Fast Switchable Micro‐Lenticular Lens Arrays Using Highly Transparent Nano‐Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Abstract A polarization‐dependent micro‐lenticular lens array (MLA) based on phase modulation of the nanostructured polymer dispersed liquid crystal (nano‐PDLC) is proposed. The transparent and optically isotropic composite is formed by photo‐polymerization induced phase separation of the LC and pre‐polymer mixture. The gradient field is generated by interdigitated electrodes and the LCs in nanosized droplets in nano‐PDLC orient along the field direction, resulting in field‐induced birefringence from the optically isotropic phase. Consequently, the MLAs are formed at the focal plane, in which its measured focal length is 22 µm at 50 V rms . Besides, the position of focused beam in MLA device can be tuned depending on the polarization direction of an incident beam. The MLA device can realize a 3D image when the polarized 2D image arrays encounter the microlens. The proposed MLA device can pave the way toward upcoming fast switchable 2D/3D display device applications with a very fast switching time of 3.8 ms.