Patent US5235443A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5235443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polarizer device
Assignee: Rolic Technologies Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-02-24
•
Granted: 1993-08-10
•
Expires: 2012-02-24
Abstract
Abstract The polarizer comprises a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal with Grandjean structure disposed in the path of the light and in which the light in a given wavelength range is reflected with selective and circular polarization or is transmitted with reversed direction of rotation, and a mirror which reversed the direction of rotation of the circular- polarized light. The component reflected by the mirror is also transmitted. If the liquid crystal layer is concentric with the source of natural light and the mirror is spherical, the result is a source of circular polarized light. A projection system is obtained by a combination of two of the aforementioned polarizers, one serving as a polarizer and one as an analyzer, and an interposed liquid crystal display cell for modulating the intensity of the polarized light.
Inventors
- 👤 Mikhail I. Barnik
- 👤 Sergey V. Belyaev
- 👤 Jurg Funfschilling
- 👤 Nikolai Malimonenko
- 👤 Martin Schadt
- 👤 Klaus Schmitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/133382; C; C09; C09K; C09K19/00; C09K19/02; C09K19/52; C09K19/58; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/30; G02B5/3016; G02F1/0009; G02F1/0063; G02F1/137; G02F1/139; G02F1/1396; H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3141; H04N9/315; H04N9/3167; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133528; G02F1/133536; G02F1/133543
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A liquid crystal device for producing circular polarized light from natural light comprising: a) light source means for producing a light path of natural light; b) liquid crystal means having a spherical cholesteric liquid crystal layer with a Grandjean structure and a cholesteric helix pitch with a defined value, the liquid crystal means being disposed in the light path of the natural light so that a portion of the light path having a wavelength which is about equal to the defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch is transmitted through the liquid crystal means and another portion of the light path having a wavelength which is about opposite in value to the defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch is rotated and reflected by the liquid crystal means as circular polarized light; and c) mirror means disposed in a path of the circular polarized light for reversing a direction of rotation of the circular polarized light so that the polarized light with a reversed direction is transmitted through the liquid crystal means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A liquid crystal device for producing circular polarized light from natural light comprising: a) light source means for producing a light path of natural light; b) liquid crystal means having a spherical cholesteric liquid crystal layer with a Grandjean structure and a cholesteric helix pitch with a defined value, the liquid crystal means being disposed in the light path of the natural light so that a portion of the light path having a wavelength which is about equal to the defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch is transmitted through the liquid crystal means and another portion of the light path having a wavelength which is about opposite in value to the defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch is rotated and reflected by the liquid crystal means as circular polarized light; and c) mirror means disposed in a path of the circular polarized light for reversing a direction of rotation of the circular polarized light so that the polarized light with a reversed direction is transmitted through the liquid crystal means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal layer is concentric with the source of natural light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the mirror means comprises a spherical mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the mirror means comprises a mirror which is concentric with the liquid crystal layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal layer is disposed at an angle of about 45° to the light path of the natural light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal means comprises a number of the cholesteric liquid crystal layers disposed one behind another, each layer having a different defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch so that each layer either transmits or reflects a portion of the light path of the natural light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising a λ/4 plate disposed behind a surface of the liquid crystal means which faces away from the light source means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
196 words
A liquid crystal device for producing polarized light comprising: a) light source means for producing a light path of natural light; b) liquid crystal means having a cholesteric liquid crystal layer in a spherical form, the liquid crystal layer having a Grandjean structure and a cholesteric helix pitch with a defined value, the liquid crystal layer being disposed concentrically about the light source means so that a portion of the light path having a wavelength which is about equal to the defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch is transmitted through the liquid crystal means and another portion of the light path having a wavelength which is about opposite in value to the defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch is rotated and reflected by the liquid crystal means as circular polarized light and c) mirror means having a spherical mirror concentrically disposed, substantially about the light source means and between the liquid crystal means and the light source means in a path of the circular polarized light used for reversing a direction of rotation of the circular polarized light so that the polarized light with a reversed direction is transmitted through the liquid crystal means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
196 words
A liquid crystal device for producing polarized light comprising: a) light source means for producing a light path of natural light; b) liquid crystal means having a cholesteric liquid crystal layer in a spherical form, the liquid crystal layer having a Grandjean structure and a cholesteric helix pitch with a defined value, the liquid crystal layer being disposed concentrically about the light source means so that a portion of the light path having a wavelength which is about equal to the defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch is transmitted through the liquid crystal means and another portion of the light path having a wavelength which is about opposite in value to the defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch is rotated and reflected by the liquid crystal means as circular polarized light and c) mirror means having a spherical mirror concentrically disposed, substantially about the light source means and between the liquid crystal means and the light source means in a path of the circular polarized light used for reversing a direction of rotation of the circular polarized light so that the polarized light with a reversed direction is transmitted through the liquid crystal means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The device according to claim 8, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal means further comprises a number of spherical cholesteric liquid crystal layers disposed concentrically about each other in successive positions away from the light source means, each layer having a different defined value of the cholesteric helix pitch so that each layer either transmits or reflects a portion of the light path of the natural light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device according to claim 8 further comprising a λ4 plate facing away from the light source means disposed behind a surface of the liquid crystal layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An analyzer with selective permeability for light in a certain state of polarization, comprising a spherical cholesteric liquid crystal layer with Grandjean structure disposed in the path of the light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An analyzer with selective permeability for light in a certain state of polarization, comprising a spherical cholesteric liquid crystal layer with Grandjean structure disposed in the path of the light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a number of successive cholesteric layers having different wavelength selectivity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3943369A
Cited
US4073571A
Cited
US4139272A
Cited
US4264148A
Cited
US4753752A
Cited
WO1987005017A2
Cited
EP0302619A2
Cited
US4900133A
Cited
US4991924A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-09 | 1997-02-08 | 1997-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-02-08 | 2001-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-09 | 2005-02-08 | 2005-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |