The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 02, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 05, 1991
Theodore Zammit, Ambler, PA (US);
Niel Mazurek, Huntingdon Valley, PA (US);
Magnascreen Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A liquid crystal lens assembly that can be used to replace existing color lenses in traffic signals without the need for any special modifications to the traffic signal. The lens assembly utilizes a dichroic liquid crystal mixture that absorbs light when no electric field is applied to the mixture. When an electric field is applied across the liquid crystal mixture by two electrodes, the molecules change their orientation within the mixture and absorb less light, and the signal appears 'on'. The illumination of the bulb behind the lens assembly is visible to the user. The electric field is energized at the same time that the bulb for the traffic signal is illuminated. A colored transflector positioned in the rearward portion of the lens assembly provides the color for the signal and also acts to reflect light from the front of the lens assembly. Wires for applying the electric field to the electrodes connect directly to the terminal block for the traffic signal. A heater may be used to maintain the liquid crystal mixture at a minimum threshold temperature.