Patent
1988-03-18
1991-02-05
Sikes, William L.
350 9615, G02B 632
Patent
active
049899414
ABSTRACT:
This invention comprises a new group of fiber optic switching devices that use layers of surface-established ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) as the switching media. In each of the devices light impinges upon the ferroelectric liquid crystal at an angle of 90.degree. (normal incidence) with the surface plane. Each FLC gives 0.degree. or .pi..degree. optical rotation, depending upon the polarity of the electric voltage applied. A series of polarizing beam splitters are used to separate unpolarized light into its s and p polarization components. After ferroelectric liquid crystal switching, other polarizing beam splitters are used to direct the s and p light to output optical paths. The switches discussed below are voltage controlled 2.times.2, 1.times.4, 1.times.6, 1.times.8, 4.times.4, or N.times.N devices that use one or more layers of surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals.
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patent: 4720171 (1988-01-01), Baker
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Morris Jules J.
Sikes William L.
Singer Donald J.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
Wise Robert E.
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