Reflective ferroelectric liquid crystal light valve with increased light throughput

摘要

A ferroelectric liquid crystal-based light valve [100] comprising a light input [106], a light output [108], a polarizing beam splitter [119], a reflective spatial light modulator [25] and a switchable half-wave plate [102]. Light polarized parallel to a first direction is received through the light input. Light from the light input and reflected by the spatial light modulator is output from the light output. The reflective spatial light modulator is structured as a quarter-wave plate and has a principal axis that switches through an angle φ. The polarizing beam splitter has orthogonal directions of maximum transmissivity and maximum reflectivity, one of which is parallel to the first direction. The polarizing beam splitter is located and aligned relative to the light input, the light output, and the spatial light modulator to transmit or reflect the light from the light input towards the spatial light modulator, and to reflect or transmit, respectively, towards the light output the light reflected by the spatial light modulator and having a direction of polarization substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The switchable half-wave plate is located between the beam splitter and the spatial light modulator, is structured as a half-wave plate and has a principal axis that switches through an angle θ, substantially equal to φ/2. The switchable half-wave plate inverts the sense of the light valve during the balance period of each display period to enable the light valve to generate a positive image, and therefore be illuminated, during the balance period in addition to during the illumination period.