Molecular Orientation States and Optical Properties of Liquid Crystal Microlenses with an Asymmetric Electrode Structure

Abstract

Liquid crystal (LC) microlenses are prepared using a pair of substrates with an asymmetric hole-patterned electrode structure. Their molecular orientation states and optical properties are studied by a simulation using the three-dimensional finite difference method (3D-FDM), and are also experimentally confirmed. It is found that a retardation distribution including two lens profiles for the center and outer regions of the hole-pattern is formed by the asymmetric electrode structure of the LC microlens. Focusing properties obtained in the experiments mainly correspond to those at the center region of the hole-pattern calculated by the molecular orientation simulation. Lens power can be improved and a bifocal lens can be achieved by using the asymmetric electrode structure and optimizing the combination of the hole-pattern diameters in the LC microlens.