Single‐layered retardation films with negative wavelength dispersion birefringence made from liquid‐crystalline monomers

Organic light‐emitting diode displays have a cathode composed of a layer of highly reflective metal. Reflection of external light from this layer can be suppressed with a broadband quarter‐wave plate. Although various types of quarter‐wave plate retardation films have been prepared by copolymerizing, mixing, or laminating multiple polymers, ideal wavelength dispersion has not been achieved with thin retardation films because of their relatively low birefringence and the complexity of the procedure required manufacturing them. In this study, we developed (i) new liquid‐crystalline monomers with negative wavelength dispersion birefringence that we used to obtain thin, single‐layered retardation films suitable for coating and (ii) retardation films with different molecular alignments. We found that the monomers showed high solubility and high regularity of molecular alignment, with less damage to the substrate and alignment films. We also investigated the wavelength dispersion and thermal stability of the films. We succeeded in developing retardation films that had a homeotropic alignment or a hybrid alignment with negative wavelength dispersion. These alignments can be used to obtain antireflection films with an improved viewing angle for organic light‐emitting diode displays or next‐generation thin displays.     

Retardation‐controlling color filter with two directly stacked retardation layers

Abstract— A polymerizable liquid crystal (PLC), the orientation of which can be frozen, is useful for making retardation layers. In this paper, a new color filter (CF) with retardation‐controlling layers made of PLC is reported. It has a positive A‐plate and a negative C‐plate, both directly stacked on a color‐filter layer. These two retardation layers exhibit good orientation ability, and function well as retarders, even when they are only 1/10 or less as thick as ordinary retardation films. The new CF also has excellent thermal stability. The change in retardation after heat treatment at 200°C for 30 min is around 5%, and there is no observable peeling. A prototype VA‐LCD made with our new CF provides good optical compensation, with the light leakage being extremely low in all azimuthal directions. This technology is very useful for making thin, highly reliable color filters for LCDs, even with other modes.     

Deformed nanostructure of photo‐induced biaxial cholesteric films and their application in VA‐mode LCDs

Abstract— Novel biaxial retardation films made from photo‐induced deformed cholesteric liquid‐crystal (LC) nanostructures using reactive mesogen mixtures (RMMs) for a viewing‐angle compensation of vertically aligned liquid‐crystal displays (VA‐LCDs) was developed. The deformed cholesteric LC nanostructure has been observed by X‐ray‐diffraction (XRD) measurement. The birefringence of the film was described well by our optical model based on a form birefringence theory. The VA‐LCDs with photo‐induced biaxial cholesteric films have excellent viewing‐angle properties.     

A novel quarter‐wave retardation film for improving viewing angle properties in time‐sequential stereoscopic 3D‐LCDs

We have successfully developed a quarter‐wave retardation film (QWF) for wide viewing angle 3D liquid crystal displays (3D‐LCDs) that provides high luminance, low crosstalk, low color change, and low head‐tilt‐angle dependency. It was found that the out‐of‐plane retardation (Rth) of the QWF in the LCD needs to be close to 0 nm in order to improve the 3D display properties at an off‐axis position and that the in‐plane retardation (Re) needs to be adjusted from 120 to 130 nm to achieve low color change with head tilting. We adopted a coating process for making our QWF because of its potential for retardation control. 3D‐LCDs with this QWF whose Rth was nearly zero had high performance and allowed off‐axis other than on‐axis.     

Interference and ion effects in the electro‐optical response of PDNLC films

Abstract— We have considered the interference in polymer‐dispersed nematic liquid‐crystal (PDNLC) films caused by the superposition of light beams that pass through and between the LC droplets. The relative phase retardation of the beams depends on the applied voltage, and, as a consequence, interference oscillations can occur at transmittance‐voltage curves. Typical forms of the curves for composite films with various structures are presented. Interference oscillations were revealed not only in the static electro‐optical characteristics but in the dynamic ones also. For PDLC films based on commercially available components produced without thorough purification, the combination of interference and ionic effects is observed in the dynamics of the optical response. The relaxation of transmittance due to the depolarization ionic field is presented, depending on droplet size, temperature, pulse duration, and the concentration of the ionic admixture.     

An IPS‐LCD with a high contrast ratio of over 80:1 at all viewing angles

Abstract— A 32‐in. IPS‐LCD with a significantly wide‐viewing‐angle performance has been developed using a new optical compensation method. It provides a contrast ratio of over 80:1 at all viewing angles, which enhances its color saturation at oblique angles. According to our study, it is important to shorten the path of the optical compensation in the Poincaré sphere. We have found an effective method using two retardation films, one with an Nz value larger than 0.5 and one with a value smaller than 0.5.     

A linear‐to‐circular polarization converter based on a bi‐layer frequency selective surface

In this work, a wideband linear‐to‐circular polarization converter is proposed based on a bi‐layer band‐pass frequency selective surface (FSS), whose unit cell consists of two layers of identical patterned metal films mounted on the two sides of a homogeneous dielectric layer, and the geometric pattern of each metal film is a square loop aperture surrounding a concentric square corner‐truncated patch. Both measured and simulated results show that the polarization converter can realize linear‐to‐circular polarization conversion in the frequency range from 6.87 to 10.07 GHz, which corresponds to a fractional bandwidth of 37.8%; moreover, its response is almost independent of the polarization and incidence angle of the incoming wave. Compared with published designs, the proposed polarization converter has a simpler geometry but a wider bandwidth, higher transmittance and better stability, it may possess potential applications in the design of CP antennas.     

Technologies towards patterned optical foils applied to transflective LCDs

Abstract— For better front‐of‐screen performance for transflective LCDs, a technology with extra free optimization parameters for the optical stack is needed. Thin wet coatable retarders which enable adjustment of the optical activity on the (sub)pixel level have been developed. Isotropic domains have been created in nematic retardation films by thermal patterning or photopatterning. Employing such a patterned retarder in a transflective LCD leads to an LCD that is lighter and thinner with good reflectivity, high transmission, and low chromaticity at all gray levels and wide viewing angles. The patterned thin‐film technology has been proven to be versatile and applicable in various LCD designs.     

A novel full‐wave CAD for the design of tapered leaky‐wave antennas in hybrid waveguide printed‐circuit technology

This work presents a novel computer‐aided design (CAD) tool for the design of tapered leaky‐wave antennas (LWAs) in hybrid waveguide printed‐circuit technology. The software package is composed of several tools, which are connected together to provide a semi‐automated step‐by‐step design procedure. The design procedure is presented and the different tools are described, together with the involved theory, leading to the design of tapered LWAs. A practical taper design is performed, and comparisons with simulations using commercial software (HFSS) are presented for validation purposes. Due to the full‐wave nature of the technique used in the analysis engine, excellent agreement is shown between the proposed 2D‐based approach, and 3D HFSS results. Also, the analysis procedure is fast, thus leading to semi‐automated designs that are not affordable with common 3D optimization techniques. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2006.     

基于自动数据采集的波片相位延迟测量系统的研究

针对现有波片相位延迟测量系统所存在的非自动化、低效率、不适合大量波片测试等问题,结合虚拟仪器技术和光学工程技术,设计了一种基于LabVIEW和PCI-1753数据采集卡的自动波片相位延迟测量系统。其数据采集的硬件部分由数据采集卡、测角数显表和光电流计组成;系统的软件部分由LabVIEW实现。实现了同步数据采集、数据显示和绘图、电机控制、数据处理、自动测试等功能,从而建立起一套集成化、自动化、高精度的测试系统,提高了波片测试的效率。     

A general procedure for the design of bulk acoustic wave filters

This article presents a procedure for the design of bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filters. The procedure consists of optimizing the modified Butterworth‐Van Dyke model of each resonator, considering appropriate technological parameters. The approach is demonstrated first to design a classical aluminum nitride‐based BAW filter but remains valid for other piezoelectric layers, considering either longitudinal or transverse acoustic wave coupling. The approach is finally applied to the design of a lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) BAW filter for wide‐band filtering applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011.     

Design and experiment of optical transparent microstrip antenna on glass and polycarbonate substrates

Microstrip antennas have the advantages of light weight, low profile, and conformal to the attached surface with antenna feed line. This work presents the design of transparent microstrip antennas by In₂O₃:Sn thin film on glass and polycarbonate substrates. The transparent conducting thin films of 21–300 nm thickness deposited by magnetron sputtering are measured by X‐ray diffraction for microstructure, 4‐point probe for electrical resistance, and spectrometer for optical transmittance. Analyses show that the 2.4 GHz antenna can achieve 5.1 and 4.7 dB antenna gain on glass (1.2 mm) and polycarbonate (0.7 mm) substrate, respectively. Experimental verification on glass substrate shows that the antenna achieves 3.1 dB gain and 86% optical transmittance on 550 nm wave length.     

Design and measurement‐based characterization of a K‐band metalens for wideband oblique‐incident spherical‐plane wave conversion

In this article, a wideband spherical‐plane wave conversion metalens (WSPCM) working in the K‐band is designed. The WSPCM consists of metamaterial elements with gradient transmission phases, which can transform the oblique‐incident spherical wave to the plane wave propagating along the direction from the source to the center of the metalens. First, a five‐layer metamaterial element with gradient transmission phase is designed using the Computer Simulation Technology software. Then, a metamaterial wedge consists of eight metamaterial elements with 30° phase gradient (that can deflect the incident plane wave by 30°) is designed to verify the phase modulation characteristic of the metamaterial element. Afterwards, a metalens is designed according to the digitized phase distribution of the dielectric lens. Finally, the electric field distribution of the emitted wave at different frequencies and different source locations (ie, oblique‐incident angles) is studied. The design is validated through simulations and measurements.     

Design and analysis of multifrequency Wilkinson power dividers using nonuniform transmission lines

In this article, based on nonuniform transmission lines, the design of compact multifrequency Wilkinson power dividers (WPDs) is presented. This is accomplished by replacing the quarter‐wave uniform transmission lines in the conventional WPD by multiband nonuniform transmission line transformers (NTLTs). The design of these NTLTs is performed under the even mode analysis of the WPD. A single isolation resistor is used between the two output ports whose value is determined using the simple odd mode analysis of the WPD. For verification purposes, a triple‐frequency WPD and a quad‐frequency WPD are designed, simulated, fabricated, and measured. The results of the full‐wave simulations and the measurements verify the validity of the design procedure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011.     

Conformable displays based on polymer‐dispersed liquid‐crystal materials on flexible substrates

Abstract— We have developed a process that enables one to conform polymer‐dispersed liquid‐crystal (PDLC) displays into a particular shape indefinitely. Planar PDLC displays are first fabricated between indium tin oxide (ITO) coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. This fully functional display can then be conformed to a particular shape by heating above the glass‐transition temperature of PET and then allowing it to cool down to room temperature. The display retains its shape and is fully functional after processing. We have created spiral‐and wave‐like samples and have demonstrated their operation after the conformal process. The stress is relieved in the substrate by conforming. Temperature effects on polymer substrates were investigated for two types of polymer films (PET/ITO substrates and a conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS/PET substrate) to analyze the effects of temperature on the resistance and mechanics of the films under an applied uniaxial strain. We have found a decrease in contrast of the PDLC after conforming, but surprisingly, a reduced threshold voltage and reduced hysterisis occurs.     

Surrogate‐assisted EM‐driven miniaturization of wideband microwave couplers by means of co‐simulation low‐fidelity models

This article proposes a methodology for rapid design optimization of miniaturized wideband couplers. More specifically, a class of circuits is considered, in which conventional transmission lines are replaced by their abbreviated counterparts referred to as slow‐wave compact cells. Our focus is on explicit reduction of the structure size as well as on reducing the CPU cost of the design process. For the sake of computational feasibility, a surrogate‐based optimization paradigm involving a co‐simulation low‐fidelity model is used. The latter is a fundamental component of the proposed technique. The low‐fidelity model represents cascaded slow‐wave cells replacing the low‐impedance lines of the original coupler circuit. It is implemented in a circuit simulator (here, ADS) and consists of duplicated compact cell EM simulation data as well as circuit theory‐based feeding line models. Our primary optimization routine is a trust‐region‐embedded gradient search algorithm. To further reduce the design cost, the system response Jacobian is estimated at the level of the low‐fidelity model, which is sufficient due to good correlation between the low‐ and high‐fidelity models. The coupler is explicitly optimized for size reduction, whereas electrical performance parameters are controlled using a penalty function approach. The presented methodology is demonstrated through the design of a 1‐GHz wideband microstrip branch‐line coupler. Numerical results are supported by experimental validation of the fabricated coupler prototype.     

微型硅基弯曲板波器件

介绍了基于ZnO压电薄膜的微型弯曲板波(FPW)器件的设计与制作。为减小薄膜的应力,器件采用LTO/ZnO/LTO/Si3N4多层复合板结构,并采用直流磁控溅射工艺制备ZnO压电薄膜,在压电复合板结构上沉积两对叉指电极,分别用于Lamb波的激发和接收。X射线衍射分析表明,沉积的ZnO薄膜C轴高度择优;扫描电子显微镜分析表明,制备的ZnO薄膜平整、致密,晶粒生长呈现明显的柱状结构;通过分析制备的高次谐波体声波谐振器(HBAR)器件性能来间接检验ZnO压电薄膜的电学性能,HBAR器件的品质因子较高,表明薄膜有较好的压电性能。利用安捷伦E5071C网络分析仪检测FPW器件的频率响应,结果表明反对称A0模式Lamb波的实测中心频率与理论计算的频率结果基本一致。     

A surface wave exciter adapting to different‐diameter lines and its application to single power line communications

A surface wave exciter adapting to different‐diameter lines for single power line communications is proposed in this article. A side‐feeding structure is designed which enables surface wave communication on existing power lines without any damage. The proposed surface wave exciter is mainly composed of a horn, two symmetrical feeding structures, a separable feeding ring, and a separable short‐circuit metal ring. In order to avoid high order modes caused by insufficient excitation of side‐feeding structure, two‐port feeding structure is proposed. Meanwhile, the impedance matching of the exciter is improved. The exciter is designed to adapt to several lines with different diameters by using the separable feeding ring and short‐circuit metal ring. Two prototypes for the proposed design are fabricated and tested. The measured results indicated that the input reflection coefficients ( S₁₁ ) are less than ?10 dB and the efficiencies are better than 30% in the Sub‐6 GHz wireless communications. Moreover, a single power line communication system, which uses surface wave to transmit signal, is set up and tested. The transmission loss and the throughput are investigated to further prove the reliability of single power line surface wave communications.     

Boundary stabilization of a cascade of ODE‐wave systems subject to boundary control matched disturbance

In this paper, we are concerned with a cascade of ODE‐wave systems with the control actuator‐matched disturbance at the boundary of the wave equation. We use the sliding mode control (SMC) technique and the active disturbance rejection control method to overcome the disturbance, respectively. By the SMC approach, the disturbance is supposed to be bounded only. The existence and uniqueness of solution for the closed‐loop via SMC are proved, and the monotonicity of the ‘reaching condition’ is presented without the differentiation of the sliding mode function, for which it may not always exist for the weak solution of the closed‐loop system. Considering that the SMC usually requires the large control gain and may exhibit chattering behavior, we then develop an active disturbance rejection control to attenuate the disturbance. The disturbance is canceled in the feedback loop. The closed‐loop systems with constant high gain and time‐varying high gain are shown respectively to be practically stable and asymptotically stable. Then we continue to consider output feedback stabilization for this coupled ODE‐wave system, and we design a variable structure unknown input‐type state observer that is shown to be exponentially convergent. The disturbance is estimated through the extended state observer and then canceled in the feedback loop by its approximated value. These enable us to design an observer‐based output feedback stabilizing control to this uncertain coupled system. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electric‐field‐driven LC lens for 3‐D/2‐D autostereoscopic display

Abstract— The use of an electric‐field‐driven liquid‐crystal (ELC) lens cell for switching between a 3‐D and 2‐D display is proposed. Due to the phase retardation of the non‐uniform LC directors, an ELC lens functions the same as a geometric lens. The parameters of an ELC for 3‐D applications are optimized through the simulation of the electrode configuration and voltage levels. A prototype was made where the ELC lens is placed in front of a liquid‐crystal display (LCD) 15 in. on the diagonal with a 99‐μm subpixel pitch. Under zero voltage, the ELC lens is a transparent medium and the users can see a clear 2‐D image. In 3‐D mode, the ELC lens array performs the same as a cylindrical lens array to the incident vertical polarization under suitable driving voltages. Placing a half‐wave plate between the LCD and ELC lens is proposed to change the polarization of the LCD to be parallel with the polarization lens direction of the ELC lens. The measurement of the horizontal luminance profile, performance of the ELC lens, and feasibility for 3‐D/2‐D switching was verified. The fabrication process for the ELC lens is compatible with the current LCD production process and enables the accurate control of the lens pitch of the ELC lens.