Dual-mode liquid crystal microlens arrays

Based on our previous works on liquid crystal microlenses driven and adjusted electrically, we present a new type of liquid crystal microlens arrays with dual-mode function (DLCMAs). Currently, the DLCMAs developed by us consist of a top electrode couple constructed by two layers of controlling electrode structure, and a bottom electrode. The top two electrode layers are respectively deposited over both sides of a glass substrate and insulated by a thin SiO2 coating, so as to act as the mode-control-part in the DLCMAs. Another planar electrode layer acting as the base electrode is deposited over the surface of a glass substrate. Two glass substrates with fabricated electrode structure are coupled into a microcavity filled by nematic liquid crystal material. The DLCMAs proposed in this paper present excellent divergence and convergence performances only loading relatively low driving voltage signal. The common optical properties of the micro-optics-structures are given experimentally.