Liquid crystal waveguide having electric field orientated for controlling light
US8860897B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/50
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A waveguide and method for controllably altering an optical phase delay (OPD) of light traveling along a propagation direction through the waveguide. Many embodiments are disclosed, and in one example, the waveguide may include a core for guiding the light through the waveguide; at least one cladding adjacent the core, wherein the at least one cladding has liquid crystal molecules disposed therein; at least one alignment layer positioned between the at least one cladding and the core, the alignment layer initially aligning at least a portion of the liquid crystal molecules in an initial orientation; and a pair of electrodes for receiving a voltage. As the voltage is applied to the electrodes, an electric field is created between the electrodes and through a portion of the cladding, a portion of the electric field being oriented substantially parallel to a plane of the waveguide so that the alignment of at least a portion of the liquid crystal molecules changes from the initial orientation to a second orientation, thereby changing the OPD for the light traveling through the waveguide. TE polarized light and TM polarized light may travel through the waveguide, and as the voltage is a…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.