Tunable Liquid Crystal Lens Research Articles

A Review of Electrically Tunable Focusing Liquid Crystal Lenses

Electrically tunable focusing liquid crystal (LC) lenses are reviewed in this paper. The distribution of the orientations of LC directors which is controlled by electric fields results in a distribution of refractive indices of LC directors. The incident light can be modulated by the electrically tunable lens-like phase difference of the LC lens. We introduce the basic operating principles of LC lenses and discuss the structures of LC lenses. The major challenges of LC lenses are also discussed. We believe this paper provides a guideline for basic understanding of LC lenses.

P‐150: Tunable Liquid Crystal Lens by Spatially Controlling of Pretilt Angle

AbstractStacked alignment layer (SAL) with both vertical and horizontal alignment materials are used to control the liquid crystal (LC) pretilt angle. When one alignment material in SAL is photoalignable, the pretilt angle can be controlled by UV exposure dosage. A tunable LC lens is achieved by exposing the SAL under UV laser.

An electrically tunable focusing liquid crystal lens with a built-in planar polymeric lens

An electrically tunable focusing liquid crystal (LC) lens with a built-in planar polymeric lens with a short focal length (∼4.41 to 8.82 cm) is demonstrated. The focal length of the LC lens is contributed by two parts: one is the LC layer and the other is planar polymeric layer. In the image system, the object can be continuously imaged by the LC lens when the object is at the objective distance from 360 to 17 cm as the voltage is switched from 0 to 35 Vrms. The image performance is also demonstrated. The applications are cell phones, and cameras

P‐124: Study of Stacked Alignment Layers on a Single Substrate with Spatial Liquid Crystal Pretilt Angles and its Applications

AbstractIn this paper, we report recent developments in stacked alignment to generate spatially varying liquid crystal pretilt angles. This is a nanostructure alignment surface that can be produces any pretilt angle on a single substrate. The pretilt angle's profile can be controlled. An electrically tunable liquid crystal lens using such nanostructure alignment surface is demonstrated

44.3: A Liquid Crystal Lens with Non‐uniform Anchoring Energy

AbstractThe study of a tunable liquid crystal lens having a uniform cell gap, uniform applied voltage and non‐uniform anchoring energy was done. Optimal parameters of such a lens were found and discussed. We demonstrated that producing a desired director gradient profile with non‐uniform spatial distribution of the anchoring energy is a good alternative for other known methods applied for liquid crystal lenses.

Liquid crystal lens with large focal length tunability and low operating voltage

We demonstrate a tunable focus liquid crystal (LC) lens by sandwiching a homogeneous LC layer between a planar electrode and a curved electrode. The curved electrode which is made of conductive polymer has parabolic shape with a large apex distance. Such design dramatically reduces the phase loss which leads to a short focal length (~15 cm). By using a thin top glass substrate on the curved electrode side, the operating voltage of the lens cell is reduced to ~23 V(rms). This LC lens has advantages in wide focal length tunability, low operating voltage, and good mechanical stability.