Electronically controlled volume phase grating devices, systems and fabrication methods

• US 20050232530A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: META Platforms Technologies LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: META Platforms Technologies LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Inventors: Kekas, Jason
• Application Number:
  US11/092,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20050232530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13342 Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/292 by controlled diffraction or phased-array beam steering controlled diffraction for optical switching G02F1/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/307 Reflective grating, i.e. Bragg grating

Abstract

Electrically controlled volume phase gratings and electrically controlled Bragg Gratings can provide variable diffraction gratings that can be operated in a transmissive and/or reflective mode. They can be made from electro-optic materials placed directly on glass or semiconductor materials, utilizing conventional Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) processes and equipment. Highly efficient and/or small device form factors may be provided.

Claims

1. An electronically controlled volume phase grating device comprising:

a transparent substrate and a semiconductor substrate with integrated electronics in closely spaced-apart relation;

a common electrode and patterned electrodes in closely spaced-apart relation between the transparent substrate and the semiconductor substrate; and

a blazed grating and a liquid crystal film between the common electrode and the patterned electrodes.