We demonstrated a novel optical switch with a reconfigurable dielectric liquid droplet. The device consists of a clear liquid droplet (glycerol) surrounded by a black liquid (dye-doped liquid crystal). In the voltage-off state, the incident light passing through the clear liquid droplet is absorbed by the black liquid, resulting in a dark state. In the voltage-on state, the dome of the clear liquid droplet is uplifted by the dielectric force to form a light pipe which in turn transmits the incident light. Upon removing the voltage, the droplet recovers to its original shape and the switch is closed. We also demonstrated a red color light switch with ~10:1 contrast ratio and ~300 ms response time. Devices based on such an operation mechanism will find attractive applications in light shutter, tunable iris, variable optical attenuators, and displays

© 2011 OSA

1. T. Krupenkin, S. Yang, and P. Mach, “Tunable liquid microlens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 82(3), 316–318 (2003). [CrossRef]
2. S. Grilli, L. Miccio, V. Vespini, A. Finizio, S. De Nicola, and P. Ferraro, “Liquid micro-lens array activated by selective electrowetting on lithium niobate substrates,” Opt. Express 16(11), 8084–8093 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. D. Zhang, V. Lien, Y. Berdichevsky, J. Choi, and Y.-H. Lo, “Fluidic adaptive lens with high focal length tunability,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 82(19), 3171–3172 (2003). [CrossRef]
4. K.-H. Jeong, G. L. Liu, N. Chronis, and L. P. Lee, “Tunable microdoublet lens array,” Opt. Express 12(11), 2494–2500 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. D. Zhu, C. Li, X. Zeng, and H. Jiang, “Tunable-focus microlens arrays on cured surfaces,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 96(8), 081111 (2010). [CrossRef]
6. C. C. Cheng and J. A. Yeh, “Dielectrically actuated liquid lens,” Opt. Express 15(12), 7140–7145 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. H. Ren, H. Xianyu, S. Xu, and S. T. Wu, “Adaptive dielectric liquid lens,” Opt. Express 16(19), 14954–14960 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. S. A. Reza and N. A. Riza, “A liquid lens-based broadband variable fiber optical attenuator,” Opt. Commun. 282(7), 1298–1303 (2009). [CrossRef]
9. Y. J. Lin, K. M. Chen, and S. T. Wu, “Broadband and polarization-independent beam steering using dielectrophoresis-tilted prism,” Opt. Express 17(10), 8651–8656 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. N. R. Smith, D. C. Abeysinghe, J. W. Haus, and J. Heikenfeld, “Agile wide-angle beam steering with electrowetting microprisms,” Opt. Express 14(14), 6557–6563 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. R. A. Hayes and B. J. Feenstra, “Video-speed electronic paper based on electrowetting,” Nature 425(6956), 383–385 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. Y. H. Lin, J. K. Li, T. Y. Chu, and H. K. Hsu, “A bistable polarizer-free electro-optical switch using a droplet manipulation on a liquid crystal and polymer composite film,” Opt. Express 18(10), 10104–10111 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. S. Xu, Y. J. Lin, and S. T. Wu, “Dielectric liquid microlens with well-shaped electrode,” Opt. Express 17(13), 10499–10505 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14. H. Ren, S. Xu, and S. T. Wu, “Deformable liquid droplets for optical beam control,” Opt. Express 18(11), 11904–11910 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
15. H. Ren and S. T. Wu, “Optical switch using a deformable liquid droplet,” Opt. Lett. 35(22), 3826–3828 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
16. H. A. Pohl, Dielectrophoresis (Cambridge University, 1978).
17. R. W. Sabnis, “Color filter technology for liquid crystal displays,” Displays 20(3), 119–129 (1999). [CrossRef]
18. S. T. Wu, and D. K. Yang, Reflective Liquid Crystal Displays (Wiley, 2001).

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• T. Krupenkin, S. Yang, and P. Mach, “Tunable liquid microlens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 82(3), 316–318 (2003). [CrossRef]
• D. Zhang, V. Lien, Y. Berdichevsky, J. Choi, and Y.-H. Lo, “Fluidic adaptive lens with high focal length tunability,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 82(19), 3171–3172 (2003). [CrossRef]
• D. Zhu, C. Li, X. Zeng, and H. Jiang, “Tunable-focus microlens arrays on cured surfaces,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 96(8), 081111 (2010). [CrossRef]

Displays

• R. W. Sabnis, “Color filter technology for liquid crystal displays,” Displays 20(3), 119–129 (1999). [CrossRef]

Nature

• R. A. Hayes and B. J. Feenstra, “Video-speed electronic paper based on electrowetting,” Nature 425(6956), 383–385 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Commun.

• S. A. Reza and N. A. Riza, “A liquid lens-based broadband variable fiber optical attenuator,” Opt. Commun. 282(7), 1298–1303 (2009). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• Y. J. Lin, K. M. Chen, and S. T. Wu, “Broadband and polarization-independent beam steering using dielectrophoresis-tilted prism,” Opt. Express 17(10), 8651–8656 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• N. R. Smith, D. C. Abeysinghe, J. W. Haus, and J. Heikenfeld, “Agile wide-angle beam steering with electrowetting microprisms,” Opt. Express 14(14), 6557–6563 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• C. C. Cheng and J. A. Yeh, “Dielectrically actuated liquid lens,” Opt. Express 15(12), 7140–7145 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• H. Ren, H. Xianyu, S. Xu, and S. T. Wu, “Adaptive dielectric liquid lens,” Opt. Express 16(19), 14954–14960 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• K.-H. Jeong, G. L. Liu, N. Chronis, and L. P. Lee, “Tunable microdoublet lens array,” Opt. Express 12(11), 2494–2500 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• S. Grilli, L. Miccio, V. Vespini, A. Finizio, S. De Nicola, and P. Ferraro, “Liquid micro-lens array activated by selective electrowetting on lithium niobate substrates,” Opt. Express 16(11), 8084–8093 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• Y. H. Lin, J. K. Li, T. Y. Chu, and H. K. Hsu, “A bistable polarizer-free electro-optical switch using a droplet manipulation on a liquid crystal and polymer composite film,” Opt. Express 18(10), 10104–10111 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• S. Xu, Y. J. Lin, and S. T. Wu, “Dielectric liquid microlens with well-shaped electrode,” Opt. Express 17(13), 10499–10505 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• H. Ren, S. Xu, and S. T. Wu, “Deformable liquid droplets for optical beam control,” Opt. Express 18(11), 11904–11910 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• H. Ren and S. T. Wu, “Optical switch using a deformable liquid droplet,” Opt. Lett. 35(22), 3826–3828 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Other

• H. A. Pohl, Dielectrophoresis (Cambridge University, 1978).
• S. T. Wu, and D. K. Yang, Reflective Liquid Crystal Displays (Wiley, 2001).

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• A new method for fabricating high density and large aperture ratio liquid microlens array (OE)

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