Spatial light modulator based on solid crystal

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed. The device comprises an organic solid crystal. The device also includes a pixel electrode layer and a common electrode layer coupled to the organic solid crystal, the pixel electrode layer including a pixel electrode array. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to individually configure voltages applied to the pixel electrodes to individually configure a local refractive index of the organic solid crystal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to optical devices, and more specifically to spatial light modulators based on solid-state crystals. Background Technology

[0002] Holography uses light interference patterns to form three-dimensional (3D) images. A traditional hologram is a holographic interference pattern of a signal beam from a real object and a reference beam from a coherent light source. Computer-generated holography applies various algorithms to simulate the holographic interference patterns produced by traditional holography. Computer-generated holograms can be created by encoding the pattern output by such algorithms into beams of light emitted from a light source using a spatial light modulator (SLM).

[0003] Spatial modulation (SLM) can apply spatial variations in amplitude or phase to a light beam. Computational holography can modulate multiple degrees of freedom (DOFs) of a light beam (e.g., amplitude and phase). A conventional method for modulating multiple DOFs of a light beam may include using an optical relay imaging assembly that can image the plane of a first SLM of a first DOF of the modulated beam onto the plane of a second SLM of a second DOF of the modulated beam. Another conventional method for modulating multiple DOFs of a light beam may include laminating multiple SLMs modulating different DOFs together. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One aspect of this disclosure provides an apparatus. The apparatus includes an organic solid crystal. The apparatus also includes a pixel electrode layer and a common electrode layer coupled to the organic solid crystal, the pixel electrode layer including a pixel electrode array. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to individually configure voltages applied to the pixel electrodes to individually configure the local refractive index of the organic solid crystal.

[0005] In one embodiment, the device further includes a pixel array configured to provide spatial variation modulation of one or more degrees of freedom of the input beam, wherein the pixels in the pixel array include corresponding portions of the organic solid crystal, corresponding portions of the pixel electrode layer, and corresponding portions of the common electrode layer.

[0006] In one embodiment, the common electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer are in direct contact with the organic solid crystal.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the device further includes at least one of a first spacer layer disposed between the common electrode layer and the organic solid crystal, or a second spacer layer disposed between the pixel electrode layer and the organic solid crystal. Optionally, the common electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer are disposed on the same side of the organic solid crystal, and the device further includes an electrically insulating layer disposed between the common electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer.

[0008] In one embodiment, the organic solid crystal is a continuous organic solid crystal.

[0009] In one embodiment, the organic solid crystal is a patterned organic solid crystal, which includes an array of solid crystal segments corresponding to the pixel electrode array.

[0010] In one embodiment, the organic solid crystal is a first patterned organic solid crystal including a first solid crystal segment array, and the pixel electrode layer is a first pixel electrode layer including a first pixel electrode array. The device further includes: a second patterned organic solid crystal including a second solid crystal segment array and stacked with the first patterned organic solid crystal in the thickness direction of the device; and a second pixel electrode layer coupled to the second patterned organic solid crystal and including a second pixel electrode array.

[0011] In one embodiment, the organic solid-state crystal further includes a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel comprises a first solid-state crystal segment and a second solid-state crystal segment arranged along the thickness direction of the device, a first pixel electrode coupled to the first solid-state crystal segment, and a second pixel electrode coupled to the second solid-state crystal segment. Optionally, the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode included in the pixel are electrically connected to the same pixel bus; and optionally, the first solid-state crystal segment and the second solid-state crystal segment included in the pixel share the common electrode layer.

[0012] Another aspect of this disclosure provides an apparatus. The apparatus includes one or more patterned organic solid-state crystals disposed in the thickness direction of the apparatus. The patterned organic solid-state crystals include an array of solid crystal segments disposed in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the apparatus. The solid crystal segments in the array are coupled to a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode, and an insulator disposed between the gate electrode and the solid crystal segments. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to individually configure voltages applied to the solid crystal segments to individually configure the refractive index of the solid crystal segments.

[0013] In one embodiment, the insulator is further disposed between adjacent solid crystal segments included in the same patterned organic solid crystal, and between adjacent patterned organic solid crystals arranged in the thickness direction of the device; and / or wherein the gate electrode is a reflective electrode or a transmissive electrode.

[0014] In one embodiment, the solid-state crystal segment includes a first side and an opposing second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid-state crystal segment, and a third side and an opposing fourth side arranged along the transverse direction of the solid-state crystal segment. The gate electrode is disposed on the first or second side of the solid-state crystal segment. The source electrode and the drain electrode are disposed on the third and fourth sides of the solid-state crystal segment. Alternatively, according to one embodiment, the solid-state crystal segment includes a first side and an opposing second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid-state crystal segment. The gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode are disposed on the first or second side of the solid-state crystal segment.

[0015] In one embodiment, the solid-state crystal segment includes a first side and an opposing second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid-state crystal segment, and a third side and an opposing fourth side arranged along the transverse direction of the solid-state crystal segment. The gate electrode is disposed on the first or second side of the solid-state crystal segment. The source electrode and the drain electrode are at least partially disposed within the solid-state crystal segment.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the solid-state crystal segment includes a first side and an opposing second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid-state crystal segment. The gate electrode is disposed on the first side of the solid-state crystal segment. The source electrode and the drain electrode are disposed on the second side of the solid-state crystal segment.

[0017] In one embodiment, the device further includes a plurality of pixels configured to provide spatial variation modulation of one or more degrees of freedom of the input beam. Each pixel comprises a corresponding solid-state crystal segment of the one or more patterned organic solid-state crystals arranged along the thickness direction of the device, wherein, in that pixel, two adjacent solid-state crystal segments arranged along the thickness direction of the device are coupled to a separate source electrode, a separate drain electrode, and the same gate electrode.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the device further includes a plurality of pixels configured to provide spatial variation modulation of one or more degrees of freedom of the input beam, wherein a pixel among the plurality of pixels includes three or more solid-state crystal segments arranged along the thickness direction of the device, and wherein, in the pixel, the three or more solid-state crystal segments are coupled to respective source electrodes electrically connected to the same source bus, to respective drain electrodes electrically connected to the same drain bus, and to a plurality of gate electrodes electrically connected to the same gate bus.

[0019] Other aspects of this disclosure will be understood by those skilled in the art based on the specification, claims, and drawings.

[0020] It should be understood that any feature described herein that is suitable for incorporation into one or more aspects or embodiments of this disclosure is intended to be generalizable to any and all aspects and embodiments of this disclosure. Other aspects of this disclosure will be understood by those skilled in the art based on the specification, claims, and drawings of this disclosure. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The following figures are provided for illustrative purposes based on various aspects of this disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. In the figures: FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B A schematic diagram of a solid-state crystal-based spatial light modulator (“SLM”) according to one or more examples of the present disclosure is shown; FIGS. 2A-2D A schematic diagram of a solid-state crystal-based SLM according to one or more examples of the present disclosure is shown; FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B A schematic diagram of a solid-state crystal-based SLM according to one or more examples of the present disclosure is shown; FIG. 4A A schematic diagram of a solid-state crystal-based SLM according to one or more examples of the present disclosure is shown; FIG. 4B A schematic diagram of a solid-state crystal-based SLM according to one or more examples of the present disclosure is shown; FIG. 5 A schematic diagram of a solid-state crystal-based SLM according to one or more examples of the present disclosure is shown; FIGS. 6A-6I Example chemical structures of various molecules of solid crystalline materials according to one or more examples of this disclosure are shown; FIG. 7 A schematic diagram of an optical system including a solid-state crystal-based SLM according to one or more examples of the present disclosure is shown; FIG. 8 A schematic diagram of an optical system including a solid-state crystal-based SLM according to one or more examples of the present disclosure is shown; FIG. 9 A schematic diagram of an optical system including a solid-state crystal-based SLM according to one or more examples of the present disclosure is shown; FIG. 10A A schematic diagram of an artificial reality device according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown; and FIG. 10B One or more examples according to this disclosure are illustrated schematically. FIG. 10A A cross-sectional view of half of the artificial reality device shown. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Various aspects of this disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Where possible, the same reference numerals will be used in all the drawings to denote the same or similar parts, and detailed descriptions of these parts may be omitted.

[0023] Furthermore, in this disclosure, the disclosed embodiments and features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined. The described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments in this disclosure. Based on the disclosed embodiments, those skilled in the art can obtain other embodiments according to this disclosure. For example, modifications, adaptations, substitutions, additions, or other changes can be made based on the disclosed embodiments. Such changes to the disclosed embodiments are still within the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Rather, the scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims.

[0024] As used herein, the terms “coupled,” “linked,” or “connected,” etc., can include optical coupling, mechanical coupling, electrical coupling, electromagnetic coupling, or combinations thereof. “Optical coupling” between two optical devices refers to a configuration in which the two optical devices are arranged in optical series, and light output from one optical device can be received directly or indirectly by the other optical device. Optical series refers to the optical positioning of multiple optical devices in an optical path such that light output from one optical device can be transmitted, reflected, diffracted, converted, modified, or otherwise processed or manipulated by one or more other optical devices. The order in which multiple optical devices are arranged may or may not affect the overall output of the multiple optical devices. Coupling can be direct or indirect (e.g., coupling via an intermediate element).

[0025] The phrase "one or more" can be interpreted as "at least one". The phrase "at least one of A or B" can cover various combinations of A and B, such as A only, B only, or A and B. Similarly, the phrase "at least one of A, B, or C" can cover various combinations of A, B, and C, such as A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. The phrase "A and / or B" has a similar meaning to the phrase "at least one of A or B". For example, the phrase "A and / or B" can cover various combinations of A and B, such as A only, B only, or A and B. Similarly, the phrase "A, B, and / or C" has a similar meaning to the phrase "at least one of A, B, or C". For example, the phrase "A, B, and / or C" can cover various combinations of A, B, and C, such as A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.

[0026] When a first element is described as being "attached," "provided," "formed," "bonded," "mounted," "fixed," "connected," "joined," "recorded," or "set" onto, on, at, or at least partially in a second element, the first element may be "attached," "provided," "formed," "bonded," "mounted," "fixed," "connected," "joined," "recorded," or "set" onto, on, at, or at least partially in a second element using any suitable mechanical or non-mechanical means (e.g., deposition, coating, etching, bonding, gluing, threading, press-fitting, snap-fitting, clamping, etc.). Furthermore, the first element may be in direct contact with the second element, or an intermediate element may exist between the first and second elements. The first element may be located on any suitable side of the second element (e.g., left, right, front, rear, top, or bottom).

[0027] When a first element is shown or described as being set or arranged "on" a second element, the term "on" is used only to indicate an example relative orientation between the first and second elements. This description may be based on a reference coordinate system shown in the figure, or it may be based on the current view or example configuration shown in the figure. For example, when describing a view shown in the figure, the first element may be described as being set "on" a second element. It should be understood that the term "on" may not necessarily imply that the first element is above the second element in the vertical, gravitational direction. For example, when the components of the first and second elements are rotated 180 degrees, the first element may be "below" the second element (or the second element may be "on" the first element). Therefore, it should be understood that when the figures show the first element "on" a second element, this configuration is merely an illustrative example. The first element may be set or arranged relative to the second element in any suitable orientation (e.g., above or on top of the second element, below or under the second element, to the left of the second element, to the right of the second element, behind the second element, in front of the second element, etc.).

[0028] When a first element is described as being disposed "on" a second element, the first element may be disposed directly or indirectly on the second element. A first element being directly disposed on the second element means that no additional element is disposed between the first and second elements. A first element being indirectly disposed on the second element means that one or more additional elements are disposed between the first and second elements.

[0029] The wavelength ranges, spectra, or bands mentioned in this disclosure are for illustrative purposes. The disclosed optical devices, systems, elements, components, and methods can be applied to the visible light wavelength range, as well as other wavelength ranges, such as the ultraviolet (“UV”) wavelength range, the infrared (“IR”) wavelength range, or combinations thereof.

[0030] The terms “film,” “layer,” “coating,” or “plate” can include rigid or flexible, self-supporting or independent films, layers, coatings, or plates that may be disposed on a supporting substrate or between substrates. The terms “film,” “layer,” “coating,” and “plate” may be interchangeable. The phrases “in-plane orientation,” “in-plane rotation,” “in-plane alignment pattern,” and “in-plane spacing” refer to the direction, orientation, rotation, alignment pattern, and spacing in a plane of the film or layer (e.g., the surface plane of the film or layer, or a plane parallel to the surface plane of the film or layer), respectively. The term “out-of-plane orientation” or “out-of-plane alignment” indicates a direction or orientation that is not parallel to the plane of the film or layer (e.g., perpendicular to the surface plane of the film or layer, for example, perpendicular to a plane parallel to the surface plane). For example, when “in-plane” direction or orientation refers to a direction or orientation within the surface plane, “out-of-plane” direction or orientation can refer to a thickness direction or orientation perpendicular to the surface plane, or a direction or orientation not parallel to the surface plane.

[0031] As used herein, the term "processor" may encompass any suitable processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. Other processors not listed above may also be used. A processor may be implemented as software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof.

[0032] The term "controller" can cover any suitable electronic circuit, software, or processor configured to generate control signals for controlling devices, circuits, optical elements, etc. A "controller" can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. For example, a controller may include a processor, or may be included as part of a processor.

[0033] The term "non-transitory computer-readable medium" can encompass any suitable medium used for storing, transferring, transmitting, broadcasting, or transmitting data, signals, or information. For example, non-transitory computer-readable media can include memory, hard disks, magnetic disks, optical disks, magnetic tapes, etc. Memory can include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.

[0034] Liquid crystals (LCs) have been used as the active medium in spatial light modulators ("SLMs") to modulate the amplitude or phase of a light beam. One limitation of LC-based SLMs is their slow modulation or switching speed. For example, typical modulation frequencies are below 1 kHz, and typical switching times are in the millisecond range. Switching speeds can be improved by reducing the thickness of the LC layer in the SLM. However, as the thickness of the LC layer decreases, the phase modulation range provided to the beam by the LC-based SLM may become insufficient. Another limitation of LC-based SLMs is the large pixel size or pixel pitch, which can be, for example, from about 3 micrometers to 10 micrometers. The field of view of an SLM can be inversely proportional to the pixel size; for example, a smaller pixel size can result in a larger field of view. However, as the pixel size decreases, the edge field generated within the LC layer may increase, which in turn not only reduces the phase modulation range but also increases crosstalk between adjacent pixels. Furthermore, the fabrication of LC-based SLMs may be incompatible with monolithic multilayer fabrication. For example, an LC-based SLM can be fabricated by combining a silicon backplane or a thin-film transistor (TFT) backplane and cover plate to form a cell with a predetermined gap, and then filling the cell with LC material. A complex wavefront modulator that modulates both the amplitude and phase of a beam can be fabricated by laminating two LC-based SLMs, one modulating the phase and the other the amplitude, together. Such conventional complex wavefront modulators can be large and heavy.

[0035] In view of the limitations of conventional techniques, this disclosure provides a spatial light modulator (“SLM”) based on a solid-state crystal. The SLM disclosed herein may include one or more solid-state crystals whose optical properties (e.g., refractive index, birefringence, and / or absorption characteristics, etc.) can vary with a potential (e.g., voltage) applied via charge injection. Therefore, by configuring the local potential (e.g., voltage) applied to the solid-state crystal, local optical properties (e.g., refractive index, birefringence, and / or absorption characteristics, etc.) can be individually configured to modulate the local amplitude and / or local phase of an input beam. Due to the high refractive index of the solid-state crystal (e.g., 1.5 to 2.6), the SLM disclosed herein may experience weaker edge fields than LC-based SLMs, thus allowing for smaller pixel sizes (or pixel pitches) than LC-based SLMs. The SLM disclosed herein can provide faster switching speeds (e.g., microseconds, such as about 10 microseconds) than LC-based SLMs. The SLM disclosed herein can be fabricated via monolithic growth, which can facilitate more compact multilayer designs, such as complex SLM stacks in a 4f configuration.

[0036] In the following description, various solid-state crystal-based solid-state liquid crystals (SLMs) will be explained. Solid-state crystals can be single crystals or polycrystalline materials. Solid-state crystals can include organic materials, inorganic materials, or combinations thereof. For example, solid-state crystals can include organic crystalline materials, organic amorphous materials, organic semi-crystalline / semi-amorphous materials, inorganic crystalline materials, inorganic amorphous materials, inorganic semi-crystalline / semi-amorphous materials, organic semi-crystalline / semi-crystalline materials, inorganic semi-crystalline / semi-amorphous materials, or combinations thereof. In this disclosure, solid-state crystals may not include liquid crystals and polymeric liquid crystals. For illustrative purposes, organic solid-state crystal materials can be used as examples of solid-state crystals. For ease of discussion, solid-state crystal molecules included in solid-state crystal materials can also be referred to as organic molecules or crystal molecules. It should be understood that the technical solutions disclosed herein are not limited to organic solid-state crystal materials.

[0037] As used herein, the “axis” of a crystal (or solid crystal) can refer to the axis along which the solid crystal has the highest or greatest refractive index. The “axis” of crystal molecules included in a solid crystal can refer to the axis along which the crystal molecules may have the highest or greatest refractive index. The axis of a crystal can be a clustering effect of the axes of crystal molecules included in the crystal. The orientation of the axis of a solid crystal can be a clustering effect of the orientation of the axes of crystal molecules in the solid crystal. The above definitions of the axes of solid crystals and crystal molecules are for ease of discussion. The orientation of the axis of a solid crystal can also be referred to as the crystal orientation of the solid crystal. The orientation associated with a solid crystal and crystal molecules is not limited to being defined by the axis along which the highest refractive index is along. Other suitable axes (e.g., the axis along which the lowest refractive index is along, or an axis perpendicular to the axis along which the highest refractive index is along) can be used as configurable objects for discussing the orientation of solid crystals and crystal molecules, or for discussing alignment patterns associated with solid crystals or crystal molecules.

[0038] In some examples, the crystal molecules in a solid crystal may be substantially uniformly oriented along a predetermined direction. Alternatively, the crystal molecules in a solid crystal may be substantially non-uniformly oriented with an orientation pattern. In some examples, the solid crystal may be optically isotropic. Alternatively, the solid crystal may be optically anisotropic, such as uniaxial or biaxial optically anisotropic. In some examples, the solid crystal may have a first principal refractive index along a first direction and a second principal refractive index along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first direction may be parallel to an axis along which the solid crystal may have the highest or largest refractive index. The first principal refractive index of the solid crystal may be in the range of 1.5 to 2.6. For example, the first principal refractive index of the solid crystal may be at least about 1.5, at least about 1.6, at least about 1.7, at least about 1.8, at least about 1.9, at least about 2.0, at least about 2.1, or at least about 2.2. In some examples, the optical anisotropy of the solid crystal (e.g., the difference between the first principal refractive index and the second principal refractive index) may be at least about 0.1, at least about 0.2, at least about 0.3, at least about 0.35, or at least about 0.4.

[0039] Solid crystals can be in the form of layers, films, or plates. Due to their high refractive index (e.g., about 1.5 to 2.6), solid crystals can be manufactured to be thin and lightweight. For example, solid crystals can have a thickness of about 500 nanometers (nm) to about 5 micrometers (µm). Therefore, the disclosed solid crystal-based SLM can be manufactured to be thin, lightweight, and compact. Solid crystal materials have been used to manufacture semiconductor elements or devices with finitely small dimensions. For example, conventional semiconductor elements or devices manufactured using organic solid crystal materials can have dimensions of about 10 millimeters (mm) by 10 mm or smaller. The techniques disclosed in this disclosure enable the manufacture of solid crystals with large dimensions. For example, by forming (e.g., growing) solid crystals using alignment structures, solid crystals can be manufactured to have one or more lateral dimensions of about 30 mm to 100 mm or larger. Solid crystals with such large dimensions can broaden the applications of optical devices in a variety of technical fields.

[0040] In some examples, the solid crystal can be manufactured based on one or more solid crystal materials, such as anthracene, tetraphenyl, pentaphenyl, or any other saturated or unsaturated polycyclic hydrocarbons and their derivatives; nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen heterocyclic compounds; quinoline, benzothiophene, and benzopyran; bent and asymmetric benzobenzenes, such as phenanthrene, phenanthroline, pyrene, and fluoranthene and their derivatives; 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 2,6-dimethylcarboxylic acid esters and their derivatives; biphenyl, terphenyl, tetraphenyl, or phenylacetylene, or their derivatives. Biological compounds, including those having substituents of alkyl, cyano, isothiocyanate, fluorine, chlorine, or fluorinated ethers; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as naphthalene, anthracene, tetraphenyl, pentaphenyl, pyrene, polyphenylene, fluoranthene, benzophenone, benzochromene, benzoyl, benzimazole, benzene, hexachlorobenzene, nitropyridine-N-oxide, phenyl-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, diphenylacetylene, N-(4-nitrophenyl)-(s)-proline, 4,5-dicyanimazole, benzodithiophene, cyanopyridine, thienothiophene, stilbene, azobenzene, or derivatives thereof.

[0041] In some examples, the solid crystalline material may include one or more of the following molecules. One or more of these molecules (e.g., each) may include a ring structure (or ring structure system) and two end groups (or end group system). The ring structure may include one or more saturated cyclic groups, such as cyclohexane, cyclopentane, tetrahydropyran, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, pyrrolidine, tetrahydrothiophene, or derivatives thereof. In some examples, the ring structure may include one or more unsaturated aromatic groups, such as benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, thiophene, biphenyl, diphenylacetylene, benzimidazole, cyanopyridine, thienothiophene, dibenzothiophene, carbazole, silanium, or derivatives thereof. The end groups may include one or more C1-C14 groups. 10 Alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, -CN, -NCS, -SCN, -SF5, -Br, -Cl, -F, -OCF3, -CF3, monofluorinated or polyfluorinated C1-C 10 Alkyl or alkoxy.

[0042] In some examples, the solid crystalline material may include a crystalline polymer. Precursors to the crystalline polymer may include aromatic or heteroaromatic groups, and their derivatives. Examples of crystalline polymers may include polyethylene naphthalate, poly(vinylphenyl sulfide), poly(α-methylstyrene), polythiophene, polythiophene, poly(n-vinylphthalimide), poly(p-xylene), polysulfides, polysulfones, or poly(bromophenyl) or poly(vinylnaphthalene).

[0043] In some examples, the solid crystalline material may include an amorphous polymer having aliphatic, heteroaliphatic, aromatic, or heteroaromatic groups (e.g., polystyrene) as a binder. In some examples, the solid crystalline material may also include additives such as fatty acids, lipids, plasticizers, or surfactants (e.g., molecules having monofluorinated or polyfluorinated alkyl or alkoxy groups).

[0044] FIG. 6A Example chemical structures of various molecules that can be contained in solid crystalline materials are shown. In these chemical structures, R is a functional group and can be any one or any combination of CH3, H, OH, OMe, OEt, OiPr, F, Cl, Br, I, Ph, NO2, SO3, SO2Me, iPr, Pr, t-Bu, sec-Bu, Et, acetyl, SH, SMe, carboxyl, aldehyde, amide, nitrile, ester, SO2NH3, NH2, NMe2, NMeH, or C2H2. For example, when the chemical formula includes two or more Rs, all Rs can be different, all Rs can be the same, at least two Rs can be different, or at least two Rs can be the same. FIG. 6B Example chemical structures of molecules are shown, including those listed above and... FIG. 6A One or a combination of functional groups R shown in the figure.

[0045] In some examples, solid crystalline materials may include sugars or fatty acids. FIG. 6C The chemical structures of various sugars and fatty acids that can be contained in solid crystalline materials are shown. The functional group R can be any one of CH3, H, OH, OMe, OEt, Oipr, F, Cl, Br, I, Ph, NO2, SO3, SO2Me, iPr, Pr, t-Bu, sec-Bu, Et, acetyl, SH, SMe, carboxyl, aldehyde, amide, nitrile, ester, SO2NH3, NH2, NMe2, NMeH, or C2H2. FIG. 6C The molecules shown may include any one or any combination of the listed functional groups R.

[0046] FIG. 6D Example chemical structures of molecules that can be contained in solid crystalline materials are shown. The molecules may include one or a combination of the functional groups R described above, namely any one or any combination of CH3, H, OH, OMe, OEt, OiPr, F, Cl, Br, I, Ph, NO2, SO3, SO2Me, iPr, Pr, t-Bu, sec-Bu, Et, acetyl, SH, SMe, carboxyl, aldehyde, amide, nitrile, ester, SO2NH3, NH2, NMe2, NMeH, or C2H2.

[0047] In some examples, molecules that can be included in solid crystalline materials may have donor-bridge-acceptor molecular motifs, donor-bridge-donor molecular motifs, or acceptor-bridge-acceptor molecular motifs. FIG. 6E Example bridging functional groups that can be included in molecules are shown. FIG. 6F Examples of electron-withdrawing groups (acceptor groups) that can be included in a molecule are shown. FIG. 6G Examples of electron-donating groups (donor groups) that can be included in a molecule are shown. In some examples, the molecule may include one or a combination of the functional groups R described above, namely any one or any combination of CH3, H, OH, OMe, OEt, OiPr, F, Cl, Br, I, Ph, NO2, SO3, SO2Me, iPr, Pr, t-Bu, sec-Bu, Et, acetyl, SH, SMe, carboxyl, aldehyde, amide, nitrile, ester, SO2NH3, NH2, NMe2, NMeH, or C2H2.

[0048] In some examples, solid crystalline materials may include mixtures of organic salts, anionic and cationic molecules with one or more organic-based components. FIG. 6H An example chemical structure of anionic molecules that can be contained in solid crystalline materials is shown. FIG. 6I Example chemical structures of cationic molecules are shown. The functional group R can be any one or any combination of CH3, H, OH, OMe, OEt, Oipr, F, Cl, Br, I, Ph, NO2, SO3, SO2Me, iPr, Pr, t-Bu, sec-Bu, Et, acetyl, SH, SMe, carboxyl, aldehyde, amide, nitrile, ester, SO2NH3, NH2, NMe2, NMeH, or C2H2. In some examples, the functional group R may also include... FIG. 6F and FIG. 6G The diagram shows a combination of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing functions.

[0049] The SLM disclosed herein can be configured to modulate degrees of freedom (“DOFs”), such as the amplitude, phase, or polarization of an input beam. The SLM disclosed herein can be a complex wavefront modulator configured to modulate at least two DOFs (e.g., both the amplitude and phase of the input beam) of an input beam. The SLM disclosed herein can operate in one or more of the following modes: transmission mode, reflection mode, transmission-reflection mode, or resonant mode. The SLM disclosed herein can be configured to modulate the DOFs of an input beam. In some examples, the SLM disclosed herein can be a bistable SLM that can switch between a first operating state providing a first optical modulation to the input beam and a second operating state providing a different second optical modulation to the input beam.

[0050] FIG. 1AAn xz cross-sectional view of a spatial light modulator (“SLM”) 100 based on an organic solid-state crystal according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown. FIG. 1A As shown, the SLM 100 may include a first polarizer 101, a first coating 103, a first electrode layer 105, an organic solid crystal 107 (e.g., 107a, 107b, 107c), and a backplate 120. The first coating 103 may be disposed between the first polarizer 101 and the first electrode layer 105. The first polarizer 101, the first coating 103, and the first electrode layer 105 may be disposed on a first side of the organic solid crystal 107. The backplate 120 may be disposed on a second side of the organic solid crystal 107 opposite to the first side. FIG. 1A As shown, the backplane 120 may include a base substrate 121, circuitry 123, a plurality of conductive vias 125, a second electrode layer 115 (e.g., 115a, 115b, 115c), a second coating layer 113, and a second polarizer 111. The second coating layer 113 may be disposed between the base substrate 121 and the second electrode layer 115. The base substrate 121 may be disposed between the second polarizer 111 and the second coating layer 113. An organic solid crystal 107 may be disposed between the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115.

[0051] In some examples, the first polarizer 101 or the second polarizer 111 may be a linear polarizer or a circular polarizer. The first polarizer 101 or the second polarizer 111 may be an absorptive polarizer configured to substantially transmit polarized light with a predetermined polarization and substantially block polarized light with a polarization orthogonal to the predetermined polarization by absorption. In some examples, the first polarizer 101 or the second polarizer 111 may be a reflective polarizer configured to substantially transmit polarized light with a predetermined polarization and substantially reflect polarized light with a polarization orthogonal to the predetermined polarization.

[0052] The first polarizer 101 or the second polarizer 111 may include any suitable polarizer, such as a wire grid element, an LC-based polarization-selective element, an interference-based thin-film stacked element or a subwavelength grating structure, a metamaterial structure, etc. In some examples, the second polarizer 111 may be omitted. For example, SLM 100 may be a reflective SLM, where the backplane 120 may be a silicon backplane, and SLM 100 may include the first polarizer 101 but may not include the second polarizer 111. In some examples, SLM 100 may be a transmissive SLM, where the backplane 120 may be a transmissive thin-film transistor (“TFT”) backplane, and SLM 100 may include the first polarizer 101 and the second polarizer 111.

[0053] The base substrate 121 can provide support and protection for various layers, films, and / or structures formed thereon. In some examples, the base substrate 121 can be a wafer, glass, a plastic substrate, sapphire, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the base substrate 121 can be rigid, semi-rigid, flexible, or semi-flexible. In some examples, the base substrate 121 can include a flat or curved surface on which various layers, films, and / or structures can be formed. In some examples, the base substrate 121 can be part of another element or device (e.g., another optoelectronic element or device, another electrical element or device). In some examples, circuitry 123 (a portion of which is shown in the cross-sectional view) can be at least partially embedded in the base substrate 121 and electrically connected to the second electrode layer 115 via conductive vias 125.

[0054] In some examples, the first coating 103 or the second coating 113 may comprise a plurality of layers stacked together, one or more of which (e.g., each layer) may comprise a dielectric material, a metallic material, a semiconductor material, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the first coating 103 or the second coating 113 may also comprise one or more nanocomposite materials, nanostructured materials, organic solid crystals, or metamaterials with feature sizes equivalent to or smaller than the operating wavelength of SLM 100.

[0055] In some examples, one or more of the first coating 103 and the second coating 113 (e.g., each) may include an antireflective layer, such that the input beam 102 can pass through the organic solid-state crystal 107 once, and the SLM 100 can operate in transmission mode. In some examples, one of the first coating 103 and the second coating 113 may include an antireflective layer, and the other of the first coating 103 and the second coating 113 may include a highly reflective layer, such that the input beam 102 can pass through the organic solid-state crystal 107 twice, and the SLM 100 can operate in reflection mode. For example, the first coating 103 may include an antireflective layer, and the second coating 113 may include a highly reflective layer, such that the first coating 103 can substantially transmit the input beam 102, the second coating 113 can substantially reflect the input beam 102, and the input beam 102 can propagate twice through the organic solid-state crystal 107. In some examples, one of the first coating 103 and the second coating 113 may include a partially reflective layer, and the other of the first coating 103 and the second coating 113 may include a partially reflective layer or a highly reflective layer, such that the input beam 102 can pass through the organic solid crystal 107 multiple times (more than twice), and the SLM 100 can operate in a resonant mode. In some examples, one of the first coating 103 and the second coating 113 may be an active reflective coating with tunable reflection efficiency, such that the SLM 100 can switch between a resonant state and a non-resonant state. In some examples, one or more of the first coating 103 and the second coating 113 (e.g., each) may be an active reflective coating with tunable reflection efficiency.

[0056] In some examples, one or both of the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115 may include suitable materials configured to establish a potential therebetween. The materials included in the first electrode layer 105 or the second electrode layer 115 may also be configured to facilitate current injection into the organic solid crystal 107. For example, the first electrode layer 105 or the second electrode layer 115 may include suitable conductive materials such as transparent conductive oxide materials (e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), etc.), metallic materials (e.g., those with high reflectivity), structured metal meshes, conductive polymers, dielectric-metal-dielectric (DMD) structures, carbon nanotubes, silver nanowires, semiconductors (e.g., n-type or p-type semiconductors), or combinations thereof.

[0057] The first electrode layer 105 can be used as a common electrode layer to which a common voltage (e.g., ground) is applied. For example, the first electrode layer 105 can be a single, continuous electrode layer, or a pixelated or patterned electrode layer comprising multiple pixelated electrodes to which the same common voltage is applied. The second electrode layer 115 can be used as a pixel electrode layer, which can be a pixelated or patterned electrode layer comprising multiple separate, individual pixel electrodes 115a-115c. Although three pixel electrodes 115a-115c are shown for illustrative purposes, the second electrode layer 115 can include any suitable number of pixel electrodes. One or more of the pixel electrodes 115a-115c (e.g., each) can be individually and independently controlled by a controller (not shown). For example, the controller can control a power supply (not shown) to provide different or the same voltage to the multiple individual pixel electrodes 115a-115c. The controller can be any suitable controller and can include a processor and memory for storing processor-executable instructions. The controller can include hardware components, such as physical circuitry and / or software components.

[0058] The pixel electrodes 115a-115c can be separated from each other by an insulator (or insulating layer) 116. The insulator 116 may include a suitable dielectric material, such as an organic compound (e.g., a polymer), an inorganic compound (e.g., silicon dioxide), or a combination thereof.

[0059] like FIG. 1A As shown, the organic solid-state crystal 107 can be a continuous layer that substantially spans the entire SLM 100. The entire organic solid-state crystal 107 can be virtually divided into multiple solid-state crystal portions (or solid-state crystal segments) 107a-107c (also referred to as pixels 107a-107c) corresponding to multiple pixels respectively. The SLM 100 can include multiple pixels (e.g., as shown in the image). FIG. 1A The three pixels shown can be configured individually (or independently) to modulate the local amplitude or local phase of the input beam 102. In some examples, one or more of these pixels (e.g., each) may include pixel electrodes 115a, 115b, or 115c, solid crystal portions or segments 107a, 107b, or 107c, and associated portions of the first electrode layer 105, the first coating layer 103, the second coating layer 113, the first polarizer 101, and the second polarizer 111. The pixel size can be configured to be less than 100 μm, less than 10 μm, or less than 1 μm.

[0060] In some examples, the organic solid crystal 107 can be a patterned layer rather than a continuous layer. FIG. 1B An xz cross-sectional view of an organic solid crystal-based SLM 150 according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown. FIG. 1BThe SLM 150 based on organic solid crystals shown may include, with FIG. 1A The structures or elements included in the SLM 100 based on organic solid crystals shown are the same as or similar to those included in the SLM 100. (The text abruptly ends here, likely due to an incomplete sentence or missing information.) FIG. 1B The descriptions of the same or similar structures or elements in the examples shown can be referenced from the above descriptions, including combinations. FIG. 1A The examples shown present those descriptions. For example... FIG. 1B As shown, the SLM 150 based on organic solid-state crystals may include a patterned organic solid-state crystal 157. The patterned organic solid-state crystal 157 may include multiple solid-state crystal segments 157a-157c, each corresponding to a plurality of pixels 127a-127c. The solid-state crystal segments 157a-157c of the organic solid-state crystal 157 may be separated from each other by an insulator 116.

[0061] Return to reference FIG. 1A The organic solid crystal 107 can be in direct contact with both the first electrode layer (e.g., a common electrode layer) 105 and the second electrode layer (e.g., a pixel electrode layer) 115. When a voltage is applied between the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115, a voltage can be generated within the organic solid crystal 107 along the thickness direction of the organic solid crystal 107 (e.g., ...). FIG. 1A An electric field (in the z-axis direction) is generated within the organic solid crystal 107, and current can flow through it. The refractive index of the organic solid crystal 107 can vary with the intensity of the electric field generated within it. The birefringence of the organic solid crystal 107 can also vary with the intensity of the electric field generated within it. After the input beam 102 passes through the organic solid crystal 107, the change in the birefringence of the organic solid crystal 107 may cause a change in the polarization state of the input beam 102. Therefore, the polarization state of the input beam 102 leaving (or propagating through) the organic solid crystal 107 can vary with the intensity of the electric field generated within it. The absorption characteristics of the organic solid crystal 107 for the input beam (e.g., a visible beam) 102 can vary with the intensity of the electric field generated within it.

[0062] In some examples, both the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115 may comprise suitable conductive materials other than semiconductors, and the organic solid-state crystal 107 coupled to the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115 may be used as a resistive device. In some examples, one of the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115 may comprise suitable conductive materials other than semiconductors, and the other of the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115 may comprise suitable n-type semiconductors or p-type semiconductors. The organic solid-state crystal 107 coupled to the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115 may be used as a Schottky pn junction device (or a Schottky diode).

[0063] During operation of the SLM 100, a uniform voltage (e.g., grounded) can be applied to the first electrode layer 105, and the voltages applied to each pixel electrode 115a-115c can be configured individually (or independently). Therefore, the local electric field strength within the organic solid-state crystal 107 (or the electric field strength within the virtually divided organic solid-state crystal segments 107a-107c) can be configured individually to modulate the local refractive index, local birefringence, and / or local absorption characteristics of the organic solid-state crystal 107. For example, by configuring the local electric field strength within the organic solid-state crystal 107, the local refractive index of the organic solid-state crystal 107 can be configured individually to modulate the local amplitude and / or local phase of the input beam 102. In some examples, by configuring the local electric field strength within the organic solid-state crystal 107, the local birefringence of the organic solid-state crystal 107 can be configured individually to modulate the local amplitude and / or local phase of the input beam 102. In some examples, by configuring the local electric field intensity within the organic solid-state crystal 107, the local absorption characteristics of the organic solid-state crystal 107 for the input beam 102 (e.g., a visible beam) can be individually configured to modulate the local amplitude of the input beam 102.

[0064] In some examples, individual pixel electrodes or pixels can be addressed using their individual conductive vias 125; for example, an N×N pixel array might require N 2 The number of conductive vias 125. In some examples, individual pixel electrodes or pixels can be addressed using a row / column addressing scheme to reduce the number of conductive vias 125. For example, the number of conductive vias 125 for an N×N pixel array can be reduced to 2×N.

[0065] SLM 100 can be manufactured by monolithic growth. For example, backplane 120 can be manufactured by suitable manufacturing techniques. Organic solid crystal 107 can be manufactured (e.g., grown) on backplane 120, and first electrode layer 105, first coating 103 and first polarizer 101 can be continuously manufactured on organic solid crystal 107.

[0066] FIGS. 2A-2D The xz cross-sectional view of an organic solid crystal-based SLM according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown. FIGS. 2A-2D The SLM based on organic solid crystals shown can include and FIG. 1A The SLM 100 or based on organic solid crystals shown is... FIG. 1B The structures or elements included in the SLM 150 based on organic solid crystals shown are the same as or similar to those included in the SLM 150. FIGS. 2A-2D The descriptions of the same or similar structures or elements in the examples shown can be referenced from the above descriptions, including combinations. FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B The examples shown present those descriptions.

[0067] like FIG. 2A As shown, the SLM 200 based on organic solid-state crystals may include a first polarizer 101, a first coating 103, a backplate 220, and a patterned organic solid-state crystal 157 disposed between the first coating 103 and the backplate 220. The first coating 103 may be disposed between the first polarizer 101 and the patterned organic solid-state crystal 157. The backplate 220 may include a base substrate 121, a circuit 123, a conductive via 125, a second coating 113, and a second polarizer 111. The second coating 113 may be disposed between the base substrate 121 and the patterned organic solid-state crystal 157. The base substrate 121 may be disposed between the second polarizer 111 and the second coating 113. The patterned organic solid-state crystal 157 may be disposed between the first coating 103 and the second coating 113. The patterned organic solid-state crystal 157 may include multiple organic solid-state crystal segments 157a and 157b.

[0068] The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 200 may include an array of organic field-effect transistors (“OFETs”) 225 disposed between a first coating 103 and a second coating 113. One or more (e.g., each) of the OFETs 225 may include an organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b, a source electrode (S) 201, a drain electrode (D) 203, a gate electrode (G) 205, and an insulator 116 disposed between the gate electrode 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. The insulator 116 disposed between the gate electrode (G) 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b may also be referred to as gate insulator 116. The organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b may be disposed between the source electrode (S) 201 and the drain electrode (D) 203. The source electrode (S) 201, the drain electrode (D) 203, and the gate electrode (G) 205 may be coupled to the organic solid-state crystal segments 157a and 157b. Adjacent OFETs 225 can be separated from each other by insulator 116.

[0069] In some examples, one or more (e.g., each) of the OFETs 225 may also include a charge transport layer (not shown) disposed between the source electrode (S) 201 and the organic solid crystal segment 157a or 157b, and / or a charge transport layer (not shown) disposed between the drain electrode (D) 203 and the organic solid crystal segment 157a or 157b. In some examples, the charge transport layer may include an organic compound (e.g., carbon nanotubes), an inorganic compound, or a combination thereof. In some examples, an insulator 116 may also be disposed between one or more (e.g., each) of the OFETs 225 and the first coating 103, and / or between one or more (e.g., each) of the OFETs 225 and the second coating 113.

[0070] The operation of the OFET 225 can rely on a gate-source voltage applied between the gate electrode (G) 205 and the source electrode (S) 201, and a drain-source voltage applied between the drain electrode (D) 203 and the source electrode (S) 201. When the gate-source voltage is higher than the threshold voltage of the OFET 225, charge can accumulate at the interface between the gate insulator 116 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b located between the drain electrode (D) 203 and the gate electrode (G) 205. The drain-source voltage can force the accumulated charge to flow from the source electrode (S) 201 to the drain electrode (D) 203. The charge density in the transistor channel and therefore the current flowing through the transistor channel can be modulated by the magnitude of the gate-source voltage.

[0071] In some examples, during operation of the SLM 200, the drain-source voltages of the individual OFETs 225 can be substantially the same. For example, the source electrodes (S) 201 of each OFET 225 can be applied with a uniform voltage (e.g., ground). The drain electrodes (D) 203 of each OFET 225 can be applied with a uniform voltage (e.g., non-zero voltage). The voltage applied to the gate electrodes (G) 205 of each OFET 225 can be configured individually (or independently), i.e., the gate-source voltages of each OFET 225 can be configured individually (or independently). Therefore, the refractive index, birefringence, and / or absorption characteristics of each OFET 225 can be individually configured to modulate the local amplitude and / or local phase of the input beam 102.

[0072] For ease of discussion, FIG. 2AThe z-axis direction shown is called the thickness direction, and the x-axis direction is called the lateral direction, which is perpendicular to the thickness direction. The organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b may have a first side (e.g., top side) facing the first coating 103 and an opposing second side (e.g., bottom side) facing the second coating 113. The first and second sides are along the thickness direction of the SLM 200, or along the thickness direction of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. The organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b may also have a third side (e.g., left side) and an opposing fourth side (e.g., right side) arranged along the lateral direction of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. The positions of the source electrode (S) 201, drain electrode (D) 203, and gate electrode (G) 205 relative to the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b can be configured in various ways.

[0073] like FIG. 2A As shown, organic solid-state crystal segments 157a or 157b may be disposed above the gate electrode (G) 205. For example, the gate electrode (G) 205 may be disposed on a second side (e.g., the bottom side) of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. The source electrode (S) 201 and the drain electrode (D) 203 may be disposed on a third side (left side) and a fourth side (right side) of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. In some examples, the backplate 220 may also include the gate electrode (“G”) 205 and an insulator 116 disposed between the gate electrode 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b.

[0074] In some examples, the gate electrode (“G”) 205 can be configured as a reflective electrode, and the organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 200 can be used as a reflective SLM, wherein the second polarizer 111 can be omitted. In some examples, the gate electrode (“G”) 205 can be configured as a transmittance electrode, and the organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 200 can be used as a transmittance SLM, wherein the second polarizer 111 can be included.

[0075] like FIG. 2BAs shown, the SLM 230 based on organic solid-state crystals may include an array of OFETs 240 disposed between a first coating 103 and a second coating 113. Organic solid-state crystal segments 157a or 157b may be disposed above a gate electrode (G) 205, a source electrode (S) 201, and a drain electrode (D) 203, wherein an insulator 116 is disposed between the gate electrode (G) 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. For example, the gate electrode (G) 205, the source electrode (S) 201, and the drain electrode (D) 203 may be disposed on a second side (e.g., the bottom side) of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. In some examples, the backplane 220 may also include a gate electrode (“G”) 205, a source electrode (S) 201, a drain electrode (D) 203, and an insulator 116 disposed between the gate electrode 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b.

[0076] like FIG. 2C As shown, the SLM 250 based on an organic solid-state crystal may include an array of OFETs 260 disposed between a first coating 103 and a second coating 113. An organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b may be disposed above a gate electrode (G) 205, wherein an insulator 116 is disposed between the gate electrode (G) 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. For example, the gate electrode (G) 205 may be disposed on a second side (e.g., the bottom side) of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. A source electrode (S) 201 and a drain electrode (D) 203 may be at least partially disposed within the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. For illustrative purposes, FIG. 2C The diagram shows that substantially the entire source electrode (S) 201 and substantially the entire drain electrode (D) 203 are disposed within the left and right sides of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b, respectively. In some examples, the backplate 220 may also include a gate electrode (“G”) 205, a source electrode (S) 201, a drain electrode (D) 203, and an insulator 116 disposed between the gate electrode 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b.

[0077] like FIG. 2DAs shown, the SLM 270 based on organic solid-state crystals may include an array of OFETs 280 disposed between a first coating 103 and a second coating 113. Organic solid-state crystal segments 157a or 157b may be disposed above a gate electrode (G) 205, wherein an insulator 116 is disposed between the gate electrode (G) 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. For example, the gate electrode (G) 205 may be disposed on a second side (e.g., the bottom side) of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. A source electrode (S) 201 and a drain electrode (D) 203 may be disposed above the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. For example, the source electrode (S) 201 and the drain electrode (D) 203 may be disposed on a first side (e.g., the top side) of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. The source electrode (S) 201 and the drain electrode (D) 203 may contact the top surface of the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. In some examples, the backplane 220 may also include a gate electrode (“G”) 205 and an insulator 116 disposed between the gate electrode 205 and the organic solid crystal segment 157a or 157b.

[0078] FIGS. 2A-2D The arrangement of the gate electrode (“G”) 205, source electrode (S) 201, and drain electrode (D) 203 relative to the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b is shown for illustrative purposes. The gate electrode (“G”) 205, source electrode (S) 201, and drain electrode (D) 203 can be configured to be positioned at other suitable locations relative to the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b. For example, the gate electrode (“G”) 205 can be positioned above the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b, with an insulator 116 disposed between the gate electrode (G) 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 157a or 157b.

[0079] FIG. 3A An xz cross-sectional view of an organic solid crystal-based SLM 300 according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown. FIG. 3B An xz cross-sectional view of an organic solid crystal-based SLM 350 according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown. FIG. 3A The SLM 300 based on organic solid crystals shown is... FIG. 3B The SLM350 based on organic solid crystals shown can include and FIG. 1A The SLM 100 or based on organic solid crystals shown is... FIG. 1B The structures or elements included in the SLM 150 based on organic solid crystals shown are the same as or similar to those included in the SLM 150. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B The descriptions of the same or similar structures or elements in the examples shown can be referenced from the above descriptions, including combinations. FIG. 1Aor FIG. 1B The examples shown present those descriptions.

[0080] like FIG. 3A As shown, the SLM 300 may include a first polarizer 101, a first coating 103, a first electrode layer 105, a first spacer layer 301, an organic solid crystal 107, and a backplate 320. The backplate 320 may include a second spacer layer 311, a second electrode layer 115, a base substrate 121, a circuit 123, a conductive via 125, the second coating 113, and the second polarizer 111. The first coating 103 may be disposed between the first polarizer 101 and the first electrode layer 105. The first electrode layer 105 may be disposed between the first coating 103 and the first spacer layer 301. The first spacer layer 301 may be disposed between the first electrode layer 105 and the organic solid crystal 107.

[0081] The second spacer layer 311 can be disposed between the second electrode layer 115 and the organic solid crystal 107. The second electrode layer 115 can be disposed between the second spacer layer 311 and the second coating layer 113. The second coating layer 113 can be disposed between the base substrate 121 and the second electrode layer 115. The base substrate 121 can be disposed between the second polarizer 111 and the second coating layer 113. The organic solid crystal 107 can be disposed between the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115.

[0082] In some examples, the first spacer layer 301 or the second spacer layer 311 may comprise a suitable dielectric material, such as an organic compound (e.g., a polymer), an inorganic compound (e.g., silicon dioxide), or a combination thereof. In some examples, the first spacer layer 301 or the second spacer layer 311 may comprise a suitable insulating material. In some examples, the first spacer layer 301 or the second spacer layer 311 may comprise a semiconductor, such as a p-type semiconductor or an n-type semiconductor. In some examples, one or both of the first spacer layer 301 and the second spacer layer 311 may comprise an alignment structure configured to at least partially align the crystal molecules of the organic solid crystal 107 with a predetermined alignment pattern (e.g., a predetermined alignment direction). For example, the orientation of the axes of crystal molecules in contact with the alignment structure may be aligned by (or together with) the alignment structure, and the orientation of the axes of the remaining crystal molecules in the volume of the organic solid crystal 107 may be aligned based on adjacent crystal molecules already aligned and / or configured by the alignment structure. In some examples, a predetermined alignment pattern of crystal molecules can cause a spatially uniform (or constant) orientation of the axes of crystal molecules within the organic solid crystal 107. Therefore, the axes of the organic solid crystal 107 can be configured to have a constant orientation within the organic solid crystal 107.

[0083] In some examples, the alignment structure may be in the form of an alignment film or layer, such as a photoalignment material (PAM) layer, a mechanically tribopolymer layer, or a polymer layer with anisotropic nanoimprints. In some examples, the alignment structure may be in the form of an alignment film or layer comprising anisotropic undulations, ferroelectric or ferromagnetic materials, or crystalline films. For example, the alignment structure may include a photosensitive material (e.g., a photoalignment material) whose molecules / functional groups can be configured to have an orientation sequence under polarized light irradiation. In some examples, the alignment structure may include a polymer whose polymer chains / functional groups can be configured to have an orientation sequence under mechanical tribulation. In some examples, the alignment structure may include an amorphous polymer configured to induce an orientation sequence of crystalline molecules via surface interactions between an organic solid crystal and the amorphous polymer. In some examples, the alignment structure may include liquid crystals, crystalline polymers, or combinations thereof. In some examples, the alignment structure may include amorphous inorganic materials, crystalline inorganic materials, or combinations thereof. In some examples, the alignment structure may include mixtures of the above materials.

[0084] like FIG. 3A As shown, the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115 can be disposed on two opposite sides of the organic solid-state crystal 107, and can be in no direct contact with the organic solid-state crystal 107. The first spacer layer 301 and the second spacer layer 311 can be in direct contact with the organic solid-state crystal 107. The organic solid-state crystal 107 coupled to the first electrode layer 105, the second electrode layer 115, the first spacer layer 301, and the second spacer layer 311 can be used as a capacitive device. When a voltage is applied between the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115, a vertical electric field can be generated within the organic solid-state crystal 107, while current can not flow through the organic solid-state crystal 107.

[0085] The refractive index of the organic solid crystal 107 can vary with the electric field strength within the organic solid crystal 107. During operation of the SLM300, a uniform voltage can be applied to the first electrode layer 105, and the voltages applied to the individual pixel electrodes 115a-115c can be configured individually (or independently). Therefore, the local refractive index, local birefringence, and / or local absorption characteristics of the organic solid crystal 107 can be individually configured to modulate the local amplitude and / or local phase of the input beam 102.

[0086] like FIG. 3BAs shown, the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115 can be disposed on the same side (e.g., the lower side) of the organic solid crystal 107, and the electrically insulating layer 380 can be disposed between the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115. In some examples, one of the first spacer layer 301 and the second spacer layer 311 can be omitted. For example, the first spacer layer 301 disposed on the upper side of the organic solid crystal 107 can be omitted. FIG. 3B As shown, the backplane 360 ​​of the SLM 350 may include a second spacer layer 311, a first electrode layer 105, an electrical insulating layer 380, a second electrode layer 115, a base substrate 121, a circuit 123, a conductive via 125, a second coating 113, and a second polarizer 111.

[0087] When a voltage is applied between the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115, a horizontal electric field can be generated within the organic solid-state crystal 107, while no current flows through the organic solid-state crystal 107. The refractive index of the organic solid-state crystal 107 can vary with the electric field strength within the organic solid-state crystal 107. During the operation of the SLM 350, a uniform voltage can be applied to the first electrode layer 105, and the voltages applied to the individual pixel electrodes 115a-115c can be configured individually (or independently). Therefore, the local refractive index, local birefringence, and / or local absorption characteristics of the organic solid-state crystal 107 can be individually configured to modulate the local amplitude and / or local phase of the input beam 102.

[0088] refer to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B The organic solid crystal 107 is shown as a continuous layer, which can be virtually divided into multiple solid crystal portions (or solid crystal segments) 107a-107c. Although not shown, FIG. 3A The SLM 300 shown and FIG. 3B The SLM 350 shown may include a patterned organic solid crystal comprising a plurality of solid crystal segments separated from each other by an insulator, such as... FIG. 1B The patterned organic solid crystal 157 shown.

[0089] FIGS. 1A-3B The illustrated SLM may include a single organic solid-state crystal (e.g., a monolayer continuous organic solid-state crystal or a monolayer patterned organic solid-state crystal) disposed along the thickness direction of the SLM. This disclosed SLM can be used as a monolayer OFET-type device, a monolayer capacitive-type device, or a monolayer resistive-type device, etc. In some examples, to increase the modulation range, for example to provide 2... Phase modulation range or used for amplitude modulation A phase modulation range of / 2 allows for the stacking of multiple organic solid-state crystals (OSCs) along the thickness direction of the SLM. In some examples, the stacking of multiple OSCs can be configured to be polarization-dependent. The SLM can be used as a multilayer OFET device, a multilayer capacitive device, a multilayer resistive device, or a multilayer Schottky pn junction device, etc. The total phase delay provided by the SLM can be the sum of the phase delays provided by multiple OSC layers.

[0090] FIG. 4A The diagram shows an xz cross-sectional view of an organic solid crystal-based SLM 400 according to one or more examples of this disclosure. The SLM 400 may include... FIG. 1A The SLM 100 shown FIG. 1B The SLM 150 shown FIG. 2A The SLM200 shown FIG. 2B The SLM 230 shown FIG. 2C The SLM 250 shown FIG. 2D The SLM 270 shown FIG. 3A The SLM 300 or shown FIG. 3B The SLM 350 shown includes structures or elements that are the same as or similar to those included in the SLM 350. FIG. 4A The descriptions of the same or similar structures or elements in the examples shown can be referenced from the above descriptions, including combinations. FIG. 1A , FIG. 1B , FIG. 2A , FIG. 2B , FIG. 2C , FIG. 2D , FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B The examples shown present those descriptions.

[0091] like FIG. 4A As shown, the SLM 400 may include a first polarizer 101, a first coating 103, a backplate 420, and a plurality (e.g., three) of patterned organic solid-state crystals 157 stacked between the first coating 103 and the backplate 420 along the thickness direction (e.g., the z-axis direction). The backplate 420 may include a base substrate 121, circuitry 123, conductive vias 125, a second coating 113, and a second polarizer 111. One or more (e.g., each) of these patterned organic solid-state crystals 157 may include a plurality of organic solid-state crystal segments 158 arranged in an array (e.g., a 1D or 2D array) in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the SLM 400. For illustrative purposes, FIG. 4BEach patterned organic solid-state crystal 157 is shown to include two organic solid-state crystal segments 158 arranged side by side in the lateral direction (e.g., the x-axis direction). One or more (e.g., each) of these organic solid-state crystal segments 158 may be coupled to a source electrode (S) 201, a drain electrode (D) 203, and a gate electrode (G) 205, wherein a gate insulator 116 is disposed between the gate electrode (G) 205 and the organic solid-state crystal segment 158.

[0092] The SLM 400 may include an array of pixels 405, and one or more (e.g., each) pixels in this array may include multilayer OFET-type devices. For example, in FIG. 4A In this context, the multilayer OFET type device included in each pixel 405 may include a plurality (e.g., three) organic solid-state transistor segments 158 stacked in the thickness direction of the SLM 400 and separated from each other by an insulator 116, a plurality (e.g., three) source electrodes (S) 201 and drain electrodes (D) 203 respectively coupled to the organic solid-state transistor segments 158, and a plurality (e.g., two) gate electrodes (G) 205 shared by the plurality of organic solid-state transistor segments.

[0093] In some examples, multiple (e.g., three) organic solid-state segments 158 included in the same pixel 405 (or the same multilayer OFET type device) can be coupled to separate source electrodes (S) 201 and separate drain electrodes (D) 203, and can share multiple (e.g., two) gate electrodes (G) 205. For example, FIG. 4A It is shown that two adjacent organic solid-state transistor segments 158 included in the same pixel 405 (or the same multilayer OFET type device) can be coupled to separate source electrodes (S) 201 and separate drain electrodes (D) 203, and can share the same gate electrode (G) 205. In some examples, although not shown, the corresponding organic solid-state transistor segments 158 included in the same pixel 405 (or the same multilayer OFET type device) can be coupled to separate gate electrodes (G) 205.

[0094] FIG. 4A The relative positions of the source electrode (S) 201, drain electrode (D) 203, and gate electrode (G) 205 with respect to the organic solid crystal segment 158 ​​are shown for illustrative purposes. The source electrode (S) 201, drain electrode (D) 203, and gate electrode (G) 205 can have suitable positions relative to the organic solid crystal segment 158, for example... FIGS. 2A-2D The location shown.

[0095] like FIG. 4AAs shown, in the same pixel 405 (or the same multilayer OFET type device), the source electrode (S) 201 can be electrically connected to the same conductive via (referred to as the source bus) 125-1, the drain electrode (D) 203 can be electrically connected to the same conductive via (referred to as the drain bus) 125-3, and the gate electrode (G) 205 can be electrically connected to the same conductive via (referred to as the gate bus). Therefore, the organic solid-state transistor segments 158 included in the same pixel 405 can be subjected to the same gate-source voltage and the same drain-source voltage. Therefore, the organic solid-state transistor segments 158 included in the same pixel 405 can provide the same phase delay to the input beam 102 propagating through it. The total phase delay provided by the pixel 405 can be the sum of the phase delays provided by the individual organic solid-state transistor segments 158 included in the pixel 405.

[0096] In some examples, although not shown, the organic solid-state crystal segments 158 included in the same pixel 405 can be configured to provide different phase delays to the input beam 102 propagating through them. For example, the gate electrodes (G) 205 of at least each organic solid-state crystal segment 158 ​​included in the same pixel 405 can be electrically connected to separate gate buses. Therefore, the gate-source voltages applied to the organic solid-state crystal segments 158 included in the same pixel 405 can be configured individually.

[0097] In some examples, during operation of the SLM 400, the drain-source voltages applied to the multilayer OFET devices in each pixel 405 can be substantially the same, while the gate-source voltages applied to the multilayer OFET devices in each pixel 405 can be configured individually (or independently). Therefore, the refractive index, birefringence, and / or absorption characteristics provided by each pixel 405 can be individually configured to modulate the local amplitude and / or local phase of the input beam 102. In some examples, the response time of the SLM 400 can be comparable to that of disclosed SLMs comprising monolayer organic solid crystals (e.g., FIGS. 2A-2D The SLM shown is essentially the same, but the overall phase delay provided by the SLM 400 can be significantly improved.

[0098] FIG. 4B The diagram shows an xz cross-sectional view of an organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 450 according to one or more examples of this disclosure. The SLM 450 may include... FIG. 1A The SLM 100 shown FIG. 1B The SLM 150 shown FIG. 2A The SLM200 shown FIG. 2B The SLM 230 shown FIG. 2C The SLM 250 shown FIG. 2D The SLM 270 shownFIG. 3A The SLM 300 shown FIG. 3B The SLM 350 or shown FIG. 4A The SLM 400 shown includes structures or elements that are the same as or similar to those included in the SLM 400. FIG. 4B The descriptions of the same or similar structures or elements in the examples shown can be referenced from the above descriptions, including combinations. FIG. 5 , FIG. 1A , FIG. 1B , FIG. 2A , FIG. 2B , FIG. 2C , FIG. 2D , FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B The examples shown present those descriptions.

[0099] like FIG. 4A As shown, the SLM 450 may include a first polarizer 101, a first coating 103, a backplate 420, and a plurality (e.g., five) of patterned organic solid-state crystals 157 disposed in a stacked configuration between the first coating 103 and the backplate 420 along the thickness direction (e.g., the z-axis direction). One or more (e.g., each) of these patterned organic solid-state crystals 157 may include an array (e.g., a 1D or 2D array) of organic solid-state crystal segments 158 arranged in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the SLM 450. For example, FIG. 4B Each patterned organic solid-state crystal 157 is shown to include a plurality (e.g., two) organic solid-state crystal segments 158 arranged side-by-side in the lateral direction (e.g., the x-axis direction). The SLM 450 may also include a plurality (e.g., three) patterned common electrode layers 485 and a plurality (e.g., three) patterned pixel electrode layers 480 stacked in the thickness direction of the SLM 450 for driving the patterned organic solid-state crystal 157. For example, each patterned common electrode layer 485 may include a plurality (e.g., two) common electrodes 486, and each patterned pixel electrode layer 480 may include a plurality (e.g., two) pixel electrodes 481. The patterned common electrode layer 485 and the patterned pixel electrode layer 480 may include, respectively, similar to... FIG. 5 and FIG. 1A The materials of the first electrode layer 105 and the second electrode layer 115 are shown. In some examples, each organic solid crystal segment 158 ​​may be coupled to a common electrode 486 and a pixel electrode 481.

[0100] The SLM 450 may include a pixel array of 455 pixels, and one or more (e.g., each) pixels in this array may include multilayer resistive devices or multilayer Schottky pn junction devices. For example, in FIG. 1BIn this design, the multilayer resistive device or multilayer Schottky pn junction device included in each pixel 455 may include a plurality (e.g., five) organic solid-state crystal segments 158, a plurality (e.g., three) common electrodes 486, and a plurality (e.g., three) pixel electrodes 481 arranged alternately in the thickness direction of the SLM 450. In some examples, the plurality (e.g., five) organic solid-state crystal segments 158 included in the same pixel 455 may be coupled to individual pixel electrodes 481 while sharing a plurality (e.g., three) common electrodes 486. For example, FIG. 2A It is shown that two adjacent organic solid-state crystal segments 158 included in the same pixel 455 can be coupled to a separate pixel electrode 481 and a common electrode 486. In some examples, although not shown, multiple organic solid-state crystal segments 158 included in the same pixel 405 can be coupled to a separate common electrode 486.

[0101] like FIG. 2B As shown, in the same pixel 455, multiple (e.g., three) common electrodes 486 can be electrically connected to the same conductive via (referred to as common bus) 125-4, and multiple (e.g., three) pixel electrodes 481 can be electrically connected to the same conductive via (referred to as pixel bus) 125-2. Therefore, the organic solid-state crystal segments 158 included in the same pixel 455 can be applied with the same common voltage and the same pixel voltage. Therefore, the organic solid-state crystal segments 158 included in the same pixel 455 can be controlled to provide the same phase delay to the input beam 102 propagating through them. The total phase delay provided by pixel 455 can be the sum of the phase delays provided by the individual organic solid-state crystal segments 158.

[0102] Although not shown, the organic solid-state crystal segment 158 ​​included in the same pixel 455 can be controlled to provide different phase delays to the input light beam 102 propagating through it. For example, the pixel electrode 481 coupled to the organic solid-state crystal segment 158 ​​in the same pixel 455 can be electrically connected to a separate pixel bus. Therefore, the pixel voltage applied to the organic solid-state crystal segment 158 ​​included in the same pixel 455 can be configured individually.

[0103] In some examples, during operation of the SLM 450, the common voltage applied to each pixel 455 can be substantially the same, while the pixel voltage applied to each pixel 455 can be configured individually (or independently). Therefore, the refractive index, birefringence, and / or absorption characteristics provided by each pixel 455 can be individually configured to modulate the local amplitude and / or local phase of the input beam 102. In some examples, the response time of the SLM 450 can be compared with that of the disclosed SLMs comprising monolayer organic solid crystals (e.g., FIG. 2C and FIG. 2DThe total phase delay provided by the SLM 450 is essentially the same as that shown in the SLM diagram, but it can be significantly improved.

[0104] FIG. 3A The diagram shows an xz cross-sectional view of an organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 500 according to one or more examples of this disclosure. The SLM 500 may include... FIG. 3B The SLM 100 shown FIG. 4A The SLM 150 shown FIG. 4B The SLM 200 shown FIG. 5 The SLM 230 shown FIG. 1A The SLM 250 shown FIG. 5 The SLM 270 shown FIGS. 7-9 The SLM 300 shown FIGS. 7-9 The SLM 350 shown FIG. 7 The SLM 400 shown, or FIG. 7 The structures and components included in the SLM 450 shown are the same as or similar to those in the SLM 450. (The last part, "to include," appears to be incomplete and unrelated to the preceding text. It has been left as is.) FIG. 1A The descriptions of the same or similar structures or elements in the examples shown can be referenced from the above descriptions, including combinations. FIG. 1B , FIG. 2A , FIG. 2B , FIG. 2C , FIG. 2D , FIG. 3A , FIG. 3B , FIG. 4A , FIG. 4B or FIG. 5 The examples shown present those descriptions.

[0105] The SLM 500 can be a complex field (or complex wavefront) modulator configured to provide spatial variation modulation of multiple DOFs of an input beam 102. For illustrative purposes, the SLM 500 is shown as providing spatial variation modulation of the amplitude and phase of the input beam 102. The disclosed design principles can be applied to any suitable solid-state crystal-based complex wavefront modulator that provides spatial variation modulation of multiple DOFs of the input beam 102. The DOFs of the input beam 102 may include amplitude, phase, polarization, etc., or combinations thereof.

[0106] like FIG. 7 As shown, the SLM 500 may include a first element 505 and a second element 510 arranged in a stacked configuration. The first element 505 and the second element 510 may be configured to modulate two different degrees of free motion (DOF) of the input beam 102, for example, modulating the amplitude and phase of the input beam 102 respectively. One or both of the first element 505 and the second element 510 may be examples of the SLMs disclosed herein, such as... FIG. 8The SLM 100 shown FIG. 8 The SLM 150 shown FIG. 1A The SLM 200 shown FIG. 1B The SLM 230 shown FIG. 2A The SLM 250 shown FIG. 2B The SLM 270 shown FIG. 2C The SLM 300 shown FIG. 2D The SLM 350 shown FIG. 3A The SLM 400 or shown FIG. 3B The SLM 450 shown.

[0107] For illustrative purposes, FIG. 4A The first unit 505 and the second unit 510 are shown to have the same characteristics as... FIG. 4B The structure is similar to that of the SLM 100 shown. For example, the first unit 505 may include a first polarizer 101, a first coating 103-1, a first electrode layer (e.g., a common electrode layer) 105-1, an organic solid crystal 107-1, and a backplate 520-1. The backplate 520-1 may include a base substrate 121-1, a circuit 123, a conductive via 125, a second electrode layer (e.g., a pixel electrode layer) 115-1, a second coating 113-1, and a second polarizer 111. The second unit 510 may include a first electrode layer (e.g., a common electrode layer) 105-2, an organic solid crystal 107-2, and a backplate 520-2. The backplate 520-2 may include a base substrate 121-2, a circuit 123, a conductive via 125, a second coating 113-2, and a second electrode layer (e.g., a pixel electrode layer) 115-2. For illustrative purposes, FIG. 5 The diagram shows that the first unit 505 provides spatial variation modulation of the amplitude of the input beam 102, and the second unit 510 provides spatial variation modulation of the phase of the input beam 102.

[0108] The SLM 500 can be manufactured using monolithic growth. For example, backplanes 520-1 and 520-2 can be manufactured using suitable fabrication techniques. An organic solid-state crystal 107-1 can be fabricated (e.g., grown) on the backplane 520-1, for example, on the second electrode layer 115-1 within the backplane 520-1. The first electrode layer 105-1, the first coating layer 103-1, the first polarizer 101, and the first electrode layer 105-2 can be sequentially fabricated on the organic solid-state crystal 107-1. Then, the organic solid-state crystal 107-2 can be fabricated (e.g., grown) on the first electrode layer 105-2, and the backplane 520-2 can be disposed at the organic solid-state crystal 107-2 and aligned with the backplane 520-1.

[0109] FIG. 8Various optical system configurations according to various examples of this disclosure are illustrated, including one or more organic solid-state crystal-based SLMs disclosed herein. Such optical systems can be implemented in a variety of devices or systems (e.g., head-up displays (HUDs), head-mounted displays (HMDs), near-eye displays (NEDs), smartphones, laptops, televisions, vehicles, etc.) for virtual reality (VR) applications, augmented reality (AR) applications, and / or mixed reality (MR) applications. For example, the SLM disclosed herein can be configured to modulate a beam of light emitted from a light source into a beam representing a virtual image (e.g., a hologram). To modulate a beam of light emitted from a light source into a beam representing a panchromatic virtual image, a single SLM disclosed herein may include multiple pixels configured to modulate beams of light in different wavelength ranges, such as red pixels for modulating red light, green pixels for modulating green light, and blue pixels for modulating blue light. In some examples, multiple SLMs configured to modulate light beams of different wavelength ranges can be stacked, such as a first SLM including red pixels for modulating red light, a second SLM including green pixels for modulating green light, and a third SLM including blue pixels for modulating blue light. Pixels included in the SLMs disclosed herein can be configured to have different switching speeds for different wavelength ranges (e.g., red, green, and blue wavelength ranges) to enable field-sequential display applications. In some examples, the SLMs disclosed herein can be configured to provide a 2×π phase modulation range (or phase shift) for the input beam and a refresh rate greater than 6 kHz to enable light field display applications.

[0110] FIG. 8 The optical system shown is for illustrative purposes, and the organic solid crystal-based SLM disclosed herein can generally be included in any suitable optical system. FIG. 8 A schematic diagram of an optical system 700 according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown. For example, the optical system 700 may be included in a virtual reality NED. FIG. 9 As shown, the optical system 700 may include a light source 710 and one or more organic solid-state crystal-based SLMs 720. For illustrative purposes, the optical system 700 is shown as including a single SLM 720. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 720 may be any organic solid-state crystal-based SLM disclosed herein (e.g., FIG. 9 The SLM 100 shown FIG. 1A The SLM 150 shownFIG. 1B The SLM 200 shown FIG. 2A The SLM 230 shown FIG. 2B The SLM 250 shown FIG. 2C The SLM 270 shown FIG. 2D The SLM 300 shown FIG. 3A The SLM 350 shown FIG. 3B The SLM 400 shown FIG. 4A The SLM 450 or shown FIG. 4B The example shown is an SLM 500.

[0111] Light source 710 can be configured to project beam 702 onto an organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 720. Light source 710 can include a coherent light source, such as a light-emitting diode (LED), a micro light-emitting diode (microLED), a superluminescent LED, or a combination thereof. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 720 can be a reflective SLM. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 720 can be configured to modulate the beam 702 emitted by light source 710 into beam 704. Beam 704 can represent a virtual image, such as a hologram. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 720 can be used for other suitable applications, such as video or image projection.

[0112] In some examples, the optical system 700 may also include FIG. 5 Additional components not shown. For example, the optical system 700 may include a lens assembly configured to focus a beam 704 modulated by an organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 720 onto one or more exit pupils 757 in an eye-box region 760. The exit pupil 757 may be the pupil 755 of the eye 750, which may be located within the eye-box region 760 of the system 700. Thus, the eye 750 located at the exit pupil 757 can perceive the hologram generated by the organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 720. In some examples, the optical system 700 may also include an eye-tracking module configured to provide eye position information to a controller, and a pupil-directing assembly configured to direct the exit pupil 757 to different positions based on factors such as the eye's gaze angle.

[0113] FIG. 9 A schematic diagram of an optical system 800 according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown, the optical system including the disclosed organic solid-state crystal-based SLM. For example, the optical system 800 may be included in a virtual reality NED. FIG. 10AAs shown, the optical system 800 may include a light source 710 and one or more organic solid-state crystal-based SLMs 820. For illustrative purposes, the optical system 800 is shown as including a single SLM 820. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 820 may be any organic solid-state crystal-based SLM disclosed herein (e.g., FIG. 10A The SLM 100 shown FIG. 10A The SLM 150 shown FIG. 10B The SLM 200 shown FIG. 10A The SLM 230 shown FIG. 10B The SLM 250 shown FIG. 1A The SLM 270 shown FIG. 1B The SLM300 shown FIG. 2A The SLM 350 shown FIG. 2B The SLM 400 shown FIG. 2C The SLM 450 or shown FIG. 2D The example shown is an SLM 500.

[0114] like FIG. 3A As shown, the light source 710 can be configured to project a beam 802 onto an SLM 820 based on an organic solid-state crystal. FIG. 3B In the configuration shown, the organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 820 can be a transmission SLM. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 820 can be configured to modulate the beam 802 emitted by the light source 710 into a beam 804. Beam 804 can represent a virtual image, such as a hologram. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 820 can be used for other suitable applications, such as video or image projection.

[0115] In some examples, the optical system 800 may also include FIG. 4A Additional components not shown. For example, the optical system 800 may include a lens assembly configured to focus a beam 804 modulated by an organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 820 onto one or more exit pupils 757 in the eye frame region 760. Thus, the eye 750 located at the exit pupil 757 can perceive the hologram generated by the organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 820. In some examples, the optical system 800 may also include an eye-tracking device configured to provide eye position information to a controller, and a pupil-directing assembly configured to direct the exit pupil 757 to different positions based on the eye's gaze angle, etc.

[0116] FIG. 4BA schematic diagram of an optical system 900 according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown, the optical system including the disclosed organic solid-state crystal-based SLM. For example, the optical system 900 may be included in an augmented reality NED or a mixed reality NED. FIG. 5 As shown, the optical system 900 may include a light source 710 and one or more organic solid-state crystal-based SLMs 920. For illustrative purposes, the optical system 900 is shown as including a single SLM 920. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 920 may be any organic solid-state crystal-based SLM disclosed herein (e.g., FIG. 10B The SLM 100 shown FIG. 10A The SLM150 shown FIGS. 7-9 The SLM 200 shown FIG. 10B The SLM 230 shown ​ The SLM 250 shown ​ The SLM 270 shown ​ The SLM 300 shown ​ The SLM 350 shown ​ The SLM 400 shown ​ The SLM 450 or shown ​ The example shown is an SLM 500.

[0117] like ​ As shown, the light source 710 can be configured to project a light beam 902 onto an organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 920. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 920 can be a transmissive-reflective SLM. For example, the organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 920 can modulate the light beam 902 and partially reflect it into a light beam 904 that propagates towards the eye-fitting frame region 760. The light beam 904 can represent a virtual image, such as a hologram. Furthermore, the organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 920 can transmit light 906 from the real-world environment (referred to as real-world light 906) towards the eye-fitting frame region 760. The organic solid-state crystal-based SLM 920 may not modulate real-world light 906. Therefore, the eye 750 can perceive both the virtual and real-world scenes combined in the optical system.

[0118] ​A schematic diagram of an artificial reality device 1000 according to one or more examples of this disclosure is shown. The artificial reality device 1000 can generate VR, AR, and / or MR content for a user, such as images, videos, audio, or combinations thereof. In some examples, the artificial reality device 1000 can be smart glasses. In one example, the artificial reality device 1000 can be a near-eye display (“NED”). In some examples, the artificial reality device 1000 can take the form of glasses, goggles, a helmet, a mask, or some other type of eye-wearing device. In some examples, the artificial reality device 1000 can (e.g., by means of having spectacles or eye glasses, such as…) ​ The AI ​​reality device 1000 (as shown) is configured to be worn on a user's head or included as part of a helmet worn by the user. In some examples, the AI ​​reality device 1000 may be configured to be placed in a fixed position near or in front of one or both eyes of the user, rather than being mounted on the user's head. In some examples, the AI ​​reality device 1000 may be in the form of glasses that provide vision correction for the user's eyes. In some examples, the AI ​​reality device 1000 may be in the form of sunglasses that protect the user's eyes from bright sunlight. In some examples, the AI ​​reality device 1000 may be in the form of safety glasses that protect the user's eyes. In some examples, the AI ​​reality device 1000 may be in the form of night vision devices or infrared goggles that enhance the user's vision at night.

[0119] For the purpose of discussion, ​ An artificial reality device 1000 is shown, which includes a frame 1005 configured to be mounted on a user's head, and a left-eye display system 1010L and a right-eye display system 1010R mounted on the frame 1005. ​ Based on one or more examples of this disclosure ​ The image shows a half-cross-sectional view of the artificial reality device 1000. For illustrative purposes, ​ A cross-sectional view associated with the left-eye display system 1010L is shown. The frame 1005 is merely an example structure of various components for mounting the artificial reality device 1000. Other suitable types of mounting devices can be used in place of or in conjunction with the frame 1005.

[0120] In some examples, one or both of the left-eye display system 1010L and the right-eye display system 1010R may include suitable image display components configured to generate virtual images. In some examples, one or more (e.g., each) of the left-eye display system 1010L and the right-eye display system 1010R may include a light source 1035 and one or more SLMs 1070. The SLM 1070 may be any organic solid-state crystal-based SLM disclosed herein, such as... ​ The SLM 100 shown ​ The SLM 150 shown ​ The SLM 200 shown ​ The SLM 230 shown ​ The SLM 250 shown ​ The SLM270 shown ​ The SLM 300 shown ​ The SLM 350 shown ​ The SLM 400 shown ​ The SLM 450 or shown ​ The SLM 500 is shown. For illustrative purposes, ​ The left-eye display system 1010L is shown to include a single SLM 1070.

[0121] For illustrative purposes, ​ The left-eye display system 1010L is shown to include a light source 1035 coupled to a frame 1005 (e.g., similar to...). ​ (Light source 710 shown). Light source 1035 can project a light beam onto SLM 1070. SLM 1070 can modulate the light beam emitted by light source 1035 into an image beam representing a virtual image (e.g., a hologram).

[0122] In some examples, such as ​As shown, the artificial reality device 1000 may further include an observation optics system 1080 and an object tracking system 1090 (e.g., an eye-tracking system and / or a face-tracking system). The observation optics system 1080 may be configured to guide image light output from the SLM 1070 to an exit pupil 757. The exit pupil 757 may be the pupil 755 of the user's eye 750, which may be located within the eye-fitting frame region 760 of the artificial reality device 1000. In some examples, the eye-fitting frame region 760 may be a full eye-fitting frame region. In some examples, the eye-fitting frame region 760 may be a movable eye-fitting frame. For example, the observation optics system 1080 may include one or more optical elements configured to, for example, correct aberrations in the image light output from the left-eye display system 1010L, focus the image light output from the left-eye display system 1010L, and / or manipulate the focus of the image light output from the left-eye display system 1010L, etc.

[0123] The object tracking system 1090 may include an IR light source 1091 configured to illuminate an eye 750 and / or a face, a deflection element 1092 (e.g., a grating), and an optical sensor 1093 (e.g., a camera). The deflection element 1092 may deflect (e.g., diffract) the IR light reflected by the eye 750 toward the optical sensor 1093. The optical sensor 1093 may generate a tracking signal associated with the eye 750. The tracking signal may be an image of the eye 750. A controller (not shown) may control various optical elements, such as active coupling elements, active coupling elements, active dimming elements, etc., based on eye-tracking information obtained from image analysis of the eye 750.

[0124] In some examples, the artificial reality device 1000 may include an adaptive dimming device or an active dimming device (not shown) configured to dynamically adjust the transmittance of light reflected from real-world objects, thereby allowing the artificial reality device 1000 to switch between a VR device and an AR device or between a VR device and a MR device. In some examples, as switching between AR and VR devices / MR devices, adaptive dimming elements may be used in AR and / or MR devices to mitigate the brightness difference between light reflected from real-world objects and virtual image light.

[0125] This disclosure provides an apparatus. The apparatus may include an organic solid crystal and pixel electrode layers and a common electrode layer coupled to the organic solid crystal. The pixel electrode layer may include a pixel electrode array. The apparatus may further include a controller configured to individually configure voltages applied to the pixel electrodes to individually configure the local refractive index of the organic solid crystal.

[0126] In some examples, the device may further include a pixel array configured to provide spatial variation modulation of one or more degrees of freedom of the input beam. Pixels in the pixel array may include corresponding portions of the organic solid-state crystal, corresponding portions of the pixel electrode layer, and corresponding portions of the common electrode layer. In some examples, the common electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer may be in direct contact with the organic solid-state crystal.

[0127] In some examples, the device may further include at least one of a first spacer layer disposed between the common electrode layer and the organic solid crystal, or a second spacer layer disposed between the pixel electrode layer and the organic solid crystal. In some examples, the common electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer may be disposed on the same side of the organic solid crystal, and the device may further include an electrically insulating layer disposed between the common electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer.

[0128] In some examples, the organic solid crystal may be a continuous organic solid crystal. In some examples, the organic solid crystal may be a patterned organic solid crystal, which includes an array of solid crystal segments corresponding to the pixel electrode array. In some examples, the organic solid crystal may be a first patterned organic solid crystal including a first array of solid crystal segments, and the pixel electrode layer may be a first pixel electrode layer including a first pixel electrode array. The device may further include: a second patterned organic solid crystal, which includes a second array of solid crystal segments and is stacked with the first patterned organic solid crystal in the thickness direction of the device; and a second pixel electrode layer coupled to the second patterned organic solid crystal and including a second pixel electrode array.

[0129] In some examples, the device may further include multiple pixels. Each pixel may include a first solid-state crystal segment and a second solid-state crystal segment arranged along the thickness direction of the device, a first pixel electrode coupled to the first solid-state crystal segment, and a second pixel electrode coupled to the second solid-state crystal segment. In some examples, the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode included in the pixel may be electrically connected to the same pixel bus. In some examples, the first solid-state crystal segment and the second solid-state crystal segment included in the pixel may share a common electrode layer.

[0130] In some examples, this disclosure provides an apparatus. The apparatus may include one or more patterned organic solid-state crystals arranged along the thickness direction of the apparatus. The patterned organic solid-state crystals may include an array of solid crystal segments arranged in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the apparatus. The solid crystal segments in the array may be coupled to a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode, and an insulator disposed between the gate electrode and the solid crystal segments. The apparatus may further include a controller configured to individually configure the voltage applied to the solid crystal segments to individually configure the refractive index of the solid crystal segments.

[0131] In some examples, the insulator may also be disposed between adjacent solid crystal segments included in the same patterned organic solid crystal, and between adjacent patterned organic solid crystals arranged in the thickness direction of the device. In some examples, the gate electrode may be a reflective electrode or a transmissive electrode.

[0132] In some examples, the solid-state crystal segment may include a first side and an opposite second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid-state crystal segment, and a third side and an opposite fourth side arranged along the transverse direction of the solid-state crystal segment. The gate electrode may be disposed on the first or second side of the solid-state crystal segment, and the source electrode and the drain electrode may be disposed on the third and fourth sides of the solid-state crystal segment.

[0133] In some examples, the solid-state crystal segment may include a first side and an opposing second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid-state crystal segment. The gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode may be disposed on the first side or the second side of the solid-state crystal segment.

[0134] In some examples, the solid-state crystal segment may include a first side and an opposite second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid-state crystal segment, and a third side and an opposite fourth side arranged along the transverse direction of the solid-state crystal segment. The gate electrode may be disposed on the first or second side of the solid-state crystal segment, and the source electrode and the drain electrode may be disposed at least partially inside the solid-state crystal segment.

[0135] In some examples, the solid crystal segment may include a first side and an opposite second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid crystal segment, the gate electrode may be disposed on the first side of the solid crystal segment, and the source electrode and the drain electrode may be disposed on the second side of the solid crystal segment.

[0136] In some examples, solid crystal segments in the same patterned organic solid crystal can be separated from each other by an insulator, and two or more patterned organic solid crystals arranged along the thickness direction of the device can be separated from each other by an insulator.

[0137] In some examples, the device may also include a plurality of pixels configured to provide spatial variation modulation of one or more degrees of freedom of the input beam. A pixel may include a corresponding solid-state crystal segment of one or more patterned organic solid-state crystals arranged along the thickness direction of the device. Within a pixel, two adjacent solid-state crystal segments arranged along the thickness direction of the device and included in the same pixel may be coupled to a separate source electrode, a separate drain electrode, and the same gate electrode.

[0138] In some examples, the device may also include a plurality of pixels configured to provide spatial variation modulation of one or more degrees of freedom of the input beam. A pixel may include three or more solid-state crystal segments arranged along the thickness direction of the device. Within a pixel, the three or more solid-state crystal segments may be coupled to respective source electrodes electrically connected to the same source bus, to respective drain electrodes electrically connected to the same drain bus, and to a plurality of gate electrodes electrically connected to the same gate bus.

[0139] Any step, operation, or process described herein may be performed or implemented, alone or in combination with other means, using one or more hardware and / or software modules. The software module may be implemented using a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code executable by a computer processor to perform any or all of the described steps, operations, or processes. In some embodiments, the hardware module may include hardware components such as devices, systems, optical elements, controllers, electronic circuits, logic gates, etc.

[0140] Embodiments of this disclosure may also relate to devices for performing the operations described herein. Such devices may be specifically constructed for a particular purpose, and / or the apparatus may include general-purpose computing devices that can be selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in a computer. Such computer programs may be stored in non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage media that can be coupled to a computer system bus, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media may be any medium capable of storing program code, such as a disk, optical disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), registers, hard disks, solid-state drives, smart media cards (SMC), secure digital cards (SD), flash memory cards, etc. Furthermore, any computing system described in the specification may include a single processor, or may be an architecture employing multiple processors to increase computing power. A processor can be a central processing unit (“CPU”), a graphics processing unit (“GPU”), or any processing device configured to process data and / or perform computations based on data. A processor can include both software and hardware components. For example, the processor can include hardware components such as application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), programmable logic devices (“PLDs”), or combinations thereof. A PLD can be a complex programmable logic device (“CPLD”), a field-programmable gate array (“FPGA”), etc.

[0141] Furthermore, when the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings depict a single element, it should be understood that the embodiment may include multiple such elements. Similarly, when the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings depict multiple such elements, it should be understood that the embodiment may include only one such element. The number of elements shown in the accompanying drawings is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments. Moreover, unless otherwise stated, the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings are not mutually exclusive, and these embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. For example, an element shown in one embodiment but not in another may still be included in another embodiment.

[0142] Various embodiments have been described to illustrate exemplary implementations. Based on the disclosed embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various other changes, modifications, rearrangements, and substitutions without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. This disclosure may be embodied in other equivalent forms without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The scope of this disclosure is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising: Organic solid crystals; A pixel electrode layer and a common electrode layer coupled to the organic solid crystal, wherein the pixel electrode layer includes a pixel electrode array; as well as A controller configured to individually configure the voltage applied to the pixel electrode to individually configure the local refractive index of the organic solid crystal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pixel array configured to provide spatial variation modulation of one or more degrees of freedom of the input beam, wherein, The pixels in the pixel array include the corresponding portions of the organic solid crystal, the corresponding portions of the pixel electrode layer, and the corresponding portions of the common electrode layer.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The common electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer are in direct contact with the organic solid crystal.

4. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: At least one of a first spacer layer disposed between the common electrode layer and the organic solid crystal or a second spacer layer disposed between the pixel electrode layer and the organic solid crystal; and optionally wherein the common electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer are disposed on the same side of the organic solid crystal, and the device further includes an electrically insulating layer disposed between the common electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer.

5. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The organic solid crystal is a continuous organic solid crystal.

6. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The organic solid crystal is a patterned organic solid crystal, which includes an array of solid crystal segments corresponding to the pixel electrode array.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The organic solid crystal is a first patterned organic solid crystal including a first solid crystal segment array, and the pixel electrode layer is a first pixel electrode layer including a first pixel electrode array. The device further includes: A second patterned organic solid crystal, the second patterned organic solid crystal comprising a second solid crystal segment array and stacked with the first patterned organic solid crystal in the thickness direction of the device; and The second pixel electrode layer is coupled to the second patterned organic solid crystal and includes a second pixel electrode array.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: A plurality of pixels, wherein a pixel in the plurality of pixels includes a first solid-state crystal segment and a second solid-state crystal segment arranged along the thickness direction of the device, a first pixel electrode coupled to the first solid-state crystal segment, and a second pixel electrode coupled to the second solid-state crystal segment; and optionally wherein the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode included in the pixel are electrically connected to the same pixel bus; and / or wherein the first solid-state crystal segment and the second solid-state crystal segment included in the pixel share the common electrode layer.

9. An apparatus comprising: One or more patterned organic solid-state crystals are arranged in the thickness direction of the device, wherein the patterned organic solid-state crystals in the one or more patterned organic solid-state crystals comprise an array of solid crystal segments arranged in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the device, and wherein the solid crystal segments in the array of solid crystal segments are coupled to a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode, and an insulator disposed between the gate electrode and the solid crystal segment; and A controller configured to individually configure the voltage applied to the solid crystal segment in order to individually configure the refractive index of the solid crystal segment.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, The insulator is further disposed between adjacent solid crystal segments included in the same patterned organic solid crystal, and between adjacent patterned organic solid crystals arranged in the thickness direction of the device; and / or wherein the gate electrode is a reflective electrode or a transmissive electrode.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, There exists any of the following: The solid crystal segment includes a first side and an opposite second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid crystal segment, and a third side and an opposite fourth side arranged along the transverse direction of the solid crystal segment. The gate electrode is disposed on the first or second side of the solid crystal segment, and The source electrode and the drain electrode are disposed on the third and fourth sides of the solid crystal segment; or The solid crystal segment includes a first side and an opposing second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid crystal segment, and The gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode are disposed on the first or second side of the solid crystal segment.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The solid crystal segment includes a first side and an opposite second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid crystal segment, and a third side and an opposite fourth side arranged along the transverse direction of the solid crystal segment. The gate electrode is disposed on the first or second side of the solid crystal segment, and The source electrode and the drain electrode are at least partially disposed within the solid crystal segment.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The solid crystal segment includes a first side and an opposite second side arranged along the thickness direction of the solid crystal segment. The gate electrode is disposed on the first side of the solid crystal segment, and The source electrode and the drain electrode are disposed on the second side of the solid crystal segment.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 13, further comprising a plurality of pixels configured to provide spatial variation modulation of one or more degrees of freedom of the input beam. in, The pixels among the plurality of pixels include corresponding solid crystal segments of the one or more patterned organic solid crystals arranged along the thickness direction of the device, and In the pixel, two adjacent solid-state segments arranged along the thickness direction of the device are coupled to a separate source electrode, a separate drain electrode, and the same gate electrode.

15. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, further comprising a plurality of pixels configured to provide spatial variation modulation of one or more degrees of freedom of the input beam. in, The pixels among the plurality of pixels include three or more solid crystal segments arranged along the thickness direction of the device, and In the pixel, the three or more solid-state segments are coupled to each source electrode electrically connected to the same source bus, to each drain electrode electrically connected to the same drain bus, and to multiple gate electrodes electrically connected to the same gate bus.

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