Flexible, adjustable lens power liquid crystal cells and lenses

An electrically tunable lens, comprising:

• a first alignment layer and a second alignment layer;
• an active layer comprising liquid crystal confined between the first and second alignment layers in an optical path of the lens;
• a first electrode disposed above the first alignment layer, the first electrode having a first patterned opening disposed over an aperture region of the active layer;
• a second electrode disposed below the second alignment layer, the second electrode having a second patterned opening arranged to induce in combination with the first electrode an electric field in the active layer;
• and
• a driver electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, configured to apply a drive signal across the first and second electrodes including an initial higher field power interval and a subsequent lower field power interval, the lower field power being configured to establish a target lens power during the lower field power interval.

An electrically tunable lens, comprising:

• a first alignment layer, a second alignment layer, a third alignment layer and a fourth alignment layer;
• a first active layer comprising liquid crystal confined between the first and second alignment layers in an optical path of the lens;
• a second active layer comprising liquid crystal confined between the third and fourth alignment layers in the optical path of the lens;
• a first electrode disposed above the first alignment layer, the first electrode having a first patterned opening disposed in alignment with an aperture region of the first active layer;
• and
• a second electrode disposed below the fourth alignment layer, the second electrode having a second patterned opening disposed in alignment with an aperture region of the second active layer;
• and
• a pad electrode disposed between the first and second active layers;
• and
• a driver electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, configured to apply a first drive signal to the first electrode and a second drive signal to the second electrode arranged to induce, in combination with the pad electrode, electric fields in the first and second active layers, wherein at least one of the first drive signal and the second drive signal includes an initial higher field power interval and a subsequent lower field power interval, the lower field power being configured to establish a target lens power during the lower field power interval.