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A novel beam-steering device that makes use of a nematic liquid crystal (LC) is proposed and demonstrated. The beam-steering function is attained with a LC microlens with a divided hole-patterned electrode structure (DE-LC microlens). Optical properties of the DE-LC microlens are investigated and three-dimensional variable-focusing and beam-steering properties are verified experimentally for the first time, to our knowledge.

Large electro-optic effects of liquid-crystal materials are attractive in applications to various optical devices in a wider wavelength region. Fundamental optical properties in the submillimeter wave region, such as refractive indices and transmission losses for some cyanobiphenyl nematic liquid crystals, have been investigated for the first time, to our knowledge, with a submillimeter laser. Refractive indices of the liquid crystal materials for ordinary and extraordinary rays are a little larger than those in the visible region, and a larger birefringence comparable with the visible region can also be obtained. Although the loss level is larger by ~2 orders of magnitude than that of quartz plate, which is an excellent window in the submillimeter wave region, the transmission of the liquid crystal cell is high enough.

To date, various connection rerouting methods for connection-oriented mobile networks have been proposed. The previous methods, however, are limited to specific topologies or environments. In this paper, we propose the connection-information-based rerouting widely applicable to various connection-oriented mobile networks. This method requires neither a specific topology nor a complex connection, enables fast rerouting, provides appropriate route optimality, and can be extended easily.

A small number of bifunctional monomers are mixed with a nematic liquid crystal (LC) and cured with a distributed electric field, which is produced by a circular-hole-patterned electrode structure. A gradient type of lens, that is, a LC microlens, is investigated for various polymer concentrations. Addition of 3% polymer is enough to freeze the gradient-index properties of the structure in the form of a convex lens, and a polymer-stabilized LC microlens is demonstrated. Although a lower concentration of polymer cannot hold the distribution properties in a curing process, it can maintain the variable focus as a nematic material can. The polymer networks can also eliminate the disclination line that usually appears and causes the lens in this type of LC device to deteriorate.

Electrically controlled lens properties (liquid crystal microlens) can be obtained by utilizing molecular orientation effects in an axially symmetric nonuniform electric field. Excellent lens properties can be obtained using a symmetric electrode structure with hole-patterned electrodes on both substrates. Several kinds of optical properties have been investigated and characteristic phenomena of the liquid crystal microlens are discussed in terms of a molecular orientation model.

Liquid crystal polarizers are prepared by using a common linear polarizer, a nematic liquid crystal and PVA-coated glass substrates. The surface of one substrate is treated for unidirectional molecular orientation and the other substrate is treated for concentrically circular molecular orientation. The liquid crystal cell has axially symmetrical polarization properties, that is, a concentrically circular or radial polarization can be achieved.