# US 2019/0377248 A1 · Method and apparatus for dynamically variable electrical control of light beam reflective liquid crystal devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0377248 A1 - Document ID: US20190377248A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/463,198 - Filed: 2017-12-14 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14 - Assignees: Universite Laval - Applicants: Université Laval - Inventors: Tigran GALSTIAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190377248A1 ## CPC - G03B 21/006: {using LCD's} - F21V 14/003: {by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable light transmissivity, e.g. liquid crystal elements or electrochromic devices} - G02F 1/1334: based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals - G02F 1/133553: {Reflecting elements (associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605)} - G03B 21/2033: {LED or laser light sources} - G03B 21/28: Reflectors in projection beam {(in illumination beam G03B21/2066)} - H04N 9/3102: {using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators (micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13)} - F21V 7/0041: {for avoiding direct view of the light source or to prevent dazzling} - F21V 7/05: plane - F21V 13/04: the elements being reflectors and refractors {(for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40)} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - G02B 5/0252: {using holographic or diffractive means} - G02F 2203/06: Polarisation independent - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A variable reflection mode optical device for controlling properties of reflected light is described. The device includes a light reflecting surface of an array of controllable mirror elements, a layer of dynamically controllable material and an excitation source for generating an excitation field acting on the layer of dynamically controllable material. An electrical drive signal applied to the excitation source causes a change of optical properties in the layer of dynamically controllable material to provide a spatially varying change in light reflection having at least one of a desired phase curvature and a desired amplitude modulation profile. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beam projector device comprising a light source and a reflector for directing at least a part of a beam emitted from the light source, the reflector comprising a liquid crystal element that is electrically controllable to vary at least one of a beam shape and beam direction of said beam, wherein said device is further characterized by one of: the liquid crystal element causing linear polarization of light and varying at least one of beam shape and beam direction of a first polarization of said beam, said reflector comprising a polarization transformer element so that the liquid crystal element varies at least one of beam shape and beam direction of a second polarization of said beam in reflection; and the liquid crystal element varies beam shape of all polarizations of said beam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A beam projector device as defined in claim 1, wherein said reflector further comprises a polarization transformer element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) A beam projector device as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said liquid crystal is of nematic type. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2) A beam projector device as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said liquid crystal further contains chiral molecules, polymers, nano and micro particles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2) A beam projector device as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said liquid crystal is in the phase of cholesteric, blue, polymer stabilized, nano particle stabilized or polymer dispersed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) A beam projector device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said reflector is of planar disc shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) A beam projector device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said reflector is of planar doughnut shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) A beam projector device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said reflector is of bent shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) A beam projector device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a diffractive or holographic element is included to enhance the steering or broadening as well as to perform other predetermined (recorded in the diffractive/holographic element) functions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) A beam projector device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the liquid crystal element is electrically controllable to vary only a beam shape. ### Claim 11 A reflector for directing at least a part of a beam emitted from a light source, the reflector comprising a liquid crystal element that is electrically controllable to vary at least one of a beam shape and beam direction of said beam, wherein said reflector is further characterized by one of: the liquid crystal element causing linear polarization of light and varying at least one of beam shape and beam direction of a first polarization of said beam, said reflector comprising a polarization transformer element so that the liquid crystal element varies at least one of beam shape and beam direction of a second polarization of said beam in reflection; and the liquid crystal element varies beam shape of all polarizations of said beam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A reflector as defined in claim 11, wherein said reflector further comprises a polarization transformer element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11, 12) A reflector as defined in claim 11 or 12, wherein said liquid crystal is of nematic type. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11, 13) A reflector as defined in claim 11 or 13, wherein said liquid crystal further contains chiral molecules, polymers, nano and micro particles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11, 13) A reflector as defined in claim 11 or 13, wherein said liquid crystal is in the phase of cholesteric, blue, polymer stabilized, nano particle stabilized or polymer dispersed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) A reflector as defined in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein said reflector is of planar disc shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) A reflector as defined in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein said reflector is of planar doughnut shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) A reflector as defined in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein said reflector is of bent shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) A reflector as defined in any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein a diffractive or holographic element is included to enhance the steering or broadening as well as to perform other predetermined functions.