Kent Displays, Inc.

Ii-vi Delaware, Inc.

Coadna Photonics Inc.

Kent Display Systems, Inc.

Haiji J Yuan

Minhua Lu

Jack Robert Kelly

Helen Chen

Guomin Jiang

Asad Aziz Khan

Xiao-Yang Huang

Qingyu Li

Yimin Ji

Qingyu (Tom) Li

Hudson Washburn

Zvi Yaniv

Clive E Catchpole

Ellison C Urban, Ii

Kun Gao

George Ventouris

Xuewen Lu

Lixin Wang

Xinran Wang

Wenyi Cao

Lixin (Lawrence) Wang

A reconfigurable polarization rotator is formed of an array of very small liquid crystal (LC) cells (e.g., cells of less than 10 μm in width, termed 'microcells'), referred to hereinafter as “microcells”. Each LC microcell is addressable by a separate electrical voltage input that independently controls the polarization rotation performed by the associated LC microcell. By defining a set of adjacent microcells to be held at the same voltage level, that group may be used to form a polarization rotator window of a proper size for a first fiber array configuration. When a fiber array of a different configuration (say, an array with twice the pitch) is used, a different-sized group of adjacent LC microcells is held at a common voltage level so as to form a reconfigured “window” of a new dimension.

Reconfigurable port arrays for wavelength selectable switch

A voltage-controlled optical wedge is formed by creating an adjustable voltage gradient along the length of a relatively large-sized LC cell. A pair of bias voltages (AC voltages) are applied at the opposing side terminations of the LC cell, their RMS values selected to create a continuous phase variation along the length of the cell, where a defined phase variation is associated with a specific beam steering angle. Adjustments in the applied bias voltages (specifically, changes in the RMS values of the bias voltages) result in changing the beam steering angle, providing for active, controllable beam steering as a function of time. The LC cell may be configured to provide either a linear or nonlinear continuous phase variation, as preferred for different beam steering applications.

Tunable optical wedge for beam steering

A two-step optimization process is utilized to define an optimal phase profile for a LCoS spatial light modulator. The two-step optimization process first utilizes a nonlinear constrained optimization (NCO) program to determine the specific parameters required to obtain an optimal phase profile (hologram), where the 'optimal phase profile' is typically defined as that profile which achieves maximum diffraction efficiency for optical switching. Following this first step, phase scaling (and perhaps an adjustment in the number of pixels per period) is employed to slightly modify the values of the optimal phase profile to effectively suppress crosstalk peaks. If any orders still exhibit an unacceptable level of crosstalk, these orders are then subtracted from the phase profile to create the final design.

Optimization of wavelength selective switch using phase control of liquid crystal spatial light modulator

A liquid crystal display device includes cell wall structure and a chiral nematic liquid crystal material. The cell wall structure and the liquid crystal cooperate to form focal conic and twisted planar textures that are stable in the absence of a field. A device applies an electric field to the liquid crystal for transforming at least a portion of the material to at least one of the focal conic and twisted planar textures. The liquid crystal material has a pitch length effective to reflect radiation having a wavelength in both the visible and the infrared ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum at intensity that is sufficient for viewing by an observer. One liquid crystal material may be disposed in a single region or two or more liquid crystal materials may be used, each in separate regions even without the infrared reflecting layer. One aspect of the invention is directed to a photolithography method for patterning a substrate of the display. The display may also have multicolor capabilities by including separate layers of at least two or three liquid crystal materials that reflect visible light. A full color stacked display may be produced with grey scale capabilities.

Stacked color liquid crystal display device

An achromatic half wave plate includes a first twisted nematic liquid crystal layer, a second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer, and a uniaxial half wave plate between the first twisted nematic liquid crystal layer and the second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer. In one embodiment the first twisted nematic liquid crystal layer and the second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer have an identical twist angle of 135 degrees. The optic axis at the entrance of the first twisted nematic liquid crystal layer is substantially orthogonal to the optic axis at the exit of the second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer.

Apparatus and method for achromatic liquid crystal electro-optic modulation

The invention includes an apparatus for processing an input optical beam. The apparatus has at least one variable optical element to dynamically alter the polarization state of an optical beam to form a polarization-altered optical beam, wherein the polarization-altered optical beam includes elliptical polarization. At least one wave plate operates on the polarization-altered optical beam, each wave plate has a selected retardation, order of retardation, and orientation. A polarization analyzer, operating in conjunction with the at least one variable optical element and wave plate, alters the transmitted amplitude of the polarization-altered optical beam as a function of wavelength, and thereby produces an output optical beam with transmitted amplitude adjusted as a function of wavelength.

Apparatus and method for controlling optical gain profiles

An apparatus for processing an optical beam has at least one variable optical element to dynamically alter the polarization state of a polarized optical beam to form a polarization-altered optical beam. The polarization-altered optical beam includes elliptical polarization. The at least one variable optical element is a compound birefringent crystal with a designed retardation response to temperature variations. In one embodiment, the compound birefringent crystal has a designed retardation response that is substantially invariant with operating temperature variations. At least one wave plate processes the polarized optical beam. Each wave plate has a selected retardation, order of retardation, and orientation. A polarization analyzer is operative in conjunction with the at least one variable optical element and wave plate to alter the transmitted amplitude of the polarization-altered optical beam as a function of wavelength, and thereby produce an output optical beam with transmitted amplitude adjusted as a function of wavelength.

Apparatus and method for controlling optical gain profiles in a temperature independent manner

A display device (10) having first and second substrates (12) and (30) and a layer of a PSCT or PFCT liquid crystal material disposed therebetween. The display is driven by an addressing scheme in which voltages are applied either in phase or out of phase in order to switch the liquid crystal material between stable states.

Driving method for polymer stabilized and polymer free liquid crystal

A display device (110) having first and second substrates (112) and (190) and a layer of a liquid crystal material having a periodic modulated structure, such as a PSCT or PFCT liquid crystal material disposed therebetween. The first substrate is divided into segment and non-segmented areas which are defined by a gap in the electrode materials disposed on the substrate. Similarly, the second substrate (190) is divided into common electrodes corresponding to the segmented and non-segmented areas on the first substrate.

Segmented polymer stabilized and polymer free cholesteric texture liquid

A structurally stabilized bistable cholesteric display. The display has a back plate and a front plate with a liquid crystal material disposed therebetween. The liquid crystal material is homeotropically aligned at least at the substrate and is held in alignment by a securement matrix forming agent. The material is thermally annealed to align the helix axis of the liquid crystal molecules parallel to the substrates and a polymer may be used to secure the molecules in this position.

Bistable cholesteric liquid crystal displays with very high contrast and

A display device (10) having first and second substrates (12) and (30) and a layer of a liquid crystal material having a periodic modulated structure, such as a PSCT or PFCT liquid crystal material disposed therebetween. A layer of a color imparting material (18) is disposed atop one surface of one substrate. The liquid crystal material is tailored or tuned to complementarily provide color to said display in connection with said layer of color imparting material.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Haiji J Yuan