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:
Sep. 11, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1998
Ryojiro Akashi, Minami-Ashigara, JP;
Akinori Komura, Minami-Ashigara, JP;
Takashi Uematsu, Minami-Ashigara, JP;
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A volume-modulation coloration producing material which is characterized by high contrast, high response and excellent durability; a composition including this material; an optical element and a method for optical modulation using the composition are disclosed. The volume-modulation coloration producing material includes a polymer gel capable of swelling-contracting by absorbing or desorbing a liquid when an external stimulus is given, and a pigment contained in the material at a concentration equal to or higher than a saturation absorption concentration. The volume-modulation coloration producing composition, which includes the volume-modulation coloration producing material and a liquid, exhibits a reversible volume change to swell or contract by the application of a stimulus such as, for example, heat, light, an electric current, an electric field, change in pH, change in ionic concentration, absorption or desorption of a substance and addition of a solvent. The pigment in the gel is in a diffused state (a) when the polymer gel is swollen while the pigment in the gel is in a flocculated state, (b) when the polymer gel is contracted so that the absorption efficiency of the light of the coloration producing material in a swollen state is higher than the absorption efficiency of the light of the coloration producing material in a contracted state.