Tunable liquid crystal lens, lens array and lens system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to tunable liquid crystal lenses, lens arrays, and lens systems. A tunable lens includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a seal between the upper substrate and the lower substrate that forms a chamber between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The tunable lens also includes liquid crystal that fills the chamber. The upper substrate includes an upper electrode and an upper transparent resistive film. The lower substrate includes a lower electrode and a lower transparent resistive film. In response to a drive signal that is applied, the upper transparent resistive film and the lower transparent resistive film generate a non-linear electric field that passes through the chamber and causes molecules of the liquid crystal to undergo orientation.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 792,593, filed April 22, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to lenses and lens arrays, and more particularly to lenses and lens arrays used in optical exchange systems. Background Technology

[0004] Temperature fluctuations and / or other changing environmental conditions can negatively impact the performance of optical switching systems. Therefore, optical switching systems may benefit from technologies that allow real-time tuning of optical characteristics to compensate for environmental variations.

[0005] Other limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional methods will become apparent to those skilled in the art when compared with some aspects of this disclosure set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings in the remainder of this application. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Lenses and lens arrays with adjustable focal power are illustrated in at least one accompanying drawing and / or described in conjunction with at least one accompanying drawing, as set forth more fully in the claims. Specifically, the focal power of each lens in such lenses and / or such lens arrays can be adjusted by electrical control and / or drive signals. In various embodiments, such tuning of the focal power can compensate for environmentally induced variations in optical performance.

[0007] These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of this disclosure, as well as details of the embodiments shown therein, will be more fully understood from the following description and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The features and advantages of this disclosure can be more readily understood by referring to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like structural elements.

[0009] Figure 1 An embodiment of the lens system is shown, depicting, through perspective views, how the lens system can provide elliptical power tuning for its lenses.

[0010] Figure 2A It shows Figure 1 A lens system, wherein a lens with a positive nematic liquid crystal is depicted in a side view.

[0011] Figure 2B Presented Figure 1A lens system, wherein a lens with a negative nematic liquid crystal is depicted in a side view.

[0012] Figure 3 An embodiment of a lens system is shown, which provides cylindrical power tuning for its lenses.

[0013] Figure 4 An implementation of a lens system is described, which provides different focal length tuning for its lenses in a first direction and a second direction.

[0014] Figure 5 An implementation of a lens system is described, which provides spherical power tuning for its lenses.

[0015] Figure 6 Depicting by Figure 1 An example of a nonlinear electric field generated by a lens system.

[0016] Figure 7 An implementation of a lens system is described, which provides focal tuning for the lenses in its lens array. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The accompanying drawings illustrate the general construction method. Descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring this disclosure. Furthermore, elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures may be enlarged relative to other elements to aid in understanding the examples discussed in this disclosure. The same reference numerals in different drawings denote the same elements.

[0018] The term "and / or" refers to any one or more items in a list connected by "and / or". As an example, "x and / or y" represents any element in the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. In other words, "x and / or y" means "one or both of x and y". As another example, "x, y and / or z" refers to any element in the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. In other words, "x, y and / or z" means "one or more of x, y, and z".

[0019] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and / or “including” are “open-ended” terms and specify the presence of the stated feature but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features.

[0020] The terms “first,” “second,” etc., are used herein to describe various elements, and these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. Thus, for example, a first element discussed in this disclosure may be referred to as a second element without departing from the teachings of this disclosure.

[0021] The term "AC" is used in its broadest sense herein to mean "alternating," regardless of whether it refers to current, voltage, or other properties. For example, the term AC signal and similar terms can be used to describe signals that can be alternating current signals or alternating voltage signals.

[0022] Furthermore, any numerical range listed herein is intended to include all subranges within its range. For example, the range “1 to 10” is intended to include any and all subranges between (and including) the minimum value 1 and the maximum value 10, that is, all subranges that begin with a minimum value equal to or greater than 1 and end with a maximum value equal to or less than 10, and all subranges in between, such as 1 to 6.3, or 5.5 to 10, or 2.7 to 6.1.

[0023] This disclosure relates to lens systems in which the focal power of one or more lenses in a lens and / or lens array can be tuned. Specifically, the lens may include an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a sealing ring for forming a cavity between the upper and lower substrates. Furthermore, the cavity of the lens may be filled with liquid crystal. The upper substrate may include an upper electrode and an upper transparent resistive film. The lower substrate may similarly include a lower electrode and a lower transparent resistive film. In response to one or more AC drive signals, the upper and lower transparent resistive films can form a nonlinear electric field through the cavity by means of the distributed capacitance between the upper and lower substrates. The nonlinear electric field can orient the molecules of the liquid crystal within the cavity and adjust the focal power of the lens. Therefore, the focal power of the lens can be tuned by appropriately applying one or more AC drive signals to the upper and lower electrodes.

[0024] According to various aspects of this disclosure, the voltage difference between the upper and lower transparent resistive films can control the orientation of the liquid crystal within the cavity. Due to the resistance of these resistive films and the distributed capacitance between them, the resulting voltage difference can exhibit a non-linear spatial distribution. Specifically, the higher the resistance of these resistive films, the steeper the voltage gradient, which can enhance the focusing ability of the lens. Therefore, the focusing strength of the lens can be further tuned by adjusting the voltage difference between the upper and lower electrodes and the individual resistive films.

[0025] Now for reference Figure 1 , Figure 2A and Figure 2BLens system 11 is shown according to various aspects of this disclosure. As shown, lens system 11 may include lens 101, one or more controllable AC sources 300, and controller 400. Figure 1 A perspective view of lens 101 of lens system 11 is provided. Figure 2A and Figure 2B Side views of lens 101 are provided. Figure 2A A lens 101 having a positive nematic liquid crystal is shown. Figure 2B A lens 101 having negative nematic liquid crystal is shown.

[0026] Lens 101 may include an upper substrate 110U, a lower substrate 110L, a sealing ring 120, and liquid crystal 130 between the upper substrate 110U and the lower substrate 110L. The upper substrate 110U and the lower substrate 110L may be laminated together with or otherwise connected to the sealing ring 120 between the lower surface of the upper substrate 110U and the upper surface of the lower substrate 110L. Specifically, as... Figure 1 As shown, the sealing ring 120 can keep the upper substrate 110U and the lower substrate 110L parallel, and can maintain a gap thickness t between the upper substrate 110U and the lower substrate 110L. In addition, the sealing ring 120 can enclose or otherwise seal a certain volume of liquid crystal 130 between the substrate 110U and the lower substrate 110L to define the chamber 140.

[0027] In various embodiments, liquid crystal 130 may fill a cavity 140 defined by an upper substrate 110U, a lower substrate 110L, and a sealing ring 120. Furthermore, the molecules of liquid crystal 130 may be oriented based on an electric field passing through the cavity 140, thereby forming an electronically controlled birefringence (ECB) cell.

[0028] To facilitate this orientation, the lower surface of the upper substrate 110U may be coated with an upper orientation layer 115U (e.g., a polymer layer such as a rubbed polyimide layer). See, for example, Figure 2A Similarly, the upper surface of the lower substrate 110L may be coated with a lower alignment layer 115L (e.g., a polymer layer such as a rubbed polyimide layer). These alignment layers 115U and 115L may cover the lower surface of the upper substrate 110U and the upper surface of the lower substrate 110L, respectively. Due to this coverage, the alignment layers 115U and 115L can provide surface anchoring, which can help stabilize the orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal 130 in the chamber 140.

[0029] The upper surface of the upper substrate 110U may include an upper transparent resistive film 112U. Furthermore, an upper electrode 114U may be coupled to the upper transparent resistive film 112U. For example, see... Figure 1 Similarly, the lower surface of the lower substrate 110L may include a lower transparent resistive film 112L, and the lower electrode 114L may be connected to the lower transparent resistive film 112L.

[0030] In various embodiments, the upper transparent resistive film 112U may cover the upper surface of the upper substrate 110U and extend to the perimeter side or edge of the cavity 140. Specifically, the upper transparent resistive film 112U may be formed by uniformly coating the upper surface of the upper substrate 110U with a transparent material having a relatively high resistivity. In some embodiments, the upper transparent resistive film 112U may provide a resistance on the order of 1 megohm (MΩ) or higher, and may uniformly provide such resistance (e.g., a resistance variation of less than 5%, less than 10%, or less than 15%) between the upper conductive traces 116U of the upper electrode 114U.

[0031] The upper electrode 114U can be connected to the upper transparent resistive film 112U. Specifically, the upper electrode 114U can be formed by applying a highly conductive material to the upper surface of the upper transparent resistive film 112U. Specifically, the upper conductive trace 116U of the upper electrode 114U can be formed along one or more peripheral edges or margins of the cavity 140, such as... Figure 1 As shown. In some embodiments, each upper conductive trace 116U can provide a resistance on the order of 1 kiloohm (kΩ) or less. For this purpose, each upper conductive trace 116U of the upper electrode 114U may include one or more chromium layers, one or more copper layers, one or more gold layers, one or more low-resistivity indium tin oxide (ITO) layers, and / or one or more other low-resistivity material layers. Therefore, the resistance provided by each upper conductive trace 116U is lower than that provided by the upper transparent resistive film 112U. Thus, unlike the upper transparent resistive film 112U, the upper electrode 114U can generate a uniform potential along its upper conductive trace 116U when driven by one or more AC drive signals received from the controllable AC source 300.

[0032] Similarly, a lower transparent resistive film 112L may cover the lower surface of the lower substrate 110L and extend to the periphery or edge of the cavity 140. Specifically, the lower transparent resistive film 112L may be formed by uniformly coating the lower surface of the lower substrate 110L with a transparent material having a relatively high resistivity. Similar to the upper transparent resistive film 112L, the lower transparent resistive film 112L may provide a resistance on the order of 1 megohm (MΩ) or higher, and may uniformly provide such resistance between the lower conductive traces 116L of the lower electrode 114L.

[0033] The lower electrode 114L can be connected to the lower transparent resistive film 112L. Specifically, the lower electrode 114L can be formed by applying a highly conductive material to the lower surface of the lower transparent resistive film 112L. Specifically, the lower conductive trace 116L of the lower electrode 114L can be formed along one or more peripheral edges or sides of the cavity 140, such as... Figure 1 As shown. In some embodiments, each lower conductive trace 116L can provide a resistance of about 1 kiloohm (kΩ) or less. For this purpose, each lower conductive trace 116L may include one or more chromium layers, one or more copper layers, one or more gold layers, one or more low-resistivity indium tin oxide (ITO) layers, and / or one or more other low-resistivity material layers. Therefore, the resistance provided by each lower conductive trace 116L is lower than the resistance provided by the lower transparent resistive film 112L. Therefore, unlike the lower transparent resistive film 112L, the lower electrode 114L can generate a uniform potential along the lower conductive trace 116L when driven by one or more AC drive signals received from the controllable AC source 300.

[0034] The upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L can be electrically connected to one or more controllable AC sources 300 to apply one or more AC driving signals to the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L. The application of these one or more AC driving signals causes the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L to generate an electric field perpendicularly passing through the cavity 140 and the liquid crystal 130 therein. Specifically, as... Figure 6 As shown, the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L can generate an electric field, such that this electric field is distributed non-linearly in the XY plane. This non-linear distribution of the electric field allows the molecules of the liquid crystal 130 to be oriented non-linearly in the XY plane. Specifically, the angle of each liquid crystal molecule can vary along the XY plane to be oriented based on the applied non-linear electric field. See, for example... Figure 2A and Figure 2B

[0035] In various embodiments, the liquid crystal 130 for filling the cavity 140 may include, for example: Figure 2A The non-aligned liquid crystal shown. In other embodiments, the liquid crystal 130 for filling the chamber 140 may include, as shown in the figure. Figure 2B The negative column liquid crystal is shown.

[0036] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the arrangement of the upper conductive trace 116U and the lower conductive trace 116L can be tuned to provide lenses 101, 103, 104, and 105 with different tuning capabilities. For example, Figure 1An embodiment of the lens system 11 is depicted, wherein the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the upper electrode 114U define the quadrilateral top of the cavity 140, and the lower transparent resistive film 112L and the lower electrode 114L define the quadrilateral bottom of the cavity 140. Additionally, the upper conductive trace 116U may be connected to the upper transparent resistive film 112U along the four peripheral edges of the cavity 140 to enclose or define each side of the quadrilateral top of the cavity 140. Similarly, the lower conductive trace 116L may be connected to the lower transparent resistive film 112L along the four peripheral edges of the cavity 140 to enclose or define each side of the quadrilateral bottom of the cavity 140.

[0037] thus, Figure 1 , Figure 2A and Figure 2B The upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L may surround or enclose the top and bottom of the chamber 140. Due to this arrangement of the upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L, the AC drive signal applied to the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L through the upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L can be formed into an electric field that provides elliptical focus tuning for the lens 101.

[0038] Figure 3 An embodiment of the lens system 13 is depicted, wherein an upper transparent resistive film 112U and an upper electrode 114U define a quadrilateral top of a cavity 140, and a lower transparent resistive film 112L and a lower electrode 114L define a quadrilateral bottom of the cavity 140. Additionally, an upper conductive trace 116U and a lower conductive trace 116L may partially enclose or define the quadrilateral top and bottom of the cavity 140. Specifically, the upper conductive trace 116U may be coupled to the upper transparent resistive film 112U along opposite sides of the quadrilateral top of the cavity 140. For example, the upper conductive trace 116U may extend along opposite peripheral edges in a horizontal or first direction (e.g., in the X direction shown) to define the quadrilateral upper surface of the cavity 140 in a vertical or second direction (e.g., in the Y direction shown).

[0039] Similarly, the lower conductive trace 116L may be coupled to the lower transparent resistive film 112L along opposite sides of the quadrilateral bottom of the cavity 140. Specifically, the lower conductive trace 116L may be coupled to the same side of the cavity 140 as the upper conductive trace 116U. For example, the lower conductive trace 116L may extend along opposite peripheral edges in a horizontal or first direction (e.g., the X direction shown) to define the quadrilateral lower surface of the cavity 140 in a vertical or second direction (e.g., the Y direction shown).

[0040] therefore, Figure 3The upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L can partially surround or enclose the top and bottom of the chamber 140 along the same side. Due to this arrangement of the upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L, the AC drive signal applied to the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L through the upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L can form an electric field that provides cylindrical focal length tuning for the lens 103.

[0041] Figure 4 An embodiment of the lens system 14 is depicted, wherein the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the upper electrode 114U define the quadrilateral top of the cavity 140, and the lower transparent resistive film 112L and the lower electrode 114L define the quadrilateral bottom of the cavity 140. Further, the upper conductive trace 116U and the lower conductive trace 116L may partially enclose or define the quadrilateral top and quadrilateral bottom of the cavity 140. Specifically, the upper conductive trace 116U may be coupled to the upper transparent resistive film 112U along opposite sides of the quadrilateral top of the cavity 140. For example, the upper conductive trace 116U may extend along opposite peripheral edges in a horizontal or first direction (e.g., in the X direction shown) to define the quadrilateral upper surface of the cavity 140 in a vertical or second direction (e.g., in the Y direction shown).

[0042] Similarly, the lower conductive trace 116L may be coupled to the lower transparent resistive film 112L along opposite sides of the quadrilateral bottom of the cavity 140. Specifically, the lower conductive trace 116L may be coupled to a side of the cavity 140 different from the upper conductive trace 116U. For example, the lower conductive trace 116L may extend along opposite peripheral edges in a vertical or second direction (e.g., the Y direction shown) to define the quadrilateral lower surface of the cavity 140 in a horizontal or first direction (e.g., the X direction shown).

[0043] therefore, Figure 4 The upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L can respectively partially surround or enclose different portions of the top and bottom of the chamber 140. Due to this arrangement of the upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L, an AC drive signal applied to the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L via the upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L can generate an electric field that causes the focal length tuning provided by the lens 104 along the horizontal or first direction to be different from the focal length tuning provided along the vertical or second direction.

[0044] Figure 5Another embodiment of the lens system 15 is depicted, wherein the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the upper electrode 114U define the circular top of the cavity 140, and the lower transparent resistive film 112L and the lower electrode 114L define the circular bottom of the cavity 140. Additionally, the upper conductive trace 116U and the lower conductive trace 116L may enclose or define the circular top and circular bottom of the cavity 140. Specifically, the upper conductive trace 116U may be connected to the upper transparent resistive film 112U along the circumference or periphery of the circular top of the cavity 140. Similarly, the lower conductive trace 116L may be connected to the lower transparent resistive film 112L along the periphery or periphery of the circular bottom of the cavity 140.

[0045] therefore, Figure 5 The upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L may surround or enclose the top and bottom of the chamber 140. Due to this arrangement of the upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L, an electric field can be generated by applying an AC drive signal to the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L through the upper electrode 114U and the lower electrode 114L, which provides spherical power tuning for the lens 105.

[0046] Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The different arrangements of the transparent resistive films 112U, 112L and the conductive traces 116U, 116L shown can provide different focal length tuning for each lens 101, 103, 104, 105. As described above, Figure 1 The transparent resistive films 112U and 112L and the conductive traces 116U and 116L can generate an electric field that provides elliptical focal length tuning for the lens 101. Figure 3 The transparent resistive films 112U and 112L and the conductive traces 116U and 116L can generate an electric field that provides cylindrical focal length tuning for the lens 103. Figure 4 The transparent resistive films 112U and 112L and the conductive traces 116U and 116L can generate electric fields that provide different focal lengths tuned for the lens 104 in the horizontal and vertical directions. Figure 5 The transparent resistive films 112U and 112L and the conductive traces 116U and 116L can generate an electric field that provides spherical focal length tuning for the lens 105.

[0047] The upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L effectively form a capacitor in which the capacitance provided by the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L depends on the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal 130 and the size of the cavity 140. When one or more controllable AC sources 300 apply one or more AC drive signals to the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112U through the upper electrode 114U and the lower transparent resistive film 114L, the upper transparent resistive film 112U and the lower transparent resistive film 112L can each generate a voltage that gradually varies along their respective substrates 110U, 110L, which generates a nonlinear electric field through the cavity 140. The degree of nonlinearity of this electric field depends on the conductivity of the transparent resistive films 112U, 112L and the capacitance of the cavity 140. Generally, the nonlinearity of the electric field increases with the increase of the resistance of the transparent resistive films 112U, 112L. For example, see Figure 6 It shows Figure 1 The nonlinear characteristics of the electric field generated in the embodiment of lens 101 shown.

[0048] Now for reference Figure 7 This illustrates an embodiment of a lens system 17 including a lens array 500. The lens array 500 may include a plurality of lenses 107. Generally, each lens 107 of the lens array 500 may be arranged in a manner similar to... Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is achieved through one or more of the lenses 101, 103, 104, and 105 shown. In various embodiments, each lens 101, 103, 104, and 105 may share an upper substrate 110U and a lower substrate 110L. For example, the upper substrate 110U and the lower substrate 110L may comprise glass plates or other transparent substrates, wherein a sealing ring 120 between the upper substrate 110U and the lower substrate 110L defines an array of chambers 140 filled with liquid crystal 130. In various embodiments, the sealing ring 120 may define a separate chamber 140 for each lens 107. In other embodiments, the sealing ring 120 may define a chamber 140 spanning one or more lenses 107. In such embodiments, a group of lenses 107 may share a single chamber 140.

[0049] Furthermore, conductive traces 116U and 116L can be formed on the upper substrate 110U and the lower substrate 110L, allowing one or more AC sources 300 to apply individual AC drive signals to each lens 107. In this way, the controller or other circuitry 400 can individually control the focal length provided by each lens 107.

[0050] In some embodiments, each lens 107 may have the same lens configuration. For example, each lens 107 may be configured according to... Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 or Figure 5 Lenses 101, 103, 104, and 105 in the lens array 500 are used to implement this. In other embodiments, one or more lenses 107 of the lens array 500 can be implemented using different lens configurations. For example, a first subset of lenses 107 can be configured similarly to... Figure 1 This can be achieved using lens 101, and the second subset of lens 107 can be implemented in a manner similar to... Figure 3 This is achieved using lens 103, and the third subset of lens 107 can be implemented in a manner similar to... Figure 4 This can be achieved using lens 104, and / or a fourth subset of lens 107 can be implemented in a manner similar to... Figure 5 This is achieved through the lens 105. Therefore, the controller and / or other circuitry 400 can not only individually control the focal power provided by each individual lens 107, but the lens array 500 can also provide lenses 107 with different configurations to provide different focusing capabilities to each lens 107 in the lens array 107.

[0051] Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 The controller and / or other circuitry 400 of the lens systems 11, 13, 14, 15, and 17 shown can generate one or more control signals that cause one or more controllable AC sources 300 to tune one or more AC drive signals applied to lenses 101, 103, 104, 105, and 107. Through such control signals, the controller and / or other circuitry 400 can adjust the nonlinear distribution of the electric field generated by each lens 101, 103, 104, 105, and 107 to produce a nonlinear phase shift in the birefringence of the liquid crystal 130. This shift in the liquid crystal 130 can focus a light beam (e.g., a polarized laser beam) through the transparent resistive films 112U and 112L and the cavity 140. By adjusting one or more AC drive signals applied to each lens 101, 103, 104, 105, 107, the controller and / or other circuitry 400 can adjust the focal length of the lenses 101, 103, 104, 105, 107, which can compensate for environmental effects.

[0052] This disclosure includes references to several examples; however, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, modifications can be made to the disclosed examples without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the disclosed examples, but rather to include all examples falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lens, comprising: Upper substrate, including upper electrode; Lower substrate, including lower electrode; The sealing ring between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, wherein the upper substrate, the lower substrate, and the sealing ring define a cavity; and The liquid crystal in the chamber; and The upper electrode and the lower electrode generate a nonlinear electric field in response to one or more driving signals. The nonlinear electric field passes through the cavity and causes the liquid crystal molecules to orient themselves based on the nonlinear electric field.

2. The lens according to claim 1, wherein: The upper electrode includes an upper resistive film and one or more upper conductive traces connected to the upper resistive film; and The lower electrode includes a lower resistive film and one or more lower conductive traces connected to the lower resistive film.

3. The lens according to claim 2, wherein: The one or more upper conductive traces are configured to receive a first drive signal from the one or more drive signals and apply the first drive signal to the upper resistive film; as well as The one or more lower conductive traces are configured to receive a second drive signal from the one or more drive signals and apply the second drive signal to the lower resistive film.

4. The lens according to claim 3, wherein, The first driving signal and the second driving signal cause the upper resistive film and the lower resistive film to generate the nonlinear electric field passing through the chamber.

5. The lens according to claim 2, wherein: The upper resistive film extends to the upper periphery of the chamber; The one or more upper conductive traces are connected to the upper resistive film along the upper periphery of the chamber; The lower resistive film extends to the lower periphery of the chamber; as well as The one or more lower conductive traces are connected to the lower resistive film along the lower periphery of the chamber.

6. The lens according to claim 5, wherein: The one or more upper conductive traces surround the upper periphery of the chamber; and The one or more lower conductive traces surround the lower periphery of the chamber.

7. The lens according to claim 5, wherein: The one or more upper conductive traces partially surround the upper periphery of the chamber; and The one or more lower conductive traces partially surround the lower periphery of the chamber.

8. The lens according to claim 5, wherein: The upper edge of the chamber includes a plurality of upper edge edges; The lower periphery of the chamber includes a plurality of lower periphery edges; The one or more upper conductive traces extend along the plurality of upper peripheral edges; as well as The one or more lower conductive traces extend along the plurality of lower peripheral edges.

9. The lens according to claim 5, wherein: The previous upper edge includes multiple first previous upper edge edges and multiple second previous upper edge edges; The lower perimeter includes a plurality of first lower perimeter edges corresponding to the plurality of first upper perimeter edges, and a plurality of second lower perimeter edges corresponding to the plurality of second upper perimeter edges; The one or more upper conductive traces extend along the plurality of first upper peripheral edges but not along the plurality of second upper peripheral edges; as well as The one or more lower conductive traces extend along the plurality of second lower peripheral edges but not along the plurality of first lower peripheral edges.

10. The lens according to claim 2, comprising: An upper alignment layer covers the lower surface of the upper substrate; as well as A lower alignment layer covers the upper surface of the lower substrate.

11. A lens, comprising: Upper substrate, including upper electrode; Lower substrate, including lower electrode; The sealing ring between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, wherein the upper substrate, the lower substrate, and the sealing ring define a cavity between the upper substrate and the lower substrate; and The liquid crystal in the chamber; and The upper electrode and the lower electrode are configured to change the focal length of the lens by inducing changes in the liquid crystal.

12. The lens according to claim 11, wherein: The upper electrode includes an upper resistive film covering the upper surface of the upper substrate and one or more upper conductive traces connected to the upper resistive film; and The lower electrode includes a lower resistive film covering the lower surface of the lower substrate and one or more lower conductive traces connected to the lower resistive film.

13. The lens according to claim 12, wherein: The one or more upper conductive traces are configured to receive a first drive signal and apply the first drive signal to the upper resistive film; as well as The one or more lower conductive traces are configured to receive a second drive signal and apply the second drive signal to the lower resistive film.

14. The lens according to claim 13, wherein, The upper resistive film and the lower resistive film are configured to generate a nonlinear electric field that affects the orientation of the liquid crystal in response to the first driving signal and the second driving signal.

15. The lens according to claim 12, comprising: An upper alignment layer covers the lower surface of the upper substrate; and A lower alignment layer covers the upper surface of the lower substrate.

16. A lens system comprising: The controller is configured to generate one or more control signals; One or more AC sources are configured to generate one or more drive signals in response to the one or more control signals; A lens array, comprising an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal located between the upper substrate and the lower substrate; The upper substrate includes an upper resistive layer and a plurality of upper conductive traces connected to the upper resistive layer; The lower substrate includes a lower resistive layer and a plurality of lower conductive traces connected to the lower resistive layer; The plurality of upper conductive traces and the plurality of lower conductive traces define the boundaries between adjacent lenses in the lens array; and The one or more driving signals cause the plurality of upper conductive traces, the plurality of lower conductive traces, the upper resistive layer and the lower resistive layer to generate an electric field, which passes through the liquid crystal and changes the focal length of each lens.

17. The lens system of claim 16, comprising: A sealing ring between the upper substrate and the lower substrate; and The upper substrate, the lower substrate, and the sealing ring define a plurality of chambers; and The liquid crystal fills the plurality of chambers.

18. The lens system according to claim 17, wherein, The plurality of chambers includes a separate chamber for each lens in the lens array.

19. The lens system according to claim 17, wherein, Each of the plurality of chambers spans multiple lenses in the lens array.

20. The lens system of claim 16, comprising: An upper alignment layer covers the lower surface of the upper substrate; as well as A lower alignment layer covers the upper surface of the lower substrate.

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