Holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal sample characterization

Holographically formed polymer dispersed light crystal (HPDLC) materials have the potential to enable creation of a full motion video rate reflective display technology with excellent color, contrast, reflectance and good power efficiency. Current HPDLC display research focuses on the improvement of angular viewability and reduction of the drive voltage. Measurements of HPDLC devices have begun at AFRL to verify and expand measurements made by dpiX LLC. Specular and diffuse reflections are examined in terms of angular and spectral reflectance distributions. Presently reported measurements verify the ability of an HPDLC device to shift the reflected signal image away from the front- surface substrate specular angle (source image glare) by some 10 degree(s) and to expand the spread of the reflected signal image (full-width-half maximum) from a bout 1-2 degree(s) to 4- 10 degree(s) for a point illumination source under worst orientation conditions. Colors were stable over 20 degree(s) of viewing angle. Potential defense applications include replacing paper in cockpits and crewstations.