Patent · US Expired

Optical apparatus using ferroelectric liquid crystal and switching unit for emitted light

US4634226A · kind A · utility

35Cited by
4References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 6, 1984
Grant dateJan 6, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 6, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/141
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical apparatus comprises an optical device having an optically functional material sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes formed on opposing surfaces. The optically functional material has such a characteristic that intensity of light issuing from the optical device changes asymmetrically in response to inversion of the polarity of an applied external field. Pulse voltages of one polarity for determining the intensity of the issuing light and pulse voltages of an opposite polarity are applied from a source at a predetermined period so that an average voltage is zeroed within the predetermied period. The issuing light intensity under the application of the pulse voltages of one polarity and the issuing light intensity under the application of the other pulse voltages are selected or changed by a switching unit.

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