US 12,001,091 B2
Spatially variable liquid crystal diffraction gratings
Chulwoo Oh, Cedar Park, TX (US)
Assigned to Magic Leap, Inc., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed by Magic Leap, Inc., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed on Jan. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/154,834.
Application 18/154,834 is a continuation of application No. 17/174,163, filed on Feb. 11, 2021, granted, now 11,586,065.
Application 17/174,163 is a continuation of application No. 15/815,449, filed on Nov. 16, 2017, granted, now 10,921,630, issued on Feb. 16, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/424,310, filed on Nov. 18, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0152622 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. G02F 1/1335 (2006.01); G02B 5/18 (2006.01); G02B 27/01 (2006.01); G02B 27/42 (2006.01); G02B 5/30 (2006.01); G02B 6/34 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/133504 (2013.01) [G02B 5/1833 (2013.01); G02B 5/1847 (2013.01); G02B 27/0172 (2013.01); G02B 27/4205 (2013.01); G02B 27/4272 (2013.01); G02F 1/133524 (2013.01); G02B 5/3058 (2013.01); G02B 6/34 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0178 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A diffraction grating comprising:
a plurality of contiguous liquid crystal zones extending in a lateral direction that is parallel to a major surface of a substrate, wherein the liquid crystal zones are configured to include a periodically repeating lateral dimension, and wherein the liquid crystal zones are further configured with a thickness and indices of refraction such that the liquid crystal zones diffract light,
wherein each of the liquid crystal zones is laterally divided into a first region and a second region comprising liquid crystals,
wherein the liquid crystals in the first regions are arranged at a substantially same first alignment orientation,
wherein the liquid crystals in different ones of the second regions are arranged at respective different second alignment orientations from one another including different tilt angles measured in a plane perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate, such that the tilt angles of the liquid crystals in the second regions increase or decrease across different ones of the second regions in the lateral direction to provide a gradient in diffraction efficiency along the lateral direction, and
wherein the liquid crystals in each particular second region are arranged at a substantially same second alignment orientation within the particular second region.