Flexible Liquid Crystal Lens Structure for Foldable Tunable Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electroactive lenses, particularly those with embedded liquid crystal cells, face challenges in maintaining both flexibility and elasticity, leading to deformation and loss of optical properties when folded over small radii.
Innovation Solution
A flexible liquid crystal lens design incorporating alignment layers made of flexible polymeric materials with embedded liquid crystal moieties and elastomer posts, along with a polarization-independent configuration using two liquid crystal layers with orthogonal directors, maintains cell gap thickness and optical properties even after folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electroactive components are embedded in a flexible polymer lens body, then the lens can be made flexible and elastic, but the electroactive components limit both the flexibility and elasticity of the lens body
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid crystal cell is divided into multiple segments separated by elastomer posts, allowing each segment to deform independently during folding while maintaining overall cell integrity. This segmentation enables the cell to flex without compromising the elasticity of the lens body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible alignment layers made of polymeric materials with embedded liquid crystal moieties, and uses thin elastomer posts to maintain cell gap thickness. These flexible components allow the cell to bend and fold while recovering its original shape, preserving both flexibility and elasticity.
2Ease of operation
If the lens is folded over small radii, then the lens can be handled and manipulated, but the cell gap thickness changes and optical properties are lost
Solution Approach 1:
Elastomer posts are pre-positioned within the liquid crystal cell at strategic locations to provide structural support before folding occurs. These posts maintain the cell gap thickness during deformation, ensuring that the optical properties are preserved even when the lens is folded over small radii.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible alignment layers and thin elastomer posts are used to create a cell structure that can accommodate folding without permanent deformation. The cell gap thickness is substantially retained after folding and returning to the original shape, maintaining optical precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If rigid structures are used to maintain cell gap thickness, then optical properties are preserved, but the lens loses flexibility and cannot be folded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid support structures with flexible alignment layers made of polymeric materials and thin elastomer posts. These flexible components maintain the cell gap thickness through their elastic properties, allowing the lens to be folded and manipulated while preserving optical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment layers are composed of flexible polymeric materials with embedded liquid crystal moieties, creating a composite structure that combines the flexibility of polymers with the optical properties of liquid crystals. This composite approach maintains cell gap thickness while enabling folding.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures the lens recovers its shape and optical characteristics after folding, providing tunable optical performance without significant deformation or loss of flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
alignment layers made of flexible polymeric materials with embedded liquid crystal moieties
Implementation Method 2
elastomer posts... posts in the array extending from the upper alignment layer to the lower alignment layer... liquid crystal is confined in the gap between the first and second alignment layers around the posts in the array
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
A flexible optical element adopting liquid crystals (LCs) as the materials for realizing electrically tunable optics is foldable. A method for manufacturing the flexible element includes patterned photo-polymerization. The LC optics can include a pair of LC layers with orthogonally aligned LC directors for polarizer-free properties, flexible polymeric alignment layers, flexible substrates, and a module for controlling the electric field. The lens power of the LC optics can be changed by controlling the distribution of electric field across the optical zone.