Abstract: A method for detecting an airborne object. Electromagnetic radiation is emitted from a transmitter to overlap with a receiver's field of view. When an airborne object enters the field of view, the electromagnetic radiation interacts with moving airfoils on the airborne object to produce reflected and scattered electromagnetic radiation. The reflected and scattered electromagnetic radiation is analyzed to detect, classify and/or determine the orientation of the airborne object.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline optical medium includes polymer stabilized liquid crystal material. The polymer stabilized liquid crystal material includes a short pitch cholesteric liquid crystal material stabilized by a polymer material. The effective phase retardation of the polarization independent liquid crystal optical medium can be controlled by external (for example, electric and magnetic) fields.

Abstract: A method for fast switching a dual frequency (FIG. 3) liquid crystal cell is disclosed. The liquid crystal cell has opposed substrates (12) with a dual frequency liquid crystal material (18) disposed therebetween. Each substrate has an electrode that is connected to a power supply (20) that is able to apply different voltage magnitudes at different frequencies. And each substrate (12) has an alignment layer that imparts a high pretilt angle to the liquid crystal material, wherein no application of voltage results in the material exhibiting an initial state. A transition driving pulse (104) of a first magnitude is applied to the material at a first frequency to accelerate a transition into a first state from the initial state. A holding pulse (102) of a second magnitude is applied to the material at the first frequency to maintain the first state, wherein the second magnitude is less than the first magnitude.

Abstract: An aligned film comprises a dried mixture of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal material and a dopant selected from the group consisting of dyes having a molecular weight within one order of magnitude of the liquid crystal material and block co-polymers. An example of an aligned film may be transparent to visible light but not transparent to polarized light in the ultraviolet and/or infra-red portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. A method of making an aligned lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal-based film comprises providing a mixture of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal material and a dopant in a solvent for the liquid crystal material, applying the mixture to a substrate, and removing the solvent to produce an aligned lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal-based film.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline optical medium includes polymer stabilized liquid crystal material. The polymer stabilized liquid crystal material includes a short pitch cholesteric liquid crystal material stabilized by a polymer material. The effective phase retardation of the polarization independent liquid crystal optical medium can be controlled by external (for example, electric and magnetic) fields.

Abstract: An aligned film comprises a dried mixture of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal material and a dopant selected from the group consisting of dyes having a molecular weight within one order of magnitude of the liquid crystal material and block co-polymers. An example of an aligned film may be transparent to visible light but not transparent to polarized light in the ultraviolet and/or infra-red portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. A method of making an aligned lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal-based film comprises providing a mixture of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal material and a dopant in a solvent for the liquid crystal material, applying the mixture to a substrate, and removing the solvent to produce an aligned lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal-based film.

Abstract: A method for fast switching a dual frequency (FIG. 3) liquid crystal cell is disclosed. The liquid crystal cell has opposed substrates (12) with a dual frequency liquid crystal material (18) disposed therebetween. Each substrate has an electrode that is connected to a power supply (20) that is able to apply different voltage magnitudes at different frequencies. And each substrate (12) has an alignment layer that imparts a high pretilt angle to the liquid crystal material, wherein no application of voltage results in the material exhibiting an initial state.