Patent ID: 7209097
Filing Date: 2007-04-24
Classification: G02B,G02F,H04N

Abstract:
1. An optical device comprising: a layer of transparent material having a desired curved surface configuration; a layer including a variable refractive index material made of molecules having a positive or negative dielectric constant anisotropy, wherein the molecules are varied in accordance with the amplitude of an applied AC voltage, and wherein the AC voltage is applied during a frequency range corresponding to the positive dielectric constant anisotropy or during a frequency range corresponding to the negative dielectric constant anisotropy; at least two transparent electrodes arranged to sandwich said layer of the transparent material and said layer including the variable refractive index material; and a driving device for applying the AC voltage substantially equal to or greater than an amplitude of an AC voltage to the at least two transparent electrodes so as to operate the variable refractive index material according to the applied amplitude of the AC voltage, wherein longer axes of the molecules of the variable refractive index material are aligned along the electric field when applying a larger amplitude of the AC voltage according to the positive dielectric constant anisotropy, and the longer axes of the molecules of the variable refractive index material are aligned perpendicularly to the electric field when applying a smaller amplitude of the AC voltage according to the negative dielectric constant anisotropy.