Patent ID: 8917440
Filing Date: 2014-12-23
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. An active optical device comprising: an optically variable layer having a refractive index which changes according to application of temperature above a threshold temperature; and a temperature control unit that controls a temperature of one or more regions of the optically variable layer, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a micro heating array, wherein the micro heating array comprises: a plurality of heating regions that are heated according to an electrical control thereof, and the heating regions are periodically aligned, and a plurality of supporting regions that electrically connect the heating regions in series, wherein a width of each of the heating regions is smaller than a width of each of the supporting regions, such that, due to the width of each of the heating regions application of a current to the micro heating array causes a temperature each of the heating regions to increase to a temperature above the threshold temperature and causes a temperature of each of the supporting regions to increase to a temperature lower than the threshold temperature.