Variable focus liquid crystal lens system
AssigneeBell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
InventorDwight W. Berreman
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Abstract
An optical lens system is disclosed which comprises a body of a nematic liquid crystal material placed in a variable electric or magnetic field. In response to variation of the field strength from zero to an upper limit, the focal length of the lens system changes continuously from a first focal length to a second focal length. The new lens system may be used, e.g., in cameras, telescopes, binoculars, projectors, and eyeglasses.
Claims11
Optical device comprising a variable focus optical focusing system consisting essentially of a first body of an essentially uniformly transparent birefringent nematic liquid crystal material, a second body of an essentially uniformly transparent birefringent liquid crystal material, means for aligning the directors in said first body in a first direction, means for aligning the directors in said second body in a second direction which is essentially perpendicular to said first direction, a pair of electrodes or an induction coil for applying across said first body and said second body an electric or magnetic field having a component perpendicular to said first direction and said second direction, means for varying the strength of said electric or magnetic field, and means for providing light passing through said first body and said second body and having a component which is perpendicular to said first direction and said second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.