I-CORE TECHNOLOGY LLC — Department of Defense STTR Phase I: N17A-T001

Description

Electro-Optic transmissive scanner based on specific liquid crystal technology is proposed. Using a specific liquid crystal technology, light weight, thin thickness, low power consumption, beam steering is realized without using any mechanical moving parts. No mechanical parts provide strong durability to vibrational environment. For large steering performance, specific liquid crystal materials and their drive mode as well as panel designs will be investigated. For effective beam steering, micro-patterned initial liquid crystal molecular alignment using UV light durable photo-alignment layer is investigated. Such micro-patterned initial liquid crystal molecular alignment enables enhancement of birefringence which creates effective refractive index pattern in the liquid crystal panel. In order to realize such structure and performance, specific type of liquid crystal materials will be developed. Such liquid crystal device also needs to show good enough light throughput and fast enough optical response. For high transmittance, PS convertor will be deployed to use both P and S polarized incident beams. Fast response will be realized by optimizing liquid crystal materials elastic properties as well as specific driving scheme. Proof of concept level of prototype is the target of this Phase of works.