LCD lens

Abstract

We disclose a liquid crystal lens with a simple structure and high utilization efficiency of the liquid crystal layer. [Solution] A liquid crystal lens comprising a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystal molecules are oriented and housed between a first substrate having transparent electrodes and a second substrate 12 having transparent electrodes, wherein the transparent electrodes on the surface of the second substrate consist of a plurality of concentric annular electrode groups 231 to 239 connected in series and a central electrode 230, and the liquid crystal lens adjusts the distribution of the effective refractive index of the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage having an axially symmetric potential distribution to the liquid crystal layer, wherein the liquid crystal lens operates by applying a voltage different from the voltage that forms an axially symmetric potential distribution to at least one electrode of the concentric annular electrode group.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal lens comprising a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystal molecules are oriented and housed between a first substrate having transparent electrodes and a second substrate having transparent electrodes, wherein the transparent electrodes on the surface of the second substrate are composed of a plurality of concentric annular electrode groups connected in series and a central electrode, and by applying a first voltage between the central electrode and the electrodes of the first substrate and a second voltage between the central electrode and the outermost electrode of the concentric annular electrode group, a voltage having an axially symmetric potential distribution can be applied to the liquid crystal layer, thereby adjusting the effective refractive index distribution of the liquid crystal layer, and thus the liquid crystal lens operates. A liquid crystal lens characterized by operating by applying a third voltage, different from the first and second voltages that form the axially symmetric potential distribution, to at least one electrode of the concentric ring electrode group, excluding the central electrode and the outermost electrode of the concentric ring electrode group.

2. A liquid crystal lens according to claim 1, A liquid crystal lens characterized by an electrode structure in which concentric ring-shaped electrodes are connected in series by repeatedly folding back at the point where the electrode lead wire is installed to form the next concentric ring-shaped electrode, and then folding back again on the opposite side to form the next concentric ring-shaped electrode.

3. A liquid crystal lens according to claim 1, A liquid crystal lens characterized by an electrode structure in which concentric ring electrodes are connected in series by repeatedly connecting the next concentric ring electrode through a stepped connection point.

4. A liquid crystal lens according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, A liquid crystal lens characterized in that, when the number of electrodes to which a third voltage different from the first and second voltages that form an axially symmetric potential distribution is applied is one, the position of the electrode is located between a position corresponding to 40% and 90% of the radius of the liquid crystal lens.

5. A liquid crystal lens according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, A liquid crystal lens characterized in that, when there are two electrodes to which a third voltage different from the first and second voltages that form an axially symmetric potential distribution is applied, the position of the inner electrode is at a position corresponding to 40% ± 15% of the radius of the liquid crystal lens, and the position of the outer electrode is at a position corresponding to 70% ± 15% of the radius.

6. A liquid crystal lens according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, A liquid crystal lens characterized in that a third voltage, which is different from the first and second voltages that form an axially symmetric potential distribution, is lower than the voltage given by a function of the square of the radius at the position of the electrode to which the third voltage is applied, and higher than 90% of the value of the voltage given by the function of the square.

7. The liquid crystal lens described in claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3 is used as the central lens. A Fresnel-type liquid crystal lens is provided in which, outside the central lens, at least one set of concentric annular electrode groups connected in series is arranged as one segmented lens of the Fresnel lens, and a voltage that forms an axially symmetric potential distribution is applied to the innermost and outermost concentric annular electrode of each set, thereby generating an optical phase difference distribution, and the optical phase difference distribution characteristics of adjacent sets are extrapolated characteristics of the optical phase difference distribution characteristics of the central lens, thereby operating with an axially symmetric potential distribution. A Fresnel-type liquid crystal lens characterized by operating by applying a voltage different from the voltage that forms an axially symmetric potential distribution to at least one electrode, excluding the innermost and outermost electrodes of a group of concentric ring-shaped electrodes arranged outside the central lens.

8. A Fresnel-type liquid crystal lens according to claim 7, A Fresnel-type liquid crystal lens characterized by operating by applying the same voltage from a common power source to each of the corresponding electrodes, through electrode lead wires, to the innermost and outermost annular electrodes of the concentric annular electrode group constituting the divided lens, and to electrodes to which voltages independent of the voltages forming axial symmetry excluding these electrodes, and to the central electrode of the central lens, the outermost annular electrodes, and to electrodes to which voltages independent of the voltages forming axial symmetry excluding these electrodes.

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