Using photopolymerization to achieve tunable liquid crystal lenses with coaxial bifocals

doi:10.1364/OE.20.004738

Using photopolymerization to achieve tunable liquid crystal lenses with coaxial bifocals

Che Ju Hsu and Chia Rong Sheu »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 4, pp. 4738-4746 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.004738

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Abstract
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Abstract

Liquid crystal (LC) lenses with circular hole-patterned electrodes possess the excellent capabilities of tunable focal lengths. In this paper, we demonstrate the performance of a specific LC lens with tunable coaxial bifocals (CB) synthesized via photopolymerization of LC cells. The characteristics of tunable CB are clearly exhibited when the voltage applied is continuously increased, eventually disappearing until only one focus is left when significantly higher voltages are applied. We simultaneously demonstrate two types of tunable CB LC lenses fabricated via different photocurable processes and determine their optical functions.

OCIS Codes
(160.3710) Materials : Liquid crystals
(220.3630) Optical design and fabrication : Lenses
(230.3720) Optical devices : Liquid-crystal devices

ToC Category:
Optical Devices

History
Original Manuscript: January 3, 2012
Revised Manuscript: February 5, 2012
Manuscript Accepted: February 6, 2012
Published: February 9, 2012

Citation
Che Ju Hsu and Chia Rong Sheu, "Using photopolymerization to achieve tunable liquid crystal lenses with coaxial bifocals," Opt. Express 20, 4738-4746 (2012)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-20-4-4738

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References

G. Li, D. L. Mathine, P. Valley, P. Ayräs, J. N. Haddock, M. S. Giridhar, G. Williby, J. Schwiegerling, G. R. Meredith, B. Kippelen, S. Honkanen, and N. Peyghambarian, “Switchable electro-optic diffractive lens with high efficiency for ophthalmic applications,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.103(16), 6100–6104 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
S. Somalingam, K. Dressbach, M. Hain, S. Stankovic, T. Tschudi, J. Knittel, and H. Richter, “Effective spherical aberration compensation by use of a nematic liquid-crystal device,” Appl. Opt.43(13), 2722–2729 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
M. Ye, B. Wang, M. Kawamura, and S. Sato, “Image formation using liquid crystal lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.46(10A), 6776–6777 (2007). [CrossRef]
H. C. Lin and Y. H. Lin, “A fast response and large electrically tunable-focusing imaging system based on switching of two modes of a liquid crystal lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett.97(6), 063505 (2010). [CrossRef]
S. Suyama, M. Date, and H. Takada, “Three-dimensional display system with dual-frequency liquid-crystal varifocal lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.39(Part 1, No. 2A), 480–484 (2000). [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]
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]
H. B. Yu, G. Y. Zhou, F. K. Chau, F. W. Lee, S. H. Wang, and H. M. Leung, “A liquid-filled tunable double-focus microlens,” Opt. Express17(6), 4782–4790 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
F. C. Wippermann, P. Schreiber, A. Bräuer, and P. Craen, “Bifocal liquid lens zoom objective for mobile phone applications,” Proc. SPIE6501, 650109, 650109-9 (2007). [CrossRef]
M. Hain, R. Glöckner, S. Bhattacharya, D. Dias, S. Stankovic, and T. Tschudi, “Fast switching liquid crystal lenses for a dual focus digital versatile disc pickup,” Opt. Commun.188(5-6), 291–299 (2001). [CrossRef]
Y. J. Lee, Y. W. Kim, Y. K. Kim, C. J. Yu, J. S. Gwag, and J. H. Kim, “Microlens array fabricated using electrohydrodynamic instability and surface properties,” Opt. Express19(11), 10673–10678 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
H. R. Stapert, S. del Valle, E. J. K. Verstegen, B. M. I. van der Zande, J. Lub, and S. Stallinga, “Photoreplicated anisotropic liquid-crystalline lenses for aberration control and dual-layer readout of optical discs,” Adv. Funct. Mater.13(9), 732–738 (2003). [CrossRef]
H. Choi, J. H. Park, J. Hong, and B. Lee, “Depth-enhanced integral imaging with a stepped lens array or a composite lens array for three-dimensional display,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.43(8A), 5330–5336 (2004). [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]
S. Masuda, S. Fujioka, M. Honma, T. Nose, and S. Sato, “Dependence of optical properties on the device and material parameters in liquid crystal microlenses,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.35(Part 1, No. 9A), 4668–4672 (1996). [CrossRef]

Adv. Funct. Mater.

H. R. Stapert, S. del Valle, E. J. K. Verstegen, B. M. I. van der Zande, J. Lub, and S. Stallinga, “Photoreplicated anisotropic liquid-crystalline lenses for aberration control and dual-layer readout of optical discs,” Adv. Funct. Mater.13(9), 732–738 (2003). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

S. Somalingam, K. Dressbach, M. Hain, S. Stankovic, T. Tschudi, J. Knittel, and H. Richter, “Effective spherical aberration compensation by use of a nematic liquid-crystal device,” Appl. Opt.43(13), 2722–2729 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

H. C. Lin and Y. H. Lin, “A fast response and large electrically tunable-focusing imaging system based on switching of two modes of a liquid crystal lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett.97(6), 063505 (2010). [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]

Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.

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]
S. Suyama, M. Date, and H. Takada, “Three-dimensional display system with dual-frequency liquid-crystal varifocal lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.39(Part 1, No. 2A), 480–484 (2000). [CrossRef]
M. Ye, B. Wang, M. Kawamura, and S. Sato, “Image formation using liquid crystal lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.46(10A), 6776–6777 (2007). [CrossRef]
H. Choi, J. H. Park, J. Hong, and B. Lee, “Depth-enhanced integral imaging with a stepped lens array or a composite lens array for three-dimensional display,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.43(8A), 5330–5336 (2004). [CrossRef]
S. Masuda, S. Fujioka, M. Honma, T. Nose, and S. Sato, “Dependence of optical properties on the device and material parameters in liquid crystal microlenses,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.35(Part 1, No. 9A), 4668–4672 (1996). [CrossRef]

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

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]

Opt. Commun.

M. Hain, R. Glöckner, S. Bhattacharya, D. Dias, S. Stankovic, and T. Tschudi, “Fast switching liquid crystal lenses for a dual focus digital versatile disc pickup,” Opt. Commun.188(5-6), 291–299 (2001). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

G. Li, D. L. Mathine, P. Valley, P. Ayräs, J. N. Haddock, M. S. Giridhar, G. Williby, J. Schwiegerling, G. R. Meredith, B. Kippelen, S. Honkanen, and N. Peyghambarian, “Switchable electro-optic diffractive lens with high efficiency for ophthalmic applications,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.103(16), 6100–6104 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Proc. SPIE

F. C. Wippermann, P. Schreiber, A. Bräuer, and P. Craen, “Bifocal liquid lens zoom objective for mobile phone applications,” Proc. SPIE6501, 650109, 650109-9 (2007). [CrossRef]

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