A device for modulation of light (16) having a wavelength, comprising: a first substrate (10) with a first face (81) and a second opposite face (82), and comprising a first electrode (11); a second substrate (20) adjacent to the second face (82) and defining a gap between the first and second substrate (10, 20), the second substrate (20) comprising a second electrode (21); a responsive liquid crystal layer (15) disposed in the gap, wherein the responsive liquid crystal layer (15) has a flexoelectro-optic chiral nematic phase, and is birefringent with an optic axis that tilts in response to an applied electric field between the first and second electrode (11, 21); and a mirror adjacent to the second substrate (20), the mirror configured to reflect incident circular polarised light while preserving its handedness.

A spatial light modulator includes an array of Faraday domains with each Faraday domain being selectively magnetizable to serve as an individual magnetic domain for selectively changing a polarization state of electromagnetic waves, having wavelengths that are no greater than a maximum wavelength, passing through each Faraday domain with each Faraday domain being characterized by physical dimensions and each Faraday domain is selectively magnetizable so long as the physical dimensions do not exceed a given maximum set of dimensions that correspond to the maximum wavelength. An addressing arrangement addresses the array of Faraday domains to selectively switch a magnetization state of a group of adjacent ones of the Faraday domains such that the Faraday domains that make up the group of Faraday domains cooperate to selectively change the polarization state of at least one electromagnetic wave passing therethrough having a wavelength that is longer than the maximum wavelength.

A spatial light modulator system includes a concentration layer including an array of optical concentrators, such that each concentrator concentrates a portion of an input light beam. A modulation layer includes an array of light modulators each in optical communication with one of the optical concentrators for modulating the portion of the input light beam. The light modulators are spaced apart from one another in the modulation layer to form gaps between adjacent ones of the light modulators. A coil of each light modulator can surround a Faraday element or core containing a Faraday material to control a magnetic state of a Faraday material responsive to control signals.

There is disclosed a projector arranged to project a light pattern. The projector comprises a spatial light modulator and a light source. The spatial light modulator has an array of pixels arranged to display a phase pattern. The array of pixels may be a substantially planar array of pixels. Each pixel comprises liquid crystals having a director rotatable in a plane of rotation between a first direction and a second direction. The light source is arranged to illuminate the array of pixels with polarised light such that the light is spatially-modulated in accordance with the phase pattern to form the light pattern. It may be said that the light pattern corresponds to the phase pattern. The angle of incidence of the light on the array of pixels is greater than zero and the light is s-polarised. The first direction is parallel to the polarisation direction of the light. The second direction is in the plane of incidence.

This disclosure discloses a display panel, a method for driving the same, and a display device. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate arranged opposite each other, and a plurality of pixel elements located between the first substrate and the second substrate, where each of the plurality of pixel elements includes a photonic crystal light-modulating structure. The photonic crystal light-modulating structure can be configured to adjust an intensity of light emitted from the pixel element, so as to take the place of a liquid crystal layer in the prior art.

A privacy display comprises a polarised output spatial light modulator, reflective polariser, plural polar control retarders and a polariser. A birefringent surface relief diffuser structure is arranged to transmit light from the display with high transparency and provide diffuse reflection of ambient light to head-on display users. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss and with low diffusion, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance and increased diffusion. Further, overall display reflectivity is reduced for on-axis reflections of ambient light, while reflectivity is increased for off-axis light. The visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers is reduced by means of luminance reduction, increased frontal reflectivity and diffusion of ambient light. In a public mode of operation, the liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified.

A reflective spatial light modulator includes an electro-optic crystal having an input surface to which input light is input and a rear surface opposing the input surface, a light input/output unit being disposed on the input surface of the electro-optic crystal and having a first electrode through which the input light is transmitted, a light reflection unit including a substrate including a plurality of second electrodes and being disposed on the rear surface side of the electro-optic crystal, and a drive circuit applying an electric field between the first electrode and the plurality of second electrodes. The light input/output unit includes a first charge injection curbing layer formed on the input surface, and the light reflection unit includes a second charge injection curbing layer formed on the rear surface.

Various embodiments may provide a spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator may include a first electrode arrangement. The spatial light modulator may also include a second electrode arrangement. The spatial light modulator may additionally include a liquid crystal (LC) layer between the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement. The spatial light modulator may also include one or more nanoantennas in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement may be each configured to allow at least a portion of light to pass through.

A spatial light modulator system includes a concentration layer including an array of optical concentrators, such that each concentrator concentrates a portion of an input light beam. A modulation layer includes an array of light modulators each in optical communication with one of the optical concentrators for modulating the portion of the input light beam. The light modulators are spaced apart from one another in the modulation layer to form gaps between adjacent ones of the light modulators. A coil of each light modulator can surround a Faraday element or core containing a Faraday material to control a magnetic state of a Faraday material responsive to control signals.

A projector according to the present disclosure includes an illuminator that outputs light, a light modulator including a liquid crystal panel that modulates the light from the illuminator in accordance with image information, and a projection optical apparatus that projects image light modulated by the light modulator. The liquid crystal panel includes a display unit on which the light from the illuminator is incident, a light blocking film having a light transmissive area provided in correspondence with the display unit, and a lens that collects the light into a spot in the light transmissive area. The display unit has a first area and a second area in the light transmissive area, the second area providing light transmittance higher than light transmittance provided by the first area. The illuminator outputs the light in such a way, that the lens collects the light into a spot in the second area.