Liquid crystal optical device with advanced electric field control capability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833312-B2
Application number	US-201314653574-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2013
Priority date	Dec 18, 2012
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A liquid crystal optical device is provided, including a layered structure including at least two support substrates. An external hole patterned control electrode is provided on one of the substrates and has an aperture. An internal hole patterned control electrode is provided on one of the substrates within the aperture, the internal and outer control electrodes being separated by a gap, which forms part of the aperture. A weakly conductive material is provided on one of the substrates over the aperture. A planar transparent electrode is provided on another one of the substrates. An alignment surface is provided on the substrates over the electrodes. A layer of liquid crystal material is contained by the substrates and in contact with the alignment surface of the substrates. A floating transparent electrode is provided on a side of one of the substrates opposite the outer and the internal hole patterned electrode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A liquid crystal gradient index optical device, the optical device comprising:
a first optical component having an optical aperture within a first aperture and an optical peripheral aberration near a peripheral portion of the first aperture, and
a second optical component configured to correct the optical peripheral aberration, at least the second optical component comprising:
at least two substrates;
an internal tape hole patterned control electrode provided on one of said substrates within said first aperture, said internal control electrode and an external hole patterned control electrode being separated by a gap, said gap forming part of said optical aperture;
a weakly conductive material provided in association with the internal hole patterned control electrode;
a planar transparent electrode provided on another of said substrates; and
an alignment surface provided on said substrates in contact with a layer of liquid crystal material between said substrates,
wherein an electric field provided by the internal hole patterned control electrode and the planar transparent electrode allow for the liquid crystal material to correct said optical peripheral aberration.

2. The optical device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first optical component comprises:
said external hole patterned control electrode having a physical aperture corresponding to the first aperture of the first optical component, the external hole patterned control electrode and the internal hole patterned control electrode both interacting with the weakly conductive material,
wherein electrical signals applied to both of the external hole patterned control electrode and the internal hole patterned control electrode allow for optical quality of the optical device to be controlled predominantly in said gap portion of said optical aperture.

3. The optical device as defined in claim 2 , further comprising:
a floating transparent electrode provided on a side of said one of said substrates opposite said external and said internal hole patterned electrode.

4. The optical device as defined in claim 2 , comprising at least three said substrates and two layers of liquid crystal materials, said layers being arranged orthogonally to one another so as to act on both linear polarizations of light.

5. The optical device as defined in claim 4 , wherein the external hole patterned control electrode and the internal hole patterned control electrode are located between said two liquid crystal layers and provide electric fields for said two liquid crystal layers.

6. The optical device as defined in claim 4 , wherein the external hole patterned control electrode and the internal hole patterned control electrode comprise two external hole patterned control electrodes and two internal hole patterned control electrodes for separately providing electric fields on said two liquid crystal layers.

7. The optical device as defined in claim 4 , comprising at least five said substrates and four layers of liquid crystal material, said layers being arranged orthogonally and opposed to one another so as to act on both linear polarizations of light with reduced angular sensitivity.

8. The optical device as defined in claim 2 , wherein at least said inner hole patterned electrode comprises a plurality of individually connected segments.

9. The optical device as defined in claim 2 , wherein said electrodes are arranged on an inside side of said substrates with respect to said liquid crystal layer.

10. The optical device as defined in claim 2 , further comprising a drive circuit configured to drive the external hole patterned electrode and the inner hole patterned electrode separately to provide variable control of an optical property of the device.

11. The optical device as defined in claim 2 , wherein the external hole patterned electrode and the inner hole patterned electrode have a circular geometry, and the optical device is a circular lens.

12. The optical device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the optical device is an ophthalmic lens.

13. The optical device as defined in claim 11 , wherein said first aperture is greater than 4 mm.

14. The optical device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the external hole patterned electrode and the inner hole patterned electrode are transparent electrodes, the device having a clear, fixed zero or non-zero optical power ring portion surrounding said aperture.

15. The optical device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the device is an implantable, intraocular lens.

16. The optical device as defined in claim 3 , wherein said floating transparent electrode is provided over only a central portion of said first aperture.

17. The optical device as defined in claim 16 , wherein said floating transparent electrode is provided over said central portion of said first aperture located further from the planar electrode than the inner hole patterned control electrode is located from the planar electrode.

18. The optical device as defined in claim 8 , wherein both said external hole patterned electrode and said inner hole patterned electrode, comprise a corresponding plurality of individually connected segments.

19. The optical device as defined in claim 13 , wherein said first aperture is greater than 5 mm.

20. The optical device as defined in claim 19 , wherein said first aperture is greater than 6 mm.

Assignees

• Lensvector Inc

Inventors

• Galstian Tigran
• Asatryan Karen
• Presniakov Vladimir
• Bagramyan Aram
• Tork Amir
• Zohrabyan Armen
• Careau Simon

Classifications

• A61F2/16

  Intraocular lenses · CPC title

• G02F1/29

  for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection · CPC title

• G02F1/13439

  characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making · CPC title

• A61F2/1627 Primary

  for changing index of refraction, e.g. by external means or by tilting · CPC title

• G02F1/1337

  Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers · CPC title