Abstract: The invention relates to a high-contrast and bistable scattering mode liquid crystal light shutter.

Abstract: An optical processing system is described that allows rapid evaluation of derivatives and partial derivatives by means of optical Fourier transformation. In embodiments, separate filtering steps are used to provide phase and amplitude changes.

Abstract: An optical phase modulation device having a layer of flexoelectro-optic effect liquid crystal material and electrode for applying an electric field to the layer of liquid crystal material. In this way, the optic axis of the liquid crystal layer can be deflected. This provides a phase shift to light transiting the liquid crystal layer. The substrate of the device is based on a liquid crystal over silicon (LCOS) microdisplay. The device is capable of providing multilevel phase shifts, e.g. for holographic displays.

Abstract: An optical correlator includes an image production device and an image capture device disposed in a common plane. An optical device such as a lens or mirror provides a Fourier transform of image information from the image production device onto the image capture device. An advantage of embodiments of the invention is its small size.

Abstract: An optical processing system is described that allows rapid evaluation of derivatives and partial derivatives by means of optical Fourier transformation. In embodiments, separate filtering steps are used to provide phase and amplitude changes.

Abstract: A method is described of optically performing a joint transform correlation starting from images displayed side-by-side on a spatial light modulator illuminated by a collimated light source. The image is focused by a lens onto a camera, the image is recorded by a frame grabber, and processed by a computer. By using a two pass process, the result is a measure of the correlation of the images. The images may be preprocessed in a phase-encoded chequerboard pattern and binarised by thresholding based on the average value of neighbouring pixels.

Abstract: An infra-red light-modulating device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a layer of light-modulating material such as liquid crystal on a first part of the substrate, and electrodes for addressing the light-modulating layer, the electrode in one side can be a common ITO layer, and the pixel electrodes are formed by diffusions in the silicon. The drive circuitry for addressing the light-modulating layer via the electrodes is provided in a second part of the semiconductor substrate to the side of the pixels. In this way a transmissive modulator is formed, since the electrodes are made of a material (silicon) transparent to the wavelength of the light used. The modulating effect is preferably doubled by reflecting the light back through the modulator with a mirror.

Abstract: There is provided an electro-optical component comprising (a) a substrate, (b) a phase-variable element carried on the substrate, (c) a memory carried on the substrate for storing data representative of a phase state for the phase-variable element; and (d) a controller carried on the substrate, for utilizing the data and setting the phase state for the element. There is also provided an electro-optical component comprising (a) a substrate, (b) a phase-variable element carried on the substrate, and (c) a circuit carried on the substrate for computing and applying a phase state for the phase-variable element.