Liquid Crystals

NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICES

Liquid Crystal Modes

Modes correlate to the behavior mechanisms of liquid crystal devices. BVO manufactures nematic phase liquid crystal devices and each mode has its advantages.

Electronically Controlled Birefringence (ECB) Mode: Versatile tunable retarder. Analog control of LC molecule phase allows specific wavelength control. Products: variable retarders and modulators.

Optically Compensated Bend (Pi-cell) Mode: High speed modulator. Differs from ECB mode by having parallel aligned molecules reducing rotational torque, which increases switching speed. Products: fast optical shutters, rapid Lyot tunable filters.

Twisted Nematic (TN) Mode: Most achromatic variable attenuator. LC molecules have 90 degree twist due to orthogonal rubbed alignment layers resulting in polarization rotation to incoming polarized light. The rotation of LC is unwound as voltage is increased. Products: achromatic variable broadband attenuators.

Vertically Aligned (VA) Mode: Highest contrast ratio. LC molecules are vertically aligned with zero voltage with no residual birefringence due to pre-tilt. The result is an exceptional dark state. Products: high contrast variable attenuators.

Liquid Crystal Developmental Lab

   • Highly Versatile – 25 Years Producing custom devices

   • Manufacture 1mm thick LC cells using thin glass (0.5 mm)

   • Large aperture devices up to 90mm in size

    • Square or Round

    • Design and Supply Compensation Films

Full Performance LC Device Characterization

     • Speed / Response Time

     • Insertion Loss

     • Contrast Ratio

OEM Liquid Crystal Variable Retarders
<p style="color: white; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0); border: 2px solid #f88d2b; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px">Liquid crystal cells potted into custom mounts. BVO has been manufacturing this product since 1994</p>

Handmade Small Volume Lots (1-500 units)

<p style="color: white; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0); border: 2px solid #f88d2b; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px">Liquid crystal cells potted into final assemblies. BVO mounts custom optic into provided mounts</p>
<p style="color: white; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0); border: 2px solid #f88d2b; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px">ECB liquid crystal cell potted into mount cups. 8 micron cell gap with low delta n LC make uniform cells. </p>
Precision liquid crystal components can be custom designed to meet customer specifications. Small and large lot sizes targeted for OEM developers and optical processing equipment. Examples are high uniformity, faster switching speeds, maximum extinction ratio or high retardance LC devices where the advantage is flexibility and variety.

High Volume Production Lots (100-10,000 units)

<p style="color: white; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0); border: 2px solid #f88d2b; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px">Volume array of Pi-cell shutters. Custom form factors designed to spec.</p>
<p style="color: white; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0); border: 2px solid #f88d2b; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px">NIR TN polarization rotators. Good for broadband attenuators. </p>
Large volume production of liquid crystal components create dramatically decreased prices at the expense of cell design flexibility. Once all key specifications are confirmed, large scale production of thin glass devices begins. Fundamental LC optic manufacturing incorporated with large scale process create cheaper components for consumer electronics, measuring equipment and technical instrumentation.

Large Volume Production vs. Precision Devices – we do both

OEM Volume LC Devices Precision LC Devices
Price Most economical – Higher volume More expensive – Low volume
Production Method Screen printed patterns (gaskets), large ITO coated panels of glass, patterned polyimide, spacer balls distributed over panels, LC wick filling, scribe & break parts Each unit handmade. Polished fused silica substrates, spin coat polyimide, machine buff, robot gaskets & spacers, vacuum chamber LC filling, hand finish components
NRE Yes Possible, if materials not in stock
Specification Flexibility Less. Initial cell design incorporates all specifications then mass manufactured. Cell mfg method dictates certain specs. More. Handmade cells can incorporate custom specs-low wavefront distortion, AR coatings, high uniformity, cell gaps, LC
MOQ > 100 units, decreases cost 1-100 units, maximizes flexibility
Geometries Square, rectangular – up to 450mm x 350mm max dimension, single ITO landing pad Round, square – 75mm OD or 75mm x 75mm max, dual landings opposite sides
LC Device Thickness 1.0mm – 1.5mm 6.0mm – 12.0mm
Wavefront Distortion 3-4 waves per 25mm measured @ 632nm Lambda/4 per 25mm measured @ 632nm
LC Modes ECB, VAN, TN and Pi ECB, VAN, TN and Pi
AR Coatings Optional Yes
LC-3D

Basic LC Cell Design Sub Heading

  • ITO coated glass
  • buffed polyimide for LC alignment
  • liquid crystal sandwiched in between glass substrates
  • transverse electric field to drive the LC molecules
temp-compansated-LC-mount-small

LC Cell Integration with Mounts Sub Heading

  • Temperature compensation mounts
  • Stress birefringence caused by potting
  • Environmental tolerances

BVO • Technical Polarization

Bolder Vision Optik (BVO) designs, consults and manufactures polarization control components. Liquid crystal devices, waveplates (retarders), achromatic waveplates and polarizers are manufactured in our Boulder, Colorado facility. BVO supplies standard, custom and OEM volume components to spec.

Design, Develop & Manufacture

OEM Equipment Manufacturers
BioSci / Medical Instrumentation
Consumer Products
Aerospace / Defense / Security
R & D , University, Research Labs
Machine Vision
Display

Bolder Vision Optik, Inc.

303.440.3327
info@bvo.global

5445 Conestoga Ct. Suite 135
Boulder, Colorado 80301
U.S.A.

© Bolder Vision Optik 2025
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