Liquid crystal light valve having a SiO.sub.2 /TiO.sub.2 dielectric mirror and a Si/SiO.sub.2 light blocking layer

A liquid crystal light valve, comprising:

• a first transparent substrate of a visible light transmissive material having one side disposed to receive a visible light representing an image;
• a second transparent substrate of an infrared light transmissive material arranged in parallel of said first transparent substrate;
• a first conductive electrode adhered to the other side of said first transparent substrate, for transmitting the visible light received by the first transparent substrate and reflecting an infrared light;
• a second conductive electrode adhered to the other side of said second transparent substrate, for transmitting the infrared light and the visible light;
• a voltage source connected to said first and second conductive electrodes;
• a liquid crystal layer disposed between said first and second conductive electrodes having each side adhered to an alignment film;
• and
• light sensor means disposed between said liquid crystal and said first conductive electrode, said light sensor means comprising a photoconductor layer, a light absorbing layer and a dielectric mirror layer successively disposed toward the visible light of said liquid crystal layer,
• wherein said dielectric mirror layer comprises alternating layers of titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide and said light absorbing layer comprises alternating layers of silicon and silicon dioxide.

A liquid crystal light valve, comprising:

• first and second transparent substrates arranged in parallel and space-apart by a given distance;
• a first electrode disposed upon said first transparent substrate toward said second transparent substrate, said first electrode being positioned in between said first and second transparent substrates;
• a second electrode disposed upon said second transparent substrate toward said first transparent-substrate, said second electrode being positioned in between said first and second transparent substrates;
• a photoconductor layer positioned upon said first electrode, for exhibiting an impedance varying upon impinging light incident upon said first transparent substrate, said impinging light representing an image signal;
• a light absorbing layer formed on said photoconductor layer, said light absorbing layer comprising layers of silicon and silicon oxide;
• a dielectric mirror layer formed on said light absorbing layer, said dielectric mirror layer comprising layers of silicon oxide and titanium oxide;
• a liquid crystal layer insulated from, and disposed between said dielectric mirror layer and said second electrode, for enabling double-refraction of the impinging light;
• and
• a voltage source for providing a voltage potential across the first and second electrodes.

A liquid crystal light valve, comprising:

• a transparent substrate;
• a photoconductor layer formed on the substrate and exhibiting an impedance varying upon impinging light representing an image signal;
• a light absorbing layer formed on the photoconductor layer, said light absorbing layer comprising layers of silicon and silicon oxide;
• and
• a dielectric mirror layer formed on the light absorbing layer, said dielectric mirror layer comprising layers of silicon oxide and titanium oxide.

A method for fabricating a liquid crystal light valve, comprising the steps of:

• arranging first and second transparent substrates in parallel and spaced-apart by a given distance;
• disposing a first electrode layer on said first transparent substrate toward said second transparent substrate, said first electrode being positioned in between said first and second transparent substrates;
• disposing a second electrode on said second transparent substrate toward said first transparent substrate, said second electrode being positioned in between said first and second transparent substrates;
• positioning a photoconductive layer on said first electrode for exhibiting an impedance varying upon impinging light incident upon said first transparent substrate, said impinging light representing an image signal;
• forming a light absorbing layer on said photoconductive layer, said light absorbing layer comprising layers of silicon and silicon oxide;
• forming a dielectric mirror layer on said light absorbing layer, said dielectric mirror layer comprising layers of silicon oxide and titanium oxide;
• disposing a liquid crystal layer between said dielectric mirror layer and said second electrode, for enabling double-refraction of the impinging light;
• and applying a voltage potential across the first and second electrodes.

A method for fabricating a liquid crystal light valve, comprising the steps of:

• forming a photoconductor layer on a substrate;
• forming a light absorbing layer on the photoconductor layer, said light absorbing comprising layers of silicon and silicon oxide;
• and
• forming a dielectric mirror layer on the light absorbing layer, said dielectric mirror layer comprising layers of silicon oxide and titanium oxide.