Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A bistable liquid crystal-based optical device operates with reduced or zero power consumption and maintains a switching state during power loss. The optical device includes a bistable liquid crystal material that maintains a stable molecular orientation in the absence of an electrical field. The optical device further includes a beam steering device positioned downstream of the liquid crystal, such as a birefringent crystal or Wollaston prism. The molecular orientation of the liquid crystal modulates the polarization state of an incident light beam, and the beam steering device directs the beam along a first optical path, a second optical path, or both paths, based on the polarization state of the light.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim