Self-powered and reversible light-directed electrophoretic deposition device for use in smart windows and photodetector displays

• Main Authors: Lee, Elaine, Giera, Brian, Mora, Jeronimo, Dudoff, Jessica Katheryn
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.09.2019
• Subjects: APPARATUS THEREFOR; 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; DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; ELECTROFORMING; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES,FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS,BLINDS, GATES; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; LADDERS; METALLURGY; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTIONOF COATINGS; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF

According to one embodiment, a system includes a first sheet being nonopaque, a second sheet being nonopaque spaced from the first sheet, a spacer positioned between the first sheet and the second sheet, a chamber defined between the first and second sheets and the spacer, and a fluidic solution in the chamber. In addition, the first sheet includes a photoconductive layer. Moreover, solution has a plurality of particles, where the particles in the solution are attracted to illuminated portions of the photoconductive layer upon illumination of said portions in the absence of an external voltage applied to the first and second sheets.