LIQUID CRYSTAL LENS DEVICES BASED ON CARBON NANOTUBES AND THEIR MANUFACTURING METHOD

摘要

An optical device is provided with a cover layer (16), a substrate (10) and a liquid crystal layer (20) sandwiched between the cover layer (18) and the substrate (10). A substrate electrode (14) is formed at the substrate (10) and at least one conductive projecting element (12), such as a carbon nanotube or group of carbon nanotubes, is electrically connected to and projects from the substrate electrode (14). The electric potential of the conductive projecting element is controllable by the substrate electrode. This provides a spatial variation (22) in the optical properties of the liquid crystal layer in a region local to the projecting element (12). The projecting element (12) has a tip distal from the substrate electrode, with a sharp radius of curvature. This allows the liquid crystal layer (20) to be controlled to provide a lensing effect.