Patent · US Expired

Liquid crystal light valve with grooved microgrid and method of forming the same

US4913531A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
12References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 7, 1988
Grant dateApr 3, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 7, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S359/90
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A liquid crystal light valve is provided with a microgrid of grooves in the photoconductor surface to divide the photoconductor into high resolution pixels. The liquid crystals fill the grooves to seal them and contribute to a potential barrier at the grooves that prevents lateral charge migration between pixels. In a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) embodiment an oxide layer extends over the pixels and partially overhangs the grooves. A metal matrix mirror is formed over the insulative layer, and extends into a portion of the grooves to shield the underlying silicon from photoactivation while maintaining an electrical isolation between pixels.

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