Patent ID: 8194195

Claim:
An optical system for creating dynamic light effects comprising a light beam source arranged for generating a beam of light, a projection gate arranged for controlling the beam of light, wherein said light beam source has at least one light emitting diode, and said projection gate has an imaging optical element and a liquid crystalline refractive index gradient element as a beam forming optical element; said imaging optical element having a liquid crystal optical element, said liquid crystal optical element positioned between a first and a second transparent plate; a first and a second transparent electrode positioned on either side of said liquid crystal optical element to selectively energize and orient said liquid crystal optical element; a first and a second orientation layer directly adjacent said liquid crystal optical element which can orient liquid crystal molecules in said liquid crystal optical element; wherein said liquid crystalline refractive index gradient element includes a first and a second transparent plate; a first and a second rubbed polymer layer positioned adjacent respective said first and second transparent plate, each of said first and said second rubbed polymer layer enclosing respective first and second patterned electrodes which form parallel; wherein said first and second patterned electrodes are aligned with respect to one another and are line electrodes at a periodic distance thereby inducing cylindrical lenses; wherein said first and second patterned electrodes are operable when a voltage is applied to create a refractive index gradient of a liquid crystal layer positioned between said first and said second rubbed polymer layer being formed in an area containing no electrodes in said first and second patterned electrode layer.