Patents by Inventor Menting Tim Tsai

Menting Tim Tsai has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10824001
    Abstract: A polymeric dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device and system and method for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, a catoptric form having a shape is subjacently positioned below a pre-cure or un-cured polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) light shutter device having liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer binder system between two substrates. Light is applied during curing. The liquid crystal microdroplet sizes vary according to the shape of the catoptric form such that domains of smaller liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to the shape and domains of larger liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to negative space relative to the shape. Upon tuning an electric field, the PDLC light shutter device changes states from presenting a surface having an image formed by non-scattering regions contrasted against opaque scattering regions, to a surface characterized by mostly or entirely clear, non-scattering light transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Polytronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Menting Tim Tsai, Casey S. Hunt, Robert Northrup
  • Publication number: 20180373071
    Abstract: A polymeric dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device and system and method for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, a catoptric form having a shape is subjacently positioned below a pre-cure or un-cured polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) light shutter device having liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer binder system between two substrates. Light is applied during curing. The liquid crystal microdroplet sizes vary according to the shape of the catoptric form such that domains of smaller liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to the shape and domains of larger liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to negative space relative to the shape. Upon tuning an electric field, the PDLC light shutter device changes states from presenting a surface having an image formed by non-scattering regions contrasted against opaque scattering regions, to a surface characterized by mostly or entirely clear, non-scattering light transmittance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Menting Tim Tsai, Casey S. Hunt, Robert Northrup
  • Patent number: 10067370
    Abstract: A polymeric dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device and system and method for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, a catoptric form having a shape is subjacently positioned below a pre-cure or un-cured polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) light shutter device having liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer binder system between two substrates. Light is applied during curing. The liquid crystal microdroplet sizes vary according to the shape of the catoptric form such that domains of smaller liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to the shape and domains of larger liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to negative space relative to the shape. Upon tuning an electric field, the PDLC light shutter device changes states from presenting a surface having an image formed by non-scattering regions contrasted against opaque scattering regions, to a surface characterized by mostly or entirely clear, non-scattering light transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Polytronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Menting Tim Tsai, Casey S. Hunt, Robert Northrup
  • Publication number: 20170269396
    Abstract: A polymeric dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device and system and method for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, a catoptric form having a shape is subjacently positioned below a pre-cure or un-cured polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) light shutter device having liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer binder system between two substrates. Light is applied during curing. The liquid crystal microdroplet sizes vary according to the shape of the catoptric form such that domains of smaller liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to the shape and domains of larger liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to negative space relative to the shape. Upon tuning an electric field, the PDLC light shutter device changes states from presenting a surface having an image formed by non-scattering regions contrasted against opaque scattering regions, to a surface characterized by mostly or entirely clear, non-scattering light transmittance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Northrup, Menting Tim Tsai
  • Publication number: 20170269400
    Abstract: A polymeric dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device employing an electronically tunable lens and system and method for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, a patterned UV-photomask with an image is superposed on a pre-cure or un-cured polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) light shutter device having liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer binder system between two substrates. UV-light is applied during curing. The liquid crystal microdroplet sizes vary according to the image on the patterned mask such that domains of larger liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to the image and domains of smaller liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to negative space relative to the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Northrup, Menting Tim Tsai
  • Patent number: 7837897
    Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device and method for use of the same are disclosed. First and second substrates are disposed substantially parallel. A polymer binder system is interposed between the first and second substrates and a plurality of liquid crystals are dispersed in the polymer binder system. The liquid crystal shutter device is able to switch between a high light absorbing dark state and a low light absorbing transparent state, and visa versa, with a low driving voltage. The liquid crystal shutter device includes formulations of liquid crystal mixtures having nematic liquid crystals and polymer systems to provide a wide viewing angle, low driving voltage, high contrast ratio, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Polytronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Guomin Zhang, Menting Tim Tsai
  • Publication number: 20100271571
    Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device and method for use of the same are disclosed. First and second substrates are disposed substantially parallel. A polymer binder system is interposed between the first and second substrates and a plurality of liquid crystals are dispersed in the polymer binder system. The liquid crystal shutter device is able to switch between a high light absorbing dark state and a low light absorbing transparent state, and visa versa, with a low driving voltage. The liquid crystal shutter device includes formulations of liquid crystal mixtures having nematic liquid crystals and polymer systems to provide a wide viewing angle, low driving voltage, high contrast ratio, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Guomin Zhang, Menting Tim Tsai