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:
Jan. 04, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 10, 2006
Kevin Hickerson, Altadena, CA (US);
Kevin Hickerson, Altadena, CA (US);
Energy Innovations, Inc., Poway, CA (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is an electrowetting-based apparatus comprising, in some embodiments, a plurality of immiscible fluids. The boundary between the fluids is made substantially planar with the application of select voltages to electrodes distributed around the cell containing the fluids. The electrodes are also adapted to alter the orientation of the substantially-planar fluid boundary, thereby allowing the fluid boundary to be steered in a determined direction. Light impinging on the boundary may therefore be refracted and redirected in a determined direction. Similarly, a reflective surface may be held in suspension at the fluid boundary, thereby providing a mirror with which to redirect impinging light. The electrowetting cell disclosed herein may be used as an optical switch, actuator, lens, concentrator, or like device.