Frequency modulated liquid crystal beamsteering device
US6456419B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/1392
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electrical exciting circuit produces a plurality of oscillating electrical excitations, each at an independently controllable frequency. A set of drive electrodes are distributed in an array, and connected so that each receives a respective one of the excitations. A dual frequency liquid crystal (DFLC) material is arranged in the path of a coherent light beam and is disposed in proximity to the set of drive electrodes so as to receive electrical excitations. The DFLC has a dielectric coefficient which varies locally in relation to the frequency of the local electrical excitation received. The voltages and at least two frequencies of the excitations are controlled so as to produce a desired profile of the dielectric coefficient (for at least one polarization) and a corresponding optical phase delay profile for the coherent beam. Preferably, a novel reflective groundplane is included to improve optical reflective efficiency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.