Light modulator and substrate having electrodes comprising apertures

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to a light modulator having a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrates being arranged with inner sides opposite to each other, the first substrate being transparent, at least one driving electrode being applied to the inner side of the first substrate, the driving electrode extending in a pattern across the inner side of the first substrate, the driving electrode comprises multiple apertures extending through the electrode thus allowing incident light to pass through the first substrate and the driving electrode into the optical layer, or vice versa.

Description

FP1260309HK Invention Title: Optical Modulator and Substrate with Electrodes Including Apertures Abstract Some embodiments relate to an optical modulator having a first substrate and a second substrate arranged inwardly opposite to each other. The first substrate is transparent. At least one driving electrode is applied to the inner side of the first substrate, the driving electrode extending in a pattern across the inner side of the first substrate. The driving electrode includes a plurality of holes extending through the electrode, thereby allowing incident light to pass through the first substrate and the driving electrode into an optical layer, or vice versa. Abstract

Claims

CLAIMSClaim 1 . A light modulator comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrates being arranged with inner sides opposite to each other, at least one patterned driving electrode being applied to the inner side of the first substrate, the driving electrode extending in a pattern across the inner side of the first substrate, an optical layer arranged between the first and second substrates that comprises a fluid comprising particles, a controller configured to apply an electric potential to the at least one driving electrode to obtain an electro-magnetic field providing movement of the particles towards or from the driving electrode causing modulation of the optical properties of the light modulator, wherein the driving electrode comprises multiple apertures extending through the electrode thus allowing incident radiation to pass through the first substrate and the driving electrode into the optical layer, or vice versa.Claim 2. A light modulator as in Claim 1 , wherein the incident radiation comprises infrared radiation, and / or the incident radiation comprises visible light.Claim 3. A light modulator as in any of the preceding claims, wherein an average aperture diameter is at least two times the average particle diameter, more preferably, the average diameter of the apertures is between 5 and 50 times larger than the average diameter of the particles, and / oran average aperture diameter is less than an average width of the driving electrode, more preferably, wherein an average width of the driving electrode is between 5 and 50 times larger than the average diameter of the apertures, and / or a combined area of the multiple apertures is less than a combined area of the driving electrode, excluding the apertures, more preferably, the combined aperture area is less than 50% of the combined driving electrode area, and / or the multiple apertures have multiple different diameters, and / or a minimum distance between two points on different aperture edges or electrode edges on the same electrode is at least two times the average diameter of the particles, and / or a minimum distance between two points on different aperture edges or electrode edges on the same electrode is at least 300 nanometer, or at least 700 nanometer.Claim 4. A light modulator as in any of the preceding claims, wherein the driving electrode comprises electrode lines that comprise multiple apertures, facing edges of consecutive electrode lines having a minimum distance between them of at least 20 micron, preferably at least 10 micron, and / or the electrode lines extending in a length dimension and a width dimension, said width being at most 10cm, preferably at most 1 mm, preferably at most 100 micron, preferably at most 1 micron.Claim 5. A light modulator as in any of the preceding claims, wherein the driving electrode comprises a mesh electrode.Claim 6. A light modulator as in any of the preceding claims, wherein a driving bus is applied to the first substrate, configured to deliver power from an edge of the substrate to the driving electrode, the driving bus not having apertures applied to it.Claim 7. A light modulator as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the multiple apertures are distributed randomly across at least part of the electrode.Claim 8. A light modulator as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one driving electrode comprises an ITO electrode.Claim 9. A light modulator as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one driving electrode is applied to the inner side of the second substrate, the driving electrode extending in a pattern across the inner side of the second substrate, the controller being configured to apply an electric potential to the at least one driving electrode on the first and second substrates, wherein the driving electrode on the second substrate comprises multiple apertures extending through the electrode thus allowing incident radiation to pass through the second substrate and the driving electrode into the optical layer, or vice versa.Claim 10. A light modulator as in Claim 9, wherein the one or more driving electrodes on the first substrate are aligned with the one or more electrodes on the second substrate, but wherein the apertures in the one or more driving electrodes of the first and second substrate do not align, and / or at least part of the apertures in the one or more driving electrodes of the first and second substrate at least partially align, and / or the apertures in the one or more driving electrodes of the first and second substrate are offset with respect to each other.Claim 11 . A light modulator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the particles are electrically charged or chargeable, and the controller is configured to apply an electric potential to the one or more driving electrodes to obtain an electro-magnetic field providing electrophoretic movement of the particles towards or from the driving electrode causing modulation of the optical properties of the light modulator.Claim 12. A light modulator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures have a specific diameter to boost transmittance in a specific wavelength range.Claim 13. A substrate for use in a light modulator, the substrate being transparent, at least one driving electrode being applied to a side of the substrate, the driving electrode extending in a pattern across the side of the substrate, the driving electrode comprises multiple apertures extending through the electrode thus allowing incident radiation to pass through the substrate and the driving electrode, or vice versa. Claim 14. A method of manufacturing a substrate, comprising providing a substrate for use in a light modulator, the substrate being transparent applying at least one driving electrode to a side of the substrate, the driving electrode extending in a pattern across the side of the substrate, the driving electrode comprises multiple apertures extending through the electrode thus allowing incident radiation to pass through the substrate and the driving electrode, or vice versa.Claim 15. A method of manufacturing a substrate as in Claim 14 comprising patterning the driving electrode, wherein the apertures may be created after or during the patterning of the driving electrode.

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