Liquid crystal based optical deflector and optical scanner using the same
AssigneesHyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Inha University Research and Business Foundation
InventorsYong Sung Lee, Kyong Hon Kim, Yu Deuk Kim, Ju Seong Bang
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Abstract
A liquid crystal based optical deflector includes a light source array configured to generate a laser beam, an optical deflector including a plurality of liquid crystal cells, which transmit the laser beam, the optical deflector configured to deflect a transmission path of the laser beam depending on a gradually increased voltage profile applied to the plurality of liquid crystal cells, an optics assembly configured to scan the laser beam deflected by the optical defector in a horizontal direction, and a controller configured to adjust the voltage profile applied to the plurality of liquid crystal cells.
Claims12
An optical deflector, comprising:
- a first substrate and a second substrate disposed facing each other;
- a plurality of liquid crystal cells formed between the first substrate and the second substrate and partitioned by partition walls;
- a first partition wall electrode and a second partition wall electrode formed on inner partition wall surfaces, respectively, in each of the liquid crystal cells;
- a first electrode array having a plurality of electrodes regularly arranged on the first substrate inside each of the liquid crystal cells;
- a second electrode array disposed on the second substrate in each of the liquid crystal cells to be symmetrical to the first electrode array;
- a first external connector array formed on the first substrate to connect the first partition wall electrode, the second partition wall electrode, and the first electrode array to an outside;
- and
- a second external connector array formed on the second substrate to connect the second electrode array to the outside.
An optical scanner, comprising:
- a light source array configured to generate a laser beam;
- an optical deflector including a plurality of liquid crystal cells, which transmit the laser beam, the optical deflector configured to deflect a transmission path of the laser beam depending on a voltage applied to the plurality of liquid crystal cells;
- an optics assembly configured to scan the laser beam deflected by the optical defector in a horizontal direction;
- and
- a controller configured to adjust the voltage applied to the plurality of liquid crystal cells,
- wherein each of the liquid cystal cells includes:
- a first partition wall electrode and a second partition wall electrode formed on partition wall surfaces which partition each if the liquid crystal cells;
- a first electrode array including electrodes formed on a first substrate and arranged with a predetermined spacing;
- and
- a second electrode array formed on a second substrate to be symmetrical to the first electrode array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.