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. 26, 2017
Filed:
Aug. 18, 2016
Vadient Optics, Llc., Beaverton, OR (US);
Christopher D Weber, Eugene, OR (US);
Charles G. Dupuy, Corvallis, OR (US);
John Paul Harmon, Albany, OR (US);
David M. Schut, Philomath, OR (US);
Vadient Optics, LLC, Beaverton, OR (US);
Abstract
Optical inks suitable for 3D printing fabrication of gradient refractive index (GRIN) optical components are composed a monomer matrix material doped with ligand-functionalized nanoparticles, wherein the monomer has a viscosity less than 20 cPoise and is UV curable to form a solid polymer. The matrix material doped with the ligand-functionalized nanoparticles has a transmittance of at least 90% in a predetermined optical wavelength range, wherein the ligand functionalized nanoparticles have a size less than 100 nm, are loaded in the monomer matrix material at a volume percent of at least 2%, and alter an index of refraction of the monomer matrix by at least 0.02. The ligand-functionalized nanoparticles have a plurality of ligands attached to a nanoparticle core surface with an anchor functional group and terminated with a buoy functional group that are reactive, non-reactive, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the ligands have a length less than 1.2 nm measured radially from the nanoparticle core surface.