Liquid Crystal Lens with Wire Grid Polarizer Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal modulation elements, particularly liquid crystal lenses, are thick due to their reliance on a double-layer structure to modulate both parallel and perpendicular polarization components of natural light, which limits their thinness and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal lens design featuring upper and lower substrates with liquid crystal molecules in between, where each lower electrode includes metal wire grid polarizers and corresponds to upper electrodes forming encircled electrode elements that receive different voltages, enabling polarization processing and refractive index gradient control for efficient light modulation, thereby reducing thickness and improving modulation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a double-layer liquid crystal cell is used to modulate natural light, then the polarization modulation capability is improved, but the device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the polarization modulation function and the liquid crystal modulation function into a single integrated structure. The metal wire grid polarizer is positioned adjacent to the liquid crystal layer, allowing both polarization filtering and birefringence-based modulation to occur in one compact unit rather than requiring separate double-layer cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The single liquid crystal cell structure performs multiple functions: it acts as both the modulation element and works in conjunction with the metal wire grid polarizer to achieve polarization control. This multi-functional integration eliminates the need for additional layers while maintaining comprehensive light modulation capability.
2Length of stationary object
If a single-layer liquid crystal cell is used, then the device thickness is reduced, but the natural light modulation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal wire grid polarizer serves as an intermediary element that prepares the natural light by establishing a defined polarization state before the light enters the liquid crystal layer. This pre-conditioning of the light enables the single-layer liquid crystal cell to modulate the light efficiently, achieving high modulation efficiency without requiring a double-layer structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If metal wire grid polarizers are integrated into the electrode structure, then the polarization control efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrode structure with the metal wire grid polarizer into a single integrated component. The conductive elements that serve as electrodes simultaneously form the wire grid structure that functions as a polarizer, eliminating the need for separate polarizer layers and reducing overall structural complexity despite the enhanced polarization control capability.
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 enhances the efficiency of natural light modulation while achieving a thinner device structure compared to single- and double-layer liquid crystal cells, allowing for effective polarization control and gradient refractive index formation.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid crystal modulation element provides a delay for a light wave which passes a liquid crystal layer using an electronically controlled birefringence effect to change a polarization condition of the light wave
Implementation Method 2
each of the plurality of lower electrodes includes a plurality of metal wire grid polarizers
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal lens and a display device, for improving the efficiency of natural light modulation and lowering the device profile. The liquid crystal lens includes an upper substrate and a lower substrate configured opposite each other, liquid crystal molecules located between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, a plurality of upper electrodes located on the upper substrate, and a plurality of lower electrodes located on the lower substrate. Each lower electrode includes a plurality of metal wire grid polarizers. The upper electrodes respectively correspond to the lower electrodes. An orthographic projection of each upper electrode and that of the corresponding lower electrode on the lower substrate form a ring-shaped electrode structure, and each upper electrode and the corresponding lower electrode are configured to receive voltages of different potential.