Adaptive lenticular lens array using a hybrid liquid crystal–carbon nanotube nanophotonic device

Abstract

We present a switchable liquid crystal cylindrical lens array fabricated with a combination of a sparse electrode array of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) grown upon a silicon substrate, and a second glass substrate featuring an in-plane switching (IPS) electrode structure. A cylindrical shape of an electric field profile was produced between the MWCNT substrate and the IPS substrate. This cylindrical shape was controlled by the application of an external electric field. The average focal lengths at different voltages were calculated. This adaptive lenticular lens array can be used in autostereoscopic displays. C 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

Electrically Switchable Diffraction Grating Using a Hybrid Liquid Crystal and Carbon Nanotube‐Based Nanophotonic Device

“…This field profile covers a wider area in the device as compared to the fields produced by nanotubes. This electric field also dictates a cylindrical index profile within the LC layer producing an array of LC based lenticular lenses, as reported previously . The phase profile of these lenticular lenses was voltage dependent.…”

“…The device offers two gratings to the incident light, the nanotube arrays and the lenticular lens array. The voltage dependent phase profile induced by these lenses was reported in . These profiles (also shown in supplementary material) were used to model the grating for Fourier analysis.…”

“…This paper presents a new and complex electrically switchable diffraction grating device, based upon the recently reported nanophotonic technology of using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as electrode structures in liquid crystal (LC) devices . Such hybrid LC‐CNT technology has also recently been demonstrated in the form of adaptive cylindrical and spherical microlens arrays with low switching voltages, and as an invaluable tool for integral field imaging techniques for 3D microscopy …”

Polymer electrolyte liquid crystal system for improved optical and electrical properties

“…In fact, their favourable electro-optic properties such as fast-switching response times also render LC as an attractive candidate material for the applications in liquid crystal lasers [15], 2D and 3D holographic projection [16], adaptive lenticular lens [17] and optical switches.…”