Polarization-independent LCOS device
US9065707B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 23, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 18, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L27/2096
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Described herein is an optical phase modulator (20) including a liquid crystal element (22), disposed between a pair of opposing electrodes (24) and (26). The electrodes (24, 26) are electrically driven for supplying an electric potential V across the liquid crystal element (22) to drive the liquid crystals within element (22) in a predetermined configuration. Electrode (26) includes a grid of individually drivable pixel regions (28), at least some of which include a sub-wavelength grating structure that provides an anisotropic refractive index profile in orthogonal lateral dimensions, thereby creating an effective material form birefringence. Light incident through liquid crystal element (22) and onto electrode (26) is reflected and experiences a relative phase difference of 180° between its constituent orthogonal polarization components, thereby rotating each polarization component into the orthogonal orientation upon reflection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.