Patent ID: 7872707

Claim:
A method for controlling an index modulation of a switchable polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical component comprising: providing a pre-polymer liquid crystal material between a first and second substrate, the first and second substrate having a first and second electrode pattern thereon, respectively, for applying a switching voltage to the switchable polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical component, wherein at least one each of the first and second electrode patterns consists of interdigitated electrodes; applying a voltage approximately equal to the switching voltage to only every other interdigitated electrode, creating an in-plane electric field within the pre-polymer liquid crystal material; holographically irradiating the pre-polymer liquid crystal material resulting in polymerization of the pre-polymer liquid crystal, wherein liquid crystal droplets formed from the holographic irradiation are formed with symmetry axes oriented in a same direction as the in-plane electric field; and removing the voltage approximately equal to the switching voltage once polymerization is complete.