Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for variable retardation and adjusting light channel pathlengths

US7791675B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
7References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 5, 2005
Grant dateSep 7, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 23, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/136277
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A variable retarder is inserted in one or more light channels of a kernel. The variable retarder is a nematic liquid crystal layer that is energized by an electric field and, for example, the voltage or frequency of the electric field dictates an amount of retardation effected by the variable retarder. The variable retarder either increases or decreases an optical path in which it is inserted relative to a reference. The amount of increase or decrease is utilized to place light paths in the kernel within acceptable tolerances. The acceptable tolerances are, for example, a tolerance of difference-light paths expected by a projection lens of device using the kernel for light modulation. In one embodiment, the variable retarder includes a polymer that can be used to fix a retardation value of the variable waveplate.

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