Infrared Liquid Lens Ionic Liquid Composition for IR Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid lenses are unsuitable for applications that require sensing electromagnetic waves with wavelengths longer than the visible region, particularly in the infrared portion, due to the absorption of these wavelengths by the conducting liquid.
Innovation Solution
The use of ionic compounds formed by the dicyanamide anion or the tricyanomethanide anion with cation counterions, which have a melting point of −20° C. or colder, are immiscible with typical insulating liquids, and are transparent to electromagnetic waves with wavelengths in the infrared region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional conducting liquids (ionic compounds in water or polar solvents) are used in liquid lenses, then the lenses can effectively manipulate visible light, but they absorb infrared wavelengths and become unsuitable for infrared sensing applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the conducting liquid by selecting specific ionic compounds (imidazolium, pyrrolidinium, piperidinium, phosphonium, pyridinium, pyrrolinium, or sulfonium cations paired with dicyanamide, tricyanomethanide, or tetrafluoroborate anions) that have different optical properties from conventional conducting liquids, enabling infrared transmission while maintaining electrical conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite conducting liquid system by combining specific cations and anions to form ionic compounds with tailored properties, achieving a material that simultaneously provides electrical conductivity for lens manipulation and infrared transparency for sensing applications
2Temperature
If ionic compounds with low melting points are used to enable liquid state operation, then the conducting liquid can function at operating temperatures, but selecting compounds with appropriate melting points while maintaining infrared transparency and immiscibility with insulating liquids becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically selects ionic compounds with specific melting point parameters (below operating temperature) while simultaneously optimizing for infrared transparency and immiscibility with insulating liquids, demonstrating multi-parameter optimization to resolve the contradiction between temperature requirements and material compatibility
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
These ionic compounds create a conducting liquid that is transparent to infrared wavelengths, allowing liquid lenses to effectively transmit and sense electromagnetic waves in the infrared region, thus expanding their applicability beyond visible light applications.
Implementation Method 1
the ionic compound separating into the respective cation and anion, thus forming an electrically conductive liquid
Implementation Method 2
the interface (e.g., the meniscus) between the liquids forms a lens
Implementation Method 3
The electrodes, based on the principles of electro-wetting, can manipulate the shape of the lens
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid lens can include a lens body forming a cavity with a conducting liquid and an insulating liquid disposed therein, the conducting liquid substantially immiscible with the insulating liquid to define an interface between the conducting and insulating liquids. The conducting liquid can include an ionic compound of either a dicyanamide anion and a cation counterion, or a tricyanomethanide anion and a cation counterion, the dicyanamide anion having the formula the tricyanomethanide anion having the formula and the cation counterion is one of an imidazolium, a pyrrolidininium, a piperidinium, a phosphonium, a pyridinium, a pyrrolinium or a sulfonium cation. The ionic compound of the conducting liquid can be N-methyl-N-ethylpyrrolidinium dicyanamide, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide, 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tricyanomethanide, or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide, among others. The conducting liquid can have transmittance of at least 50% over a thickness of 1 mm for electromagnetic waves having wavelength of 1550 nm.