Liquid crystal cell platform

• US 20040165139A1
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xtellus Inc.
• Inventors: Cavanaugh, Shanti A., Palen, Edward, Anderson, Grady K., Hood, James M., Young, Mark E., Molinari, Louis J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/155
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/093 used as non-reciprocal devices, e.g. optical isolators, circulators G02F1/0955 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1326 Liquid crystal optical waveguides or liquid crystal cells specially adapted for gating or modulating between optical waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133382 Heating or cooling of liquid crystal cells other than for activation, e.g. circuits or arrangements for temperature control, stabilisation or uniform distribution over the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133521 Interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13355 Polarising beam splitters [PBS]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/31 Digital deflection, i.e. optical switchingG02F1/33 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/305 diffraction grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/055 wavelength filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/06 Polarisation independent
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/12 spatial light modulator

Abstract

A liquid crystal cell is presented that utilizes a deposited metal gasket moisture barrier and support membrane bonding two opposing plates of glass, a thin film spacer layer to accurately control cell gap thickness, and an optional integrated thermal sensor and heater deposition layer sandwiched therebetween.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal cell platform, comprising:

A first substrate having a first electrode and first alignment layer,

a second substrate placed in opposition to the first substrate and having a second electrode and second alignment layer,

liquid crystals coupled between the first and second substrates,

a spacer element coupled between the first and second substrates,

A metal gasket element bonded to the first and second substrates.

2. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 1, wherein the first or second substrate further includes a sub wavelength optical element or nanostructed grating.

3. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 1, further including an active thermal element disposed between the first and second substrates.

4. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 1, wherein the spacer element contains one, or more materials selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, silicon monoxide.

5. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 1, wherein the metal gasket includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of indium, gold, nickel, tin, chromium, platinum, tungsten, silver, bismuth, germanium and lead.

6. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 1, further including an integrated optical element.

7. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 1, wherein the spacer element and metal gasket is deposited thin film.

8. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 2, wherein the sub wavelength optical element is configured to operate in a capacity selected from the group consisting of polarization, beam splitting, polarization beam splitting and waveguide.

9. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 3, wherein the active thermal element is disposed substantially around the perimeter of the liquid crystal cell.

10. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 3, wherein the active thermal element is arranged in a serpentine pattern.

11. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 3, wherein the active thermal element provides heating and temperature sensing capability.

12. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 3, wherein the active thermal element is comprised of chrome-platinum.

13. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 3, further including at least one VIA formed between the metal spacer element and first or second electrode.

14. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 3, further including at least one VIA formed between the active thermal element and the metal spacer element.

15. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 6, wherein the optical element is a mirror and liquid crystal cell is reflective.

16. A liquid crystal cell platform, comprising:

A first substrate having a subwavelength optical element on one side and an electrode and alignment layer on the opposing side,

a second substrate having second electrode and second alignment layers placed in opposition to first substrate electrode and alignment layers,

liquid crystals coupled between the first and second substrates,

a spacer element coupled between the first and second substrates,

A metal gasket element bonded to the first and second substrates.

17. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 16, further including an active thermal element having electrodes that may either be supplied with a voltage to heat the thermal element or whose resistance may be read and measured to determine temperature at any instance.

18. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 17, further including a microcontroller and switch coupled to the active thermal element such that the state of the switch controls routing of resistance values from the active thermal element to the microcontroller and voltage signals from the microcontroller to the active thermal element.

19. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 17, wherein the active thermal element is deposited onto the first and second substrates.

20. The liquid crystal cell platform of claim 19, wherein a VIA formed by a layer of metal gasket material connects the thermal element across the first and second substrates.