Tunable chiral film optical filter

• Main Author: PIKE RANDY T.,TEBBE DENNIS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 24.01.2007
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; BLASTING; CHEMISTRY; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; DYES; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMSTHEREOF; HEATING; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; LIGHTING; MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FORELSEWHERE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METALLURGY; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PAINTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; POLISHES; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHERARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

An optically active composition ( 100 ) for optical applications has been identified. The optically active composition ( 100 ) can include at least one cyclic molecule having a nanocore ( 112 ) disposed within the cyclic molecule to form a filled ring ( 108 ). The composition ( 100 ) is optically transmissive for at least one photonic wavelength that would not otherwise be transmitted by the composition ( 100 ) if the nanocore were absent from the cyclic molecule. The cyclic molecule can be a carbon ring, an aromatic ring, or a heterocyclic ring. The filled ring ( 108 ) can be attached to a chiral molecule which is a repeat unit ( 102 ) in a polymeric backbone. A second filled ring ( 110 ) which causes the composition to be optically transmissive at a second wavelength also can be attached to the chiral molecule ( 102 ) as well. An electric field can be applied to the filled ring ( 108 ) to adjust the wavelength at which filled ring ( 108 ) is transmissive.