Optically addressed liquid crystal light valve and optical logic device using the same

Claim 2

An optically addressed liquid crystal light valve, comprising: a first substrate on which a plurality of liquid crystal driving circuits are formed; a second substrate provided with a transparent electrode; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between said first and second substrates; wherein each said liquid crystal driving circuit comprises; a plurality (n) of photodetectors for detecting lights to be converted to electric signals; a logic circuit controlled by said electric signals supplied from said photodetectors; and pixel electrodes applied with a predetermined voltage as a result of a logic calculation in said logic circuit, whereby a predetermined electric field is applied across said transparent electrode and each said pixel electrode.

Claim 3

An optically addressed liquid crystal light valve, according to claim 1, wherein: said photodetector comprises a voltage dividing circuit consisting of a photoconductor and a resistor having no optical sensibility.

Claim 4

An optically addressed liquid crystal light valve, according to claim 2, wherein: said photoconductor comprises amorphous silicon.

Claim 5

An optically addressed liquid crystal light valve, according to claim 1, wherein: said logic circuit comprises a circuit selected from a group consisting of AND, OR, and exclusive OR circuits.

Claim 6

An optically addressed liquid crystal light valve, according to claim 1, wherein: said plurality of liquid crystal driving circuits are arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally as pixels.

Claim 7

An optical logic device, comprising: an optically addressed liquid crystal light valve comprising a first substrate on which a plurality of liquid crystal driving circuits are formed, a second substrate provided with a transparent electrode and a ferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between said first and second substrates, wherein each said liquid crystal driving circuit comprises a plurality (n) of photodetectors for detecting lights to be converted to electric signals, a logic circuit controlled by said electric signals supplied from said photodetectors, and pixel electrodes applied with a predetermined voltage as a result of a logic calculation in said logic circuit, whereby a predetermined electric field is applied across said transparent electrode and each said pixel electrode; a plurality (n) of masks for selectively transmit a plurality (n) of lights to corresponding photodetectors of said optically addressed liquid crystal light valve; an optical combining system for combining said plurality (n) of lights; and an optical focusing system for focusing said combined light.

Claim 8

An optical logic device, comprising: an optically addressed liquid crystal light valve comprising a first substrate on which a plurality of liquid crystal driving circuits are formed, a second substrate provided with a transparent electrode and a ferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between said first and second substrates, wherein each said liquid crystal driving circuit comprises a plurality (n) of photodetectors for detecting lights to be converted to electric signals, a logic circuit controlled by said electric signals supplied from said photodetectors, and pixel electrodes applied with a predetermined voltage as a result of a logic calculation in said logic circuit, whereby a predetermined electric field is applied across said transparent electrode and each said pixel electrode; a plurality (n) of masks for selectively transmit a plurality (n) of lights to corresponding photodetectors of said optically addressed liquid crystal light valve; an optical combining system for combining said plurality (n) of lights; and an optical focusing system for focusing said combined light.

Claim 9

An optical logic device, comprising: an optically addressed liquid crystal light valve comprising a first substrate on which a plurality of liquid crystal driving circuits are formed, a second substrate provided with a transparent electrode and a ferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between said first and second substrates, wherein each said liquid crystal driving circuit comprises a plurality (n) of photodetectors for detecting lights to be converted to electric signals, a logic circuit controlled by said electric signals supplied from said photodetectors, and pixel electrodes applied with a predetermined voltage as a result of a logic calculation in said logic circuit, whereby a predetermined electric field is applied across said transparent electrode and each said pixel electrode; an optical combining system for combining said plurality (n) of lights; a wavelength selecting filter including a plurality (n) of regions each transmit a light having a specific wavelength among said plurality of lights to a corresponding photodetector of said optically addressed liquid crystal light valve; and an optical focusing system for focusing said light having said specific wavelength on said corresponding photodetector.

Claim 10

An optical logic device, comprising: an optically addressed liquid crystal light valve comprising a first substrate on which a plurality of liquid crystal driving circuits are formed, a second substrate provided with a transparent electrode and a ferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between said first and second substrates, wherein each said liquid crystal driving circuit comprises a plurality (n) of photodetectors for detecting lights to be converted to electric signals, a logic circuit controlled by said electric signals supplied from said photodetectors, and pixel electrodes applied with a predetermined voltage as a result of a logic calculation in said logic circuit, whereby a predetermined electric field is applied across said transparent electrode and each said pixel electrode; an optical combining system for combining said plurality (n) of lights; a wavelength selecting filter including a plurality (n) of regions each transmit a light having a specific wavelength among said plurality of lights to a corresponding photodetector of said optically addressed liquid crystal light valve; and an optical focusing system for focusing said light having said specific wavelength on said corresponding photodetector.