Patent ID: 6686984
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
A polarization control device, comprising:a liquid crystal device containing a liquid crystal material with an optical anisotropy with substantially homeotropically aligned molecules when in a neutral electrical field state; a plurality of electrodes for applying an electrical field to change an orientation of the molecules of said liquid crystal material from their alignment in the neutral electrical field state, wherein said electrodes comprise at least two pairs of electrodes disposed on said hollow-core optical fiber, where one of the two pairs of electrodes is disposed on the hollow-core optical fiber so as to provide a first electric field and the other of the two pairs of electrodes is disposed on the hollow-core optical fiber so as to provide a second electric field perpendicular to the first electric field; a circuit for applying a voltage to said electrodes; and an optical system for directing light through said liquid crystal material, wherein said liquid crystal device comprises a hollow-core optical fiber; and wherein said liquid crystal material is disposed within a hollow interior of said hollow core optical fiber.