Liquid crystal waveguide having refractive shapes for dynamically controlling light

• US 20050271325A1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Michael H., Davis, Scott R., Rommel, Scott D.
• Application Number:
  US10/963,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20050271325A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/40
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133757 with different alignment orientations
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/295 Analog deflection from or in an optical waveguide structure]

Abstract

Liquid crystal waveguides for dynamically controlling the refraction of light. Generally, liquid crystal materials may be disposed within a waveguide in a cladding proximate or adjacent to a core layer of the waveguide. In one example, portions of the liquid crystal material can be induced to form refractive or lens shapes in the cladding that interact with a portion (e.g. evanescent) of light in the waveguide so as to permit electronic control of the refraction/bending, focusing, or defocusing of light as it travels through the waveguide. In one example, a waveguide may be formed using one or more patterned or shaped electrodes that induce formation of such refractive or lens shapes of liquid crystal material, or alternatively, an alignment layer may have one or more regions that define such refractive or lens shapes to induce formation of refractive or lens shapes of the liquid crystal material. In another example, such refractive or lens shapes of liquid crystal material may be formed by patterning or shaping a cladding to define a region or cavity to contain liquid crystal material in which the liquid crystal materials may interact with the evanescent light.

Claims

1. A waveguide for controllably refracting a light beam, comprising:

a core for guiding the light beam through the waveguide;

at least one cladding having a liquid crystal material therein; and

at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage;

wherein the light beam is refracted at an interface by an amount that is controlled by the voltage.

2. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the light beam has an evanescent portion, and wherein the liquid crystal material in the cladding interacts with the evanescent portion of the light beam to control refraction of the light beam.

3. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper cladding and a lower cladding, the upper cladding having the liquid crystal material disposed therein.

4. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper cladding and a lower cladding, the lower cladding having the liquid crystal material disposed therein.

5. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material in said at least one cladding defines at least one refractive shape, said one refractive shape having an index of refraction controlled by the at least one voltage applied to the at least one electrode.

6. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material in said at least one cladding defines a first refractive shape and a second refractive shape in series controlled by the at least one voltage applied to the at least one electrode.

7. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material in said at least one cladding defines at least a first refractive shape and at least a second refractive shape in series controlled by the voltage applied to the at least one electrode, the first refractive shape being different from the second refractive shape.

8. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material in said at least one cladding defines a lens shape controlled by the voltage applied to the at least one electrode.

9. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the core includes a silicon oxynitride material.

10. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal material is a nemetic material.

11. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the voltage is an AC voltage.

12. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode includes a conductive film layer.

13. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode includes a p-doped silicon substrate.

14. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the light beam is a TM polarized light beam and travels through the waveguide along a propagation axis;

and

wherein the liquid crystal material is orientated with its long axis substantially parallel to the propagation axis when the voltage is approximately zero, and the liquid crystal material is oriented with its long axis titled relative to the propagation axis when the voltage is non-zero such that the TM polarized light beam is controllably refracted in the waveguide based on the voltage.

15. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the light beam is a TE polarized light beam and travels through the waveguide along a propagation axis;

and

wherein the liquid crystal material is orientated with its long axis titled at a first angle relative to the propagation axis when the voltage is approximately zero, and the liquid crystal material is oriented with its long axis titled at a second angle relative to the propagation axis when the voltage is non-zero such that the TE polarized light beam is controllably refracted in the waveguide based on the voltage.

16. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the light beam is a TM polarized light beam and travels through the waveguide along a propagation axis;

and

wherein the liquid crystal material is orientated with its long axis titled at a first angle relative to the propagation axis when the voltage is approximately zero, and the liquid crystal material is oriented with its long axis titled at a second angle relative to the propagation axis when the voltage is non-zero such that the TM polarized light beam is controllably refracted in the waveguide based on the voltage.

17. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode defines at least one refractive shape.

18. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the voltage includes a first voltage and a second voltage;

and wherein the at least one electrode includes a first electrode for receiving the first voltage and a second electrode for receiving the second voltage.

19. The waveguide of claim 18, wherein the first electrode defines a first refractive shape and the second electrode defines a second refractive shape, and wherein the first and second voltages are independent.

20. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode.

21. The waveguide of claim 20, wherein the upper electrode includes at least one refractive shape.

22. The waveguide of claim 20, wherein the upper electrode includes a lens shape.

23. The waveguide of claim 20, wherein the upper electrode includes a wedge shape.

24. The waveguide of claim 20, wherein the lower electrode includes a p-doped silicon substrate.

25. The waveguide of claim 20, wherein the lower electrode includes a refractive shape.

26. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the at least one cladding has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the waveguide further comprising:

an upper alignment layer adjacent the upper surface of the at least one cladding; and

a lower alignment layer adjacent the lower surface of the at least one cladding.

27. The waveguide of claim 26, wherein the upper and lower alignment layers initially bias an orientation of said liquid crystal material.

28. The waveguide of claim 1,

wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper cladding and a lower cladding, the upper cladding having the liquid crystal material disposed therein, the upper cladding having an upper and lower surface;

wherein the at least one electrode includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode, the upper electrode including a refractive shape and the lower electrode defining a plane; and

the waveguide further comprising;

an upper alignment layer adjacent the upper surface of the upper cladding; and

a lower alignment layer adjacent the lower surface of upper cladding.

29. The waveguide of claim 28, wherein the lower cladding is positioned below the core, the lower alignment layer is positioned above the core and below the lower surface of the upper cladding, the upper alignment layer is positioned above the upper surface of the upper cladding and below the upper electrode.

30. The waveguide of claim 1,

wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper cladding and a lower cladding, the upper cladding having the liquid crystal material disposed therein, the upper cladding having an upper and lower surface;

wherein the at least one electrode includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode, the lower electrode including a refractive shape and the upper electrode defining a plane;

the waveguide further comprising;

an upper alignment layer adjacent the upper surface of the upper cladding; and

a lower alignment layer adjacent the lower surface of upper cladding.

31. The waveguide of claim 30, wherein the lower electrode is positioned below the lower cladding, the lower cladding is positioned below the core, the lower alignment layer is positioned above the core and below the lower surface of the upper cladding, the upper alignment layer is positioned above the upper surface of the upper cladding and below the upper electrode.

32. The waveguide of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one alignment layer adjacent the at least one cladding, the alignment layer having at least a first region biasing said liquid crystal material in a first orientation, and the alignment layer having a second region biasing said liquid crystal material in a second orientation, said second region defining at least one refractive shape.

33. The waveguide of claim 32, wherein when the voltage is applied to the at least one electrode, the first orientation of the liquid crystal material in the first region changes, and the second orientation of the liquid crystal material in the second region changes, thereby altering an amount of refraction of the light beam in the waveguide.

34. The waveguide of claim 32, wherein the light beam travels through the waveguide along a propagation axis, and

wherein the first orientation is substantially perpendicular to the propagation axis, and the second orientation is substantially parallel to the propagation axis.

35. The waveguide of claim 32, wherein the second region includes at least one wedge shape defined therein.

36. The waveguide of claim 32, wherein the second region includes at least one lens shape defined therein.

37. The waveguide of claim 32, wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper and lower cladding, the lower cladding is positioned below the core, the alignment layer is positioned above the core and below the upper cladding, and the upper electrode is positioned above the upper cladding.

38. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the at least one cladding includes a cavity defined therein, said cavity containing the liquid crystal material disposed therein, said cavity defining at least one refractive shape.

39. The waveguide of claim 38, wherein the cavity includes at least one wedge shape defined therein.

40. The waveguide of claim 38, wherein the cavity includes at least one lens shape defined therein.

41. The waveguide of claim 1,

wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper cladding and a lower cladding, the upper cladding having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper cladding having a cavity defined therein, said cavity containing the liquid crystal material, the cavity includes at least one refractive shape defined therein;

wherein the at least one electrode includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode;

the waveguide further comprising;

an upper alignment layer adjacent the upper surface of the upper cladding; and

a lower alignment layer adjacent the lower surface of upper cladding.

42. The waveguide of claim 41, wherein the liquid crystal material in the cavity has an index of refraction, and when the voltage is applied to the at least one electrode, the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material in the cavity changes, thereby altering an amount of refraction of the light beam in the waveguide.

43. The waveguide of claim 41, wherein the lower cladding is positioned below the core, the lower alignment layer is positioned above the core, and the upper alignment layer is positioned above the upper surface of the upper cladding and below the upper electrode.

44. A waveguide, comprising:

a core for guiding a light beam;

at least one cladding having a liquid crystal material within at least a portion of said cladding wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material forms one or more refractive shapes having an index of refraction; and

at least one electrode;

wherein as a voltage is applied to said electrode, the index of refraction of the one or more refractive shapes is altered to controllably refract the light beam as it travels through the waveguide.

45. The waveguide of claim 44, wherein the light beam has an evanescent portion, and wherein the liquid crystal material in the at least one cladding interacts with the evanescent portion of the light beam to control refraction of the light beam.

46. The waveguide of claim 44, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material in said at least one cladding defines at least one or more refractive shape, said at least one or more refractive shape having an index of refraction controlled by the voltage applied to the at least one electrode.

47. The waveguide of claim 44, wherein the at least one electrode defines at least one refractive shape.

48. The waveguide of claim 44, wherein the at least one voltage includes a first voltage and a second voltage;

and wherein the at least one electrode includes a first electrode for receiving the first voltage and a second electrode for receiving the second voltage.

49. The waveguide of claim 48, wherein the first electrode defines a first refractive shape and the second electrode defines a second refractive shape, and wherein the first and second voltages are independent.

50. The waveguide of claim 44, further comprising:

at least one alignment layer adjacent the at least one cladding, the alignment layer having at least a first region biasing said liquid crystal material in a first orientation, and the alignment layer having a second region biasing said liquid crystal material in a second orientation, said second region defining at least one or more refractive shapes.

51. The waveguide of claim 44, wherein the at least one cladding includes a cavity defined therein, said cavity containing the liquid crystal material disposed therein, said cavity defining at least one or more refractive shapes.

52. A waveguide for steering a light beam, comprising:

a core for guiding the light beam through the waveguide;

at least one cladding having a liquid crystal material disposed therein, said cladding having a first region characterized by a first index of refraction and a second region characterized by a second index of refraction; and

at least one electrode;

wherein at least the second index of refraction is controlled by a voltage applied to the electrode.

53. The waveguide of claim 52, wherein the light beam has an evanescent portion, and wherein the liquid crystal material in the at least one cladding interacts with the evanescent portion of the light beam to control an amount of steering of the light beam.

54. The waveguide of claim 52, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material in said at least one cladding defines at least one refractive shape, said refractive shape having an index of refraction controlled by the voltage applied to the at least one electrode.

55. The waveguide of claim 52, wherein the at least one electrode defines at least one refractive shape.

56. The waveguide of claim 52, wherein the at least one voltage includes a first voltage and a second voltage;

and wherein the at least one electrode includes a first electrode for receiving the first voltage and a second electrode for receiving the second voltage.

57. The waveguide of claim 56, wherein the first electrode defines a first refractive shape and the second electrode defines a second refractive shape, and wherein the first and second voltages are independent.

58. The waveguide of claim 52, further comprising:

at least one alignment layer adjacent the at least one cladding, the alignment layer having at least a first region biasing said liquid crystal material in a first orientation, and the alignment layer having a second region biasing said liquid crystal material in a second orientation, said second region defining at least one refractive shape.

59. The waveguide of claim 52, wherein the at least one cladding includes a cavity defined therein, said cavity containing the liquid crystal material disposed therein, said cavity defining at least one refractive shape.

60. A waveguide for refracting a light beam, comprising:

a core;

at least one cladding having a liquid crystal material disposed therein, said cladding having at least a first region that includes at least a portion of the liquid crystal material having a first orientation; and

at least one electrode;

wherein the first orientation of the first portion of the liquid crystal material in the at least first region selectively changes from a first state to a second state based on a voltage applied to said electrode.

61. The waveguide of claim 60, wherein the light beam has an evanescent portion, and wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material in the at least one cladding interacts with the evanescent portion of the light beam to control refraction of the light beam.

62. The waveguide of claim 60, wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material in said at least one cladding defines at least one refractive shape, said refractive shape having an index of refraction controlled by the voltage applied to the at least one electrode.

63. The waveguide of claim 60, wherein the at least one electrode defines at least one refractive shape.

64. The waveguide of claim 60, wherein the voltage includes a first voltage and a second voltage;

and wherein the at least one electrode includes a first electrode for receiving the first voltage and a second electrode for receiving the second voltage.

65. The waveguide of claim 64, wherein the first electrode defines a first refractive shape and the second electrode defines a second refractive shape, and wherein the first and second voltages are independent.

66. The waveguide of claim 60, further comprising:

at least one alignment layer adjacent the at least one cladding, the alignment layer having at least a first region biasing said liquid crystal material in a first orientation, and the alignment layer having a second region biasing said liquid crystal material in a second orientation, said second region defining at least one refractive shape.

67. The waveguide of claim 60, wherein the at least one cladding includes a cavity defined therein, said cavity containing the liquid crystal material disposed therein, said cavity defining at least one refractive shape.

68. A method for dynamically controlling refraction of light through a waveguide having a core and at least one cladding, comprising:

providing a liquid crystal material within said at least one cladding;

providing for forming at least one refractive shape from said liquid crystal material in said at least one cladding; and

providing for passing an evanescent portion of said light through said at least one refractive shape, thereby refracting the light.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper and lower cladding, and wherein the operation of providing a liquid crystal material further comprises:

providing the liquid crystal material in said upper cladding.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper and lower cladding, and wherein the operation of providing a liquid crystal material further comprises:

providing the liquid crystal material in said lower cladding.

71. The method of claim 68, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

providing for applying an electric field to at least a portion of the liquid crystal material, thereby inducing said portion of the liquid crystal material to form at least one refractive shape.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the at least one refractive shape has a variable index of refraction, the method further comprising:

providing for varying the electric field, thereby adjusting the variable index of refraction of the at least one refractive shape.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

providing at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage;

forming said electrode to include at least one refractive shape; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode thereby inducing said portion of the liquid crystal material to form at least one refractive shape.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

providing for varying the voltage applied to said electrode in order to adjust an index of refraction of the at least one refractive shape.

75. The method of claim 68, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

providing at least one alignment layer adjacent at least one cladding;

forming the alignment layer to have at least a first region biasing said liquid crystal material in a first orientation, and the alignment layer having a second region biasing said liquid crystal material in a second orientation, said second region defining at least one refractive shape;

providing at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage, said electrode defining a plane; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode, thereby re-orienting the liquid crystal material in the at least one cladding.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the first region has a first index of refraction and the second region has a second index of refraction, the method further comprising:

providing for varying the voltage applied to said at least one electrode in order to adjust a difference between the first and second index of refraction.

77. The method of claim 68, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

forming a cavity in the at least one cladding, the cavity defining at least one refractive shape;

placing the liquid crystal material in said cavity;

providing for applying an electric field to said cavity, thereby re-orienting the liquid crystal material in the cavity.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the liquid crystal material in the cavity has an index of refraction, and when the electric field is applied to the cavity, the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material in the cavity changes, thereby altering an amount of refraction of the light in the waveguide.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the operation of providing for applying an electric field further comprises:

providing at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage, said electrode defining a plane; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode.

80. The method of claim 77, wherein the operation of forming a cavity further comprises:

shaping the cavity to include at least one wedge shape.

81. The method of claim 77, wherein the operation of forming a cavity further comprises:

shaping the cavity to include at least one lens shape.

82. A method for dynamically controlling refraction of light through a waveguide having a core and at least one cladding, comprising:

providing a liquid crystal material disposed within said at least one cladding;

providing at least one electrode; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode to refract the light in the waveguide.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper and lower cladding, and wherein the operation of providing a liquid crystal material further comprises:

providing the liquid crystal material in said upper cladding.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper and lower cladding, and wherein the operation of providing a liquid crystal material further comprises:

providing the liquid crystal material in said lower cladding.

85. The method of claim 82, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

providing for applying an electric field to at least a portion of the liquid crystal material, thereby inducing said portion of the liquid crystal material to form at least one refractive shape.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the at least one refractive shape has a variable index of refraction, the method further comprising:

providing for varying the electric field, thereby adjusting the variable index of refraction of the at least one refractive shape.

87. The method of claim 82, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

providing at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage;

forming said electrode to include at least one refractive shape; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode thereby inducing said portion of the liquid crystal material to form at least one refractive shape.

88. The method of claim 87, further comprising:

providing for varying the voltage applied to said electrode in order to adjust an index of refraction of the at least one refractive shape.

89. The method of claim 82, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

providing at least one alignment layer adjacent at least one cladding;

forming the alignment layer to have at least a first region biasing said liquid crystal material in a first orientation, and the alignment layer having a second region biasing said liquid crystal material in a second orientation, said second region defining at least one refractive shape;

providing at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage, said electrode defining a plane; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode, thereby re-orienting the liquid crystal material in the at least one cladding.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the first region has a first index of refraction and the second region has a second index of refraction, the method further comprising:

providing for varying the voltage applied to said electrode in order to adjust a difference between the first and second index of refraction.

91. The method of claim 82, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

forming a cavity in the at least one cladding, the cavity defining at least one refractive shape;

placing the liquid crystal material in said cavity;

providing for applying an electric field to said cavity, thereby re-orienting the liquid crystal material in the cavity.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the liquid crystal material in the cavity has an index of refraction, and when the electric field is applied to the cavity, the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material in the cavity changes, thereby altering an amount of refraction of the light in the waveguide.

93. The method of claim 91, wherein the operation of providing for applying an electric field further comprises:

providing at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage, said electrode defining a plane; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode.

94. The method of claim 91, wherein the operation of forming a cavity further comprises:

shaping the cavity to include at least one wedge shape.

95. The method of claim 91, wherein the operation of forming a cavity further comprises:

shaping the cavity to include at least one lens shape.

96. A method for controlling refraction of a light beam through a waveguide having a core and at least one cladding, comprising:

providing a liquid crystal material within said at least one cladding;

providing for forming at least one refractive shape from said liquid crystal material in said at least one cladding; and

providing at least one alignment layer adjacent the core, said alignment layer inducing a substantially uniform arrangement of the liquid crystal material of the at least one refractive shape; and

providing for passing the light beam through the waveguide, wherein an evanescent portion of the light beam interacts with the at least one refractive shape having the substantially uniform arrangement of the liquid crystal material, thereby reducing attenuation of the light beam as it travels through the waveguide.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper and lower cladding, and wherein the operation of providing a liquid crystal material further comprises:

providing the liquid crystal material in said upper cladding.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the at least one cladding includes an upper and lower cladding, and wherein the operation of providing a liquid crystal material further comprises:

providing the liquid crystal material in said lower cladding.

99. The method of claim 96, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

providing for applying an electric field to a portion of the liquid crystal material, thereby inducing said portion of the liquid crystal material to form at least one refractive shape.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the at least one refractive shape has a variable index of refraction, the method further comprising:

providing for varying the electric field, thereby adjusting the variable index of refraction of the at least one refractive shape.

101. The method of claim 96, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

providing at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage;

forming said electrode to include at least one refractive shape; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode thereby inducing said portion of the liquid crystal material to form at least one refractive shape.

102. The method of claim 101, further comprising:

providing for varying the voltage applied to said electrode in order to adjust an index of refraction of the at least one refractive shape.

103. The method of claim 96, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

providing at least one alignment layer adjacent at least one cladding;

forming the alignment layer to have at least a first region biasing said liquid crystal material in a first orientation, and the alignment layer having a second region biasing said liquid crystal material in a second orientation, said second region defining at least one refractive shape;

providing at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage, said electrode defining a plane; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode, thereby re-orienting the liquid crystal material in the at least one cladding.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the first region has a first index of refraction and the second region has a second index of refraction, the method further comprising:

providing for varying the voltage applied to said electrode in order to adjust a difference between the first and second index of refraction.

105. The method of claim 96, wherein the operation of providing for forming at least one refractive shape further comprises:

forming a cavity in the at least one cladding, the cavity defining at least one refractive shape;

placing the liquid crystal material in said cavity;

providing for applying an electric field to said cavity, thereby re-orienting the liquid crystal material in the cavity.

106. The method of claim 105, wherein the liquid crystal material in the cavity has an index of refraction, and when the electric field is applied to the cavity, the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material in the cavity changes, thereby altering an amount of refraction of the light beam in the waveguide.

107. The method of claim 105, wherein the operation of providing for applying an electric field further comprises:

providing at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage, said electrode defining a plane; and

providing for applying a voltage to said electrode.

108. The method of claim 105, wherein the operation of forming a cavity further comprises:

shaping the cavity to include at least one wedge shape.

109. The method of claim 105, wherein the operation of forming a cavity further comprises:

shaping the cavity to include at least one lens shape.

110. A waveguide, comprising:

a core for guiding a light beam through the waveguide;

means for controllably refracting the light beam as it travels through the waveguide.

111. The waveguide of claim 110, wherein the means for controllably refracting includes:

at least one cladding having a liquid crystal material therein; and

at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage, said electrode defines at least one refractive shape;

wherein the light beam is refracted by an amount that is controlled by the at least one voltage.

112. The waveguide of claim 110, wherein the means for controllably refracting includes:

at least one cladding having a liquid crystal material within at least a portion of said cladding wherein at least a portion of the liquid crystal material forms one or more refractive shapes having an index of refraction; and

at least one electrode;

wherein as a voltage is applied to said electrode, the index of refraction of the one or more refractive shapes is altered to controllably refract the light beam as it travels through the waveguide.

113. The waveguide of claim 110, wherein the means for controllably refracting includes:

at least one cladding having a liquid crystal material disposed therein, said cladding having a first region characterized by a first index of refraction and a second region characterized by a second index of refraction; and

at least one electrode;

wherein at least the second index of refraction is controlled by a voltage applied to the electrode.

114. The waveguide of claim 110, wherein the means for controllably refracting includes:

at least one cladding having a liquid crystal material disposed therein, said cladding having at least a first region that includes at least a portion of the liquid crystal material having a first orientation; and

at least one electrode;

wherein the first orientation of the first portion of the liquid crystal material in the at least first region selectively changes from a first state to a second state based on a voltage applied to said electrode.