Lenticular arrays based on liquid crystals Articles uri icon

authors

  • URRUCHI DEL POZO, VIRGINIA
  • ALGORRI GENARO, JOSE FRANCISCO
  • SANCHEZ PENA, JOSE MANUEL
  • GEDAY, MORTEN A.
  • QUINTANA, XABIER
  • BENNIS, NOUREDDINE

publication date

  • September 2012

start page

  • 260

end page

  • 266

issue

  • 3

volume

  • 20

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1230-3402

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1896-3757

abstract

  • Lenticular array products have experienced a growing interest in the last decade due to the very wide range of applications they can cover. Indeed, this kind of lenses can create different effects on a viewing image such as 3D, flips, zoom, etc. In this sense, lenticular based on liquid crystals (LC) technology is being developed with the aim of tuning the lens profiles simply by controlling the birefringence electrically. In this work, a LC lenticular lens array has been proposed to mimic a GRIN lenticular lens array but adding the capability of tuning their lens profiles. Comb control electrodes have been designed as pattern masks for the ITO on the upper substrate. Suitable high resistivity layers have been chosen to be deposited on the control electrode generating an electric field gradient between teeth of the same electrode. Test measurements have allowed us to demonstrate that values of phase retardations and focal lengths, for an optimal driving waveform, are fairly in agreement. In addition, results of focusing power of tuneable lenses were compared to those of conventional lenses. The behaviour of both kinds of lenses has revealed to be mutually similar for focusing collimated light and for refracting images.

subjects

  • Electronics
  • Optics

keywords

  • liquid crystal lenticular array; grin lens; high resistivity layer; birefringence electrically controlled