REFLECTION MODE POLYMER-DISPERSED LIQUID-CRYSTAL LIGHT VALVE

This paper describes the procedure for fabrication of a reflection-mod e polymer-dispersed liquid crystal light valve (PDLCLV) consisting of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal film, a diamondlike carbon film, a dielectric mirror, a Bi12SiO20 photoconductive crystal plate, and tran sparent electrode films. The many advantages of the PDLCLV include the lack of need for polarizers, high optical transmittance, high-speed r esponse and ease of fabrication. The performance of the device as eval uated experimentally is as follows: optical transmittance 72%; extinct ion ratio 178/1; limiting resolution 34 1p/mm; and rise/decay times 14 /15 ms. These values are suitable for the image converter of an optica lly addressed projection display. It has also been found that the reso lution increases as the frequency of the AC voltage driving the PDLCLV decreases.