Liquid-crystal microlens arrays using patterned polymer networks.
A real-time dynamically tunable-focus microlens array made from a polymer-liquid-crystal (LC) composite is demonstrated. The polymer was first patterned in microlens array cavities by lamination, and the LC-monomer mixture was then injected to the molded polymer cavities and finally stabilized by UV light-induced networks. Using this new fabrication method, we demonstrated a lens with a spherical shape and a glazed surface. This LC-based microlens can reach approximately 100% light efficiency for linearly polarized light. The saturation voltage of the lens is approximately 60 Vrms, and the response time is approximately 30 ms.
College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA. hren@mail.ucf.edu
Hongwen
H
Ren
Yun-Hsing
YH
Fan
Shin-Tson
ST
Wu