Patent ID: 8587734

Claim:
An adaptive liquid crystal lens system comprising: a first substrate assembly including: a first transparent substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; only one alignment layer having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a first conductive layer adjacent to the bottom surface of the first transparent substrate and adjacent to the top surface of the alignment layer; a second substrate assembly having a continuous grooved phase profile, said second substrate assembly not having an alignment layer and including: a second transparent substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; a lens having a grooved surface and a flat surface, said grooved surface defining a plurality of grooves; and a second conductive layer, said second conductive layer being a continuous layer adjacent to the lens wherein the second conductive layer is disposed between the top surface of the second transparent substrate and the flat surface of the lens; a liquid crystal layer having liquid crystal material, said liquid crystal layer being disposed between the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly, wherein said liquid crystal layer is received in the grooves of the lens, and said liquid crystal layer is adjacent to the bottom surface of the alignment layer and is adjacent the grooved surface of the lens, the liquid crystal material to be in a homeotropic state caused by the alignment layer.