Optical device with electrodes end-to-end with electric field causing homeotropic alignment of liquid crystal in space between ends
AssigneeGEC-Marconi Limited
InventorMichael C. K. Wiltshire
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Abstract
An electrically-controllable wave plate comprises a layer of liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, the layer being contained between two transparent plates. An alignment layer is provided on each plate for causing homeotropic alignment of the LC molecules adjacent the plate. Electrodes are so positioned that they apply an electric field substantially along the plane of the LC layer so that the molecules acquire variable tilt through the thickness of the layer, resulting in birefringence of the layer. The wave plate may be used in a polarisation controller.
Claims8
An electrically-controllable liquid crystal wave plate comprising a layer of liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy, the layer being contained between two transparent plates;
- a respective alignment layer on each plate for causing homeotropic alignment of the molecules of the liquid crystal material adjacent the respective plate;
- and electrode means electrically-energizable to apply an electric field in the layer of liquid crystal material whereby the molecules acquire variable tilt through the thickness of the layer of liquid crystal material, resulting in birefringence of the layer, wherein the electrode means comprises at least one pair of first conductors disposed end-to-end substantially in the plane of the layer of liquid crystal material with a space therebetween in which the electric field is generated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.