Electro-optical devices using dynamic reconfiguration of effective electrode structures

摘要

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 drive signal source uses pulse-width modulation to set a frequency and an amplitude of the drive signal.

主权项

1. A variable optical device for controlling the propagation of light, said optical device comprising:
a liquid crystal layer; an electrode system arranged to generate an electric field acting on said liquid crystal layer, said electrode system including: a bottom flat electrode, a top fixed conductor electrode; and a frequency dependent material having a charge mobility that varies with a frequency of an electrical drive signal applied to the electrode system, at least one of said fixed conductor electrode and said frequency dependent material being characterized by a non-flat geometry; wherein a frequency of the drive signal is varied to vary an effective electrode configuration of the electrode system so as to modify a spatial profile of the electric field to provide a desired light propagation behavior and wherein the electric field has a portion substantially defined by said fixed conductor electrode that varies little as a function of frequency of said drive signal, and a portion defined by said frequency dependent material that varies significantly as a function of frequency of said drive signal.