Abstract: A sensing device may include a cholesteric crystal device including two optically transparent substrates; a liquid crystal having portions adapted for producing a plurality of optical states, said liquid crystal being arranged between the two optically transparent substrates; an optical sensor for changing optical states of respective portions of said liquid crystal to produce a range of respective optical states including all optical states produced by said liquid crystal ranging from one state to any combination of broadband reflection, tunable narrow band reflection, light scattering, and transparency in accordance with an amount of voltage applied across said cholesteric crystal device for changing optical states.

Abstract: An m×n fan out device for receiving at least m=2 laser beams of different wavelengths and dividing the power of each laser beam into at least two other laser beams directed to at least one of n exit ports of the fan out device is disclosed.

Abstract: Electro-optically operated transmitters containing a wave guide liquid crystal beam steering device in series of fine beam steering devices as well as electrically switchable mirror are disclosed. The wave guide beam steering device is constructed on a planar lightwave circuit that contains a plurality of liquid crystal switching elements intersecting a plurality of optical wave guides and one main wave guide that has a curvature for light propagation. The transceiver is capable of continuously steering multiple beams of light into separate independent directions with a field-of-regard close to 4?. The resulted optical transmitter device is motionless, polarization sensitive or insensitive, stable within the operational spectral region, and stable versus temperature. When an optical receiver is integrated, the transmitters become transceivers. The invention also includes the methods for manufacturing the wave guide beam steering device.

Abstract: Technology for constructing a single layer polarization insensitive electrically switchable liquid crystal mirror is disclosed which serves as the basic element for constructing an optical router switch array in free space as well as waveguide format. The optical router switch array includes a plurality of switchable liquid crystal mirror elements having liquid crystal arranged in stack cells and/or in a waveguide configuration. The resulted optical router switches are motionless, polarization insensitive, stable within the operational spectral region, and stable versus temperature. The invention also includes methods for manufacturing a single switchable liquid crystal mirror element and the optical switch arrays. The same technology is further extended to constructing an electrically tunable optical filter that is motionless and polarization insensitive.

Abstract: An optical router switch array includes a plurality of switchable mirror elements having holographic liquid crystal arranged in stack cells. Each of the mirror elements is isolated electrically from the other switchable mirror elements by a plurality of substrates alternative arranged between the switchable mirror elements. Holographic gratings are formed on the holographic liquid crystal by exposure to holography at predetermined incident angles. A single switchable mirror element can also be provided in cases where an array is not required. The switchable mirror elements are polarization insensitive, stable within the operational spectral region, and stable versus temperature. The invention also includes methods for manufacturing a single switchable mirror element and the optical arrray.

Abstract: A device and method of manufacturing a single layer multi-state ultra-fast cholesteric liquid crystal includes two optically transparent states with a liquid crystal arranged therebetween, and changing the optical states of the liquid crystal ranging from one state to any combination of broadband reflection, tunable narrow band reflection, light scattering, and transparency in accordance with a voltage applied to the device. A surfactant can be added to reduce the response time and a dichroic dye may be added to include the property of light absorption and reduce the bandwidth. The device can provide any and all of the aforementioned optical states for infrared light, visible light, and ultra-violet light. The desired outputs can be formed according to need, so that predetermined optical states can operate with either no voltage or a particular voltage or voltage range.