Preventing occurrence of disclination lines in liquid crystal lenses with a large aperture by means of polymer stabilization

doi:10.1364/OE.19.014999

Preventing occurrence of disclination lines in liquid crystal lenses with a large aperture by means of polymer stabilization

Che Ju Hsu and Chia Rong Sheu »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 19, Issue 16, pp. 14999-15008 (2011)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.19.014999

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Abstract

Liquid crystal (LC) lenses with a circularly hole-patterned electrode possess excellent characteristics in optical performance, especially for the capability of tunable focal lengths. But, non-uniformly symmetrical electric fields in LC lenses usually induce disclination lines when operating. In general, the occurrence of disclination lines not only degrades their optical capability such as imaging performance, but also spends more time for tuning focal lengths. In this paper, we use a way of polymer stabilization to successfully prevent the disclination lines in LC lenses. Even arbitrarily adjusting the applied voltages in LC lenses, it seems no occurrence of disclination lines again. In addition, we compare the basic optical performance for LC lenses with or without polymer stabilization. From experimental results, it shows that they almost have the same optical performance.

OCIS Codes
(160.3710) Materials : Liquid crystals
(220.3620) Optical design and fabrication : Lens system design
(230.3720) Optical devices : Liquid-crystal devices

ToC Category:
Optical Devices

History
Original Manuscript: May 23, 2011
Revised Manuscript: July 8, 2011
Manuscript Accepted: July 11, 2011
Published: July 20, 2011

Citation
Che Ju Hsu and Chia Rong Sheu, "Preventing occurrence of disclination lines in liquid crystal lenses with a large aperture by means of polymer stabilization," Opt. Express 19, 14999-15008 (2011)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-19-16-14999

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References

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C. J. Hsu, C. Y. Huang, and C. R. Sheu, “Experimental analysis to avoid migrating zigzag lines occurring in homogeneously aligned liquid crystal lenses with a hole-patterned electrode,” Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. (Phila. Pa.) 544(1), 185–191 (2011). [CrossRef]
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T. Nose, S. Masuda, S. Sato, J. Li, L. C. Chien, and P. J. Bos, “Effects of low polymer content in a liquid-crystal microlens,” Opt. Lett. 22(6), 351–353 (1997). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Opt.

Appl. Phys. Express

Y. W. Kim, J. Jeong, S. H. Lee, J.-H. Kim, and C.-J. Yu, “Improvement in switching speed of nematic liquid crystal microlens array with polarization independence,” Appl. Phys. Express 3(9), 094102, 094102–094103 (2010). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

S. G. Kim, S. M. Kim, Y. S. Kim, H. K. Lee, S. H. Lee, G. D. Lee, J. J. Lyu, and K. H. Kim, “Stabilization of the liquid crystal director in the patterned vertical alignment mode through formation of pretilt angle by reactive mesogen,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90(26), 261910-1-261910-3 (2007). [CrossRef]
H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, S. Gauza, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus flat liquid crystal spherical lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(23), 4789–4791 (2004). [CrossRef]
H. Ren and S. T. Wu, “Tunable electronic lens using a gradient polymer network liquid crystal,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 82(1), 22–24 (2003). [CrossRef]

Chem. Phys. Lett.

V. V. Sergan, T. A. Sergan, and P. J. Bos, “Control of the molecular pretilt angle in liquid crystal devices by using a low-density localized polymer network,” Chem. Phys. Lett. 486(4-6), 123–125 (2010). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.

F. D. Pasquale, F. A. Fernández, S. E. Day, and J. B. Davies, “Two-dimensional finite-element modeling of nematic liquid crystal devices for optical communications and displays,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 2(1), 128–134 (1996). [CrossRef]

J. Soc. Inf. Disp.

S. H. Lee, S. M. Kim, and S. T. Wu, “Emerging vertical-alignment liquid-crystal technology associated with surface modification using UV-curable monomer,” J. Soc. Inf. Disp. 17(7), 551–559 (2009). [CrossRef]

Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.

B. Wang, M. Ye, M. Honma, T. Nose, and S. Sato, “Liquid crystal lens with spherical electrode,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 41(Part 2, No. 11A), L1232–L1233 (2002). [CrossRef]
M. Ye and S. Sato, “Optical properties of liquid crystal lens of any size,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 41(Part 2, No. 5B), L571–L573 (2002). [CrossRef]
M. Ye, B. Wang, and S. Sato, “Driving of liquid crystal lens without disclination occurring by applying an in-plane electric field,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 42(Part 1, No. 8), 5086–5089 (2003). [CrossRef]

Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. (Phila. Pa.)

M. Ye and S. Sato, “New method of voltage application for improving response time of a liquid crystal lens,” Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. (Phila. Pa.) 433(1), 229–236 (2005). [CrossRef]
C. J. Hsu, C. Y. Huang, and C. R. Sheu, “Experimental analysis to avoid migrating zigzag lines occurring in homogeneously aligned liquid crystal lenses with a hole-patterned electrode,” Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. (Phila. Pa.) 544(1), 185–191 (2011). [CrossRef]

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