Incident beam polarization dependent optical device with variable focusing beam pattern

An optical device with variable focused beam pattern depending on polarization of an incident beam, comprising:

• a first lens structure which is configured by arranging first lenticular lenses which are formed with liquid crystals or liquid crystal polymers having a first extraordinary refractive index axis direction and of which longitudinal axes are aligned with a first alignment direction;
• and
• a second lens structure which is laminated on a beam emitting surface of the first lens structure and configured by arranging second lenticular lenses which are formed with liquid crystals or liquid crystal polymers having a second extraordinary refractive index axis direction and of which longitudinal axes are aligned with a second alignment direction,
• wherein the first and second lens structures are designed so that the first and second lens structures have a same focal plane, and beam patterns of output light output from the second lens structure are generated on the same focal plane, and
• wherein the beam pattern of output light output from the second lens structure is determined according to a polarization direction of the incident beam incident on the first lens structure, the first and second extraordinary refractive index axis directions of the first and second lens structures, and the first and second alignment directions of the first and second lens structures.