Optically active diffractive device

US5638201A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Philip J. Bos · Portland, US
• David Lawrence Johnson · Ashland City, US
• Jianmin Chen · Boulder, US
• Hemasiri Vithana · Kent, US
• William E. Glenn · Jacksonville, US
• Carvel Holton · Blacksburg, US
• Brett Smith · McKinney, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 19, 1995
• Grant date: Jun 10, 1997
• Expiry date: May 19, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F2203/48
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A liquid crystalline diffractive light valve for use in a diffractive projection system. The liquid crystal cell includes substrates treated to provide alternating stripes which cooperate with the liquid crystal to form liquid crystal domains extending across the thickness of the cell that will produce a 180.degree. phase difference in light emerging from adjacent domains, irrespective of the polarization of incident light.