Control of dynamic lenses

A method for producing optical apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing an electrically-tunable lens, comprising:
• an electro-optical layer, having, for a given polarization of light incident on the layer, an effective local index of refraction at any given location within an active area of the electro-optical layer that is determined by a voltage waveform applied across the electro-optical layer at the location;
• conductive electrodes extending over opposing first and second sides of the electro-optical layer, the electrodes comprising an array of excitation electrodes extending across the first side of the electro-optical layer;
• control circuitry, which is coupled to apply respective control voltage waveforms to the excitation electrodes so as to generate a specified phase modulation profile in the electro-optical layer;
• and
• positioning a polarization rotator to intercept incoming light that is directed toward the lens and to rotate a polarization of the intercepted light so as to ensure that the light incident on the electro-optical layer has a component of the given polarization regardless of an initial polarization of the intercepted light.