Liquid Crystal Lens with Split Electrodes for Distortion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric field driven liquid crystal lenses face issues such as horizontal lens distortion due to horizontal electric fields, difficulty in forming a gentle parabolic lens surface, high sag leading to increased liquid crystal quantity and cost, and challenges in reducing the cell gap for shorter focal distances, which affect the efficiency and cost of stereoscopic display devices.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves an electric field driven liquid crystal lens with finely split electrodes on a lower substrate and a polarizer plate above, creating a vertical electric field to prevent horizontal distortion and reduce liquid crystal quantity by using a Fresnel lens configuration, which divides each lens region into sub-regions with varying voltages applied to achieve a gentle parabolic shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional liquid crystal lens uses a simple electrode structure, then the device complexity is low, but horizontal lens distortion occurs due to horizontal electric fields between neighboring electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode structure is divided into multiple segments: a lower electrode and multiple upper electrodes arranged in a matrix pattern. This segmentation allows independent voltage control of different regions, enabling precise compensation for horizontal electric field effects and distortion-free lens profile formation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different voltage values are applied to different upper electrodes based on their spatial positions. The voltage distribution is optimized locally for each electrode region to compensate for horizontal electric field effects, ensuring uniform lens performance across the entire lens area.
2Quantity of substance
If a liquid crystal lens uses a large cell gap to reduce sag, then the liquid crystal quantity decreases, but the focal distance becomes too long
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the cell gap parameter to a specific range (5-15 μm) that balances liquid crystal quantity reduction with maintaining appropriate focal distance. This parameter optimization, combined with the multi-electrode voltage control, achieves both cost reduction and performance requirements.
3Length of moving object
If the liquid crystal layer thickness is reduced to lower cost, then the device complexity decreases, but the lens profile becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-electrode configuration enables feedback control of the lens profile. By monitoring and adjusting voltage distributions across multiple electrodes, the system compensates for variations in thin liquid crystal layers, maintaining stable lens profiles even at reduced thicknesses of 5-15 μm.
4Ease of manufacture
If a conventional electrode arrangement is used, then the ease of manufacture is high, but crosstalk between adjacent lens regions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode matrix structure segments adjacent lens regions electrically, with insulating gaps between electrodes preventing current leakage and crosstalk. This segmented design maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving effective electrical isolation between regions.
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
This configuration results in a stable and precise lens profile, reduced liquid crystal usage, and improved stereoscopic display effects by minimizing crosstalk and maintaining a gentle lateral electric field, enhancing the overall performance and cost-effectiveness of the electric field driven liquid crystal lens.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid crystal molecules have polarization and optical anisotropy characteristics. Here, polarization refers to a change in molecular arrangement direction according an electric field... Also, optical anisotropy refers to a change in path or polarization of light to be emitted according to an incidence direction or polarization of incident light
Implementation Method 2
Liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are driven by an electric field created when voltages are applied to the two electrodes. The liquid crystal molecules have polarization and optical anisotropy characteristics
Implementation Method 3
polarization refers to a change in molecular arrangement direction according an electric field, which is caused as electrons in liquid crystal molecules are gathered to opposite sides of the liquid crystal molecules when the liquid crystal molecules are under the influence of an electric field
Data Source
AI summary
An electric field driven liquid crystal lens including a first substrate and a second substrate arranged opposite each other, a first plurality of split electrodes formed on the first substrate, each of the first plurality of split electrodes corresponding to one of a plurality of lens regions, a second plurality of split electrodes formed on the first plurality of split electrodes, each of the second plurality of split electrodes corresponding to one of the plurality of lens regions, a second electrode formed over an entire first surface of the second substrate, a first alignment film formed over an entire surface of the first substrate including the first and second plurality of split electrodes, the first alignment film having a first rubbing direction, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a polarizer plate formed on a second surface of the second substrate, the polarizer plate having a transmission axis that is in a range of ±10 degrees from the first rubbing direction.