Patent ID: 8111338
Filing Date: 2012-02-07
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. A beam shaping device, comprising first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between said substrates, and a first electrode layer provided on a side of said first substrate facing said liquid crystal layer, said beam shaping device being controllable between beam shaping states, each permitting passage of light through said beam shaping device, said beam shaping device further comprising an insulating layer at least partially covering said first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer provided on top of said insulating layer, said second electrode layer comprising a conductor pattern exposing a portion of said insulating layer, wherein application of a voltage (V) between said first and second electrode layers causes liquid crystal molecules in a portion of said liquid crystal layer corresponding to the exposed portion of the insulating layer to tilt in a plane perpendicular to said liquid crystal layer, resulting in a local refractive index gradient, thereby enabling shaping of a beam of light passing through said beam shaping device, and wherein said conductor pattern includes a plurality of mutually spaced apart conductors together constituting a continuous portion of said second electrode layer such that said mutually spaced apart conductors are electrically interconnected.