1. A method, comprising:
exposing an alignment material to an interference pattern to cause a chemical reaction in the alignment material; and
exposing the alignment material to a liquid crystal,
wherein the liquid crystal aligns relative to the alignment material based on the interference pattern.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical reaction causes polymerization in the alignment material.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical reaction causes depolymerization in the alignment material.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical reaction comprises a photochemical reaction.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein a surface of the alignment material is exposed to the interference pattern.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the surface is substantially planar.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the surface is curved.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the surface is an inner-surface of a tube.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tube comprises one of a glass and a polymer.
10. The method of claim 5, wherein the surface comprises a channel.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the alignment material is disposed on a surface of a substrate comprising a substrate material.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the substrate material is at least one of a glass, a polymer, a metal and a semi-conductor.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the substrate comprises an electrode layer.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrode layer comprises a transparent electrically conductive material.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the substrate comprises a thin film transistor.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal permeates the alignment material.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the alignment material comprises a liquid crystal.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the alignment material comprises a polymer.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the polymer comprises a cinnamate group.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the polymer is a polyimide.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the alignment material comprises a silane.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the interference pattern is formed from two or more optical beams which originate from the same source.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the optical beams comprise UV radiation.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the interference pattern is formed from two or more electron beams.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein the interference pattern comprises regions of high intensity and regions of low intensity.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the liquid crystal aligns relative to the alignment material based on the intensity of the interference pattern.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the liquid crystal aligns substantially homeotropically where the alignment material is exposed to regions of high intensity.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein the liquid crystal aligns substantially homogeneously where the alignment material is exposed to regions of low intensity.
29. The method of claim 26, wherein the liquid crystal aligns substantially homeotropically where the alignment material is exposed to regions of low intensity.
30. The method of claim 26, wherein the liquid crystal aligns substantially homogeneously where the alignment material is exposed to regions of high intensity.
31. The method of claim 1, wherein the interference pattern comprises regions of different polarization.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the interference pattern comprises regions of different linear polarization.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein the interference pattern comprises regions of linear polarization and regions of elliptical polarization.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein the liquid crystal aligns relative to the alignment material based on the polarization of the interference pattern.
35. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal aligns substantially homeotropically relative to a surface of the alignment material.
36. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal aligns obliquely relative to a surface of the alignment material.
37. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal aligns substantially homogeneously relative to a surface of the alignment material.
38. The method of claim 1, wherein the interference pattern is formed by overlapping two or more beams.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein two of the beams have similar polarization states.
40. The method of claim 38, wherein two of the beams have different polarization states.
41. The method of claim 38, wherein the interference pattern is formed by overlapping three or more beams and at least two of the beams have similar polarization states.
42. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal is disposed on the surface prior to exposure to the interference pattern.
43. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal is disposed on the surface after exposure to the interference pattern.
44. The method of claim 1, further comprising rubbing a surface of the alignment material prior to exposing the alignment material to the interference pattern.
45. The method of claim 1, further comprising exposing a surface of the alignment material to polarized radiation prior to exposing the alignment material to the interference pattern.
46. A method, comprising:
exposing an alignment material to radiation; and
exposing the alignment material to a liquid crystal,
wherein different portions of the alignment material are simultaneously exposed to different polarization states of the radiation and the liquid crystal aligns relative to the alignment material based on the polarization state of the radiation.
47. The method of claim 46, wherein the polarization state of the radiation varies continuously across the alignment material.
48. The method of claim 46, wherein the radiation causes isomerization in the alignment material.
49. A method, comprising:
exposing an alignment material to polarized radiation; and
exposing the alignment material to a liquid crystal,
wherein the polarization state of the radiation varies continuously across a portion of the alignment material and the liquid crystal aligns relative to the alignment material based on the polarization state of the radiation.
50. A method, comprising:
exposing a curved surface comprising an alignment material to polarized radiation; and
disposing a liquid crystal on the curved surface;
wherein the liquid crystal aligns substantially parallel to an alignment direction related to the polarized radiation.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the curved surface is a cylindrical surface.
52. An article, comprising:
a cylindrical cladding having an axis;
a core surrounding the cladding comprising a liquid crystal;
wherein the liquid crystal is aligned substantially parallel to an alignment direction that is uniform through a cross-section of the cylindrical cladding.
53. A method, comprising:
overlapping at least three beams to form an interference pattern, wherein the beams originate from the same source;
exposing an alignment material to the interference pattern; and
exposing the alignment material to a liquid crystal,
wherein the liquid crystal aligns relative to the alignment material based on the interference pattern.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A pressure flush system for use within a toilet tank including:
a pressure flush tank having an inlet port and a discharge port;
an air inlet for said pressure flush tank, with said pressure flush tank, prior to discharge, containing water under pressure;
a valve assembly within said pressure flush tank including a generally cylindrical housing containing water under pressure, a water inlet in fluid communication with said pressure flush tank, a water outlet in fluid communication with said discharge port, a normally closed valve being movable to allow fluid communication between said water inlet and said water outlet and to permit discharge of water contained within said housing, a piston axially spaced from said valve and in fluid communication therewith, said piston being movable, relative to said valve, into and out of sealing engagement with said discharge port to permit discharge of water under pressure contained within said pressure flush tank, and a flexible tube positioned within said housing carried between said valve and said piston and in fluid communication therebetween and being movable in response to movement of said piston.
2. The pressure flush system of claim 1 wherein said valve assembly defines inner and outer coaxial fluid passageways.
3. The pressure flush system of claim 2 wherein said inner and outer coaxial fluid passageways which are fluidly sealed therebetween by said valve when said valve is closed and in fluid communication therebetween when said valve is opened.
4. The pressure flush system of claim 2 wherein said inner coaxial fluid passageway is in fluid communication with said discharge port.
5. The pressure flush system of claim 2 wherein said outer coaxial fluid passageway is in fluid communication with said pressure flush tank and contains water under pressure therefrom when said valve is closed.
6. The pressure flush system of claim 1 wherein said flexible tube is an axially collapsible bellows tube.
7. The pressure flush system of claim 1 wherein said flexible tube axially retracts in response to upward axial movement of said piston and axially expands in response to downward axial movement of said piston.
8. The pressure flush system of claim 1 further comprising a valve return spring.
9. The pressure flush system of claim 1 further comprising a piston return spring.
10. The pressure flush system of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve which extends internally into said flexible tube.
11. The pressure flush system of claim 10 wherein said sleeve is in fluid communication with said discharge port.
12. The pressure flush system of claim 10 wherein said sleeve is axially spaced from said valve when said piston is in sealing engagement with said discharge port.
13. The pressure flush system of claim 10 wherein said sleeve is positioned axially adjacent said valve when said piston is out of sealing engagement with said discharge port.
14. A pressure flush system for use within a toilet tank including:
a pressure flush tank including an inlet port and a discharge port;
an air inlet for said pressure flush tank, with said pressure flush tank, prior to discharge, containing water under pressure;
a valve assembly within said pressure flush tank including a generally cylindrical housing containing water under pressure, a water inlet in fluid communication with said pressure flush tank, a water outlet in fluid communication with said discharge port, a normally closed valve being movable to allow fluid communication between said water inlet and said water outlet and to permit discharge of water contained within said housing, a piston axially spaced from said valve and in fluid communication therewith, said piston being axially aligned with said discharge port and being movable into and out of sealing engagement therewith to permit discharge of water contained within said pressure flush tank, said piston including an axial bore which receives at least one axially disposed fluid conduit therein such that water contained within said housing is discharged axially through said piston.
15. The pressure flush system of claim 14 wherein said fluid conduit is selected one of a flexible tube and a rigid sleeve.
16. The pressure flush system of claim 14 wherein said valve assembly defines inner and outer coaxial fluid passageways.
17. A pressure flush system for use within a toilet tank including:
a pressure flush tank including an inlet port and a discharge port;
an air inlet for said pressure flush tank, with said pressure flush tank, prior to discharge, containing water under pressure;
a valve assembly within said pressure flush tank including a generally cylindrical housing and a normally closed valve, said valve assembly defining inner and outer coaxial fluid passageways which are fluidly sealed therebetween by said valve, said inner coaxial fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said discharge port, said outer coaxial fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said pressure flush tank and containing water under pressure therefrom, said inner and outer coaxial fluid passageways being in fluid communication therebetween upon actuation of said valve to allow discharge of water contained within said outer passageway through said discharge port.
18. The pressure flush system of claim 17 further comprising a piston axially spaced from said valve and in fluid communication therewith, said piston being axially aligned with said discharge port and being movable into and out of sealing engagement therewith to permit discharge of water contained within said pressure flush tank, said piston including an axial bore which receives selected one of a flexible tube and a rigid sleeve which is axially disposed therein.
19. The pressure flush system of claims 18 wherein at least one of said flexible tube and said rigid sleeve defines said inner coaxial fluid passageway.
20. The pressure flush system of claim 18 wherein said inner coaxial fluid passageway extends through said piston axial bore such that water contained within said housing is discharged axially through said piston.
21. The pressure flush system of claim 18 wherein said outer coaxial fluid passageway is circumferentially disposed around said flexible tube.