Abstract:
An elastomeric stamp (10) for printing a pattern on a substrate (500) with an ink (520) is at least partially formed from a first material such as PDMS. The stamp comprises a first surface (12) in a first plane, a second surface (14) in a second plane and a third surface (16) extending from the first surface (12) to the second surface (14). The first surface (12) typically forms to the contact surface of a protruding feature of the stamp (10), whereas the third surface (16) typically forms the edge of such a feature. The first surface (12) comprises a barrier layer (22) being substantially impermeable to the ink (520). Optionally, the second surface (14) may carry a further barrier layer (24) to suppress gas phase diffusion of the ink (520). In contrast, the third surface (16) is permeable to the ink (520). Consequently, a stamp (10) is obtained that is highly suitable for edge transfer lithography type patterning. The first material of the stamp serves as an ink reservoir, thus reducing the re-inking frequency of the stamp, and the layer (22) prevents unwanted diffusion of the ink (520) to the areas of the substrate (500) into contact with the stamp (10), thus 20 improving the feature definition on the substrate surface.
Abstract:
An active matrix display device has an optical layer (7,9,11) comprising a mixture of an electro-optical material and a polymer precursor. An upper surface of the active plate comprises an array of wells (70) such that the upper surface has higher (72) and lower regions, and the optical layer mixture is provided over the active plate. The optical layer is exposed to a stimulus for polymerizing the polymer precursor into a polymer layer constituted by a top surface (9) and by side walls (11), thereby enclosing the electro-optical material between the polymerized material and the active plate to define display pixels. Enclosed bodies of electro-optical material defining display pixels are thus provided over the lower regions. This method uses the processing of the active plate to define wells (70) which provide a height difference which can be used to provide alignment of enclosed display pixels cells. This avoids the need for an alignment mask during the deposition and exposure of the optical layer. In an embodiment of the invention,a layer (74) having affinity to the polymer precursor is provided on the higher regions in a stamping step before exposing the otical layer to the stilus.
Abstract:
The multi-colour liquid crystal display device (1) of the present invention has a plurality of discrete liquid crystal elements (110, 130, 150) that are carried by a surface of a carrier (10). The liquid crystal elements (110, 130, 150), which cover respective parts of the electrode structure (12), each have a polymer layer (114, 134, 154), which encloses a cholesteric liquid crystal material (102, 122, 142) between the polymer layer and the surface of the carrier (10). The discrete liquid crystal elements (110, 130, 150) have been formed by the individual deposition of discrete droplets of a liquid comprising the various cholesteric liquid crystal materials (102, 122, 142) and a polymer precursor followed by exposure of the droplets to a stimulus triggering the polymerization of the polymer precursor.
Abstract:
A polymeric stratified-phase-separated composite (6) which is mechanically robust and simple to manufacture comprises a film of liquid (7), a layer of polymerized material (9) covering the thin film of liquid and supporting members (11) formed of polymerized material and extending from the layer of polymerized material through the thin film of liquid. The supporting members extend onto selected first regions (5b) of a substrate surface (5). The substrate surface has, laid our in accordance with a predetermined pattern, selected first (5b) and second (5a) regions. The first are functionalized for selective accumulation of the liquid. In one embodiment the first and second regions are regions of high and low affinity for polymerizable material respectively. In another, a difference in rate of polymerization is induced by using for example different concentrations of polymerization inhibitor in the first and second regions.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a scanning backlight device, based on dynamic light extraction, the device comprising a light guide structure (24), a light source for emitting light, arranged to be directed into said light guide structure, the light guide structure (24) being provided with an addressable out-coupling member, comprising two or more defined areas, each providing switchable out-coupling of light from said light guide structure (24). The scanning backlight device is characterised in that at least one micro-optical redirection member (23), arranged in proximity with said light guide structure (24), being arranged to redirect light emitted from said light guide structure (23) in an essentially normal direction of said light guide structure.
Abstract:
Optical data storage method, reading method, device (40) and storage medium (42,43), comprising storing data by modifying optical properties of polymer material (42), whereby writing is initiated by reorientation of photo-orientable units, typically by illuminating with light at a wavelength that initiates the reorientation, and whereby reading of data includes collection of anisotropic emission from dipole emitters.
Abstract:
A mirror device (1) which can be simultaneously used for display purposes, based on e.g. an LCD display (5) with a polarizing mirror (2) placed in front of it. The polarizing mirror (2) has the characteristics that it does not disturb the transmission of the light from the display (5), but does reflect the light from outside the area of the screen.
Abstract:
An electroluminescent device (13), such as a light emitting diode, which has a light-reflecting surface (10) causing undesirable reflection of ambient light incident on the device is provided with a combination of a reflective circular polarizer (17) and an absorbing circular polarizer (23) to suppress the undesirable reflection of ambient light thus improving the contrast of the device when used under high intensity ambient lighting conditions while maintaining a satisfactory brightness. The reflection band of the reflective circular polarizer regions (17′) of the reflective circular polarizer (17) are preferably tuned to the corresponding emission band of the luminescent regions (9′) of the electroluminescent device to further increase the contrast of the device while substantially maintaining the same brightness.
Abstract:
A method for the manufacture of a polarizer is provided. The method comprises providing a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal host and a viscosity enhancer; providing a thin film of said composition on a substrate; orienting said liquid crystal host to obtain an aligned film in a first liquid crystal mesophase, wherein the liquid crystal host is aligned planar to said substrate; gelating said viscosity enhancer to congeal said film; and obtaining a second liquid crystal state in said congealed film. By the use of a viscosity enhancer in the composition, homeotropic alignment of the liquid crystal host can be suppressed.
Abstract:
This invention relates to an improved process for the nano- or microstructuring of a substrate by applying a mesogen or a mesogenic mixture on top of the substrate. The improvement is that the mesogen or mesogenic mixture is contact printed unto the target substrate, said substrate having an alignment layer.