Prototype Operation - standard prism angle
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| A steerer is designed to take the light from a moving source (the Sun) and direct it to a fixed location. For demonstration purposes, light from a stationary diode laser is directed 'backwards' through the steerer with no lens. The zigzag profile of the grooved film splits the incident beam into two symmetric portions which are steered by changing the applied voltage. The output angle in this configuration matches the input angle in the normal working configuration. The steerers in the clips at left are both constructed using an off-the-shelf Reflexite film with a 45° prism angle but they use different liquid crystals. This gives them somewhat different electrical requirements and optical performance. These steering panels operate from -12° to + -12°. | |