SBIR Phase I: Programmable Liquid Crystal Based Optical Attenuator

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目提出开发一种可编程的静态光衰减器，其性能超过商用机电衰减器和最先进的MEMS衰减器。由革命性的液晶和聚合物复合材料制成，即，聚合物稳定的液晶材料，新技术最终有望实现以下性能规格，（a）超过10，000：1的对比度，（B）小于5 ms的响应时间，以及（c）小于2dB的插入损耗。在第一阶段，将建造演示装置，以显示技术的可行性。第二阶段的工作是开发符合所有预期性能指标的原型衰减器，然后在后期全面商业化。该技术一旦开发成功，将用于液晶显示器、光子仪器、电信和军事系统

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop a programmable motionless optical attenuator that over performs commercial electro-mechanical attenuators and state-of-the-art MEMs attenuator. Made from a revolutionary liquid crystal and polymer composite material, i.e., polymer stabilized liquid crystal material, the new technology ultimately promises to achieve the following performance specifications, (a) over 10,000:1 contrast ratio, (b) less than 5 ms response time, and (c) less than 2dB insertion loss. In Phase I, the demo device will be constructed to show the technological feasibility. The Phase II effort is to develop the prototype attenuator that meets all the projected performance specifications followed by a full commercialization in the later phase.The technology, once successfully developed, will be used in liquid crystal display, photonics instrument, telecommunication, and military systems