Liquid crystal switching apparatus

A liquid crystal switching apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of juxtaposed liquid crystal switching devices, each said device including a beam splitter segment for splitting an incident light beam into polarized components, said beam splitting segment having a first layer of liquid crystal material common thereto;
• a plurality of first input ports;
• first and second pluralities of output ports, each one of said first input ports and one of each said pluralities of output ports being associated with each said device;
• and
• wherein each said device further comprises:
• a beam combiner segment for recombining said polarized components into a single beam, said beam combiner segments having a second layer of liquid crystal material common thereto.

A liquid crystal switching apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of juxtaposed liquid crystal switching devices, each said device including a beam splitter segment for splitting an incident light beam into polarized components, said beam splitting segment having a first layer of liquid crystal material common thereto;
• wherein said beam splitter segments further comprises:
• a first elongated transparent member having a first planar surface;
• a second elongated transparent member, said second elongated transparent member having a second planar surface, said first and second elongated transparent members having said first layer of liquid crystal material disposed between said first and second planar surfaces thereof;
• and
• wherein each said device further comprises:
• a beam combiner segment for recombining said polarized components into a single beam, said beam combiner segments having a second layer of liquid crystal material common thereto.

A liquid crystal switching apparatus comprises:

• a first elongated transparent member, said first elongated transparent member having a first planar surface and first and second end surfaces extending therefrom;
• a second elongated transparent member having a second planar surface and first and second end surfaces extending therefrom;
• a first layer of liquid crystal material, said first layer of liquid crystal material being disposed between said first and second planar surfaces;
• a plurality of ports, said ports being disposed on said first end surfaces of said first and second elongated transparent members whereby a plurality of beams can be split into polarized components;
• and
• means, disposed substantially perpendicular to said second surfaces, for reorienting the polarization of light beams incident normal thereto and, said polarization reorientation means including a second layer of liquid crystal material disposed substantially parallel with said second end surfaces.

A liquid crystal switching matrix comprises:

• a plurality of juxtaposed liquid crystal switching devices, each said device having first and second input ports and first and second output ports, said devices having at least one layer of liquid crystal material common thereto;
• a plurality of matrix input/output ports, said matrix input/output ports being selected from said first and second input ports of said devices;
• a plurality of matrix output/input ports, said matrix output/input ports being selected from said first and second output ports of said devices;
• and
• means for interconnecting the unselected first and second input ports and the unselected first and second output ports of said devices whereby signal paths can be established between said input/output ports and said output/input ports via said devices.