A controllable light propagation system includes a light guide elongated in a first direction, a controllable liquid crystal (LC) element including an LC material and having a first side adjacent the light guide to define a dynamic interface between the light guide and controllable LC element, and an array of electrodes arranged at different locations along the first direction. The array of electrodes arranged along the first direction are selectively activatable to generate electric fields in the LC material to control a transmissivity of the dynamic interface between the light guide and the controllable LC element, thereby allowing a controlled extraction of light at selected locations along the light guide. An array of optical elements may be provided at a second side of the controllable LC element to deflect or otherwise influence the extracted light, e.g., as a function of the location of the extracted light along the first direction.
A beam steering system may include a dynamically controllable liquid crystal (LC) beam steering device including an array of multiple LC beam steering segments, an upstream lens array arranged upstream of the beam steering device, and control electronics configured to control the beam steering device to output a directionally steered light. The upstream lens array includes multiple upstream lens elements, each configured to reduce a beam width of a respective light beam to provide a reduced-diameter light beam to a corresponding LC beam steering segment in the multi-segment LC beam steering device. Providing reduced-diameter light beams to the beam steering device may reduce unwanted beam steering effects and provide an improved beam steering efficiency of the beam steering system.
G02F 1/29 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion
Liquid crystal (LC) beam control devices using a dispersion shaped (DS) half wave plate (HWP), with specific physical characteristics, allows the broadened beam to maintain significantly better the color cohesion. Beneficial aspects of using a HWP with an appropriate thickness and birefringence index which makes it inefficient in the blue wavelength spectrum, therefore reducing the blue photon depletion in the center of the broadened beam is described herein. Combinations of an homeotropic LC cell and DS HWP structures for reduced color separation, faster relaxation time and reduced ground state scattering is further described herein.
G02F 1/13 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides
4.
DYNAMIC LIGHTING DEVICE WITH CONTROLLED COLOR TEMPERATURE
A variable angle beam control device is capable of maintaining the same color temperature of the light source regardless of the changes in the angle of the beam. The controllable light beam device has a light source with primary optics producing a low divergence light beam having an inverted angular distribution of the correlated color temperature (CCT), and a liquid crystal device with an electrically variable refractive index distribution arranged to receive said light beam and to provide a variable angle beam.
F21V 9/40 - Éléments modifiant les caractéristiques spectrales, la polarisation ou l’intensité de la lumière émise, p. ex. filtres avec des dispositions pour commander les propriétés spectrales, p. ex. la couleur, ou l’intensité
F21V 5/02 - Réfracteurs pour sources lumineuses de forme prismatique
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
G02F 1/13 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides
An architectural lighting device for wall washing providing suitable beam modulation is described herein. The device combines a variable divergence beam source (a light source along with a beam stretching element) in combination with a specially designed side reflector that redirects a portion of a broadened beam back onto the wall so as to have wall illumination increase with beam divergence.
An optical object detection device and method using a light emitter and a detector sensitive to reflected light from an object is described herein. The object detection device includes a liquid crystal beam shaping element to allow beam steering, broadening and diffraction of the light emitter. The detection of the object may be done through analyzing the reflected light from different degrees of broadening of the light emitter's beam. The localization and/or the shape of the object may further be determined by analyzing the reflected light from a grid pattern obtained through diffracting the light emitter's beam.
G01S 17/06 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible
G01B 11/25 - Dispositions pour la mesure caractérisées par l'utilisation de techniques optiques pour mesurer des contours ou des courbes en projetant un motif, p. ex. des franges de moiré, sur l'objet
G01S 17/04 - Systèmes de détermination de la présence d'une cible
G01S 7/481 - Caractéristiques de structure, p. ex. agencements d'éléments optiques
7.
Liquid crystal beam control device with improved zone transition and method of manufacture thereof
A liquid crystal optical device is described configured to provide variable beam steering or refractive Fresnel lens control over light passing through an aperture of the device. The device includes at least one layer of liquid crystal material contained by substrates having alignment layers. An arrangement of electrodes is configured to provide a spatially varying electric field distribution within a number of zones within the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal optical device is structured to provide a spatial variation in optical phase delay with a transition at a boundary between zones which is an approximation of a sawtooth waveform across the boundaries of multiple zones. The arrangement of electrodes, device layered geometry and methods of driving the electrodes increase the effective aperture of the overall optical device.
G02F 1/1337 - Orientation des molécules des cristaux liquides induite par les caractéristiques de surface, p. ex. par des couches d'alignement
G02F 1/1339 - JointsÉléments d'espacementScellement des cellules
G02F 1/29 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion
G02B 3/08 - Lentilles simples ou composées à surfaces non sphériques à surfaces discontinues, p. ex. lentille de Fresnel
Liquid crystal light beam broadening devices and their manufacture are described. Beneficial aspects of beam broadening devices employed for controlled illumination and architectural purposes are presented including providing symmetric beam broadening, improving the beam intensity profile, beam divergence preconditioning and improving projected beam intensity uniformity. Both beam control devices having in-plane and homeotropic ground state liquid crystal alignment are presented.
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
G02F 1/29 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion
For vehicles having left and right headlights, a steering direction signal input indicative of a left or right steering direction is used to modulate a control signal of a liquid crystal beam broadening device to broaden horizontally the vehicle headlight beam when the steering direction signal input is indicative of a selected one of a left or a right steering direction and to maintain or reduce a horizontal spread of the vehicle headlight beam when said steering direction signal input is indicative of one of a left or a right steering direction opposite to the selected steering direction.
B60Q 1/12 - Agencement des dispositifs de signalisation optique ou d'éclairage, leur montage, leur support ou les circuits à cet effet les dispositifs étant principalement destinés à éclairer la route en avant du véhicule ou d'autres zones de la route ou des environs les dispositifs étant des phares réglables, p. ex. commandés à distance de l'intérieur du véhicule automatiquement selon l'orientation de la direction
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
G02F 1/29 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion
Liquid crystal (LC) beam modulation devices are applied to lighting control or to optical wireless communications to improve performance of lighting or communications. A flexible optical network using LC beam modulation and common control of beam intensity and solid angle of beams are also described.
H04B 10/516 - Détails du codage ou de la modulation
G02F 1/13 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides
G02F 1/29 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion
A lighting device using a liquid crystal beam modulator produces good broadening of a light beam. The liquid crystal cell has a patterned electrode structure having a pattern of paired electrodes on a first one of a pair of cell substrates for providing a spatially modulated electric field extending into a liquid crystal material, and the cell is arranged with respect to a light source so that an incident beam will arrive through another of the pair of substrates and exit from the first one of the pair of substrates.
G02F 1/00 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
G02F 1/13 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides
G02F 1/29 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion
14.
LIQUID CRYSTAL DYNAMIC BEAM CONTROL DEVICE AND MANUFACTURE
A variable light beam is provided from a light source. The light source can be an LED light source or other source. The light source includes basic collimation optics, such as reflector or Fresnel lens, an electrically controllable LC device, such as a polydisperse LC film, in front of the incident spot light beam. Preferably the polydisperse LC film includes transparent flat uniform electrode layers. The LC device can be autonomous of the light source. The proposed solution provides a dynamically controllable, preferably polarizer-free and pixel-free, beam shape light source module including a controllable light beam control module and a light source module providing the initial light beam in a scanner light source, a camera flash, an architectural, automobile or industrial lighting device.
G02F 1/29 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion
F21V 8/00 - Utilisation de guides de lumière, p. ex. dispositifs à fibres optiques, dans les dispositifs ou systèmes d'éclairage
G02F 1/13 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides
G02F 1/1334 - Dispositions relatives à la structure basées sur des cristaux liquides dispersés dans un polymère, p. ex. cristaux liquides micro-encapsulés
G08C 23/04 - Systèmes de transmission de signaux non électriques, p. ex. systèmes optiques utilisant des ondes lumineuses, p. ex. infrarouges
A liquid crystal optical device providing refractive Fresnel lens type element control over light passing through an aperture is provided. The device includes a layer of liquid crystal material contained by flat substrates having flat alignment layers; and an arrangement of electrodes configured to provide a spatially varying voltage distribution within a number of lensing zones within said liquid crystal layer. The arrangement of electrodes includes ring- shaped electrodes defining boundaries between Fresnel lensing zones. The liquid crystal optical device is structured to provide a spatial variation in the optical phase delay with an abrupt transition at a boundary between lensing zones to increase the effective aperture of the optical device.
Liquid crystal light beam control devices and their manufacture are described. Beneficial aspects of beam broadening devices employed for controlled illumination and architectural purposes are presented including improving beam divergence control, improving beam broadening dynamic range control, beam divergence preconditioning, improving projected beam intensity uniformity and reducing color separation in the projected beam. Both beam control devices having in-plane and homeotropic ground state liquid crystal alignment are presented.
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
G02F 1/13 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides
An autofocus camera assembly is described. The camera assembly includes an electrically controllable optical power lens and a lens assembly having a frame supporting at least one lens element near the electrically controllable optical power lens. The electrically controllable optical power lens is mounted to an object end of the frame. An aperture stop is provided located either at or within the electrically controllable optical power lens or on an external surface of the frame next to the electrically controllable optical power lens. The aperture stop can include an opaque mask and optionally alignment marks.
A liquid crystal optical device is described configured to provide variable beam steering or refractive Fresnel lens control over light passing through an aperture of the device. The device includes at least one layer of liquid crystal material contained by substrates having alignment layers. An arrangement of electrodes is configured to provide a spatially varying electric field distribution within a number of zones within the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal optical device is structured to provide a spatial variation in optical phase delay with a transition at a boundary between zones which is an approximation of a sawtooth waveform across the boundaries of multiple zones. The arrangement of electrodes, device layered geometry and methods of driving the electrodes increase the effective aperture of the overall optical device.
A method of wafer level manufacturing, separating and electrical connection of liquid crystal optical devices is disclosed. An electro-optic device having at least one liquid crystal cell for providing spatially variable control of light is also described. The electro- optic device includes: a pair of opposed substrates, each substrate having a lateral extent; a pair of electrodes for applying an electric field therebetween, each electrode having a pattern and being deposited on a corresponding substrate, each electrode having an electrical contact area extending to at least one side of the corresponding substrate; a pair of alignment layers sandwiching a liquid crystal layer therebetween, the alignment layers defining a predominant orientation direction for liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer; and a liquid crystal reservoir wall defining a lateral extent of the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal reservoir wall being spaced from at least one side of each substrate such that each electrode electrical contact area is exposed to air in an air gap between the substrates.
A variable liquid crystal optical device for controlling the propagation of light has one or more transparent thin-film highly-resistive layer (HRL) coupled to a substrate and an electrode structure. The HRL has core layer and a cover or proximity layer, wherein the core layer material has a higher electrical conductivity and higher refractive index than the cover layer material; and wherein the core and cover layer materials have substantially the same free energies of formation of oxide. In this way, the electrode structure will be environmentally stable and responsive to an applied electrical current to generate a spatially non-uniform magnetic field.
A method of wafer level manufacturing and assembly of a liquid crystal optical device is disclosed. An electro-optic device having at least one liquid crystal cell for providing spatially variable control of light is also described. The electro-optic device includes: a pair of opposed substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal layer therebetween; a pair of electrodes for applying an electric field therebetween, each electrode being deposited on a corresponding substrate; and a liquid crystal reservoir wall defining a lateral extent of the liquid crystal layer between the substrates. The reservoir wall includes: a first bottom barrier deposited on a bottom one of the pair of substrates; and a second curable top barrier deposited on the top substrate outside the first barrier. The first barrier and second uncured barrier are configured to merge on contact to retain liquid crystal material inside the reservoir wall prior to curing the second barrier.
An ocular adaptive lens prosthesis apparatus is provided. In some implementations the apparatus includes a tunable liquid crystal lens encapsulated in the ocular prosthesis with control electronics and a power source. The tunable liquid crystal lens is driven in response to a convergence signal to provide accommodation. In some embodiments the tunable liquid crystal device corrects other visual shortcomings of the natural eye. The ocular prosthesis has a remote programmable tunable liquid crystal lens controller configured to recalibrate the tunable liquid crystal lens to compensate for dynamic adaptation of the eye over time. A coil is employed to transmit a convergence signal between a pair of ocular prostheses in a dual eye vision correction system.
A61F 2/50 - Prothèses non implantables dans le corps
G02B 7/09 - Montures, moyens de réglage ou raccords étanches à la lumière pour éléments optiques pour lentilles avec mécanisme de mise au point ou pour faire varier le grossissement adaptés pour la mise au point automatique ou pour faire varier le grossissement de façon automatique
G02B 7/28 - Systèmes pour la génération automatique de signaux de mise au point
A reprogrammable intraocular adaptive lens prosthesis apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a tunable liquid crystal lens (TLCL) encapsulated in the intraocular prosthesis with control electronics and a power source or in the intraocular prosthesis with a control signal receiver while an external control electronics package transmits the control signal. The TLCL is driven in response to a stimulus signal to provide accommodation. The TLCL corrects other visual shortcomings of the natural eye. The intraocular prosthesis has a remote programmable TLCL controller configured to recalibrate the TLCL to compensate for dynamic adaptation of the eye over time.
A61B 3/10 - Appareils pour l'examen optique des yeuxAppareils pour l'examen clinique des yeux du type à mesure objective, c.-à-d. instruments pour l'examen des yeux indépendamment des perceptions ou des réactions du patient
A61F 2/48 - Moyens d'actionnement ou de commande, p. ex. de l'extérieur du corps, commande de sphincters
G02F 1/133 - Dispositions relatives à la structureExcitation de cellules à cristaux liquidesDispositions relatives aux circuits
H02J 17/00 - Systèmes pour l'alimentation ou la distribution d'énergie par ondes électromagnétiques
24.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FOCUS IMPROVEMENT IN MULTIPLE LIQUID CRYSTAL CELL LENSES
A liquid crystal optical device is provided including at least two LC cells. A first LC cell layer has a predominant director orientation imparting a transversally non-uniform phase delay to a first polarization of an unpolarized incident light field passing therethrough while incident light of a second polarization orthogonal to the first light polarization passes therethrough undergoing transversally uniform phase delay. The first LC cell is configured to project a center extraordinary ray onto an optical axis of the device at the image surface. A second LC cell layer has a predominant director oriented orthogonally to the other predominant director in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The second LC layer imparts a transversally non-uniform phase delay to the second polarization of the incident light passing therethrough, the second LC cell being configured to project a center ordinary ray onto the optical axis at the image surface.
G02F 1/29 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion
G02B 1/02 - Éléments optiques caractérisés par la substance dont ils sont faitsRevêtements optiques pour éléments optiques faits de cristaux, p. ex. sel gemme, semi-conducteurs
G02B 1/06 - Éléments optiques caractérisés par la substance dont ils sont faitsRevêtements optiques pour éléments optiques faits de fluides en cellules transparentes
G02B 3/12 - Lentilles remplies d'un fluide ou à l'intérieur desquelles le vide a été fait
25.
LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICAL DEVICE WITH ADVANCED ELECTRIC FIELD CONTROL CAPABILITY
A liquid crystal optical device is provided. The optical device includes 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 control electrode and the outer control electrode being separated by a gap. The gap 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.
G02F 1/1347 - Disposition de couches ou de cellules à cristaux liquides dans lesquelles un faisceau lumineux est modifié par l'addition des effets de plusieurs couches ou cellules
26.
CAPACITIVELY COUPLED ELECTRIC FIELD CONTROL DEVICE
A spatially non-uniform electrode structure is proposed for controlling a spatially non- uniform electric field driving a tunable liquid crystal lens. The spatially non-uniform electrode structure enables the generation of a predetermined spatially non-uniform electric field profile where complex capacitive coupling between multiple different electrically floating neighboring electrode segments is employed for the generation of the electrical field of desired form by supplying an initial electric potential to a limited number of electrodes.
G02B 1/00 - Éléments optiques caractérisés par la substance dont ils sont faitsRevêtements optiques pour éléments optiques
G02B 3/12 - Lentilles remplies d'un fluide ou à l'intérieur desquelles le vide a été fait
G02B 5/00 - Éléments optiques autres que les lentilles
G02F 1/13 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides
27.
MULTIPLE CELL LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICAL DEVICE WITH COUPLED ELECTRIC FIELD CONTROL
A liquid crystal optical device is provided. The optical device includes a liquid crystal cell controlling optical properties of light passing therethrough and has: a liquid crystal layer, a planar electrode located to one side of said liquid crystal layer; an electric field control structure located to the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer; and a wavefront adjustment structure configured to provide optical phase front adjustment. In some embodiments the wavefront adjustment structure is a conductive floating electrode. In other embodiments the wavefront adjustment structure is a weakly conductive structure having spatially variable sheet resistance. In other embodiments the wavefront adjustment structure a weakly conductive structure having spatially variable sheet resistance having a frequency dependent characteristic.
A tunable liquid crystal lens employing a dual frequency liquid crystal material exhibiting a dielectric anisotropy about a crossover frequency at room temperature is provided. A tunable liquid crystal lens drive signal having low and high frequency components about the crossover frequency, applies a spatially modulated electric field to the dual frequency liquid crystal layer, wherein the differential root means square amplitude determines the optical power. Changing the differential root means square amplitude provides optical power changes under prevailing excitation conditions providing improvements in optical power change speed. Employing drive signal pulses can impart further optical power change speed improvements. A variety of tunable liquid crystal lens structures employing the proposed solution are described.
G02F 1/1333 - Dispositions relatives à la structure
G02B 7/28 - Systèmes pour la génération automatique de signaux de mise au point
G02F 1/1347 - Disposition de couches ou de cellules à cristaux liquides dans lesquelles un faisceau lumineux est modifié par l'addition des effets de plusieurs couches ou cellules
H04N 5/335 - Transformation d'informations lumineuses ou analogues en informations électriques utilisant des capteurs d'images à l'état solide [capteurs SSIS]
29.
IN-FLIGHT AUTO FOCUS METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TUNABLE LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICAL ELEMENT
An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.
G02F 1/137 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides caractérisés par l'effet électro-optique ou magnéto-optique, p. ex. transition de phase induite par un champ, effet d'orientation, interaction entre milieu récepteur et matière additive ou diffusion dynamique
G02F 1/133 - Dispositions relatives à la structureExcitation de cellules à cristaux liquidesDispositions relatives aux circuits
30.
CALIBRATION OF TUNABLE LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICAL DEVICE
A tunable liquid crystal optical device is described. The optical device has an electrode arrangement associated with a liquid crystal cell and includes a hole patterned electrode, wherein control of the liquid crystal cell depends on electrical characteristics of liquid crystal optical device layers. The optical device further has a circuit for measuring said electrical characteristics of the liquid crystal optical device layers, and a drive signal circuit having at least one parameter adjusted as a function of the measured electrical characteristics. The drive signal circuit generates a control signal for the electrode arrangement.
G02F 1/137 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides caractérisés par l'effet électro-optique ou magnéto-optique, p. ex. transition de phase induite par un champ, effet d'orientation, interaction entre milieu récepteur et matière additive ou diffusion dynamique
G02F 1/133 - Dispositions relatives à la structureExcitation de cellules à cristaux liquidesDispositions relatives aux circuits
31.
IMAGE STABILIZATION AND SHIFTING IN A LIQUID CRYSTAL LENS
Variable liquid crystal devices for controlling the propagation of light through a liquid crystal layer use a frequency dependent material to dynamically reconfigure effective electrode structures in the device. The frequency of a drive signal that generates an electric field in the device can be varied, and the frequency dependent material has different charge mobilities for the different frequencies. At a low charge mobility, the frequency dependent material has little effect on the existing electrode structures. However, at a high charge mobility, the frequency dependent material appears as an extension of the fixed electrodes, and can be used to change the effective electrode structure and, thereby, the spatial profile of the electric field. This, in turn, changes the optical properties of the liquid crystal, thus allowing the optical device to be frequency controllable.
An apparatus for controlling light transmission from an optical input to an optical output can function as a tunable iris or eclipse, or as a privacy window. The iris/eclipse can use a liquid crystal matrix with a dispersion of dichroic particles that absorb light in one orientation and transmit light in another, such that controlling the liquid crystal with an electric field allows control of the dichroic particles. Alternatively, a layer may be used with a light absorbing liquid or powder material that moves with a charged material in response to a variable electric field applied to the layer. Privacy windows use a plurality of liquid crystal microlenses that can be controlled with an electric field to allow an image of an optical input to be obtainable at an optical output when in a first state, or to render the image irretrievable when in a second state.
G02F 1/133 - Dispositions relatives à la structureExcitation de cellules à cristaux liquidesDispositions relatives aux circuits
G02F 1/167 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur le mouvement de translation des particules dans un fluide sous l’influence de l’application d’un champ caractérisés par l’effet électro-optique ou magnéto-optique par électrophorèse
33.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING OPERATION OF AN OPTICAL LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICE, AND MANUFACTURING OF DEVICE
Methods and apparatus for testing operation of a single or multiple tunable active optical device(s) operated by one or more driving electrodes are described Test methods and apparatus are provided for device testing without necessarily requiring direct physical contact with the driving electrodes Testing subjects devices to incident light along an optical path and to an external electric field applied to the device producing a dipolar charge distribution within the electrodes, causing the device to operate The effect of device operation on incident light is optically sensed The sensed effect is analyzed to identify device defects Test methods and apparatus are provided for testing multiple unsingulated devices during fabrication employing a strip contact structure having contact strips connected to multiple devices and extending to wafer edges, such that singulating devices leaves portions of the strip contact structure exposed on device dice edges providing electrical contacts in use.
G02F 1/01 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur
A wafer level camera module may be easily connected to a host device via mounting surface contacts. The module includes an electrically controllable active optical element and a flexible printed circuit that provides electrical connection between the optical element and surface conductors on a mounting surface of the module. The surface conductors may be a group of solder balls, and the module may have another group of solder balls that make connection to another electrical component of the module, such as an image sensor. All of the solder balls may be coplanar in a predetermined grid pattern, and all of the components of the device may be surrounded by a housing such that the camera module is an easily mounted ball grid array type package.
H01J 5/02 - EnceintesRécipientsBlindages associésVannes à vide
H01L 31/0232 - Dispositifs à semi-conducteurs sensibles aux rayons infrarouges, à la lumière, au rayonnement électromagnétique d'ondes plus courtes, ou au rayonnement corpusculaire, et spécialement adaptés, soit comme convertisseurs de l'énergie dudit rayonnement e; Procédés ou appareils spécialement adaptés à la fabrication ou au traitement de ces dispositifs ou de leurs parties constitutives; Leurs détails - Détails Éléments ou dispositions optiques associés au dispositif
35.
OPTICAL LENS HAVING FIXED LENSES AND EMBEDDED ACTIVE OPTICS
An electrically controllable optical lens apparatus makes use of fixed lenses and an active optical element together in a lens enclosure. The enclosure may be a barrel structure that is easily mounted to a camera device having an image sensor. The active optical element, such as a tunable liquid crystal lens, receives an electrical signal from the camera device via electrical conductors integral with the lens enclosure that provide electrical pathways between the active element on the interior of the enclosure and surface contacts on the camera device. The enclosure may be a two-piece structure, and the electrical conductors may be attached to either piece of the structure. The lens enclosure may also be threaded for attachment to the camera device. The electrical conductors may also use spring loaded contact portions or molded interconnect devices.
A focus free camera module uses fixed lenses within a housing that are combined with an electrically controllable active optical element, such as a tunable liquid crystal lens. The fixed lenses provide a desired amount of optical power, but the manufacturing tolerances of the module are insufficient to ensure a proper focus of an image on an image sensor. The active optical element is therefore used to compensate for any variations in the optical power to achieve the desired focus. To ensure an effective compensation, the module may be constructed so that, when the variation in optical power due to manufacturing tolerances is at a maximum, the desired focus is achieved when the active optical element is at zero optical power. All other variations may then be compensated by adjusting the active optical element to increase its optical power.
A wafer level method of manufacturing a liquid crystal optical device removes the need for a rigid barrier fillet while minimizing any risk of contamination of the liquid crystal. An uncured adhesive may be deposited on a bottom substrate and partially cured to form a liquid crystal barrier. After addition of the liquid crystal and a top substrate, the adhesive is fully cured to bond the substrate layers together. An uncured adhesive may be used together with the partially cured adhesive, and may be deposited separately or filled into an extracellular matrix surrounding a plurality of liquid crystal cells. The adhesive may be cured by a variety of means, including light that may be spatially modulated. One or both of the substrates may be deformed during assembly so as to create a structure with a lensing effect on light passing through the liquid crystal region.
Liquid crystal optoelectronic devices are produced by fabricating a wafer- level component structure and affixing a plurality of discrete components to a surface structure prior to singulating the individual devices therefrom. After singulation, the individual devices include a portion of the wafer-level fabricated structure and at least of the discrete components. The wafer-level structure may include a liquid crystal and controlling electrodes, and the discrete components may include fixed lenses or image sensors. The discrete components may be located on either or both of two sides of the wafer-level structure. Multiple liquid crystal layers may be used to reduce nonuniformities in the interaction with light from different angles, and to control light of different polarizations. The liquid crystal devices may function as optoelectronic devices such as tunable lenses, shutters or diaphragms.
G02F 1/136 - Cellules à cristaux liquides associées structurellement avec une couche ou un substrat semi-conducteurs, p. ex. cellules faisant partie d'un circuit intégré
H01L 21/77 - Fabrication ou traitement de dispositifs consistant en une pluralité de composants à l'état solide ou de circuits intégrés formés dans ou sur un substrat commun
H01L 21/78 - Fabrication ou traitement de dispositifs consistant en une pluralité de composants à l'état solide ou de circuits intégrés formés dans ou sur un substrat commun avec une division ultérieure du substrat en plusieurs dispositifs individuels
H01L 21/98 - Assemblage de dispositifs consistant en composants à l'état solide formés dans ou sur un substrat communAssemblage de dispositifs à circuit intégré
A camera module and method for focusing a tunable lens configured to continuously vary its optical power in response to a drive signal. A drive circuit generates the drive signal so that the tunable lens performs a continuous scan of its optical power. An image sensor is configured to acquire light images passing through the tunable lens, and to convert the light images to image signals during the continuous scan. A processor is configured to generate focus scores of the acquired light images using the image signals during the continuous scan. The processor is configured to determine from the focus scores a peak focus score achieved or achievable, and to instruct the drive circuit to adjust the drive signal so that the tunable lens settles at a value of the optical power that corresponds to the peak focus score.
A liquid crystal lens or beam steering device is made by programming alignment surfaces of the LC cell walls using a programming field to align the alignment surface molecules before fixing them. By setting the desired pre-tilt, the lens can operate in the absence of the control field, and power consumption by the control field can be reduced.
Variable liquid crystal devices for controlling the propagation of light through a liquid crystal layer use a frequency dependent material to dynamically reconfigure effective electrode structures in the device. The frequency of a drive signal that generates an electric field in the device may be varied, and the frequency dependent material has different charge mobilities for the different frequencies. At a low charge mobility, the frequency dependent material has little effect on the existing electrode structures. However, at a high charge mobility, the frequency dependent material appears as an extension of the fixed electrodes, and may be used to change the effective electrode structure and, thereby, the spatial profile of the electric field. This, in turn, changes the optical properties of the liquid crystal, thus allowing the optical device to be frequency controllable.
H01B 1/12 - Conducteurs ou corps conducteurs caractérisés par les matériaux conducteurs utilisésEmploi de matériaux spécifiés comme conducteurs composés principalement d'autres substances non métalliques substances organiques
C08J 3/28 - Traitement par ondes énergétiques ou par rayonnement de particules
C08L 57/00 - Compositions contenant des polymères non spécifiés obtenus par des réactions ne faisant intervenir que des liaisons non saturées carbone-carbone
G02F 1/133 - Dispositions relatives à la structureExcitation de cellules à cristaux liquidesDispositions relatives aux circuits
A tunable liquid crystal optical device defining an optical aperture and having a layered structure. The device includes a film electrode formed on a surface of a first substrate and covered by a second substrate, and a contact structure filling a volume within the layered structure and contacting the film electrode. The contact structure is located outside of the optical aperture and provides an electrical connection surface much larger than a thickness of the film electrode, such that reliable electrical connections may be made to the electrode, particularly in the context of wafer scale manufacturing of such a device.
G02F 1/137 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides caractérisés par l'effet électro-optique ou magnéto-optique, p. ex. transition de phase induite par un champ, effet d'orientation, interaction entre milieu récepteur et matière additive ou diffusion dynamique
A liquid crystal optical device has a layered structure with split liquid crystal layers having alignment surfaces that define in a liquid crystal material pre-tilt angles of opposite signs. Four liquid crystal layers can provide two directions of linear polarization. In the case of a lens, the device can be a gradient index lens, and the alignment surfaces can have a spatially uniform pre-tilt.
G02F 1/133 - Dispositions relatives à la structureExcitation de cellules à cristaux liquidesDispositions relatives aux circuits
G02F 1/137 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des cristaux liquides, p. ex. cellules d'affichage individuelles à cristaux liquides caractérisés par l'effet électro-optique ou magnéto-optique, p. ex. transition de phase induite par un champ, effet d'orientation, interaction entre milieu récepteur et matière additive ou diffusion dynamique
