Liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) is a display technology that combines liquid crystal materials with silicon-based semiconductor technology to create high-resolution, high-quality images. LCoS displays utilize an array of reflective micro-mirrors fabricated on a silicon substrate, which are controlled individually to modulate light and produce images.
Here is a breakdown of the key components and processes involved in LCoS technology:
Liquid crystal layer: Similar to other liquid crystal display (LCD) technologies, LCoS displays consist of a thin layer of liquid crystal material sandwiched between two transparent electrodes. The liquid crystal molecules can be electrically controlled to change their orientation, thus modulating the passage of light through the display.
Silicon substrate: Unlike traditional LCDs, where glass substrates are commonly used, LCoS displays employ a silicon wafer as the substrate. This silicon substrate is patterned with an array of thousands or millions of tiny mirrors, each corresponding to a pixel in the display.
Reflective micro-mirrors: The micro-mirrors are typically fabricated using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. These mirrors can tilt individually in response to electrical signals, allowing them to reflect light either towards or away from the projection lens.
Pixel control: Each pixel in an LCoS display is represented by a single micro-mirror. By selectively tilting the micro-mirrors, the amount of light reflected from each pixel can be precisely controlled. This enables the display to reproduce complex images with high resolution and color accuracy.
Projection optics: In LCoS-based projection systems, the modulated light from the micro-mirror array is directed through projection optics onto a screen or other viewing surface. The optics may include lenses, filters, and other components to focus and enhance the projected image.
LCoS technology offers several advantages, including high resolution, excellent image quality, wide viewing angles, and scalability to large screen sizes. It is commonly used in high-end home theater projectors, professional AV systems, AR and VR headsets, and various other display applications where superior image performance is desired.