Donna M Brandelik

6730442, May 4, 2004

May 24, 2000

09/577166

Richard L. Sutherland - Dayton OH
John Sappington - West Alexandria OH
Donna M. Brandelik - New Carlisle OH
Stephen A. Siwecki - Dayton OH
Christina K. Shepherd - Dayton OH
Robert T. Pogue - Springboro OH

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

G03H 102

430 1, 430 2, 359 12, 359 3

The present invention offers increased efficiency and quality in the duplication of a master hologram utilizing an improved method of contact printing. This improved method of contact printing employs a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) recording medium as the duplication blank and/or the master hologram material. The optical qualities of the PDLC material described herein provide an improved method of duplication using single beam contact printing regardless of the material comprising the master hologram. Thus, master holograms originally recorded using highly complex optical geometries (e. g. , computer generated holograms) are capable of duplication without the need for multiple beam power/intensity balancing and long recording times. The improved hologram contact printing method described herein works with virtually any type of master hologram, including both reflection and transmission holograms.

6821457, Nov 23, 2004

Jul 29, 1999

09/363169

Lalgudi V. Natarajan - Beavercreek OH
Richard L. Sutherland - Dayton OH
Vince P. Tondiglia - Dayton OH
Timothy J. Bunning - Beavercreek OH
Bob Epling - Waynesville OH
Donna M. Brandelik - New Carlisle OH

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

F21V 900

252582, 430 2, 359 15, 349112, 385 15, 385 16, 385 27, 385 37

A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the invention preferably comprise a homogeneous mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional pentaacrylate monomer in combination with photoinitiator, coinitiator and cross-linking agent. Optionally, a surfactant such as octancic acid may also be added. The PDLC material is exposed to coherent light to produce an interference pattern inside the material. Photopolymerization of the new PDLC material produces a hologram of clearly separated liquid crystal domains and cured polymer domains. Volume transmission gratings made with the new PDLC material can be electrically switched between nearly 100% diffraction efficiency and nearly 0% diffraction efficiency. By increasing the frequency of the switching voltage, switching voltages in the range of 50 Vrms can be achieved.

7005186, Feb 28, 2006

Sep 15, 2003

10/662750

Daniel G. McLean - Xenia OH, US
Michael E. DeRosa - Painted Post NY, US
Donna M. Brandelik - New Carlisle OH, US
Angela L. Campbell - Dayton OH, US
Mark C. Brant - Dayton OH, US

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force - Washington DC

B32B 5/14
B32B 27/38
C08K 5/56
C08L 63/00
G02B 5/02

428414, 252582, 252586, 359240, 359241, 359265, 359321, 359577, 359580, 359582, 359589, 359614, 428413, 523456, 523458

A new damage resistant and tolerant optical element is disclosed. Prior art solid or liquid host matrices are replaced by a soft crosslinked polymer or similar host material. The viscoelastic properties of the matrix host material are controlled during formation so that there are regions of different softness, of stiffness, within the matrix, to form a stiffness gradient. Preferably, the matrix will be softest at a preselected focal plane where maximum electromagnetic radiation or energy output may be expected. The host matrix is doped with an appropriate dopant having a concentration distribution, preferably such that the concentration of dopant is highest in the region where the host matrix material is most soft. Two important disclosed example embodiments are an optical limiter and a solid state dye laser.

7018563, Mar 28, 2006

Nov 26, 2002

10/303927

Richard L. Sutherland - Bellbrook OH, US
Lalgudi V. Natarajan - Beavercreek OH, US
Robert T Pogue - Pittsburgh PA, US
Christina K. Shepherd - Beaverbrook OH, US
Donna M. Brandelik - New Carlisle OH, US

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

C09K 19/52
C09K 19/38
G02B 5/32

25229901, 2522995, 428 11, 359 15, 430 20

The present invention offers control over—and the ability to optimize—the performance parameters of switchable holograms. The present invention offers the ability to tailor the properties of a hologram to a desired application and thus make application-specific holograms. The invention relates to polymer-dispersed liquid crystal materials subject to control and optimization of the performance parameters of switchable holograms. Such variability allows tailoring the properties to application-specific devices. Specifically, the present invention provides an improved polymer-dispersed liquid crystal system that allows variation of: 1) haze, 2) switching voltage, 3) electrical power dissipation, 4) switching stability (voltage creep), 5) switching contrast ratio (range), 6) dynamic stability, and 7) the operating temperature range.

7081215, Jul 25, 2006

Aug 12, 2004

10/916430

Lalgudi V. Natarajan - Beavercreek OH, US
Richard L. Sutherland - Dayton OH, US
Vince P. Tondiglia - Dayton OH, US
Timothy J. Bunning - Beavercreek OH, US
Bob Epling - Waynesville OH, US
Donna M. Brandelik - New Carlisle OH, US

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

F21V 9/00
G02B 5/32
G02B 6/26
G02B 6/34
G02F 1/361

252582, 349112, 359 15, 359569, 359576, 385 15, 385 37, 385 16, 385 27, 430 2

A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the invention preferably comprise a homogeneous mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional pentaacrylate monomer in combination with photoinitiator, coinitiator and cross-linking agent. Optionally, a surfactant such as octancic acid may also be added. The PDLC material is exposed to coherent light to produce an interference pattern inside the material. Photopolymerization of the new PDLC material produces a hologram of clearly separated liquid crystal domains and cured polymer domains. Volume transmission gratings made with the new PDLC material can be electrically switched between nearly 100% diffraction efficiency and nearly 0% diffraction efficiency. By increasing the frequency of the switching voltage, switching voltages in the range of 50 Vrms can be achieved.

7175780, Feb 13, 2007

Jan 17, 2006

11/332247

Richard L. Sutherland - Bellbrook OH, US
Lalgudi V. Natarajan - Beavercreek OH, US
Robert T. Pogue - Pittsburgh PA, US
Christina K. Shepherd - Beavercreek OH, US
Donna M. Brandelik - New Carlisle OH, US

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

C09K 19/52
C09K 19/38
C09K 19/54

25229901, 2522991, 2522995, 349 86, 349 88, 349 92

The process described herein offers the optimizing of performance parameters of holograms, such as reducing scattering effects in a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element. In the process, an interfacial tension agent is added to a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material has at least one acrylic acid monomer, at least one type of liquid crystal material, a photoinitiator dye, and a co-initiator. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material is subjected to a polymerization. The interfacial tension agent reduces the size of liquid crystal droplets formed within the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element during polymerization.

7186567, Mar 6, 2007

Nov 4, 2005

11/266189

Richard L. Sutherland - Bellbrook OH, US
Donna M. Brandelik - New Carlisle OH, US
Christina K. Shepherd - Beavercreek OH, US

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

G01N 33/545

436532, 252582, 25229901, 4352877, 436531

A method of sensing an environmental agent, comprising obtaining a sample from the environment and transferring the sample into the working fluid for dispensation to a detection module. The sample and working fluid mixture is filtered through a porous polymer Bragg grating. By comparing the refractive index of the grating with the mixture to the refractive index of a grating without the sample, a difference in the refractive index aids in the identification of a hazardous agent in the environment. The sensor also acts as a chemical filter by trapping specific target agents by a highly specific reaction with a conjugate molecule. Recirculation of the working fluid throughout the system provides a sensor that is “always on. ”.

7198737, Apr 3, 2007

Jan 27, 2006

11/340681

Lalgudi V. Natarajan - Beavercreek OH, US
Richard L. Sutherland - Dayton OH, US
Vince P. Tondiglia - Dayton OH, US
Timothy J. Bunning - Beavercreek OH, US
Bob Epling - Waynesville OH, US
Donna M. Brandelik - New Carlisle OH, US

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

F21V 9/00
G02F 1/133
G02B 5/18
G02B 6/34

252582, 430 20, 349201, 349202, 359320, 359321, 359566, 359569, 385 36, 385 37

A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. A method for preparing a switchable grating can comprise the steps of placing a mixture between a first and second slide, wherein the mixture has a photopolymerizable monomer, a second phase material, a photoinitiator dye, and a chain extender or cross-linker. The mixture is exposed to a laser and optical intensity pattern is applied to induce photopolymerization. A method for recording slanted reflection gratings can comprise the steps of placing a sample between a first and second glass prism, the sample comprising a polymerizable monomer, a liquid crystal, a chain-extending monomer, a coinitiator, and a photoinitiator. An incident light is split into two beams, wherein the beams enter the sample from opposite sides. The first and second prism are rotated to adjust the slant of the grating.