Magnetic field driven liquid crystal patterning control system
AssigneeFacebook Technologies, LLC
InventorsErik Shipton, Oleg Yaroshchuk
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Abstract
Various embodiments set forth liquid crystal (LC) patterning control systems in which LCs are aligned using locally applied magnetic fields. The index of refraction experienced by light propagating through an anisotropic LC is dependent on orientation. As a result, a phase difference may be imparted to an optical beam that is passed through, or reflected from, an array of LCs whose orientations are controlled via locally applied magnetic fields. In some embodiments, the locally applied magnetic fields may be generated by driving currents through wires that intersect at micro or nanomagnetic particles or at magnetic domains, or by applying voltages to micro or nanocoils wrapped around high-permeability cores, among other things.
Claims18
A liquid crystal patterning control system, comprising:
- a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels comprising:
- a liquid crystal, and
- a magnet,
- wherein, responsive to a switching of the magnet, molecules of the liquid crystal reorient to substantially align with a magnetic field generated by the magnet, and
- wherein the magnet comprises at least one of (i) a magnetically anisotropic material that is switchable between a plurality of preferred magnetization directions, or (ii) a plurality of magnetic domains.
A cell, comprising:
- a birefringent material;
- and
- at least one alignment layer disposed adjacent to the birefringent material,
- wherein a reorientation of molecules in the birefringent material is driven by a magnet, and
- wherein the magnet comprises at least one of (i) a magnetically anisotropic material that is switchable between a plurality of preferred magnetization directions, or (ii) a plurality of magnetic domains.
A computer-implemented method for modulating light, the method comprising:
- determining states of a plurality of pixels for at least one point in time;
- driving, based on the determined states of the pixels, liquid crystals associated with the pixels using magnets associated with the liquid crystals, wherein each magnet associated with one of the liquid crystals comprises at least one of (i) a magnetically anisotropic material that is switchable between a plurality of preferred magnetization directions, or (ii) a plurality of magnetic domains;
- and
- projecting light that passes through the liquid crystals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.