Liquid crystal cell platform

• US 7,352,428 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xtellus Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Cavanaugh, Shanti A., Palen, Edward, Anderson, Grady K., Hood, James M., Young, Mark E., Molinari, Louis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dung T.
• Application Number:
  US10/371,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 349153-155, 349/190, 349/161
• US Class Current: 349/153
• 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, and

a thin film metal gasket element bonded to the facing surfaces of the first and second substrates,

a sub wavelength optical element or nanostructed grating disposed on said first or second substrate,

active thermal elements disposed on the first and second substrates, and

at least one VIA formed by a layer of the metal gasket element connected to said first or second electrode.

2. 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 and

a thin film metal gasket element bonded to the facing surfaces of the first and second substrates,

a sub wavelength optical element or nanostructed grating disposed on said first or second substrate,

active thermal elements disposed on the first and second substrates, and

at least one VIA formed between the active thermal elements by a layer of the metal gasket element.

3. 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 thin film metal gasket element bonded to the facing surfaces of the first and second substrates,

active thermal elements 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, the active thermal elements being deposited onto the first and second substrates,

and wherein a VIA formed by a layer of metal gasket material connects the thermal elements on the first and second substrates.