Christopher Wayne Caldwell

US Patent:

20110234944, Sep 29, 2011

Filed:

Mar 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/074876

Inventors:

Richard M. Powers - Lakewood CO, US
Wil McCarthy - Lakewood CO, US
Neil B. Cramer - Boulder CO, US
Christopher M. Caldwell - Denver CO, US
Michael Pickford - Denver CO, US
Matthew B. Kish - Denver CO, US
Andrew L. LaFrate - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

RavenBrick LLC - Denver CO

International Classification:

G02F 1/1333
B05D 5/06
B05D 3/02
B05D 3/06
B05D 3/10
B32B 37/02
B32B 37/14
B32B 38/10

US Classification:

349 86, 427164, 156 60, 156250, 427521, 427517

Abstract:

A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.

US Patent:

20150009456, Jan 8, 2015

Filed:

Sep 8, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/480368

Inventors:

- Denver CO, US
Wil McCarthy - Lakewood CO, US
Neil B. Cramer - Boulder CO, US
Christopher M. Caldwell - Denver CO, US
Michael Pickford - Denver CO, US
Matthew B. Kish - Denver CO, US
Andrew L. LaFrate - Boulder CO, US

International Classification:

G02F 1/1334
G02F 1/137
G02F 1/1339

US Classification:

349 93, 349 92

Abstract:

A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.

US Patent:

20140253834, Sep 11, 2014

Filed:

Mar 10, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/203085

Inventors:

- Denver CO, US
Wilder Iglesias - Louisville CO, US
Christopher M. Caldwell - Denver CO, US

International Classification:

G02F 1/01
G02F 1/13

US Classification:

349 22, 359244

Abstract:

An optical shutter device includes a temperature responsive gate and a photochromic attenuator arranged such that at low temperatures the device is largely transmissive to solar or other radiation within a given band of wavelengths and, at high temperatures, the device is largely nontransmissive when a flux of trigger wavelengths is present and largely transmissive when a flux of trigger wavelengths is not present.

US Patent:

20140254011, Sep 11, 2014

Filed:

Mar 10, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/203150

Inventors:

- Denver CO, US
Wilder Iglesias - Louisville CO, US
Christopher M. Caldwell - Denver CO, US

International Classification:

G02B 5/30
B05D 3/14
B05D 3/00
B05D 5/06

US Classification:

35948505, 4271631, 427472, 427598, 427595, 977834

Abstract:

A wire grid polarizer formed as a self-assembled coating on a substrate surface. Metal or other conductive nanowires are coated with a transparent dielectric material having a thickness approximately equal to one-half of the desired WGP wire spacing or pitch. A suspension of coated nanowires in a chromonic liquid crystal is shear-coated onto an aligned substrate and dried. The chromonic liquid crystal, a solution of dye molecules and water, forms an orderly structure and induces the nanowires to align with their longitudinal axes parallel to the shear direction and/or alignment direction. The polarizer has a minimum polarizing wavelength determined by an average lateral spacing of nanowire segments. The polarizer has a transmissivity and a contrast ratio determined by the width of the nanowire segments.