Solid-state surface plasmon light valve and tunable filter

Details Solid-state surface plasmon light valve and tunable filter Solid-state surface plasmon light valve and tunable filter

2002-11-21

2003-11-11

Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)

Optical: systems and elements

Optical modulator

Having particular chemical composition or structure

C359S323000, C359S315000, C359S318000, C359S263000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06646782

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the fields of optical modulators, light valves, electro-optic filters, projection and flat panel display devices. More specifically, this invention relates to an all solid-state light valve, optical modulating device or optical filter that uses color-selective absorption at a metal-dielectric interface by surface plasmons.
In “Voltage-Induced Color-Selective Absorption with Surface Plasmons,” Applied Physics Letters, Volume 67, No. 19, Nov. 6, 1995, pp. 2759-2761, Yu Wang reported on the phenomenon of voltage-induced color-selective absorption at a metal/liquid crystal interface with surface plasmons. The surface plasmon, a collective excitation of electrons, absorbs all incident light at the resonance frequency of the plasmon. When incident p-polarized light is absorbed at the surface plasmon resonance, the reflected light shows the complementary color.
Wang teaches that by using a liquid crystal, whose dielectric constant varies with applied voltage, one can change the resonance frequency of the surface plasmon, which in turn provides a concomitant change in absorption. Changing the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal through the application of voltage results in the reflected light showing a color change.
FIG. 1
schematically shows the prior art as taught by Wang. In this figure, the projection display
10
includes a substrate
11
, bottom electrode
12
, alignment layers
13
, spacers
14
, top electrode
15
, liquid crystal
16
and seal
17
. Alignment layers
13
, typically formed by deposition of a polyimide layer and mechanical rubbing of the surface, must be employed to impart a preferred direction to the liquid crystal
16
. Spacers
14
are required to set the desired spacing between top electrode
15
and bottom electrode
12
. Seal
17
is required to contain liquid crystal
16
between top electrode
15
and bottom electrode
12
.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,139, Wang describes a similarly designed liquid crystal embodiment and how this embodiment may be employed in projection display applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an all solid-state light valve and tunable filter that uses color-selective absorption at a metal-dielectric interface by surface plasmons. The solid-state surface plasmon light valve and tunable filter comprises a substrate, a bottom electrode, a solid-state electro-optic material, and a top electrode through which electromagnetic radiation may pass through and whose optical properties may be modified by suitable modulation of an electrical bias, i.e., an applied voltage between the top and bottom electrodes. The bottom electrode must be specifically fabricated using a refractory metal to allow the formation of the solid-state electro-optic material. Alignment layers, spacers, and seals are not required in this embodiment of the solid-state surface plasmon light valve and tunable filter.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5570139 (1996-10-01), Wang
patent: 6122091 (2000-09-01), Russell et al.
patent: 6211993 (2001-04-01), Wang et al.
Yu Wang, “Voltage-induced color-selective absorption with surface plasmons,” Applied Physics Letters, Nov. 6, 1995, vol. 67, No. 19, pp. 2759-2761.

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