ALPHA-SI-H-FLC - FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL-AMORPHOUS SILICON NOVELTY FILTER

Presented is a ferroelectric liquid-crystal-amorphous silicon (alpha-S i:H) optical novelty-filter sensor. It uses the bistable switching pro perty of the ferroelectric liquid crystal to store an inverted image, which is used to optically filter a subsequent image by means of an in trinsic pleochroic-dye-based polarizing scheme. The resulting novelty signal, encoded as transmitted intensity, is then detected by the use of an integrated interdigitated detector that monitors the photocurren t generated in the alpha-Si:H. Each aspect of the device functionality is covered, and the optimum device configuration and operation is dis cussed. System demonstrations through the use of the device are report ed, and alternative applications discussed. (C) 1997 Optical Society o f America