CHIRAL SMECTIC LIQUID CRYSTAL POLARIZATION INTERFERENCE FILTERS

摘要

Discretely and continuously tunable single and multiple-stage polarization interference filters employing chiral smectic liquid crystal cells as electronically rotatable retarders are provided. Discretely tunable filters of this invention include those which employ bistable surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal cells. Continuously tunable filters of this invention include those that imply chiral smectic A ferroelectric liquid crystal cells (Lc1-5). Single stage filters include fixed birefringent elements (B1, B2, B3) in combination with chiral smectic liquid crystal cells (Lc1, Lc2, Lc3,... Lc4-Lc7) or can include chiral smectic liquid crystal cells (C1...C4) in combination with fixed birefringent elements (B1...B4). Blocking filters useful for color generation and color displays are also provided. The FLC filters provided can be temporally multiplexed.