Patent · US Expired

Liquid crystal light valve system with contrast control

US6519012B1 · kind B1 · utility

4Cited by
2References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 1999
Grant dateFeb 11, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG09G2320/066
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A ferroelectric liquid crystal-based light valve system with contrast control and a method for controlling contrast in a ferroelectric liquid crystal-based light valve system. The light valve system includes a light input, a ferroelectric liquid crystal-based spatial light modulator, an analyzer, and a voltage controller. The ferroelectric liquid crystal-based spatial light modulator includes signal processing electronics and an array of pixels. The array of pixels is configured to receive light from the light input and includes an array of pixel electrodes, a transparent electrode, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material. Each pixel electrode is independently switchable between a first voltage level and a second voltage level by the signal processing electronics. One of these levels may be a variable input voltage level. The analyzer has orthogonal directions of maximum transmissivity and minimum transmissivity. The voltage controller is configured to adjust at least one of the first voltage level and the second voltage level through a first range of voltages and a second range of voltages, respectively. As the voltage controller adjust the variable input voltage leve…

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