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:
Nov. 01, 2016
Filed:
May. 24, 2013
Cambridge Enterprise Limited, Cambridge, GB;
Harry Coles, Ely, GB;
Ian Hutchings, Cambridge, GB;
Damian Gardiner, Cambridge, GB;
Wen-Kai Hsiao, Cambridge, GB;
Philip Hands, Edinburgh, GB;
Stephen Morris, Cambridge, GB;
Timothy Wilkinson, Willingham, GB;
Johnson Matthey PLC, , GB;
Abstract
A photonic device is manufactured by: (i) providing (e.g. by inkjet printing) an aliquot of a liquid crystal (LC) material; and (ii) depositing the aliquot onto the surface of a flowable material layer to form a liquid crystal deposit, the flowable material and the LC material being substantially immiscible. The liquid crystal deposit adopts a deformed shape relative to the shape of the aliquot due to interaction with the flowable material layer. This promotes alignment of the LC material. Incorporation of a laser dye allows the photonic device to function as a laser, which can be operated above or below threshold depending on the circumstances. The photonic device can also be used as a passive device based on the photonic bandgap of the aligned LC material.