Patent ID: 7182982

Claim:
A method for manufacturing optically controlled liquid crystal light valves, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a first silane-coupled monolayer of derivatized methyl red (d-MR SAM layer) and a first substrate; (b) exposing said first d-MR SAM layer to polarized light having a first orientation of polarization; (c) exposing said first d-MR SAM layer to oxygen, wherein said exposing to polarized light and said exposing to oxygen are performed concurrently, and wherein molecules in said first d-MR SAM layer are irreversibly aligned relative to said first substrate; (d) providing a second d-MR SAM layer and a second substrate; (e) inserting a spacer between said first and second substrates to form a cell volume; and (f) filling said cell volume with a liquid crystal to form a light valve assembly, wherein said second d-MR SAM layer is not exposed to polarized light and oxygen at the same time prior to the forming of said light valve assembly.