Liquid Crystal Components for Machine Vision: More Effective and Efficient than Traditional Components

Machine vision technology has become increasingly crucial in various industries, particularly with the advent of Industry 4.0 and the automation of manufacturing processes.

As the demand for high-speed imaging grows, the unique properties of liquid crystals have positioned them as essential components for optical shutters and polarisation devices, transforming imaging systems.

AP Technologies, representing LC Tec, offers a range of liquid crystal-based components for imaging applications, including fast optical shutters and polarisation modulators. Their products boast superior performance, durability, and compactness, outperforming traditional mechanical shutters and electro-optic devices.

Liquid crystals possess attributes that facilitate efficient light control, making them ideal for high-speed imaging applications. Their birefringent nature, characterised by different refractive indices along their long (extraordinary) and short (ordinary) axes, allows them to rapidly polarise and retard light passing through them. Moreover, their alignment can be swiftly altered by an applied electric field, enabling voltage-controlled (typically 4V) optical anisotropy.

Fast Optical Shutters
Fast optical shutters (FOS) represent one application of liquid crystal technology in high-speed imaging. By exploiting the rapid realignment of liquid crystal rods, FOSs can swiftly modulate light transmission (in ~30μs), offering precise control over optical intensity. This capability translates into improved performance in imaging applications, surpassing traditional mechanical shutters in speed, contrast, and reliability. Additionally, FOS configurations cater to diverse needs, ranging from visible to near-infrared wavelengths, with options for high speed, contrast enhancement, and variable neutral density.

Fast Polarisation Modulator
Fast polarisation modulator (FPM) devices leverage liquid crystal technology to enable dynamic polarisation control in machine vision systems. By adjusting the orientation of liquid crystal molecules, FPM devices facilitate the extraction of supplementary object characteristics, such as reduced glare or enhanced contrast, enhancing imaging quality. Their compact design and low power consumption make them ideal for integration into machine vision systems, offering a streamlined alternative to conventional configurations reliant on multiple components.

Imaging Accuracy
Ensuring imaging accuracy is paramount, and liquid crystal-based components address this with their imaging quality designs. By incorporating rugged, optically flat cover sheets and high-performance anti-reflection coatings, these components minimise wavefront distortion, resulting in crisp, distortion-free images−an essential requirement for precise analysis in machine vision applications.

Component Range
The LC-Tec range from AP Technologies comprises various models of fast optical shutters and fast optical modulators at various speeds up to 30µs and 540fps, at wavelengths from 400-2000nm.

Visit the liquid crystal components page to access the FOS and FPM product pages and read more about the ranges.

Wrapping Up
Liquid crystals offer unparalleled speed, precision, and adaptability. Their durability, compactness, and reliability position them as superior alternatives to traditional components, driving enhanced performance and cost-effectiveness for machine vision systems. If you’re ready to find out more, get in touch with AP Technologies.