Patent ID: 6251329
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: G02B,G09F

Abstract:
A method of making rotating element sheet material comprising:a) removably attaching a plurality of magnetic particles to a magnetized portion of a plurality of rotating elements, each element having an optical and electrical anisotropy, and comprising at least two portions, wherein at least one portion is magnetized,b) mixing the plurality of rotating elements and attached magnetic particles with a non-solid material capable of being hardened to a solid state to provide a mixture of said elements and said material,c) forming a layer of said mixture, said layer having a surface,d) orienting the plurality of said elements and attached particles to align said plurality of elements in a substantially common direction,e) solidifying said material where said elements and attached magnetic particles are trapped within a slab of said material,f) dispersing said slab with said particles trapped therein into a bath of dielectric plasticizer which is absorbed more readily by said solidified material than by said elements whereby said solidified material swells to create plasticizer-filled voids around said elements such that said elements can have rotational movement but substantially no translational movement within said slab and whereby said magnetic particles are removed from said elements and incorporated within said solidified material to form magnetic material pads wherein each magnetic material pad is associated with an element.