Adaptive liquid crystal lens

• US 4,572,616 A
• Filed: 08/10/1982
• Issued: 02/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Syracuse University
• Original Assignee: Syracuse University
• Inventors: Kornreich, Philipp G., Kowel, Stephen T., Cleverly, Dennis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/406,871
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 350/347 V, 350/335, 350/336, 350/380, 350/162.16, 350/413, 350/379, 350/393
• US Class Current: 349/200
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/06 for controlling the phase of light G02B26/08 takes precedence , measuring optical phase difference G01J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134309 characterised by their geometrical arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13471 in which all the liquid crystal cells or layers remain transparent, e.g. FLC, ECB, DAP, HAN, TN, STN, SBE-LC cells G02F1/13475 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/294 Variable focal length devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/28 focussing or defocussing

Abstract

A liquid crystal adaptive lens system wherein the index of refraction profile of the liquid crystal is controlled electrically to bring entering light to focus.

Claims

1. An adaptive lens for focusing arbitrarily polarized light entering the system at an image plane that includes

a pair of liquid crystal cells which are placed in series along an axis defining the axis of the lens,

each of said cells having a pair of flat optically clear plates that are perpendicularly aligned with the lens axis, a liquid crystal housed between the plates and a series of radially disposed transparent control electrodes mounted upon one of the plates that are symmetrically positioned about the lens axis,

a first of said cells having means associated therewith for preferentially aligning the liquid crystal housed therein in an X-direction,

a second of said cells having means associated therewith for preferentially aligning the liquid crystal housed therein in a Y-direction,

said two liquid crystal cells being arranged to influence light passing therethrough only with nematic material contained therein, and

control means for selectively placing a predetermined voltage values on each of said control electrodes for contouring the index of refraction profile of the liquid crystal about the lens axis to obtain a spherical lens response for focusing arbitrarily polarized light at an image plane.

2. The lens of claim 1 wherein the two cells are mounted in abutting contact.

3. The lens of claim 1 wherein the control means further includes an adjusting means for selectively varying the voltage values on the individual electrodes.

4. The lens of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a processor for placing a predetermined voltage upon each of the control electrodes in response to a given program.

5. An adaptive lens having a central axis for controlling the phase of light passing through a dominant aperture of the lens that includes

a first unit for influencing incoming light polarized in the X-direction that is centered upon the axis of the lens,

a second unit for influencing incoming light polarized in the Y-direction that is centered upon the axis of the lens,

each of said units containing a pair of liquid crystal cells, each cell further including a pair of flat optically clear plates, a nematic liquid crystal housed between the plates and a series of parallel aligned linear electrodes disposed within the cell,

the first unit having means associated with each cell for preferentially aligning the liquid crystal molecules in the X-direction and the electrodes in one of said cells being disposed in the X-direction and the electrodes in the other cell being disposed in the Y-direction,

the second unit having means associated with each of the cells for preferentially aligning the liquid crystal molecules in the Y-direction and the control electrodes contained in one of the cells being disposed in the X-direction add the control electrodes contained in the other of said cells being disposed in the Y-direction, and

control means connected to each of the electrodes for selectively placing a predetermined voltage thereon for contouring the index of refraction profile of the liquid crystal about the axis of the lens to produce a spherical lens response for focusing arbitrarily polarized incoming light at a desired image plane.

6. The adaptive lens of claim 5 that further includes electrical means for adjusting the voltage value applied to individual electrodes to correct the lens.

7. The lens of claim 5 wherein the cells are mounted in abutting contact along the axis of the lens.

8. The lens of claim 5 wherein said control means further includes a processor for varying the voltage applied to each electrode in response to a given program.