Abstract: A method of manufacturing an LCD device includes forming a gate bus line, a gate insulating layer, an active layer, and a source/drain metal layer on a transparent insulating substrate; etching the source/drain metal layer and active layer to form a source/drain electrode and a channel layer while forming a metal protection pattern in a peripheral region of the transparent insulating substrate; forming a protection layer and a pixel electrode on the insulating substrate; forming a main seal line at an interior region of the array substrate, forming a first auxiliary seal line between the metal protection pattern and the main seal line, and forming second and third auxiliary seal lines; and attaching a color filter substrate to the array substrate via the main seal line.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical attenuator is provided that is used to control the intensity of a light signal. The optical attenuator includes at least one polarizing element having an optical polarization axis, wherein the polarizing element transmits a portion of a light signal proportional to the angular difference between the optical polarization axis of the light signal and that of the polarizing element. The optical attenuator also comprises a variable liquid crystal rotator that includes a semi-transparent liquid crystal device, and a plurality of electrodes configured to conduct electricity to the liquid crystal device. The polarization axis of the light signal transmitted through the liquid crystal device will be rotated by an amount proportional to the magnitude of the electricity applied to the plurality of electrodes. In one embodiment, the optical attenuator is employed as part of a laser package that includes a laser, a pair of polarizing elements, and a faraday rotator.

Abstract: The invention presents an optical element with which an optical head can be configured, in which there is little deterioration of the correctional effect when the objective lens shifts, as well as an optical head and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus using such an optical element. The invention also presents a novel optical recording/reproducing apparatus and optical recording/reproducing method. The optical element, includes a first voltage application electrode 13, a first opposing electrode 17 arranged in opposition to the first voltage application electrode 13, and a first phase changing layer 15 arranged between the first voltage application electrode 13 and the first opposing electrode 17. By changing a voltage between the first voltage application electrode 13 and the first opposing electrode 17, a phase that converts plane waves into spherical waves is imparted on light that is incident on the first phase changing layer 15.

Abstract: In an image projection device, interferences between the light source and the light modulator leading to visible interferences in the projected image are suppressed by an interference cancellation circuit that pre-corrects the control signal that includes the image data that is to be projected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a high display quality. The liquid crystal display device displays an image by applying a voltage by a first electrode and a second electrode across a liquid crystal layer which takes a vertical alignment in the absence of an applied voltage. The first electrode includes a lower conductive layer, a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the lower conductive layer, and an upper conductive layer provided on one side of the dielectric layer which is closer to the liquid crystal layer. The upper conductive layer includes a first opening, and the lower conductive layer is provided so as to oppose at least a portion of the first opening via the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical switch for making part of incident light, which has been made incident on an optical waveguide, selectively emergent to a light emergence portion provided outside the optical waveguide. The optical switch includes a liquid crystal device for selective emergence of the incident light. An arbitrary layer of the liquid crystal device is set such that letting ?n be a difference between a refractive index no of the optical waveguide and a refractive index n1 of the arbitrary layer of the liquid crystal device, “d” be a thickness of the arbitrary layer, and ? be a wavelength of the incident light, the values of ?n, “d”, and ? satisfy a condition of 2.20×10?3?|?n·d·??1|?3.03×10?3. With this optical switch, the uniformity of a light emergence efficiency can be easily realized by making use of a small change region in which the light emergence efficiency is not largely varied. The present invention also provides a display unit using the optical switches.

Abstract: The optical compensatory sheet has a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer formed from liquid crystal molecules aligned in an average inclined angle of less than 5°. The optical compensatory sheet gives the retardation value in plane (Re) in the range of 10 to 1,000 nm and the retardation value along the thickness direction (Rth) in the range of 10 to 1,000 nm.

Abstract: An optical display system includes: a light source; a display panel including multiple pixel regions, each of which can modulate light; and an optical shifter, which is disposed so as to receive an outgoing light ray of the display panel and optically shift an image on the display panel on a frame-by-frame basis. The optical shifter includes a first element for selectively changing the polarization direction of the outgoing light ray of the display panel, and a second element, which exhibits one of multiple different refractive indices according to the polarization direction of an incoming light ray. A polarization corrector, which changes the polarization direction of the outgoing light ray of the display panel into a direction that is either parallel to, or perpendicular to, a direction in which the image is shifted, is provided between the display panel and the optical shifter.

Abstract: The invention presents an optical element with which an optical head can be configured, in which there is little deterioration of the correctional effect when the objective lens shifts, as well as an optical head and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus using such an optical element. The invention also presents a novel optical recording/reproducing apparatus and optical recording/reproducing method. The optical element, includes a first voltage application electrode 13, a first opposing electrode 17 arranged in opposition to the first voltage application electrode 13, and a first phase changing layer 15 arranged between the first voltage application electrode 13 and the first opposing electrode 17. By changing a voltage between the first voltage application electrode 13 and the first opposing electrode 17, a phase that converts plane waves into spherical waves is imparted on light that is incident on the first phase changing layer 15.

Abstract: A new light modulating material using unidirectionally oriented micro-domains of liquid crystal separated by polymer chains is provided. Liquid crystal/polymer films are produced by a one step production process involving a photopolymerizable monomer mixed with a liquid crystal then exposed to UV light. In one embodiment, force deformations are applied to the films resulting in diffraction efficiencies of more than 95%. In another embodiment, applying a planar force to a thick film that produced a 2 ?m shift of phase retardation in several hundred microseconds when an appropriate field is applied. Use of this invention provides fast response time and a low required driving voltage. The new cell can be used as spatial light modulators for manufacturing information displays, electro-optical devices, telecommunications system, optical data processing, adaptive optics applications, color projection displays and switchable micro-lens optics.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for multi-wavelength imaging spectrometer. More specifically, in one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an optical filter for passing photons therethrough. The filter includes a first filter stage and a second filter stage. The first filter stage may include a first retarder element and a first liquid crystal cell. The first element may include an input face and an output face. One of the first element faces is not oriented substantially normal to the trajectory of photons passing through the filter.

Abstract: A chiral structure having an expanded adjustable reflection band to provide broadband tunability is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the chiral structure is implemented as a chiral fiber structure and comprises two or more sequential chiral fiber elements of different pitches, each having a tunable chiral defect generator. The pitches are selected such that the individual photonic band gaps of the elements are formed into one expanded reflection band such that at least one defect state can be formed and moved within the expanded reflection band by selectively activating and adjusting one or more of the tunable chiral defect generator. The tunable chiral defect generators may generate and control defect state(s) in the structure's spectral response by introducing chiral twists and/or spacing between the chiral elements, with the length of the spacings and angles of chiral twists being proportional to the position of the defect state(s) within the reflection band of the structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element capable of keeping the accuracy even in the case of use in an optical device such as an image display apparatus, without the risk of fluctuation of the optical characteristics even in the case a load is applied at the time of being assembled in the optical device. In order to achieve the object, an optical element comprising a supporting member, and an optical functional layer of a polymerizable liquid crystal material hardened on the supporting member with a predetermined liquid crystal regularity, wherein the optical functional layer has a 20 or more Vickers hardness value, is provided.

Abstract: A method for making an optical element from patterned liquid crystal films by placing a radiation-curing liquid crystal on an aligning function substrate surface, radiating selectively a portion of the liquid crystal film partially to cure it, contacting the partially cured film with an organic solvent to remove the uncured portion of the film and form a pattern in the film, and applying another radiation-curing liquid crystal to a surface of the first film exposed by removing the uncured portion, thereby forming and patterning the second liquid crystal film. The solvent does not dissolve the substrate surface.

Abstract: A polarization rotator is provided for rotating the polarization direction of linearly polarized light by any arbitrary angle other than 90°. The device comprises a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between alignment surfaces. In one mode, a 90° twist is induced in the liquid crystal director. An expression is provided for relating the retardation of the layer to the amount of polarization rotation and the angle between the polarization direction of incident light and the alignment direction at the input side of the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical path shifter that has at least one optical path shifting section. The optical path shifting section includes: a polarization modulator for changing the polarization state of an incoming light ray; and a birefringent element for shifting the optical path of an outgoing light ray of the polarization modulator based on the polarization state of the outgoing light ray. The optical device further includes a polarization corrector, which selectively changes the polarization state of an outgoing light ray of the optical path shifter, thereby keeping the polarization state of an outgoing light ray of the polarization corrector substantially unchanged no matter where the optical path has been shifted.

Abstract: A multi-layered structure and method of formation. A page is generated by stacking N substructures (N?2) in an ordered sequence. A first substructure of each pair of adjacent substructures comprises liquid crystal polymer (LCP) dielectric material to be bonded with a second substructure of a pair of the adjacent substructure. The page is subjected to a temperature less than the lowest nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature of the LCP dielectric materials within the page. The dwell time and elevated pressure are sufficient to cause all LCP dielectric material within the page to plastically deform and laminate each pair of adjacent substructures without any extrinsic adhesive layer disposed between the first and second substructures of each pair of adjacent substructures.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal polymer film with a melting point of 335° C. or greater and high surface accuracy, and specifically with a surface roughness Ra of 0.1 ?m or less both in the machine direction and in the transverse direction, and a manufacturing method thereof. A method for manufacturing a liquid-crystal polymer film with a melting point of 335° C. or greater and a surface roughness Ra of 0.1 ?m or less both in the machine direction and in the transverse direction, characterized in that a laminate of a fluororesin porous film and a resin film made from a liquid-crystal polymer or a polymer alloy containing a liquid-crystal polymer is drawn, and the fluororesin porous film is peeled off.

Abstract: An optical switch uses a polarization insensitive spatial light modulator operating by a double pass through a liquid crystal cell. The switch includes two such modulators in a cross bar arrangement. Different embodiments employing techniques for reducing cross talk are described.

Abstract: A small, compact optical scanning system with small aperture size requirements, wide field-of-regard and minimal color dispersion characteristics. The inventive scanning system and method provides for optical beam steering over a broad spectral band and over a wide field-of-regard. The inventive system includes a novel device for receiving an input wavefront of electromagnetic energy along a first axis and refracting the wavefront as an output wavefront along a second axis. The device is a unique form of a multi-channel liquid crystal array in which each channel has a length parallel to the first axis. By applying signals to change the refractive index of each channel, the incident wavefront can be steered at an angle with respect to the first axis and otherwise manipulated according to the index variant pattern induced in the array. Accordingly, the output beam is steered in response to the applied signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a high display quality. The liquid crystal display device displays an image by applying a voltage by a first electrode and a second electrode across a liquid crystal layer which takes a vertical alignment in the absence of an applied voltage. The first electrode includes a lower conductive layer, a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the lower conductive layer, and an upper conductive layer provided on one side of the dielectric layer which is closer to the liquid crystal layer. The upper conductive layer includes a first opening, and the lower conductive layer is provided so as to oppose at least a portion of the first opening via the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal device, comprising an antiferroelectric liquid crystal material (AFLC material) having smectic layers, and two substrates confining the AFLC material therebetween, wherein the AFLC material is uniaxial negative. Preferably, the AFLC material is uniaxial as a consequence of a surface stabilization and of a selected smectic tilt angle ? of the AFLC material. Preferably, the angle ? is in the range of 40°???50°, especially 45°. The invention also relates to electrooptic liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical switch for making part of incident light, which has been made incident on an optical waveguide, selectively emergent to a light emergence portion provided outside the optical waveguide. The optical switch includes a liquid crystal device for selective emergence of the incident light. An arbitrary layer of the liquid crystal device is set such that letting ?n be a difference between a refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide and a refractive index n1 of the arbitrary layer of the liquid crystal device, “d” be a thickness of the arbitrary layer, and ? be a wavelength of the incident light, the values of ?n, “d”, and ? satisfy a condition of 2.20×10?3?|?n·d·??1|?3.03×10?3. With this optical switch, the uniformity of a light emergence efficiency can be easily realized by making use of a small change region in which the light emergence efficiency is not largely varied. The present invention also provides a display unit using the optical switches.

Abstract: An electroluminescence device contains a carrier transporting layer comprising a liquid crystal compound represented by R—X—A—B—X?—R???(I), wherein A and B denote a naphthalene-2,6-diyl skeleton optionally substituted with one or two of F, Cl, Br, CH3 and CF3, at least one of A and B comprising a naphthalene-2,6-diyl skeleton having one to four CH groups replaced with N; X and X? denote —O—, —S—, —OOC— or —COO—; and one of R and R? denotes H, F, Cl, Br, CF3 or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-20 carbon atoms, and the other one of R and R? denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 3-20 carbon atoms, said alkyl groups being independently capable of including one methylene group which can be replaced with —O—, —S—, —CH?CH— or —C?C— so long as heteroatoms are not adjacent to each other.

Abstract: An optical device for rerouting and modifying an optical signal that uses a double pass through a liquid crystal modulator is disclosed. The optical device includes a first polarizer for providing polarized light, a liquid crystal modulator for selectively modifying the polarized light, a second polarizer for analyzing the light passed through the liquid crystal modulator, and a reflector for reflecting the analyzed light back through the second polarizer, the liquid crystal modulator, and the first polarizer. This arrangement provides a double pass through the liquid crystal modulator, thus significantly improving the attainable extinction ratio.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element capable of keeping the accuracy even in the case of use in an optical device such as an image display apparatus, without the risk of fluctuation of the optical characteristics even in the case a load is applied at the time of being assembled in the optical device. In order to achieve the object, an optical element comprising a supporting member, and an optical functional layer of a polymerizable liquid crystal material hardened on the supporting member with a predetermined liquid crystal regularity, wherein the optical functional layer has a 20 or more Vickers hardness value, is provided.

Abstract: A photoactive polymer from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof comprises as a side-chain a photocrosslinkable group of the general formula (I) wherein the broken line indicates the point of linkage to the polyimide main chain and wherein: B is a straight-chain or branched alkyl residue which is optionally substituted, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups may independently be replaced by a group Q; D represents an oxygen atom or —NR1— wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl; and S3 represents a spacer unit. The polymers may be used as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display with a Fresnel lens reflective layer includes an upper transparent substrate, a lower transparent substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower transparent substrates. A resin layer is laid on the lower transparent substrate. The resin layer is composed of numerous units each having more than one region. The region has a Fresnel lens concentric annular structures or a part thereof. A reflective layer is laid on the resin layer. The surface of the reflective layer has the Fresnel lens structure pattern for reflecting and scattering the light so as to reduce glare, enhance brightness and lower chromatic aberration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polymerizable liquid-crystalline compounds for the production of optical elements having color- and polarization-selective reflection, and to optical elements comprising these compounds in monomeric or polymerized form.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules. Three principal refractive indices of the optically anisotropic layer are different from each other.

Abstract: An achromatic half wave plate includes a first twisted nematic liquid crystal layer, a second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer, and a uniaxial half wave plate between the first twisted nematic liquid crystal layer and the second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer. In one embodiment the first twisted nematic liquid crystal layer and the second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer have an identical twist angle of 135 degrees. The optic axis at the entrance of the first twisted nematic liquid crystal layer is substantially orthogonal to the optic axis at the exit of the second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical switch for making part of incident light, which has been made incident on an optical waveguide, selectively emergent to a light emergence portion provided outside the optical waveguide. The optical switch includes a liquid crystal device for selective emergence of the incident light. An arbitrary layer of the liquid crystal device is set such that letting &Dgr;n be a difference between a refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide and a refractive index n1 of the arbitrary layer of the liquid crystal device, “d” be a thickness of the arbitrary layer, and &lgr; be a wavelength of the incident light, the values of &Dgr;n, “d”, and &lgr; satisfy a condition of 2.20×10−3≦|&Dgr;n·d·&lgr;−1|≦3.03×10−3.

Abstract: A technique capable of increasing contrast of a projected and displayed image of a projector. A projector includes an illuminating system that emits illumination light, a liquid crystal light valve for modulating light from the illuminating system according to image information, and a projection system for projecting image light formed on a light emission surface of the liquid crystal light valve. A liquid crystal light valve includes a liquid crystal panel, first and second polarizers disposed on the side of the light incidence surface and on the side of the light emission surface of the liquid crystal panel, and first and second compensating plates disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the first and second polarizers, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically coupling a light source with a light-receiving end face of an optical waveguide comprises a lens for focusing a light beam emitted from the light source at a focal point on the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide. An adaptive coupler, positioned in the optical path, is responsive to a beam steering control signal for steering and aligning the focal point relative to the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide. In one form, the adaptive coupler comprises a pair of transparent substrates having confronting, parallel inner faces, the inner face of one of the pair of substrates carrying a beam intercepting, optically transparent, constant potential electrode and the inner face of the other of the pair of substrates carrying an electrically resistive, beam intercepting, optically transparent film. A pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical contact with the film apply a linear voltage gradient along the film.

Abstract: An optical element including: an alignment substrate; a liquid crystal layer formed on the alignment substrate, made by forming and curing a film of a liquid crystalline material; and a protective layer having high hardness, formed on the liquid crystal layer. The protective layer is for protecting the liquid crystal layer from being deformed by externally exerted forces. Preferably, the protective layer has a modulus of elasticity (=(elastic deformation)/(total deformation)) of 0.6 or more and a plastic deformation of 0.5 &mgr;m or less as determined by pushing an indenter into the protective layer with a test force of 2 mN in accordance with the universal hardness test method.

Abstract: Switchable optical components such as switchable mirrors and variable retarders are fabricated using a unique class of materials. These materials are thin film composites comprising of porous inorganic films imbibed with liquid crystal materials.

Abstract: A broad class of lyotropic liquid crystals of a non-surfactant nature, the so-called lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs), are alignable with the techniques, in particular, LCLCs can be aligned at a surface as one monomolecular layer as a stack of monomolecular layers. The method for monolayer alignment is based on alternate layer-by-layer adsorption of polyions and dyes from aqueous solutions that have liquid crystalline structure. Using this method, one is able to stack alternate monolayers of dye and polyion while controlling the long-range in-plane orientation of the dye molecules within the plane of each layer. The feature of controlling the alignment of LCLCs enables one to create practical devices from them. For example, alignment of multilayered stacks allows one to use the resulting dried LCLC films in optical devices, for example, as internal polarizers, color filters, optical compensators, band-gap filters, and the like.

Abstract: An optical system including one or more switchable holographic optical elements is described for use with a pancake window display system. Each of the switchable holographic optical elements of the optical system operates between active and inactive states in accordance with control signals provided by a control logic circuit. In the active state, each switchable holographic optical element operates to reflect and collimate a narrow band of incident light thereon. In the inactive state, the switchable holographic optical element operates to transmit a substantial portion of light thereon without substantial alteration.

Abstract: A process and photoactive media for holographic recording and micro/nanofabrication of optical and bio-optical structures via the simultaneous absorption of two-photons by the photoactive media to induce a simultaneous photochemical change in regions of constructive interference within a holographic pattern is disclosed. The photochemical process of polymerization resulting from the simultaneous absorption of two-photons may be used for the microfabrication of micro and nanoscaled features, holographic data storage, and the formation of switchable diffraction gratings.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal display device cutting method, and a liquid crystal display device cutting apparatus that prevents damaging attached flexible conductive lines by providing a rounded water jet cut edge of a glass liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal display device cutting apparatus includes a pump for increasing the pressure of a liquid, a nozzle with a throat that receives the pressurized liquid, a movable nozzle support that is movable at least in a plane parallel to the liquid crystal display, and a conveyor supporting the liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element capable of keeping the accuracy even in the case of use in an optical device such as an image display apparatus, without the risk of fluctuation of the optical characteristics even in the case a load is applied at the time of being assembled in the optical device. In order to achieve the object, an optical element comprising a supporting member, and an optical functional layer of a polymerizable liquid crystal material hardened on the supporting member with a predetermined liquid crystal regularity, wherein the optical functional layer has elastic modulus of 1.2 MPa or higher at temperature in a range of 20° C. to 200° C., is provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to electromagnetic wave beam paths, formation of the beam, illumination of programmable electromagnetic wave field vector orientation rotating devices (“PEMFVORD”) with an electromagnetic beam, and the technique of projection of the modulated beam. This invention also relates to a unique light path and method of forming the light into a rectangular beam to be used for optical projection systems and, more particularly, in a color and/or black and white liquid crystal device (LCD) projectors that produce high resolution, high brightness and/or three-dimensional images. This invention further relates to a device capable of receiving and displaying two-dimensional and three dimensional images.

Abstract: According to the present invention the tunable optical device comprises a first optical wave guide and a second optical wave guide defining a space between the two wave guides with space comprises the first cell with liquid crystal material and a second cell with liquid crystal material spaced by a third wave guide and the first and the second cell for liquid crystal material having orientation of the liquid crystal material perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: An optical device for rerouting and modifying an optical signal that uses a double pass through a liquid crystal modulator is disclosed. The optical device includes a first polarizer for providing polarized light, a liquid crystal modulator for selectively modifying the polarized light, a second polarizer for analyzing the light passed through the liquid crystal modulator, and a reflector for reflecting the analyzed light back through the second polarizer, the liquid crystal modulator, and the first polarizer. This arrangement provides a double pass through the liquid crystal modulator, thus significantly improving the attainable extinction ratio.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of linear light source arranged at respective side surface of a light guide plate opposite to one another and having brightness irregularity along longitudinal axes thereof, the present invention arranges the linear light sources to dispose respective ends thereof towards which the brightness thereof is decreased gradually diagonally over a main surface of the light guide plate, and provide two-dimensional optical reflection or diffusion pattern density of which is varied in accordance with the brightness irregularity thereof on at least one surface of the light guide plate, an optical diffusion sheet, or an optical reflection plate. The brightness irregularity appearing in a display screen of the liquid crystal display device due to the brightness irregularity of the linear light source is eliminated by the present invention.

Abstract: A thin-profile, optically efficient lighting device for use with, among other things, flat information displays, includes a combination of three optically coupled light propagating structures, fabricated of electromagnetic flux transmitting materials. The first structure may be a generally elongated optical pipe adapted to receive light from at least one light source such as a light emitting diode. Radiation from additional sources is coupled into the first structure by a second structure which injects the radiation thereinto. Light injected into the first structure is directed into the third structure where it is redirected so that it propagates out of the third structure uniformly and efficiently and in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the third structure. A device can include multiple bodies of any or all three structures.

Abstract: A useful optical device to provide continuously variable rotation of polarization of linearly polarized light in a wavelength-independent manner. This device features a cell of twisted nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between an input window and a rotatable output window, both with surfaces prepared so as to orient the nematic liquid crystal molecules. This optical device has different applications such as: variable-angle polarization rotator; using broad band polarizers as an energy attenuator; working in both cases as a wavelength independent and temporal pulse width independent device. The low cost, the very wide field of view, the wavelength and pulse width independence, the high efficiency, and its mechanical simplicity make of this new optical device a very useful and novel invention.

Abstract: An electrical exciting circuit produces a plurality of oscillating electrical excitations, each at an independently controllable frequency. A set of drive electrodes are distributed in an array, and connected so that each receives a respective one of the excitations. A dual frequency liquid crystal (DFLC) material is arranged in the path of a coherent light beam and is disposed in proximity to the set of drive electrodes so as to receive electrical excitations. The DFLC has a dielectric coefficient which varies locally in relation to the frequency of the local electrical excitation received. The voltages and at least two frequencies of the excitations are controlled so as to produce a desired profile of the dielectric coefficient (for at least one polarization) and a corresponding optical phase delay profile for the coherent beam. Preferably, a novel reflective groundplane is included to improve optical reflective efficiency.

Abstract: An attenuation device for a signal carried by an optical fiber in the form of a light signal is manufactured. The optical cores of a first and a second single-mode fiber are expanded. The first and second fibers are assembled facing each other in a capillary containing a liquid crystal. The liquid crystal is polymerized to produce an attenuation element. The resulting attenuation device comprises a first and a second single-mode fiber with expanded optical cores assembled facing each other in a capillary containing a liquid crystal forming attenuation means.

Abstract: An optical low-pass filter comprising a cured film of a liquid crystal compound having an average optical axis oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to a boundary surface. Further, the cured film of the liquid crystal compound is provided as a film having a thickness no less than 10 &mgr;m. The optical low-pass filter has optical characteristic equivalent to that of crystal and is reduced both in size and in cost.