Liquid Crystal Lens with Spherical Electrode

Abstract

The variable focusing function of a liquid crystal lens (LCL) with a spherical electrode is demonstrated. One electrode is a transparent film of indium tin oxide (ITO) coated on the spherical surface of a plano-convex glass lens that is placed on a planar liquid crystal cell. The lower substrate of the cell is also coated with an ITO film acting as another electrode. A nonuniform electric field nearly symmetrical about the central line produces a gradient distribution of refractive index. The cell therefore behaves like an optical lens. The LCL exhibits good optical properties, and can be of any size, and its diopter is a function of the applied voltage.