Liquid Crystal Alignment Facility for Optical Dyes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for aligning liquid crystal materials on optical substrates, such as ophthalmic elements, face challenges in achieving full alignment, especially with thicker layers, as they require substantial time and may only partially align the liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the oriented surface.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming multiple partial coatings of partially ordered liquid crystal materials with general directions that are parallel to each other, allowing for the transfer of alignment direction and achieving desired thicknesses greater than 20 microns, using techniques like spin coating, electric or magnetic fields, and phase-separated polymers to facilitate faster and more complete ordering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a thick layer of liquid crystal material is applied to the oriented surface, then the desired thickness for optical properties is achieved, but the alignment time increases significantly and full alignment may not be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the thick liquid crystal layer into multiple thinner sub-layers, each of which can be aligned independently and more quickly. By applying several coatings of thinner liquid crystal materials sequentially, the total thickness is achieved while maintaining reasonable alignment times for each individual layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary alignment treatments to the oriented surface before applying the liquid crystal material. This pre-alignment of the surface structure facilitates faster and more effective alignment of the liquid crystal molecules upon contact, reducing the overall alignment time required for thick layers.
2Length of stationary object
If a thick layer of liquid crystal material is applied to the oriented surface, then the desired thickness for optical properties is achieved, but the alignment completeness deteriorates and full alignment may not be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the thick layer into multiple thinner sub-layers, each layer can achieve complete alignment independently. The cumulative effect of multiple fully aligned thin layers produces the desired optical properties of a thick layer while ensuring complete alignment throughout the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each previously aligned liquid crystal layer serves as an intermediary alignment layer for the subsequent layer. The oriented surface and previously aligned layers act as mediators that transmit and reinforce the alignment direction to deeper layers, ensuring complete and consistent alignment throughout the entire thick structure.
3Productivity
If multiple partial coatings of liquid crystal materials are formed with parallel general directions, then faster and more complete alignment is achieved, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple coating operations into a unified multi-layer structure where each layer serves the dual purpose of contributing to thickness and providing alignment reference for subsequent layers. This merging of functions reduces the overall complexity compared to treating each layer as a separate process.
Solution Approach 2:
Each liquid crystal layer performs multiple functions: it contributes to the total thickness for optical properties, serves as an alignment reference for subsequent layers, and achieves complete alignment independently. This multi-functionality of each layer simplifies the overall process by eliminating the need for separate alignment procedures for each layer.
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
This approach enables faster and more complete alignment of liquid crystal materials, reducing the time required for alignment and ensuring thicker alignment facilities achieve the desired optical properties, such as linear polarization, in optical elements.
Implementation Method 1
Liquid crystal molecules, because of their structure, are capable of being ordered or aligned so as to take on a general direction... liquid crystal molecules can be ordered or aligned by interaction with an external force or another structure such that the long axis of each of the molecules takes on an orientation that is generally parallel to a common axis
Implementation Method 2
liquid crystal molecules can be applied to a surface that has been oriented, for example by rubbing, grooving, or photo-alignment methods
Implementation Method 3
if an electric or magnetic field is applied to a cell containing a disordered, fluid-mixture of liquid crystal molecules, the long axis of essentially all of the liquid crystal molecules can be ordered in a direction relative to the applied field
Implementation Method 4
if an electric or magnetic field is applied to a cell containing a disordered, fluid-mixture of liquid crystal molecules, the long axis of essentially all of the liquid crystal molecules can be ordered in a direction relative to the applied field
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to optical elements, such as but not limited to ophthalmic elements, comprising an alignment facility for an optical dye. The optical elements include a substrate; and an alignment facility for an optical dye connected to at least a portion of the substrate, where the alignment facility is an at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material having at least a first general direction.