Switchable focus using a polymeric lenticular microlens array and a polarization rotator

We demonstrate a flat polymeric lenticular microlens array using a mixture of rod-like diacrylate monomer and positive dielectric anisotropy nematic liquid crystal (LC). To create gradient refractive index profile in one microlens, we generate fringing fields from a planar top electrode and two stri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics express 2013-04, Vol.21 (7), p.7916-7925
Main Authors: Ren, Hongwen, Xu, Su, Liu, Yifan, Wu, Shin-Tson
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
Lenses
Lighting - instrumentation
Liquid Crystals - chemistry
Miniaturization
Refractometry - instrumentation
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation
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Summary:We demonstrate a flat polymeric lenticular microlens array using a mixture of rod-like diacrylate monomer and positive dielectric anisotropy nematic liquid crystal (LC). To create gradient refractive index profile in one microlens, we generate fringing fields from a planar top electrode and two striped bottom electrodes. After UV stabilization, the film is optically anisotropic and can stand alone. We then laminate this film on a 90° twisted-nematic LC cell, which works as a dynamic polarization rotator. The static polymeric lenticular lens exhibits focusing effect only to the extraordinary ray, but no optical effect to the ordinary ray. Such an integrated lens system offers several advantages, such as low voltage, fast response time, and temperature insensitivity, and can be used for switchable 2D/3D displays.
ISSN:1094-4087
1094-4087
DOI:10.1364/oe.21.007916