Polymer-stabilized liquid crystal microlens array with large dynamic range and fast response time

Opt Lett. 2013 Aug 15;38(16):3144-7. doi: 10.1364/OL.38.003144.

Abstract

We report a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (LC) microlens array with a large dynamic range and fast response time. The top substrate has a planar indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode, while the bottom substrate has two patterned ITO electrodes for generating a fringing field and uniform longitudinal field. The fringing field is utilized to create the desired gradient refractive index profile in the LC/monomer layer, which is later stabilized by UV curing to form polymer networks. To tune the focal length, we apply a longitudinal field to change the lens shape. This microlens array offers several attractive features, such as large dynamic range, fast response time, and good mechanical stability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrodes
  • Lenses*
  • Liquid Crystals*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Time Factors
  • Tin Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Tin Compounds
  • indium tin oxide