1. An optical device comprising an optical structure, at least one pair of electrodes and a control unit, wherein
the optical structure includes a first set of prisms and a second set of prisms which engage with each other, the second set of prisms are formed from electro-optical effect material or contain electro-optical effect material, and when no electric field is applied to the second set of prisms, the first set of prisms and the second set of prisms have the same refractivity;
wherein each electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes resides on a respective one of end faces at two sides of the second set of prisms perpendicular to a plane on which the second set of prisms are located, for generating an electric field to change refractivities of the prisms of the second set in the direction of the electric field, so that light transmitted through the prisms of the first set can be totally reflected by the prisms of the second set; and
the control unit is connected to the at least one pair of electrodes and performs control so as to power on the electrodes or power off the electrodes, and controls the intensity of the electric field when the electrodes are powered on.
2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein all prisms of the first and second sets of prisms are the same in size and shape.
3. The optical device according to claim 2, wherein the prisms are triple prisms, cross sections thereof are isosceles right-angled triangles, and addendum angles thereof are right angles.
4. The optical device according to claim 3, wherein the second set of prisms, when an electric field is applied thereto, has refractivity in the direction of the electric field which is less than
2
2
times refractivity of the first set of prisms.
5. The optical device according to claim 3, wherein inclined faces of all prisms of the first set of prisms opposite to the addendum angles thereof are located in the same plane, and inclined faces of all prisms of the second set of prisms opposite to the addendum angles thereof are located in the same plane.
6. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein width of the second set of prisms is larger than that of the first set of prisms.
7. The optical device according to claim 6, wherein end-faces are formed at both sides of the second set of prisms to be perpendicular to the plane where the second set of prisms are located and perpendicular to the cross sections of the prisms, the at least one pair of electrodes are attached to or provided on the end-faces respectively.
8. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein each prism of the second set of prisms contains electro-optical effect material therein, the electro-optical effect material being nitrobenzene in the liquid state or blue-phase liquid crystal in the liquid crystalline state.
9. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein each prism of the second set of prisms is formed from electro-optical effect material, the electro-optical effect material being solid potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal.
10. A display device comprising an optical device comprising an optical structure, at least one pair of electrodes and a control unit, wherein
the optical structure includes a first set of prisms and a second set of prisms which engage with each other, the second set of prisms are formed from electro-optical effect material or contain electro-optical effect material, and when no electric field is applied to the second set of prisms, the first set of prisms and the second set of prisms have the same refractivity;
wherein each electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes resides on a respective one of end faces at two sides of the second set of prisms perpendicular to a plane on which the second set of prisms are located, for generating an electric field to change refractivities of the prisms of the second set in the direction of the electric field, so that light transmitted through the prisms of the first set can be totally reflected by the prisms of the second set; and
the control unit is connected to the at least one pair of electrodes and performs control so as to power on the electrodes or power off the electrodes, and controls the intensity of the electric field when the electrodes are powered on.
11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein all prisms of the first and second sets of prisms are the same in size and shape.
12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the prisms are triple prisms, cross sections thereof are isosceles right-angled triangles, and addendum angles thereof are right angles.
13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein the second set of prisms, when an electric field is applied thereto, has refractivity in the direction of the electric field which is less than
2
2
times refractivity of the first set of prisms.
14. The display device according to claim 12, wherein inclined faces of all prisms of the first set of prisms opposite to the addendum angles thereof are located in the same plane, and inclined faces of all prisms of the second set of prisms opposite to the addendum angles thereof are located in the same plane.
15. The display device according to claim 10, wherein width of the second set of prisms is larger than that of the first set of prisms.
16. The display device according to claim 15, wherein end-faces are formed at both sides of the second set of prisms to be perpendicular to the plane where the second set of prisms are located and perpendicular to the cross sections of the prisms, the at least one pair of electrodes are attached to or provided on the end-faces respectively.
17. The display device according to claim 10, wherein each prism of the second set of prisms contains electro-optical effect material therein, the electro-optical effect material being nitrobenzene in the liquid state or blue-phase liquid crystal in the liquid crystalline state.
18. The display device according to claim 10, wherein each prism of the second set of prisms is formed from electro-optical effect material, the electro-optical effect material being solid potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal.
19. The display device according claim 10, further comprising a liquid crystal panel which at least includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, wherein the optical structure included in the optical device is located at the outer side of the lower substrate, and the first set of prisms of the optical structure are bonded to the lower substrate.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
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29. A method for forming a gypsum facer comprising:
forming a randomly oriented open mesh filament network;
optionally applying at least one reinforcing agent to said open mesh filament network prior to adding any binder;
impregnating said randomly oriented open mesh filament network with a first binder resin to form a wet formed permeable precursor mat;
applying at least one reinforcing agent to said open mesh filament network;
coating said wet formed permeable precursor mat with a secondary coating, said secondary coating comprising a low glass transition organic binder and at least one filler; and
drying said coated wet formed permeable precursor mat within a drier at a temperature sufficient for said first binder resin to form a film.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing said secondary coating with a viscosity sufficient to prevent full penetration of said secondary coating within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network
31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:
forming a low basis secondary veil, said low basis secondary veil comprising a plurality of polymeric fibers having a length sufficient to bridge each of a plurality of pores defined within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network; and
layering said low basis secondary veil onto said randomly oriented open mesh filament network prior to impregnating said precursor matting with said first binder resin.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein forming a randomly oriented open mesh network, forming a low basis secondary veil, and layering said low basis secondary veil onto said randomly oriented open mesh network comprises:
introducing a whitewater dispersion to a first headbox, said whitewater dispersion comprising a plurality of wet use chop strands;
applying a layer of a randomly oriented fiber network from said first headbox;
applying a layer of a low basis secondary veil from a second headbox onto said layer of said randomly oriented fiber network to form a precursor matting, said low basis secondary veil comprising a plurality of polymeric fibers having a length sufficient to bridge each of a plurality of pores defined within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network.
33. The method of claim 29 further comprising introducing a plurality of high aspect ratio particles to said wet formed permeable precursor mat prior to coating said wet formed permeable precursor mat with a secondary coating, said plurality of high aspect ratio particles having an average particle size sufficient to bridge each of a plurality of pores defined within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein said plurality of high aspect ratio particles is selected from the group consisting of wood-based fibers, and polymeric fibers.
35. The method of claim 29, wherein said first temperature is between approximately 400 and 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
36. The method of claim 29, wherein said at least one reinforcing agent is applied with said secondary coating.
37. The method of claim 29, wherein said secondary binder system further comprises an inorganic binder.
38. A method for forming a decorative, high strength gypsum board comprising:
forming a randomly oriented open mesh filament network;
impregnating said randomly oriented open mesh filament network with a first binder resin to form a wet formed permeable precursor mat;
coating said wet formed permeable precursor mat with a secondary coating at a viscosity sufficient to prevent full penetration of said secondary coating within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network, said secondary coating comprising a low glass transition organic binder, at least one filler, and at least one reinforcing agent;
placing said coated wet formed permeable precursor mat within a float drier at a temperature sufficient to allow said first binder system to form a coating, therein forming a gypsum facing material;
introducing a gypsum core material to a first layer of said gypsum facing material;
introducing a second layer of said gypsum facing material to said gypsum core material such that said gypsum core material is located between said first layer and said second layer; and
allowing said gypsum core material to set between said first layer and said second layer.
39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:
forming a low basis secondary veil, said low basis secondary veil comprising a plurality of polymeric fibers having a length sufficient to bridge each of a plurality of pores defined within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network; and
layering said low basis secondary veil onto said randomly oriented open mesh filament network prior to impregnating said precursor matting with said first binder resin.
40. The method of claim 39 further comprising introducing a plurality of high aspect ratio particles to said wet formed permeable precursor mat prior to coating said wet formed permeable precursor mat with a fairly low glass transition secondary coating, said plurality of high aspect ratio particles having an average particle size sufficient to bridge each of a plurality of pores defined within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network.
41. The method of claim 37, wherein said secondary binder system further comprises an inorganic binder.
42. A method for forming a gypsum facer comprising:
forming a randomly oriented open mesh filament network;
impregnating said randomly oriented open mesh filament network with a first binder resin to form a wet formed permeable precursor mat such that a plurality of high aspect ratio particles are contained between said randomly oriented open mesh filament network and said first binder resin;
wherein the plurality of high aspect ratio particles are introduced onto said randomly oriented open mesh network from a brushy roller system;
optionally coating said wet formed permeable precursor mat with a low viscosity, low glass transition temperature organic secondary binder;
optionally coating said wet formed permeable precursor mat with a secondary coating, said secondary coating comprising a low glass transition organic binder, at least one filler, and at least one reinforcing agent; and
placing said coated wet formed permeable precursor mat within a float drier at a temperature sufficient for said first binder resin to form a film.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein said plurality of high aspect ratio particles having an average particle size sufficient to bridge each of a plurality of pores defined within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network.
44. The method of claim 42, wherein said plurality of high aspect ratio particles is selected from the group consisting of wood-based fibers and polymeric fibers.
45. A method for forming a gypsum facer comprising:
forming a randomly oriented open mesh filament network;
impregnating said randomly oriented open mesh filament network with a first binder resin to form a wet formed permeable precursor mat such that a plurality of high aspect ratio particles are contained between said randomly oriented open mesh filament network and said first binder resin;
wherein the plurality of high aspect ratio particles are introduced onto said randomly oriented open mesh network from a brushy roller system;
optionally coating said wet formed permeable precursor mat with a low viscosity, low glass transition temperature organic secondary binder; and
drying said coated wet formed permeable precursor mat sufficiently for said binder resin to form a film.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein said plurality of high aspect ratio particles having an average particle size sufficient to bridge each of a plurality of pores defined within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network.
47. The method of claim 45, wherein said plurality of high aspect ratio particles is selected from the group consisting of wood-based fibers and polymeric fibers.
48. A method for forming a gypsum facer comprising:
forming a randomly oriented open mesh filament network;
introducing a low basis secondary veil layered onto said randomly oriented open mesh filament network to form a permeable precursor mat;
impregnating said permeable precursor mat with a first binder resin to form a wet formed permeable precursor mat;
applying at least one reinforcing agent to said permeable precursor mat;
optionally coating said wet formed permeable precursor mat with a low viscosity, low glass transition temperature organic secondary binder; and
drying said impregnated wet formed permeable precursor mat sufficiently for said first binder resin to form a film.
49. The method of claim 48, wherein said low basis secondary veil comprises a plurality of polymeric fibers having a length sufficient to bridge each of a plurality of pores defined within said randomly oriented open mesh filament network.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein at least one of said plurality of polymeric fibers is selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers, flame retardant polyesters fibers, flame retardant polyolefin fibers, and polyolefin fibers.