US 11,966,138 B2
Methods of modulating light using liquid crystal polarization gratings
Joshua Lentz, Niceville, FL (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed by Government of the United States as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed on Jan. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/569,247.
Application 17/569,247 is a continuation of application No. 15/689,022, filed on Aug. 29, 2017, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/509,996, filed on May 23, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0128845 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. G02F 1/139 (2006.01); G02B 5/00 (2006.01); G02B 5/18 (2006.01); G02B 27/42 (2006.01); G02F 1/13 (2006.01); G02F 1/13363 (2006.01); G02F 1/1337 (2006.01); G02F 1/1343 (2006.01); G02F 1/1347 (2006.01); G02F 1/29 (2006.01); H04N 9/31 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/139 (2013.01) [G02B 5/18 (2013.01); G02F 1/1313 (2013.01); G02F 1/13363 (2013.01); G02F 1/133711 (2013.01); G02F 1/133788 (2013.01); G02F 1/13439 (2013.01); G02F 1/13471 (2013.01); G02F 1/29 (2013.01); G02F 1/292 (2013.01); H04N 9/3164 (2013.01); H04N 9/3167 (2013.01); G02B 5/003 (2013.01); G02B 27/4233 (2013.01); G02F 1/133631 (2021.01); G02F 1/133757 (2021.01); G02F 2203/04 (2013.01); G02F 2203/07 (2013.01); G02F 2203/22 (2013.01); G02F 2203/24 (2013.01); G02F 2203/48 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
creating a grating stage by:
preparing a first side of at least one of two substrates to include photo-alignment properties;
placing a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates adjacent to the first side; and
coupling a transparent electrode to a second side of the at least one of the two substrates, wherein the second side opposes the first side;
arranging a plurality of grating stages in a spatial light modulator;
selectively biasing a grating stage of the plurality with a grating period such that optical energy from traversing light in plus and minus first orders is deflected and optical energy from traversing light in a zero order is allowed to pass through the grating stage with a polarization state of the traversing light maintained.