Hologram Medium Silane Crosslinking Refractive Index Modulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hologram media face challenges in achieving high refractive index modulation and diffraction efficiency, especially in thin thickness ranges, leading to image distortion and reduced diffraction efficiency due to non-uniform curing shrinkage and low crosslinking density.

Innovation Solution

A hologram medium comprising a polymer substrate with a silane-based functional group in the main or branched chain, which forms a fine pattern through uniform curing shrinkage, optimizing crosslinking density and refractive index modulation, and incorporating a silane crosslinking agent to enhance durability and mobility of photoreactive monomers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the photopolymer layer thickness is reduced to achieve thin film holograms, then the angular selectivity increases, but the refractive index modulation value decreases leading to low diffraction efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotopolymer layer thicknessVSAvoidrefractive index modulation value
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite photopolymer system combining polymer binder, monomer, crosslinking agent, and photoinitiator. The crosslinking agent forms a three-dimensional network structure that enhances refractive index modulation while maintaining thin film thickness, resolving the contradiction between thinness and modulation depth

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the composition ratios of polymer binder, monomer, and crosslinking agent to achieve high refractive index modulation in thin films. By adjusting these parameters, the system maintains both thin thickness and high diffraction efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If conventional photopolymer materials are used without crosslinking agents, then the formulation is simpler, but the curing shrinkage is non-uniform causing image distortion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotopolymer formulation complexityVSAvoidfine pattern uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The crosslinking agent acts as an intermediary that mediates the polymerization process, forming a three-dimensional network structure that constrains and uniformizes the curing shrinkage, thereby preventing image distortion while maintaining formulation simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The crosslinking agent provides beforehand cushioning by creating a stable three-dimensional network structure that compensates for and uniformizes the curing shrinkage during polymerization, preventing image distortion before it occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Speed

If the photopolymer layer is made thin to improve angular selectivity, then the response speed increases, but the diffraction efficiency decreases due to insufficient refractive index modulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular selectivity responseVSAvoiddiffraction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The composite photopolymer system with crosslinking agent achieves high refractive index modulation in thin films, simultaneously improving both angular selectivity response and diffraction efficiency by optimizing the material composition rather than sacrificing one for the other

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The hologram medium achieves high refractive index modulation and diffraction efficiency, with improved resistance to temperature and humidity, and maintains image sharpness by ensuring uniform fine patterns and optimized crosslinking, thereby enhancing recording characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

a photopolymer composition for hologram production comprises a polymer binder, a monomer, and a photoinitiator, and the photosensitive film produced from such a composition is irradiated with laser interference light to induce photopolymerization of local monomers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

the photosensitive film produced from such a composition is irradiated with laser interference light to induce photopolymerization of local monomers. In a portion where a relatively large number of monomers are present in such photopolymerization process, the refractive index becomes high

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight interference: Interference

Implementation Method 3

the refractive index modulation occurs, and a diffraction grating is generated by such refractive index modulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentEP3683795B1Hologram medium and optical element
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3683795B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3683795B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3683795B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a hologram medium comprising: a polymer substrate including a polymer resin in which a silane-based functional group is located in a main chain or a branched chain, wherein a fine pattern is formed on at least one surface of the polymer substrate, and an optical element.