Liquid crystal light deflector
First Claim
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1. An optical modulation device comprising:
- two spaced transparent dielectric substrates, a layer of nematic liquid crystal material having a positive dielectric anisotropy sandwiched between the substrates, at least two electrodes spaced apart on the inner surface of one substrate and facing these electrodes at least two electrodes spaced apart on the inner surface of the other substrate, means for producing electrical bias fields across the layer of liquid crystal material to produce a first condition in which molecules of the liquid crystal material are aligned by the field in a generally uniform direction and to produce separately a second condition in which the molecules of the liquid crystal material are oriented by the bias fields to provide a controlled refractive index gradient across the layer of liquid crystal material capable of refracting optical radiation having a plane of the gradient, the amount of the refraction being controlled by the bias fields, and means for changing the bias fields between the first and second conditions.
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Abstract
An optical modulation device such as an electrical switchable prism, which may be used as a light deflector, or an electrically switchable lens, comprises a volume of liquid crystal material, means for applying electric or magnetic bias fields across the material and means for switching the bias fields to provide a controlled refractive index gradient in the liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal material may be contained between substrates having a set of four or eight electrodes (collectively) on their inner surfaces.
79 Citations
6 Claims
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1. An optical modulation device comprising:
two spaced transparent dielectric substrates, a layer of nematic liquid crystal material having a positive dielectric anisotropy sandwiched between the substrates, at least two electrodes spaced apart on the inner surface of one substrate and facing these electrodes at least two electrodes spaced apart on the inner surface of the other substrate, means for producing electrical bias fields across the layer of liquid crystal material to produce a first condition in which molecules of the liquid crystal material are aligned by the field in a generally uniform direction and to produce separately a second condition in which the molecules of the liquid crystal material are oriented by the bias fields to provide a controlled refractive index gradient across the layer of liquid crystal material capable of refracting optical radiation having a plane of the gradient, the amount of the refraction being controlled by the bias fields, and means for changing the bias fields between the first and second conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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