US 12,353,101 B2
Liquid crystal diffractive devices with nano-scale pattern and methods of manufacturing the same
Chulwoo Oh, Sammamish, WA (US); Mauro Melli, San Leandro, CA (US); Christophe Peroz, Tokyo (JP); Vikramjit Singh, Pflugerville, TX (US); Frank Xu, Austin, TX (US); and Michael Anthony Klug, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to Magic Leap, Inc., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed by Magic Leap, Inc., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed on May 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/323,531.
Application 18/323,531 is a continuation of application No. 17/379,895, filed on Jul. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,693,282.
Application 17/379,895 is a continuation of application No. 15/795,067, filed on Oct. 26, 2017, granted, now 11,067,860, issued on Jul. 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/424,341, filed on Nov. 18, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0296945 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02F 1/1347 (2006.01); G02F 1/1337 (2006.01); B81C 1/00 (2006.01); G02B 3/00 (2006.01); G02B 5/18 (2006.01); G02B 5/30 (2006.01); G02B 6/00 (2006.01); G02B 27/00 (2006.01); G02B 27/01 (2006.01); G02B 27/10 (2006.01); G02B 30/36 (2020.01); G02F 1/1334 (2006.01); G02F 1/29 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/1347 (2013.01) [G02F 1/133703 (2013.01); G02F 1/133711 (2013.01); B81C 1/0046 (2013.01); G02B 3/00 (2013.01); G02B 5/1809 (2013.01); G02B 5/1833 (2013.01); G02B 5/1847 (2013.01); G02B 5/1861 (2013.01); G02B 5/3016 (2013.01); G02B 5/3083 (2013.01); G02B 2006/0098 (2013.01); G02B 27/0081 (2013.01); G02B 27/0093 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0134 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0174 (2013.01); G02B 27/1006 (2013.01); G02B 30/36 (2020.01); G02F 1/1334 (2013.01); G02F 1/133726 (2021.01); G02F 1/29 (2013.01); G02F 2203/24 (2013.01); G02F 2203/28 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrically-controllable liquid crystal device comprising:
a liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal material;
an alignment layer adjacent to the liquid crystal layer and including at least one pattern of nano-scale surface structures such that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material in the liquid crystal layer align to the at least one pattern;
a first electrode layer extending along a side of the alignment layer opposite the liquid crystal layer; and
a second electrode layer adjacent to the liquid crystal layer and arranged such that the liquid crystal layer is between the second electrode layer and the alignment layer;
wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises:
a first domain including a first plurality of liquid crystal molecules, in which longitudinal axes of the first plurality of liquid crystal molecules are arranged to form a first pattern, and
a second domain including a second plurality of liquid crystal molecules, in which the longitudinal axes of the second plurality of liquid crystal molecules are arranged to form a second pattern that is different from the first pattern,
wherein the first domain is separated from the second domain along a transverse direction that is parallel to a major surface of the alignment layer;
wherein the first domain is spaced apart laterally along the transverse direction from the second domain by a domain gap that is between the first domain and the second domain;
wherein the longitudinal axes of the liquid crystal molecules in the domain gap progressively transition along the transverse direction from the first pattern to the second pattern such that the liquid crystal molecules in the domain gap form a transitional pattern that is transitional between the first pattern and the second pattern; and
wherein applying an electric voltage across the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer creates an electric field that causes the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material to align along a direction of the electric field.