; and a moisture-resistant barrier located around an entire outer peripheral edge portion of the film, wherein the barrier is comprised of a barrier material that eliminates or at least reduces passage of moisture from outside the film into the cured emulsion, thus preventing development of a light-frame pattern in the film that would otherwise be caused by the moisture. The disclosure also discloses forming a laminate comprising the above-described film, as well as methods of forming such films and laminates.

SPD films and light valve laminates with improved durability

An electro-optical device, e.g., a suspended particle device (SPD) adapted for controlling the transmission of radiation wherein the device is provided with at least one layer of an overcoating adapted to enhance adhesion on at least a portion of a surface between a film serving as a light modulating element and electrode means for applying an electrical field to said film, wherein the overcoating is formed from a material comprising a member selected from the group consisting of (a) titanium dioxide (TiO) alone and (b) a combination of SiOand an inorganic material having an index of refraction at 589 nm greater than 1.54. A method of producing the device with the application of such overcoating is additionally described.

SPD films and light valves incorporating overcoatings which enhance film adhesion to substrates, have good cohesion and protect against electrical short circuits

An emulsifier for use in forming a film for a suspended particle device (SPD) wherein the film is comprised of a cross-linked matrix polymer having a plurality of droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed therein. The emulsifier is formed of a copolymer material comprising at least first and second segments, the segments differing from one another in at least one of their chemical affinities, their compositions and their polarities. A first one of the segments is soluble in an uncured liquid matrix polymer used in forming the film, but insoluble in a liquid suspension medium of which the droplets are dispersed. A second segment is soluble in the liquid suspending medium in the droplets and insoluble in the uncured liquid matrix polymer. The first and second segments have substantially the same index of refraction and the index of refraction of the segments is within 0.010 of that of each phase of an emulsion formed with the emulsifier.

Materials and methods for improving properties of SPD emulsions and films

A film suitable for use as the light-modulating element of an SPD light valve. The film comprises a cross-linked polymer matrix and has droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix. The liquid light valve suspension comprises particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium, wherein the polymer matrix includes at least one siloxane co-polymer comprised of one or more of each of the following units, The film exhibits a greater degree of adhesion to substrates it contacts than films which do not include a unit as recited in (c) above. Additional embodiments include a suspended particle device incorporating the film as a light modulating element, as well as a method of preparing the film according to the invention.

SPD light valves incorporating films comprising improved matrix polymers and methods for making such matrix polymers

The invention is directed to a method for laminating a suspended particle device (SPD) film which comprises forming a suspended particle device film; positioning the suspended particle device film within an unlaminated stack of components for forming a laminated suspended particle device film, wherein the stack comprises at least one hot melt adhesive sheet or film contacting an outer surface of the suspended particle device film; subjecting the unlaminated stack to at least a partial vacuum, preheating the unlaminated stack of components under the vacuum for a time and at a temperature selected to permit at least partial degassing of the stack and applying a sufficient net pressure to the stack at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to produce a laminated suspended particle device film from the unlaminated stack.

Methods for laminating films for SPD light valves and SPD light valves incorporating such laminated films

A film suitable for use as a light-modulating unit of a suspended particle device light valve, comprising a plurality of particles dispersed in a liquid suspending medium, distributed within an optionally crosslinked matrix polymer. The suspending medium is substantially immiscible with the matrix polymer, has a boiling point greater than about 100&#xb0; C., has an electrical resistivity of at least about 0.8&#xd7;10ohms per square, and has an in endex of refraction at 25&#xb0; C. which differs from that of the matrix polymer by no more than about 0.002.

Suspended particle device light valve film

A film suitable for use as a light-modulating unit of a suspended particle device (SPD) light valve. The film comprises a siloxane matrix polymer which has a refractive index&#x3e;1.4630 and has droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed within the matrix. The liquid light valve suspension preferably comprises a polyalkyl (meth)acrylate and/or fluorinated (meth)acrylate suspending polymer and optionally may comprise one or more non-polymeric liquids.

Siloxane matrix polymers and SPD light valve films incorporating same

A polyhalide light-polarizing material comprising a complex obtained by reacting: (a) elemental iodine; (b) a hydrohalide acid or an ammonium halide, alkali metal halide or alkaline earth metal halide; (c) a first compound capable of chelating hydrogen, ammonium or metal ions; and (d) a second compound comprising at least one chelating group present in the first compound and either (1) at least one group of the first compound is changed to a different group or (2) the second compound comprises at least one additional group.

Polyhalide particles and light valves comprising same

A film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of an SPD light valve, the film comprising a cross-linked polymer matrix and having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix, the liquid light valve suspension comprising particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium, wherein the matrix and the droplets each have a refractive index within a range of from about 1.455 to 1.463 and wherein the refractive index of the droplet and the matrix components of the film are preferably matched as closely as possible within RI 0.005 of each other.

SPD films and light valves comprising same

A method of making particles of light-polarizing material comprising reacting a precursor suitable for forming polyhalide particles with elemental iodine and a hydrohalide or an ammonium, alkali metal, or alkaline earth metal halide wherein the average size and/or median size of the precursor is less than 1 micron.

Growing community of inventors

N. Massapequa, NY, United States of America

Steven M Slovak