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. 25, 2001
Filed:
May. 18, 2000
Michael Gentile, Cookeville, TN (US);
Tutco, Inc., Cookeville, TN (US);
Abstract
An appliance window coated with a thermochromic, polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material allows users of appliances containing such window to view the inside chamber of the appliance without opening the appliance door. The thermochromic material on the coated window also does not detract from the overall appearance of the appliance and is composed of phase-separated droplets of liquid crystal in a light-transmissive resin matrix. The liquid crystal has an optical index of refraction in the isotropic phase that is similar to the refractive index of the resin and an index of refraction in the liquid crystalline phase that is mismatched with the refractive index of the resin. The thermochromic coating is activated by the thermal energy released by the appliance during operation. The thermal energy raises the temperature of the coating to a sufficient value so as to cause the coating to switch from an opaque state to a clear state. When the temperature is reduced below a critical value, the coating switches back to the opaque state.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile