Abstract: A miniature image source includes a plurality of substrates, one formed of semiconductor material having an active matrix array and being relatively rough and the other being relatively smooth, a sealed space between the substrates containing liquid crystal material, electrically conductive members or terminal pads of the rough substrate being electrically and mechanically connected to electrically conductive members on the smooth substrate and are brought externally of the sealed space for exposure on the smooth substrate for external electrical connection. A method for making a miniature image source includes mechanically and electrically connecting electrical members of respective substrates using electrical material, sealing a space between the substrates for containing liquid crystal material using seal material, and elevating the temperature of the respective materials to activate first said electrical material and subsequently said seal material.

Abstract: A welding helmet and lens therefor includes a shield and a lens including a two identical optical components, each including a polarizer, a further polarizer (analyzer) optically between said optical components and effectively shared as an output device from one optical component and an input device for the other optical component, the transmissive axes of respective polarizers of said optical components being operatively oriented relative to one another to improve extinction of light incident on said lens at prescribed angles. The lens may be used in other optical systems.

Abstract: A polarizer including liquid crystal material and a surface or surfaces for cooperating with the liquid crystal material to control polarization of light which is incident in a direction normal to the polarizer by at least one of refraction and total internal reflection of one polarization component of the light while transmitting the other polarization component substantially in the direction without refraction or total internal reflection, the surface or surfaces including plural grooves in cooperative relationship with the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: Light transmission control device includes band pass filter for transmitting light of a wavelength or group of wavelengths and partially blocking transmission of light of a different wavelength or group of wavelengths, and variable optical filter for controllably transmitting light of a wavelength or group of wavelengths, the band pass filter and variable optical filter being cooperative to provide at least three light transmitting modes, including maximum transmission, minimum transmission, and a third mode less transmissive than the maximum, the device being operative to minimum transmissive mode upon being driven by a maximum energy input, the device also being operative to maximum transmissive mode upon being driven by a lesser energy input, and such third transmission mode occurring in response to no power or a failure of power or adequate power for energizing the device to the maximum or minimum transmissive mode.

Abstract: An improved optical display system, such as a head-up display system. A highly transmissive light-weight and shatterproof optical combiner is provided. The combiner includes at least one cholesteric liquid crystal element for transmitting a first image in a line of sight and for reflecting a second image into the line of sight. Multiple cholesteric elements are used in a multicolor shutter, a multicolor combiner, and a multicolor collimator to display a multicolor image.

Abstract: A high precision optical filter includes a wideband filter element and a cholesteric liquid crystal notch filter element. In one embodiment, a wideband infrared filter blocks infrared wavelengths beginning at a nearly visible corner wavelength and a cholesteric liquid crystal filter blocks transmission of infrared wavelengths in a precise narrow band that includes the corner wavelength and that extends down to visible wavelengths. The liquid crystal filter may include a polymer for maintaining maximum reflectivity of the filter near the corner wavelength over an anticipated operating temperature range. The combined optical filter may be fabricated by depositing a matched pair of liquid crystal cholesteric films on a glass infrared filter element. In another embodiment, an optical filter according to the invention forms an eyepiece in a night vision goggles assembly for blocking visible light.

Abstract: A head-up display (HUD)/head-down display (HDD) system capable of projecting multi-color images employs cholesteric liquid crystal elements, two-state liquid crystal devices, an image source, a beam splitter, and a combiner to, in sequence, generate HUD and HDD images. An LCD and cholesteric liquid crystal element operate together to selectively transmit or block portions of an image incident thereon. The switching frequency of the LCD-cholesteric liquid crystal element is above the flicker-fusion frequency, such that both the HUD and HDD displays appear to the observer to be simultaneously and continuously operating.

Abstract: A heads-up display (HUD) system employs a cholesteric liquid crystal combiner, an image source, and collimating optics to combine a generated image with an image in an observer's field of view. The cholesteric liquid crystal combiner has a bandwidth, B, around a primary wavelength of maximum reflection, and the image source projects its images within bandwidth B for high efficiency of reflection. Outside bandwidth B the cholesteric combiner has a high efficiency of transmission. Images from the image source are projected upon the combiner which reflects the images toward the observer, together with images from the outside environment in the line-of-sight of the observer. Collimating optics are used to focus the projected images at a distance away from the observer.

Abstract: A multiple image, single display system (2) includes a monochromatic display source (4) which provides first and second rapidly alternating visual images (8, 10) which pass through an active polarizer assembly (14). The polarizer assembly includes an image polarizer (20), which polarizes all the light to a left hand circular polarization, and a polarization changer (22) coupled to the display source by a synchronizer 28). The polarization changer switches the polarization of the first image but not the second image. A first user (34) sees the first image, but not the second image, through a right hand circular user polarizer (16) while a second user (36) sees the second image, but not the first image, through a left hand circular user polarizer (18). The user polarizers are wave-length sensitive so they block light only if the light has the same polarization and if the light is the wavelength of the light produced by the display source; the user polarizers are otherwise transparent to visible light.

Abstract: An optical collimating apparatus employs a semi-reflective concave mirror and cholesteric liquid crystal element. In one embodiment, the optical collimating apparatus is used as a heads-up display device. Images in the line of sight of an observer substantially pass through a transmitter/combiner, semi-reflective concave mirror, and cholesteric liquid crystal element to an observer. Images generated by an image source are focussed on the transmitter/combiner such that the transmitter/combiner reflects the images into the line of sight of the observer. The generated images are transmitted by the primarily transmissive (convex) side of the semi-reflective concave mirror to the cholesteric liquid crystal element. The cholesteric liquid crystal element reflects the generated images back toward the primarily reflective (concave) side of the semi-refective concave mirror, which in turn reflects the images back toward the cholesteric liquid crystal element, which transmits the generated images to the observer.

Abstract: The instant invention is a light field liquid crystal display cell with a seal and pattern layer applied to the cell substrates. Dark segments are displayed against a lighter background. Polymeric substances can be used to space and seal the cell substrates, and the light field background is created without masking the cell substrates.

Abstract: A light field liquid crystal display cell with a colored seal and pattern layer applied to the cell substrates. Dark segments are displayed against a lighter background. The light field background is created without masking the cell substrates, polymeric substances can be used to space and seal the cell substrates, and the cell is amenable for the construction of large displays.