JPS6239726B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a light control device, and includes:
The present invention provides a device that can selectively control the amount of light passing through an arbitrary two-dimensional position.

A light control device that can selectively control the amount of light passing through an arbitrary two-dimensional position is effective as a display device, an optical writing device, and the like.

Conventionally, devices using liquid crystal panels have been proposed as this type of device, but they have a relatively short lifespan.
There are disadvantages such as slow operation speed, the need for considerable assembly steps since the components are fluid elements, and the large effect of temperature changes.

In order to solve these drawbacks, the present invention has the following objectives:
Two electro-optic plates have a plurality of electrodes arranged along the dimensional direction, and by selectively driving these electrodes, birefringence changes at desired positions due to the electro-optic effect, and a predetermined plane of polarization. The electro-optical plates and the polarizing plates are sequentially stacked so that the electrode arrangement directions of each electro-optical plate are orthogonal to each other and the polarization planes are orthogonal to each other on both sides of each electro-optic plate. This constitutes a light control device.

Hereinafter, it will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which M1 and M2 are pneumatic plates, and P1 to P3 are polarizing plates. The electro-optic plates M1 and M2 each have a plurality of electrodes arranged along a one-dimensional direction, and by applying a voltage to these electrodes and selectively driving them, the electro-optic effect is applied to a desired position. The refractive index is configured to produce a refractive change. FIG. 2 shows such electro-optical plates M1 and M2.
FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing a part of a specific example. Second
In the figures, a is a perspective view, and b is an explanatory diagram of the operation. The electro-optic board shown in FIG. 2 has a plurality of grooves 4 provided along one-dimensional direction on one surface of an electro-optic substrate 3 (for example, PLZT), and an electrode 5 provided on the surface of each groove 4. It is. In addition, although the example of FIG. 2 shows an example in which the cross-sectional shape of the kerf 4 is rectangular, it may be triangular, arcuate, or linear. By selectively applying a polarity voltage as shown in b to each electrode 5 of the electro-optic plate configured in this way, the voltage between the electrode to which positive polarity is applied and the electrode to which negative polarity is applied is A change in birefringence due to the electro-optic effect occurs only in this case. In the electro-optic board configured in this way, each electrode 5 is provided along the thickness direction of the electro-optic substrate 3 as described above, so when electrodes are provided only on the surface of the electro-optic substrate Compared to this, the internal electric field component perpendicular to the traveling direction of light can be made larger when compared with the same applied voltage, and operation can be performed at a lower voltage. Referring again to FIG. 1, each of the polarizing plates P1 to P3 has a predetermined plane of polarization. These electro-optical plates M1, M2
and polarizing plates P1 to P3 are each electro-optical plate M1, M
The arrangement directions of the two electrodes are orthogonal to each other, and the polarization planes are sequentially overlapped on both sides of each electro-optical plate M1 and M2 so that they are orthogonal to each other, and the magnitude of the amount of light passing through at any two-dimensional position is selected. It is configured as a light control device that can be controlled.

The operation of the apparatus constructed in this way will be explained using FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, the electro-optic plate M1 is selectively driven so that only the region A portion produces birefringence due to the electro-optic effect, and the electro-optic plate M2 is selectively driven so that only the region B portion produces birefringence due to the electro-optic effect. Assume that it is selectively driven. Polarizing plate P1
When unpolarized light is input from the side, linearly polarized light having a constant plane of polarization is sent out from the polarizing plate P1. This linearly polarized light is input to the electro-optic plate M1, and only the light that passes through region A of the electro-optic plate M1 undergoes birefringence. The light subjected to birefringence by the electro-optic plate M1 has a component that passes through the polarizing plate P2 and is input to the electro-optic plate M2. Of the linearly polarized light in region A that is input to electro-optic plate M2, only the light that passes through region B is further subjected to birefringence, and a component that passes through polarizing plate P3 is generated. As a result, in the polarizing plate P3, the area A of the electro-optic plate M1 and the area B of the electro-optic plate M2 are
Only the two-dimensional area C portion where the C and C overlap with each other in the traveling direction of the light transmits linearly polarized light.

As described above, since the light control device according to the present invention is composed of pure solid elements, it can have a longer lifespan compared to devices composed of liquid crystals, can operate at higher speeds, and is easier to assemble. It's relatively easy to do,
The influence of temperature changes is also reduced.

4 and 5 are configuration explanatory diagrams showing specific examples of optical application equipment using the light control device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows an example of a projection optical device,
FIG. 5 shows an example of an image information processing system. In FIG. 4, 6 is a light source, 7 is a control circuit,
8 is a light receiving section, and CTL is a light control device according to the present invention. The control circuit 7 includes a display information source such as a character generator and a graphic memory, and controls the light control device according to the output of this circuit.
Selectively drive predetermined electrodes of the CTL. The light receiving section 8 is irradiated with light sent from the light control device CTL, and has a display surface, a photosensitive surface, and the like. Note that the lens system is not shown in FIG. 4. With this configuration, predetermined display information can be displayed or photographically recorded based on the display information sent from the control circuit 7.

In FIG. 5, 9 is an image information source, 10 is a control circuit, and 11 is an image processing device. Image information source 9
From there, subject information such as TV images, photographs, and 3D images is sent out as optical information. A drive signal is applied from the control circuit 10 to the electrodes of the light control device CTL according to the present invention for selectively passing only a specific part of the subject information sent from the image information source 9. The image processing device 11 performs, for example, a spatial filtering operation on input image information. Note that the lens system is not illustrated in FIG. 5 as well. With this configuration, highly accurate image processing can be performed.

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a light control device that can selectively control the passage of light on and off at any two-dimensional position with a relatively simple configuration, and has practical effects. is big.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing a part of a specific example of an electro-optic plate used in the present invention, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the device in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are optical control diagrams according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing a specific example of optical application equipment using the device. M1, M2...electro-optical plate, P1-P3...polarizing plate, 3...electro-optic substrate, 4...kerf, 5...
electrode.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of grooves are provided along a one-dimensional direction on one surface, and electrodes are formed on the surface of each groove, and by selectively driving these electrodes, desired results can be obtained. It consists of two electro-optic plates that produce birefringence changes due to the electro-optic effect at different positions, and a plurality of polarizing plates each having a predetermined plane of polarization. 1. A light control device characterized in that the electro-optical plates are successively stacked on each other so that their arrangement directions are orthogonal and their polarization planes are orthogonal to each other on both surfaces.