Patent · US Expired

Double pass arrangement for a liquid crystal device

US6859573B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by
65References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2002
Grant dateFeb 22, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 2, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/29397
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical device for rerouting and modifying an optical signal that uses a double pass through a liquid crystal modulator is disclosed. The optical device includes a first polarizer for providing polarized light, a liquid crystal modulator for selectively modifying the polarized light, a second polarizer for analyzing the light passed through the liquid crystal modulator, and a reflector for reflecting the analyzed light back through the second polarizer, the liquid crystal modulator, and the first polarizer. This arrangement provides a double pass through the liquid crystal modulator, thus significantly improving the attainable extinction ratio.

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