LIQUID CRYSTALLINE DEVICE WITH REFLECTIVE WIRE GRID POLARIZER

We studied the optical performance of reflective polarizers made of a fine grid of conducting wires. The polarizer reflects visible light polarized along the grids and transmits light polarized perpendicular to the grid with low losses. We show that the optical performance of wire-grid polarizers can be adequately described by representing the polarizer as an effective uniaxial medium with anisotropic absorption. The description facilitates the incorporation of the polarizers in modeling procedures widely used for liquid crystal device design. We present the modeling and measurement results of twisted nematic devices with wire-grid polarizers serving simultaneously as reflective polarizers, alignment layers, and back electrodes. The application of the wire-grid polarizers for reflective liquid crystal devices provides brightness enhancement, high contrast ratio at wide viewing angles, and elimination of viewing parallax.