The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 1976
Filed:
Feb. 25, 1975
Joel M Pollack, Rochester, NY (US);
Richard F Bergen, Ontario, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
Deflection and modulation of monochromatic light is achieved by providing an about 1 micron to about 6 micron thick layer of homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystalline material having negative dielectric anisotropy between two transparent electrodes; applying a voltage between the two electrodes at a voltage level above the threshold voltage level for parallel variable diffraction mode for said nematic liquid crystalline material; directing a ribbon or beam of monochromatic light into the layer of nematic liquid crystalline material and coplanar therewith; and increasing and decreasing the applied voltage so that light diffracted by the parallel variable grating mode nematic is deflected at an angle which either exceeds or is less than a critical angle .theta..sub.c. When the deflection of diffracted light is increased in excess of critical angle .theta..sub.c the incident monochromatic light is diffracted through the nematic layer and the electrodes; and, when the deflection angle of the diffracted light is decreased below critical angle .theta..sub.c the incident monochromatic light is totally reflected within the nematic layer provided the voltage level is above the parallel variable grating mode level. At voltages below the parallel variable grating more threshold voltage level, the incident monochromatic light passes through the layer of nematic liquid crystalline material without reflection. Imaging devices utilizing the above deflection and modulation are disclosed.