Optical diode
US7701537B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/133543
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical diode. A cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) layer has a selective reflection wavelength band with a left-handed helical structure, and a phase shifter for changing a phase difference between two intrinsic polarized light components of left-handed circularly polarized light having a wavelength within the selective reflection wavelength band of the CLC layer. When left-handed circularly polarized light having a wavelength within the selective reflection wavelength band of the CLC layer is incident on the phase shifter in the optical diode, the phase shifter turns the left-handed circularly polarized light into right-handed circularly polarized light, which can be transmitted through the CLC layer. When left-handed circularly polarized light having a wavelength within the selective reflection wavelength band of the CLC layer is incident on the CLC layer, it is selectively reflected by the CLC layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.