Dow Corning Corporation

Cambridge Enterprise Limited

Dow Silicones Corporation

Terry Clapp

Jonathan Hannington

William Alden Crossland

Anthony Bernard Davey

Huan Xu

Russell Keith King

Martin Grasmann

Fumito Nishida

Omar Farooq

Jon Vierling Degroot, Jr

Harry J Coles

Ian H White

Richard Penty

Mykhaylo Pivnenko

Oliver Hadeler

Joseph Beals

Adrian Wonfor

Joo-Nyung Jang

Bianxiao Zhong

David J Deshazer

Steven Robson

Mikhael Pivnenko

Nikolas Bamiedakis

Russel Keith King

Nikolaos Bamiedakis

Jon Degroot

Various embodiments disclosed related to UV-curable silicone composition, cured products thereof, and methods of using the same. Various embodiments provide a shear-thinning UV-curable silicone composition. The composition can include (A) a mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane having the unit formula [(CH)SiO][(CH)SiO][R(CH)SiO]wherein x is about 0.01 to about 0.1, y is about 0 to about 0.94, z is about 0.05 to about 0.99, and at each occurrence R is independently a mercapto(C)hydrocarbyl group. The composition can include (B) at least one of (B1) a polyorganosiloxane comprising at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds, and (B2) an organic molecule comprising at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds; the composition can include (C) a filler. The composition can also include (D) a photoinitiator.

UV-curable silicone composition, cured products thereof, and methods of using the same

The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a plurality of planar waveguides and method of making the same. The apparatus includes first, second, and third layers formed above a substrate and adjacent each other. The second layer is formed between the first and third layers of a material and comprises a plurality of organofunctional siloxane-based resin or polymer waveguides. Each waveguide has an input on one edge of the second layer and an output on one edge of the second layer so that the input and output are on different line-of-sight paths. The plurality of waveguides is formed such that intersections of the waveguides occur at approximately right angles and the outputs and inputs located on edges that are opposite one another are offset from each other in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the corresponding input or output signal.

Integrated planar polymer waveguide for low-loss, low-crosstalk optical signal routing

The present, invention relates to liquid crystal compositions having a smectic A structure for use in an optical device in which the composition is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes (-). In essence the composition includes a siloxane oligomer (component (a)) which may be seen to construct a layered SmA system of particular spacing and 'strength'. Within this structure a low molar mass nematic mesogen (component (c)) is provided that may be considered to be that of a 'plasticiser' which moderates the layer &#x201c;strength&#x201d;, while simultaneously providing tuneability to the properties of the composition, e.g. its refractive index or dielectric anisotropy. The addition of a side chain liquid crystal polysiloxane (component (d)) allows such systems to be further moderated since they can be considered as binding together the la&#x3e;&#xbe;rs, both within a given layer and between layers. An ionic dopant (component (b)) is also included in the composition that migrates through the composition when low frequency electric fields are applied to the composition by the electrodes, thereby disrupting the order to the composition. Order in the composition can be restored by applying a higher frequency field that does not allow the dopant time to migrate significantly. Chromophores may also be included in the formulation.

Liquid crystal formulations and structures for smectic A optical devices

The present invention provides a planar waveguide. In one embodiment, the planar waveguide includes first and third layers formed above a substrate and adjacent each other. The first and third layers are formed of a first material having a first index of refraction. The planar waveguide also includes a second layer formed between the first and third layers of a second material having a second index of refraction that is larger than the first index of refraction. The planar waveguide further includes a plurality of organo-functional siloxane based resin or polymer waveguides formed in the second layer. Each organo-functional siloxane based resin or polymer waveguide has an input on one edge of the second layer and an output on one edge of the second layer so that the input and output are on different line-of-sight paths. The plurality of organo-functional siloxane based resin or polymer waveguides is formed such that intersections of the plurality of organo-functional siloxane based resin or polymer waveguides occur at approximately right angles.

A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation has an I&#x2192;SmA*&#x2192;SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15&#xb0; C. to about 35&#xb0; C., a tilt angle of about 22.5&#xb0;&#xb1;6&#xb0; or about 45&#xb0;&#xb1;6&#xb0;, a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2., and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described. The device has a stable bookshelf geometry, bistable switching, and isothermal electric field alignment, a response time of less than 500 &#x3bc;s when switched between two stable states, and an electric drive field of less than about 30 V/&#x3bc;m.

Oligosiloxane modified liquid crystal formulations and devices using same

A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or organic non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation is nano-phase segregated in the SmC* phase, has an I&#x2192;SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15&#xb0; C. to about 35&#xb0; C., has a tilt angle of about 22.5&#xb0;&#xb1;6&#xb0; or about 45&#xb0;&#xb1;6&#xb0;, and has a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2, and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described. The device has a stable bookshelf geometry, bistable switching, and isothermal electric field alignment, a response time of less than 500 &#x3bc;s when switched between two stable states, and an electric drive field of less than about 30 V/&#x3bc;m.

A liquid crystal electro-optic device. The liquid crystal electro-optic device comprises at least one liquid crystal cell comprising: a pair of substrates having a gap therebetween; a pair of electrodes, the pair of electrodes positioned on one of the substrates or one electrode positioned on each substrate; and a ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material disposed in the gap between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material exhibiting an I-&#x2666; SmC* phase sequence wherein the liquid crystal electro-optic device is bistable in operation. The invention also involves a method for making a liquid crystal electro-optic device.

Bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal devices

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for random number generation using a scattering waveguide. The apparatus includes a light source for providing coherent light and a scattering waveguide for receiving the coherent light and providing scattered light. The relative position of the light source and the scattering waveguide are variable. The apparatus also includes a detector for forming at least one random number based on the scattered light.

Random number generation using a scattering waveguide

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for filtering an optical signal. The method includes receiving at least one input optical signal, forming first and second optical signals using the at least one input optical signal, and modifying at least one portion of the first optical signal using a plurality of non-waveguiding electro-optic phase adjusters. The method also includes forming an output optical signal by combining the first optical signal, including the at least one modified portion of the first optical signal, with the second optical signal.

Electro-optically tunable optical filter

The present invention provides an electro-optic gap-cell for waveguide deployment, including a first optical transmission medium formed in at least a portion of a device layer, a second optical transmission medium formed in at least a portion of the device layer, and a slot formed in at least a portion of the device layer, wherein the slot has at least one curved edge, and wherein the slot is disposed adjacent to the first and second transmission media.

Electro-optic gap-cell for waveguide deployment

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transforming optical wave modes. The apparatus includes a substrate and a first layer of waveguiding material above the substrate, the first layer having a first index of refraction, a first horizontal dimension, and a first vertical dimension. The apparatus also includes a second layer of waveguiding material adjacent the first layer, the second layer having a second index of refraction, a second horizontal dimension, and a second vertical dimension.

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Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Terry Clapp