Smectic liquid crystal devices using SSFLC and electroclinic effect based cells
US5168381A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 27, 1990 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 27, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/055
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Fast switching, high-contrast light valves and light valves which function for multi-level, gray-scale production are provided. Light valves of this invention employ two or more low-tilt, chiral smectic liquid crystal cells which are half-wave plates. Bistable FLC cells or FLC cells having smectic A* materials which display a field dependent tilt angle can be used. The FLC cells of exemplary device configurations are positioned sequentially along a light path through the device with the optic axes of the sequential FLC cells rotating in opposite directions upon application of a driving electric field thereacross. Light valves employing smectic C* and smectic A* liquid crystal cells are provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.