Abstract: This device uses a cell with liquid crystal provided between polarizers. The polarizing means and analyzing means are constructed and positioned so that the light transmission is zero at a voltage Vm on the cell, said voltage Vm being larger than the voltage which corresponds to the optical threshold of the cell.The transmission of the cell as a function of the supplied voltage increases considerably above the voltage value Vm.The device is controlled by means of signal voltages which exceed Vm and which show a small voltage swing, while simultaneously a strong light transmission and a good contrast are obtained, which permits of using an information addressing according to lines and columns when a large number of lines are used.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for coupling orthogonal polarized microwave signals from a reflector to signal processing circuits. The system includes successively a horn, a bandpass filter, a polarizer, a mode separator, and a housing for containing the circuits. The system is constructed from two half-shells. The horn, bandpass filter and polarizer form a waveguide portion which is coupled to the circuits by the mode separator.

Abstract: Each side of a liquid crystal cell having a neumatic liquid crystal is provided with electrodes which are formed by conductive parallel strips separated by insulating strips. The direction of orientation of the axes of the molecules of the liquid crystal which are in contact with the electrodes are not uniform and differ opposite to the conductive strips or the insulating strips. When an electric field is applied between oppositely located electrodes, all molecules which are in contact with the same electrode flip-over in the same direction, namely that direction which is induced by the oblique position of the axes of the molecules opposite to the insulating strips relative to the axes of the molecules opposite to the conductive strips. This avoids optical discontinuities which occur generally in the absence of the inclination.