Novel switching mode in a vertically aligned liquid crystal contact lens

Syed, Ishtiaque M.; Kaur, S.; Milton, Harry E; Mistry, Devesh; Bailey, James; Morgan, Philip B.; Jones, John C.; Gleeson, Helen F.

doi:10.1364/oe.23.009911

Cited by 31 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrates have been employed in various lens designs [2][3][4] mainly due to their historic link with the contact lens industry. The lower PMMA substrate has to been designed with its radius of curvature matching that of the corneal dimensions (typically a 7.8 mm radius of curvature) for optimum placement on the eye.…”

Section: Design and Construction Of The Lensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, however, Syed et al reported such an alignment used in a curved contact lens geometry [4] for the first time. A significant advantage of using such a system is the polarization independence in the unpowered state and the much simpler device construction.…”

Section: Homeotropic Aligned Liquid Crystal Contact Lensesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further details can be found in Ref. [4]. Unlike the planar aligned contact lens system, only the upper substrate was rubbed, in this case to promote uniform switching on application of a voltage.…”

Section: Homeotropic Aligned Liquid Crystal Contact Lensesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A unique and extremely promising approach is the use of liquid crystal contact lenses that can provide compromise-free vision in the whole field of view. A distinguishing feature of such liquid crystal contact lenses is the ability to provide additional optical power for near vision tasks on application of low voltages (ON state) with the eye able to perform distance vision tasks normally in the OFF state of the contact lens [2][3][4]. The change in optical power is facilitated by the changing refractive index of the liquid crystal system on application of a voltage and can be continuous, offering mid-distance vision correction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We report the electro-optical performance of such contact lens systems in two different modes of liquid crystal geometry; planar (homogeneous) [2,3] and vertically aligned (homeotropic) [4]. We further describe the optimisation of such systems with the inclusion of graphene electrodes instead of Indium Tin Oxide electrodes (ITO) [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Liquid crystal contact lenses with graphene electrodes and switchable focus

Gleeson

Kaur

2016

MRS Advances

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Presbyopia is a ubiquitous age-related disability of the eye, affecting an estimated 1.04 billion people worldwide, reducing their ability to focus on nearby objects. The various solutions to this inevitable vision deterioration are not compromise-free, with a growing need for approaches beyond conventional spectacles. The research motivation for this work is the unique solution offered by liquid crystal (LC) contact lenses to create compromise-free vision across the whole field of view. The distinctive property of LC lenses is that they are switchable, with the application of a voltage activating the lens. The change in focal power is facilitated via a voltagedependent change in refractive index of the LC. We have successfully demonstrated several versions of electrically switchable LC contact lenses with variable additional optical power of up to +3.00 D, ideal for the correction of presbyopia.This paper offers a review of the optical and electro-optical performance recently demonstrated for the different modes of operation realized in nematic systems, including planar (homogeneous) and vertically aligned (homeotropic) aligned devices. The change in optical power obtained depends on the choice of geometry and LC material. A material with higher birefringence allows a thinner LC-lens layer to achieve a particular focal power. In the homeotropic geometry, the refractive index of the LC layer is a minimum in the 'off' state (ordinary refractive index, ) and the mode is polarization-independent, offering a significant advantage over planar lens designs. The construction is also simplified as only one alignment layer needs to be rubbed. Depending on the geometry used, continuously variable changes in focal power of up to +3.00D have been achieved. The response time of the lenses can be better than half a second, achieved with small applied voltages of . A further important stage in the optimization of the contact lenses is the inclusion of graphene as the electrodes. Conventional ITO electrodes are too brittle for these flexible optical systems. The paper also reviews the successful incorporation of graphene into the lenses, with excellent optical and electro-optical results. The device demonstrates the huge potential of graphene in an unconventional liquid crystal device geometry that includes curvature over a relatively large area.

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Section: Design and Construction Of The Lensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Homeotropic Aligned Liquid Crystal Contact Lensesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Homeotropic Aligned Liquid Crystal Contact Lensesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Liquid crystal contact lenses with graphene electrodes and switchable focus

Gleeson

Kaur

2016

MRS Advances

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Embossing Reactive Mesogens: A Facile Approach to Polarization‐Independent Liquid Crystal Devices

Wahle

Snow

Sargent

et al. 2018

Advanced Optical Materials

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Reactive mesogens (RMs) are used in a wide variety of applications, from retardation plates for organic light‐emitting display screens, liquid crystal phase stabilization, optical or electrically active elastomers to novel optic components. They can be processed as standard liquid crystals and subsequently polymerized to stabilize both shape and anisotropic properties. However, creating complex shapes while maintaining good alignment of the RM optical axis can be a challenge. In the present work, embossing is used to replicate a wide variety of RM structures in several electro‐optic devices. A novel device geometry is proposed where a polarization‐independent lens is formed by opposing birefringent Fresnel zone plates embossed in aligned RM. The RM forms the optical elements and alignment layers for an index‐matched liquid crystal, arranged to produce the twisted nematic configuration. Low voltages switch the device between nonfocusing and focusing states. After characterizing lens efficiency and beam properties, the method is used to fabricate a switchable multilevel Fresnel zone plate with optical efficiencies beyond 50%, and theoretically able to produce polarization‐independent lenses with efficiencies approaching 100% from a single structure. Finally, manufactured polarization‐independent gratings and microlens arrays are presented using the method to illustrate the wide range of applicability.

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Electrically Tunable Polymer Stabilized Chiral Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystal Microlenses

Perera,

Haputhantrige,

Himel

et al. 2023

Advanced Optical Materials

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Tunable optical lenses are in great demand in modern technologies ranging from augmented and virtual reality to sensing and detection. In this work, electrically tunable microlenses based on a polymer‐stabilized chiral ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal are described. The power of the lens can be quickly (within 5 ms) varied by ≈500 diopters by ramping an in‐plane electric field from 0 to 2.5 V µm−1. Importantly, within this relatively low‐amplitude field range, the lens is optically isotropic; thus, its focal length is independent of the polarization of incoming light. This remarkable performance combines the advantages of electrically tuned isotropic lenses and the field‐controlled shape of the lens, which are unique properties of chiral ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals and have no counterpart in other liquid crystals. The achieved lens performance represents a significant step forward as compared to liquid lenses controlled by electrowetting and opens new possibilities in various applications such as biomimetic optics, security printing, and solar energy concentration.

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Novel switching mode in a vertically aligned liquid crystal contact lens

Cited by 31 publications

References 10 publications

Liquid crystal contact lenses with graphene electrodes and switchable focus

Liquid crystal contact lenses with graphene electrodes and switchable focus

Embossing Reactive Mesogens: A Facile Approach to Polarization‐Independent Liquid Crystal Devices

Electrically Tunable Polymer Stabilized Chiral Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystal Microlenses

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