Patent · US Expired

Isolated pixel liquid crystal light valve structure

US5076670A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
10References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 13, 1989
Grant dateDec 31, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/1354
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A photoconductive substrate is provided to voltage modulate a liquid crystal layer in response to input light. The substrate is partitioned into electrically isolated pixels to eliminate lateral spread of charge carriers therein, and increase the dynamic range of the liquid crystal light valve while preserving resolution. The substrate is partitioned by forming an interconnecting network of deep trenches in a surface thereof, and filling the trenches with an insulating material such as silicon dioxide. The opposite surface of the substrate is etched away to expose the silicon dioxide in the trenches, thereby providing the substrate with partitions which extend completely therethrough between the opposite surfaces.

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