Novel optical switch with a reconfigurable dielectric liquid droplet

Opt Express. 2011 Jan 31;19(3):1985-90. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.001985.

Abstract

We demonstrated a novel optical switch with a reconfigurable dielectric liquid droplet. The device consists of a clear liquid droplet (glycerol) surrounded by a black liquid (dye-doped liquid crystal). In the voltage-off state, the incident light passing through the clear liquid droplet is absorbed by the black liquid, resulting in a dark state. In the voltage-on state, the dome of the clear liquid droplet is uplifted by the dielectric force to form a light pipe which in turn transmits the incident light. Upon removing the voltage, the droplet recovers to its original shape and the switch is closed. We also demonstrated a red color light switch with ~10:1 contrast ratio and ~300 ms response time. Devices based on such an operation mechanism will find attractive applications in light shutter, tunable iris, variable optical attenuators, and displays.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electric Impedance
  • Electronics / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Lenses*
  • Lighting / instrumentation*
  • Microfluidics / instrumentation*
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*
  • Solutions / chemistry*

Substances

  • Solutions