Patent · US Expired

Chiral smectic liquid crystal polarization interference filters

US5243455A · kind A · utility

94Cited by
10References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 15, 1992
Grant dateSep 7, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 15, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F2203/055
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Discretely and continuously tunable single and multiple-stage polarization interference filters employing chiral smectic liquid crystal cells as electronically rotatable retarders are provided. Discretely tunable filters of this invention include those which employ bistable surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal cells. Continuously tunable filters of this invention include those that employ chiral smectic A ferroelectric liquid crystal cells. Single stage filters include fixed birefringent elements in combination with chiral smectic liquid crystal cells and multiple stage filters can include only chiral smectic liquid crystal cells or can include chiral smectic liquid crystal cells in combination with fixed birefringent elements. Blocking filters useful for color generation and color displays are also provided. The FLC filters provided can be temporally multiplexed.

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