Double-Schottky diode liquid crystal light valve
US4881110A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 1988 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/015
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A double Schottky diode light valve (5) includes a liquid crystal (80) for locally modulating a beam (120) by polarization rotation to produce a modulated beam (121), and a photoconductor (40) located adjacent the liquid crystal (80) for receiving and absorbing a second beam (110). The photoconductor (40) controls the polarization responsively to the optical content of the second beam (110). The photoconductor (46) includes a semiconductor substrate and a pair of Schottky diodes (60/40, 30/40) disposed on opposing sides of the substrate. The absorption of the second beam (110) by the substrate (40) produces photogenerated carriers. The pair of Schottky diodes (60/40, 30/40) maintain the substrate (40) substantially depleted of such carriers and also reflects the modulated beam back through the liquid crystal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.