Smart spatial light modulators using liquid crystals on silicon

Author

Johnson, Kristina M. ; Mcknight, Douglas J. ; Underwood, Ian

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Colorado Univ., Boulder, CO, USA

Volume

29

Issue

2

fYear

1993

fDate

2/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

699

Lastpage

714

Abstract

Smart pixels are discussed in terms of the following neurally inspired functions: memory, sensors, intrapixel circuitry, interpixel communication, and optical outputs. The types of liquid crystals and electronic circuits used in VLSI/liquid crystal arrays, and their electrooptic properties are reviewed. Examples of electrically addressed and optically addressed liquid crystal smart pixels, and results from a 128×128 VLSI/FLC SLM are presented. This device has a response time of 150 μs, a contrast ratio of 8:1 measured on a row containing more than 50 pixels, and a frame rate of 4.7 kHz. Improvements of these devices are discussed in terms of what the silicon technology can yield in the future. A few examples in which the liquid crystal on silicon technology has been applied are presented

Keywords

VLSI; electro-optical devices; ferroelectric liquid crystals; integrated optoelectronics; liquid crystal devices; optical neural nets; reviews; spatial light modulators; 128 by 128; 128×128 VLSI/FLC SLM; 150 mus; Si; VLSI/liquid crystal arrays; contrast ratio; electrically addressed; electronic circuits; electrooptic properties; frame rate; interpixel communication; intrapixel circuitry; liquid crystals; memory; neurally inspired functions; optical outputs; optically addressed; response time; sensors; smart pixels; smart spatial light modulators; Delay; Electronic circuits; Intelligent sensors; Liquid crystal on silicon; Liquid crystals; Optical modulation; Optical sensors; Smart pixels; Time measurement; Very large scale integration;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.199323

Filename

199323