US5076670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Isolated pixel liquid crystal light valve structure
Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd
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Filing: 1989-10-13
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Granted: 1991-12-31
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Expires: 2009-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A photoconductive substrate is provided to voltage modulate a liquid crystal layer in response to input light. The substrate is partitioned into electrically isolated pixels to eliminate lateral spread of charge carriers therein, and increase the dynamic range of the liquid crystal light valve while preserving resolution. The substrate is partitioned by forming an interconnecting network of deep trenches in a surface thereof, and filling the trenches with an insulating material such as silicon dioxide. The opposite surface of the substrate is etched away to expose the silicon dioxide in the trenches, thereby providing the substrate with partitions which extend completely therethrough between the opposite surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Keyvan Sayyah
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:11
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/135; G02F1/1354
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A photoconductive structure for a liquid crystal light valve, comprising: a photoconductive, voltage modulating substrate; and electrically insulative partition means extending through the substrate between opposite surfaces thereof for partitioning the substrate into a plurality of electrically isolated pixels, said partition means comprising an interconnected network of channels filled with an electrically insulating and optically transparent material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
A photoconductive structure for a liquid crystal light valve, comprising: a photoconductive, voltage modulating substrate; and electrically insulative partition means extending through the substrate between opposite surfaces thereof for partitioning the substrate into a plurality of electrically isolated pixels, said partition means comprising an interconnected network of channels filled with an electrically insulating and optically transparent material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photoconductive structure as in claim 1, in which the substrate is formed of a semiconductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photoconductive structure as in claim 2, in which the semiconductive material is π-type silicon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photoconductive structure as in claim 1, in which the substrate comprises semiconducting silicon and the insulating material comprises silicon dioxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A photoconductive structure as in claim 1, in which the channels are arranged in a rectangular grid with predetermined channel widths and spacings between adjacent channels, the spacing between adjacent channels is selected to enhance image resolution compared to said photoconductive structure without said channels, and the width of each channel is selected to maintain electrical isolation between pixels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photoconductive structure as in claim 5, in which the channels each have a width of 2 to 3 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A photoconductive structure as in claim 1, further comprising a mobile ion barrier on one side of said substrate, said barrier including layers of the same material as said partitions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A photoconductive structure as in claim 7 wherein said material is silicon dioxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A liquid crystal light valve, comprising: a liquid crystal layer; a photoconductive layer for voltage modulating the liquid crystal layer in response to input light; and electrically insulative and optically transparent partition means extending through the photoconductive layer between opposite surfaces thereof for partitioning the photoconductive layer into a plurality of electrically isolated pixels, said partition means having an interconnected network of channels filled with an electrically insulating material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
A liquid crystal light valve, comprising: a liquid crystal layer; a photoconductive layer for voltage modulating the liquid crystal layer in response to input light; and electrically insulative and optically transparent partition means extending through the photoconductive layer between opposite surfaces thereof for partitioning the photoconductive layer into a plurality of electrically isolated pixels, said partition means having an interconnected network of channels filled with an electrically insulating material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A liquid crystal light valve as in claim 9, further comprising: first and second transparent electrodes which sandwich the liquid crystal layer and photoconductive layer therebetween; a dielectric layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the photoconductive layer; and light reflecting and blocking means disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the dielectric layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A liquid crystal light valve as in claim 10, further comprising power source means for applying an alternating current electrical voltage across the first and second electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A liquid crystal light valve as in claim 9, in which the photoconductive layer comprises silicon and the insulating material comprises silicon dioxide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A liquid crystal light valve as in claim 12, in which said silicon is π-type silicon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A liquid crystal light valve as in claim 9, in which the photoconductive layer is formed of a semiconducting material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A liquid crystal light valve as in claim 9, further comprising a mobile ion barrier on the opposite side of said photoconductive layer from said liquid crystal layer, said barrier including layers of the same material as said partitions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A liquid crystal light valve as in claim 15, wherein said material is silicon dioxide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A liquid crystal light valve as in claim 15, wherein said barrier is separated from said substrate by a conductive electrode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |