STTR Phase I: High Light Efficiency Liquid Crystal Microdisplay Systems

这一小型技术转移研究(STTR)第一阶段研究项目将开发一种新的液晶偏振光栅(LCPG)技术，该技术操作在具有强大潜力的非偏振光上，可以获得前所未有的90%的光衍射效率。这将是我们开发下一代硅上液晶(LCoS)微显示系统的核心技术。如果成功，这项技术将以低成本实现紧凑、高度便携、低功耗的投影显示器。虽然传统的基于液晶的微型显示器的光效率非常低，但基于数字光处理器(DLP)技术的显示器具有更高的光效率，但成本要高得多。该方案通过使用集成到其他常规LCoS制造工艺中的可切换LCPG技术来寻求两者(高光效和低成本)的最佳。它将开发一个原理验证的像素化LCPG器件原型，对单像素和多像素器件进行电光表征，利用静态和动态弹性连续介质理论和光学数值模拟识别关键的LC参数，并优化制造工艺。将确定关键的技术挑战，并探索克服这些挑战的方法。微显示器市场巨大，产品范围广泛，从消费者和企业产品，如前投影仪、背投电视、便携式投影仪、数码相机、头戴式显示器和近眼显示器。微显示器市场，特别是LCOS显示器，预计在未来几年内将迅速增长，并具有各种各样的应用。便携式投影仪市场是一个新兴市场，具有比其他市场更快的增长潜力，因为便携式投影仪具有广泛的应用，如用于DVD观看、个人计算机、电视流媒体和游戏的显示器。对于便携式投影仪来说，最大的挑战之一是如何提高光效，从而实现低功耗，这一直是一个关键问题。LCPG技术将促进便携式投影仪以低成本提供双倍的光效。除了商业利益，这项研究项目还将有利于教育和技术发展。

This Small Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase I research project will develop a novel liquid crystal polarization grating (LCPG) technology that operates on unpolarized light with strong potential to attain an unprecedented 90% light diffraction efficiency. This will be the core technology for us to develop next generation liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCoS) microdisplay systems. If successful, the technology will enable compact, highly portable, low-power projection displays at low-cost. While conventional liquid crystal based microdisplays have very low light efficiency, displays based on the digital-light-processor (DLP) technology have higher light efficiency but are substantially more costly. This proposal seeks the best of both (high light efficiency and low cost) by using a switchable LCPG technology integrated into an otherwise conventional LCoS fabrication process. It will develop a proof of principle prototype pixilated LCPG device, electro-optically characterize single and multipixel devices, identify key LC parameters using static and dynamic elastic continuum theory and optical numerical simulation, and optimize the fabrication process. Critical technology challenges will be identified and approaches to overcome them will be explored. The microdisplay market is enormous with a wide range of products ranging from consumer and business products such as front projectors, rear projection televisions, portable projectors, digital cameras, head mount displays, and near the eye displays. The microdisplay market, LCOS display in particular, is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years and has a great variety of applications. The portable projector market is an emerging market with the potential to grow even faster than others, because portable projectors have wide application, such as displays for DVD viewing, personal computers, TV streaming, and gaming. One of the biggest challenges for the portable projector is how to increase the light efficiency so that low-power consumption is achieved, that is always a key concern. LCPG technology will facilitate portable projectors which offer doubled light efficiency at low cost. Besides the commercial benefits, this research project will also benefit education and technology development.