Patent · US Expired

Liquid-crystal image converter device

US4368386A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
6References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 3, 1981
Grant dateJan 11, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 3, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/135
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention provides an image converter device which utilizes a liquid crystal cell in which a layer of a nematic material or a nematic-cholesteric mixture is enclosed between a first plate of a photoconductive material, provided with an external electrode, and a second transparent plate, provided with an internal electrode. The photoconductive material may be bismuth oxide, or a mixture of the latter with germanium or silicon oxide. A direct or alternative voltage is applied between the electrodes. An X-rays image, or an image displayed on the screen of a C.R. tube is projected onto the photoconductive plate whose conductivity, thus spatially modulated, causes a spatially variable voltage to be applied in the liquid crystal layer. Various electro-optical effects, such as dynamic scattering, controlled birofringence or controlled rotatory polarization in a twisted structure, can be used to make the projected image to appear in the liquid crystal layer illuminated by a visible light read-out beam and be directly observed or enlarged by projection onto a screen.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.