TWI475278B - Adaptive electro-active lens with variable focal length - Google Patents
Adaptive electro-active lens with variable focal length Download PDFInfo
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Description
本發明係關於可調節聚焦之電可控制電活性透鏡。The present invention relates to an electrically controllable electroactive lens with adjustable focus.
隨著壽命預期的不斷增加，眼睛中之與年齡有關之光學變化的校正變得愈來愈重要。眼睛中之一與年齡有關之光學變化為遠視，其中由於晶狀體彈性降低，人們難以將近物聚焦於視網膜上。遠視通常在人四十多歲時對其開始產生影響，所以對此視覺之校正存在極大之需要。具有固定聚焦性能之眼用透鏡已廣泛用作眼鏡及隱形眼鏡以校正遠視及其它情形。As life expectancy continues to increase, the correction of age-related optical changes in the eye becomes more and more important. One of the eye-related optical changes in the eye is hyperopia, where it is difficult to focus the near object on the retina due to the reduced elasticity of the lens. Hyperopia usually begins to affect people when they are in their 40s, so there is a great need for this visual correction. Ophthalmic lenses with fixed focus performance have been widely used as glasses and contact lenses to correct for hyperopia and other situations.
若眼用透鏡具有可調節聚焦功率(即，聚焦功率不是靜止的)，則其為最有用的。可調節聚焦功率為眼睛提供外部適應性調節以使處於不同距離處之所關注之物體集中於焦點上。使用機械變焦透鏡可達成可調節聚焦功率。然而，機械方法會使眼鏡笨重且昂貴。It is most useful if the ophthalmic lens has an adjustable focus power (ie, the focus power is not stationary). The adjustable focus power provides external adaptive adjustment of the eye to focus the objects of interest at different distances to focus. Adjustable focus power is achieved using a mechanical zoom lens. However, mechanical methods can make the glasses bulky and expensive.
已將不同光學技術使用於雙焦點透鏡中以允許近距離視力及遠距離視力。舉例而言，使用者可戴為每一隻眼睛提供不同聚焦功率之透鏡，一者用於近物體且另一者用於遠物體。或者，通過使用透鏡、雙焦點繞射透鏡之區域分割或其它分割技術，將近物體及遠物體同時成像至視網膜上且大腦區別此等影像。除了雙聚焦繞射透鏡外，使用此等光學技術之觀察區域係很小。此外，當瞳孔較小時，因為虹膜擋住了通過透鏡之環形部分之光束，所以此等光學技術作用不佳。用於校正之另一選擇為單視覺透鏡之使用，其中將不同聚焦功率提供至每一隻眼睛，一者用於近物體且另一者用於遠物體。然而，當使用單視覺透鏡時，雙目深度知覺會受到影響。Different optical techniques have been used in bifocal lenses to allow for near vision and long range vision. For example, a user may wear a lens that provides different focus power for each eye, one for a near object and the other for a far object. Alternatively, near and far objects can be simultaneously imaged onto the retina by using a lens, region segmentation of a bifocal diffractive lens, or other segmentation techniques and the brain distinguishes such images. Except for the dual focus diffractive lens, the viewing area using these optical techniques is small. In addition, when the pupil is small, these optical techniques do not work well because the iris blocks the light beam that passes through the annular portion of the lens. Another option for correction is the use of a single vision lens in which different focus powers are provided to each eye, one for a near object and the other for a far object. However, when a single vision lens is used, binocular depth perception is affected.
已描述電可切換透鏡(例如，具有一夾於兩導電板之間之液晶層之透鏡，其中液晶之定向視電場之施加而變化)以用於光學系統(參見，例如，Kowel之Appl.Opt.23(16),2774－2777(1984)；Dance之Laser Focus world 28,34(1992))。在電可切換透鏡中，已研究了多種電極組態，包括菲涅耳(Fresnel)帶片電極結構(Williams之SPIE Current Developments in Optical Engineering and Commercial Optics,1168,352－357(1989)；McOwan之Optics Communications 103,189－193(1993))。已描述了可變焦距之液晶透鏡(Sato之Jap.J.Appl.Phys.24(8),L626－L628(1985))。然而，歸因於諸多因素，包括當焦距改變時之低繞射效率及由於液晶層之所需的厚度所導致的低切換時間，液晶透鏡在眼鏡片應用中之使用受到限制。需要一種具有可調節聚焦功率之經改良之透鏡。An electrically switchable lens has been described (for example, a lens having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between two conductive plates, wherein the orientation of the liquid crystal changes depending on the application of an electric field) for use in an optical system (see, for example, Kowel Appl. Opt .23(16), 2774-2777 (1984); Dance Focus World 28, 34 (1992). Among the electrically switchable lenses, various electrode configurations have been investigated, including Fresnel strip electrode structures (SPIE Current Developments in Optical Engineering and Commercial Optics, 1168, 352-357 (1989); McOwan Optics Communications 103, 189-193 (1993)). A variable focal length liquid crystal lens has been described (Sato Jap. J. Appl. Phys. 24(8), L626-L628 (1985)). However, the use of liquid crystal lenses in ophthalmic lens applications is limited due to a number of factors, including low diffraction efficiency as the focal length changes and low switching times due to the desired thickness of the liquid crystal layer. There is a need for an improved lens with adjustable focus power.
提供一種新穎透鏡設計及用於調節透鏡之焦距之對應裝置及方法。新穎設計係基於個別可定址電極圖案。在此描述新穎設計之兩個應用。第一應用允許焦距在離散值之間切換。在一實施例中，焦距於一初始焦距與初始焦距之整數倍之間切換。第二應用允許更普遍之用途，其中基於設計參數將焦距自最小可能值連續調節至無窮大。新穎設計克服了上述困難。A novel lens design and corresponding apparatus and method for adjusting the focal length of the lens are provided. The novel design is based on individual addressable electrode patterns. Two applications of the novel design are described herein. The first application allows the focal length to switch between discrete values. In one embodiment, the focal length is switched between an initial focal length and an integer multiple of the initial focal length. The second application allows for a more general use in which the focal length is continuously adjusted from the smallest possible value to infinity based on design parameters. The novel design overcomes the above difficulties.
更具體言之，提供一種可調節聚焦之電可控制電活性透鏡。亦提供用於離散地或連續地調節電可控制電活性透鏡之焦距的方法。電可控制電活性透鏡允許焦距被調節而無需笨重及低效率之機械移動。與其中每一視覺之觀察區域限於一窄通道且使用者面對兩個影像之諸如雙焦點、三焦點或漸進之眼鏡或隱形眼鏡之同步視覺透鏡及其中雙目深度知覺會受到影響之單視覺透鏡相比，電活性調節聚焦功率且在每一工作條件下整個孔徑具有相同聚焦功率。由可調節聚焦之電可控制透鏡製成的裝置提供具有較大觀察區域及高影像品質的可調節聚焦而不同物理透鏡之間進行切換。此透鏡之其它優點包括緊密、較輕重量、低成本及具有低電壓及低功率消耗之較易操作。More specifically, an electrically controllable electroactive lens with adjustable focus is provided. A method for discretely or continuously adjusting the focal length of an electrically controllable electroactive lens is also provided. The electrically controllable electroactive lens allows the focal length to be adjusted without cumbersome and inefficient mechanical movement. A simultaneous vision lens with a narrow channel and a user facing two images, such as bifocal, trifocal or progressive glasses or contact lenses, and a single vision in which binocular depth perception is affected In contrast to the lens, the electrical activity adjusts the focus power and the entire aperture has the same focus power under each operating condition. A device made of an electrically controllable lens with adjustable focus provides adjustable focus with a large viewing area and high image quality while switching between different physical lenses. Other advantages of this lens include compactness, light weight, low cost, and ease of operation with low voltage and low power consumption.
在一實施例中，提供一種可調節聚焦之電可控制電活性透鏡，其包含：一液晶層，其置於一對透明基板之間；一菲涅耳(Fresnel)區圖案化電極，其具有M個區，每一區具有置於該液晶層與該第一透明基板之面朝內之表面之間的L個個別可定址子區，其中M及L為正整數；及一導電層，其位於該液晶層與該第二透明基板之面朝內之表面之間。該菲涅耳區圖案化電極之該等個別可定址子區位於同一水平面上，其中藉由一絕緣體隔開該等子區以防止電短路，或者可將菲涅耳區圖案化電極之個別可定址子區置於兩個或兩個以上水平面上，藉由一絕緣層將每一者隔開，或可使用此項技術中已知之其它組態。In one embodiment, an electrically controllable electroactive lens having an adjustable focus is provided, comprising: a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of transparent substrates; and a Fresnel region patterned electrode having M regions each having L individual addressable sub-regions between the liquid crystal layer and the inwardly facing surface of the first transparent substrate, wherein M and L are positive integers; and a conductive layer Located between the liquid crystal layer and the inwardly facing surface of the second transparent substrate. The individually addressable sub-regions of the Fresnel zone patterned electrode are on the same horizontal plane, wherein the sub-regions are separated by an insulator to prevent electrical shorting, or the Fresnel zone patterned electrodes can be individually The addressed sub-regions are placed on two or more horizontal planes, each separated by an insulating layer, or other configurations known in the art can be used.
提供一種將一透鏡之焦距調節為一初始焦距F之整數倍的方法，其包含：提供一透鏡，該透鏡包含一液晶層，其封閉於一對透明基板之間；一菲涅耳區圖案化電極，其置於該液晶層與該第一透明基板之面朝內之表面之間，該圖案化電極具有M個區，每一區具有L個子區，該圖案化電極具有一總數為M.L個之個別可定址電極；一導電層，其位於該液晶層與該第二透明基板之面朝內之表面之間；及一電控制，其電連接至該等電極區及該導電層；將相同電壓施加至k個個別可定址電極之每一者以將該焦距調節至kF，其中k為一自1至ML之整數。可離散地將焦距自F調至無窮大。A method of adjusting a focal length of a lens to an integral multiple of an initial focal length F, comprising: providing a lens comprising a liquid crystal layer enclosed between a pair of transparent substrates; a Fresnel zone patterning An electrode disposed between the liquid crystal layer and an inwardly facing surface of the first transparent substrate, the patterned electrode having M regions, each region having L sub-regions, the patterned electrode having a total of ML An individually addressable electrode; a conductive layer between the surface of the liquid crystal layer and the inward facing surface of the second transparent substrate; and an electrical control electrically connected to the electrode regions and the conductive layer; A voltage is applied to each of the k individual addressable electrodes to adjust the focal length to kF, where k is an integer from 1 to ML. The focal length can be discretely adjusted from F to infinity.
提供一種連續地調節一透鏡之焦距之方法，其包含：(a)提供一透鏡，該透鏡包含一液晶層，其封閉於一對透明基板之間；一具有L個繞射等級之菲涅耳區圖案化電極，其置於該液晶層與該第一透明基板之面朝內之表面之間，該等圖案化電極為個別可定址環之一圓形陣列；一導電層，其位於該液晶層與該第二透明基板之面朝內之表面之間；及一電控制，其電連接至該等電極區及該導電層；(b)判定該所要焦距(f')；(c)使用以下方程式計算該菲涅耳區圖案化電極之第m區的面積：＋f '2 ＝(f '＋m λ)2 ，其中f'為該設計焦距，且λ為該設計波長；(d)將該第m區之該所計算面積除以L或一更大整數以判定形成一設計子區之若干個別可定址電極；(e)將相同電壓施加至一設計子區中之該等若干個別可定址電極。該用於連續地調節焦距之方法在步驟(a)前可進一步包含：判定一或多個設計焦距；計算允許所有設計焦距形成於一設計子區中之該菲涅耳區圖案化電極中的最大環尺寸。A method of continuously adjusting a focal length of a lens, comprising: (a) providing a lens comprising a liquid crystal layer enclosed between a pair of transparent substrates; and a Fresnel having L diffraction levels a patterned electrode disposed between the liquid crystal layer and an inwardly facing surface of the first transparent substrate, the patterned electrodes being a circular array of individual addressable rings; a conductive layer located in the liquid crystal a layer between the inwardly facing surface of the second transparent substrate; and an electrical control electrically connected to the electrode regions and the conductive layer; (b) determining the desired focal length (f'); (c) using The following equation calculates the area of the mth region of the Fresnel zone patterned electrode: + f ' 2 =( f '+ m λ) 2 , where f' is the design focal length and λ is the design wavelength; (d) dividing the calculated area of the mth region by L or a larger integer To determine a number of individual addressable electrodes that form a design sub-region; (e) apply the same voltage to the plurality of individually addressable electrodes in a design sub-region. The method for continuously adjusting the focal length may further include: determining one or more design focal lengths before the step (a); calculating that the design focal lengths are allowed to be formed in the Fresnel zone patterned electrodes in a design sub-region Maximum ring size.
在一實施例中，自圖案化ITO(氧化銦錫)電極形成電極區。如此項技術中已知，藉由運用所施加之電場進行之液晶的重定向來調變每一區中之相位延遲。In one embodiment, the electrode region is formed from a patterned ITO (indium tin oxide) electrode. As is known in the art, the phase retardation in each zone is modulated by redirection of the liquid crystal using the applied electric field.
本文所描述之可調節聚焦之電可控制電活性透鏡提供優於當前方法之許多優點。一優點為可調節性地改變透鏡之聚焦功率的能力。藉由電極區間距判定繞射透鏡之焦距。在本文所描述之透鏡中，電極圖案為固定的且藉由改變對於電極之電子驅動連接及所施加之電壓可直接改變焦距。在一實施例中，個別可定址電極區允許對於不同距離視覺(包括近(如，讀)、中間(如，電腦螢幕)及較遠視覺)之校正。直接地藉由一測距儀或藉由使用者手動可調節聚焦功率。在一實施例中，可將微電子電路與透鏡整合於一起，所以裝配件為緊密的。同樣，電極結構為不可見的，其提供一優於疊層液晶方法的裝飾優點。電功率之損失將不影響遠視覺(當無電流提供時提供聚焦功率)。在每一工作條件下，整個孔徑具有相同聚焦功率。在一實施例中之本文所描述之菲涅耳區結構允許相對較大孔徑，其對於眼用透鏡應用是需要的。本文所描述之本發明之其它優點包括緊密設計、較輕重量、低成本、具有低電壓及低功率消耗之較易操作。The electrically focustable electro-active lens of the adjustable focus described herein provides many advantages over current methods. One advantage is the ability to adjustably adjust the focus power of the lens. The focal length of the diffractive lens is determined by the spacing of the electrode regions. In the lenses described herein, the electrode pattern is fixed and the focal length can be directly changed by changing the electronic drive connection to the electrodes and the applied voltage. In one embodiment, the individually addressable electrode regions allow for correction of different distance visions, including near (eg, read), intermediate (eg, computer screen), and farther vision. The focus power can be manually adjusted directly by a range finder or by a user. In one embodiment, the microelectronic circuit can be integrated with the lens so the assembly is tight. Again, the electrode structure is invisible, which provides a decorative advantage over the laminated liquid crystal method. The loss of electrical power will not affect far vision (the focus power is provided when no current is supplied). The entire aperture has the same focus power under each operating condition. The Fresnel zone structure described herein in one embodiment allows for a relatively large aperture that is desirable for ophthalmic lens applications. Other advantages of the invention described herein include compact design, light weight, low cost, ease of operation with low voltage and low power consumption.
如此項技術中已知，本文所描述之透鏡之焦距及對應屈光度值可為正數抑或負數，其視所施加之電壓而定。一般技術者已知此等更改而無需不適當之實驗且此等更改包括於本文中。As is known in the art, the focal length and corresponding diopter values of the lenses described herein can be positive or negative depending on the applied voltage. Such changes are known to the average skilled artisan without undue experimentation and such modifications are included herein.
如本文所使用，"可調節聚焦"意謂透鏡之焦距並非如習知光學透鏡固定於一距離。藉由此項技術中已知之構件改變施加至電極之電壓來調節可調節聚焦透鏡之焦距。在一實施例中，藉由使用者調節焦距來提供位於所要距離處之目標的視力。"個別可定址"意謂可獨立地將相同或不同電壓施加至電極上。"電可控制"意謂施加一電壓以控制或改變一參數，諸如此項技術中已知之液晶的定向狀態。"連續地調節"意謂可調節焦距為許多不同值，該等值並非限制於原始焦距之倍數且並非必須意謂可達成每一不同之焦距，此係因為當前圖案化電極製造技術之物理限制。As used herein, "adjustable focus" means that the focal length of the lens is not fixed at a distance as is conventional optical lenses. The focus of the adjustable focus lens is adjusted by varying the voltage applied to the electrodes by means known in the art. In one embodiment, the focus of the target at the desired distance is provided by the user adjusting the focal length. "Individually addressable" means that the same or different voltages can be applied to the electrodes independently. "Electrically controllable" means applying a voltage to control or change a parameter, such as the orientation state of a liquid crystal known in the art. "Continuously adjusted" means that the adjustable focal length is a number of different values that are not limited to a multiple of the original focal length and do not necessarily mean that each different focal length can be achieved, due to the physical limitations of current patterned electrode fabrication techniques. .
如本文所使用，"層"並非要求一絕對均勻薄膜。如本文所描述，某些不均勻厚度、裂紋或其它不足可能會出現，只要層執行其所希望之目的即可。如本文所使用，"垂直"意謂近似地垂直於基板之表面。注意一般光軸近似地垂直於基板之表面。如本文所使用，電極之間的"無水平間隙"包括其中當在垂直方向內觀察時電極之間無間隔之情形，且亦包括其中當在垂直方向內觀察時電極之間存在一間隔，而自理論上之最高限度而言，此間隔不會光學之繞射效率降低超過25%以及其中所有個別值及範圍之情形。As used herein, a "layer" does not require an absolutely uniform film. As described herein, certain non-uniform thicknesses, cracks, or other deficiencies may occur as long as the layer performs its intended purpose. As used herein, "vertical" means approximately perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. Note that the general optical axis is approximately perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. As used herein, "no horizontal gap" between electrodes includes a case where there is no space between the electrodes when viewed in the vertical direction, and also includes a gap between the electrodes when viewed in the vertical direction, and At the theoretical maximum, this interval does not reduce the optical diffraction efficiency by more than 25% and all of the individual values and ranges.
可將本發明之裝置使用於此項技術中已知之各種應用中，包括用於人或動物視覺校正或修正之透鏡。如此項技術中已知，可將透鏡併入眼鏡中。眼鏡可包括一個透鏡或一個以上透鏡。如一般技術者已知，可將裝置使用於顯示應用中而無需不適當之實驗。可將本發明之透鏡與習知透鏡及光學器件一起使用。可將本發明之透鏡用作習知透鏡之一部分，例如作為習知透鏡之***物，或習知透鏡與本發明之透鏡之組合可以堆疊方式使用。The device of the present invention can be used in a variety of applications known in the art, including lenses for human or animal vision correction or correction. Lenses can be incorporated into the spectacles as is known in the art. The glasses may include one lens or more than one lens. As is known to those skilled in the art, the device can be used in display applications without undue experimentation. The lenses of the present invention can be used with conventional lenses and optical devices. The lens of the present invention can be used as part of a conventional lens, for example as an insert for a conventional lens, or a combination of a conventional lens and a lens of the present invention can be used in a stacked manner.
在製備具有基於所觀察之目標之距離調節聚焦強度之透鏡中本發明係有用的。在一實施例中，測距機械裝置、電池及控制電路可被收納於眼鏡中或為分離控制系統之部分。在此項技術中已知此等組件及其用途。作為一實例，使用測距機械裝置以判定眼鏡與所要目標之間之距離。可將此資訊饋入至一調節施加至個別可定址電極之電壓的微處理器，其給予透鏡所要之相位傳輸函數以觀察目標。The invention is useful in preparing lenses having a focus intensity adjusted based on the observed target. In an embodiment, the ranging mechanism, battery, and control circuitry can be housed in the glasses or part of a separate control system. These components and their uses are known in the art. As an example, a ranging mechanism is used to determine the distance between the glasses and the desired target. This information can be fed to a microprocessor that adjusts the voltage applied to the individual addressable electrodes, which gives the lens the desired phase transfer function to view the target.
如此項技術中已知，可使用將電壓施加至電極之多種方法。如此項技術中已知，可使用電池或其它方法來提供電壓。此項技術中已知可使用控制施加至電極之電壓之所有態樣的多種方法，包括處理器、微處理器、積體電路及電腦晶片。如此項技術中已知，藉由所要之相位傳輸函數判定所施加之電壓。As is known in the art, a variety of methods of applying a voltage to an electrode can be used. A battery or other method can be used to provide the voltage as is known in the art. Various methods of controlling all aspects of the voltage applied to the electrodes, including processors, microprocessors, integrated circuits, and computer chips, are known in the art. As is known in the art, the applied voltage is determined by the desired phase transfer function.
為了更好地理解本發明，本文將簡要地回顧液晶晶格之基本概念，以及繞射透鏡中之某些基本概念及適應性透鏡之原理。For a better understanding of the present invention, a brief review of the basic concepts of liquid crystal lattices, as well as some of the basic concepts of diffractive lenses and the principles of adaptive lenses will be reviewed herein.
繞射透鏡在此項技術中為已知的。繞射透鏡之功能係基於一菲涅耳帶圖案之近場繞射。自該結構出現之每一點充當一球面波之發射器。一特定觀察點處之光場為整個結構之所發射之球面波之組份的總和。來自不同點之球面波之相長干涉在觀察點處產生一高強度，對應於一高繞射效率。Diffractive lenses are known in the art. The function of the diffractive lens is based on a near-field diffraction of a Fresnel zone pattern. Each point from the appearance of the structure acts as a transmitter for a spherical wave. The light field at a particular viewing point is the sum of the components of the spherical wave emitted by the entire structure. The constructive interference of spherical waves from different points produces a high intensity at the observation point, corresponding to a high diffraction efficiency.
圖1展示一繞射透鏡之說明：曲線圖(a)為習知折射透鏡；曲線圖(b)為具有連續二次火焰輪廓之繞射透鏡；曲線圖(c)為二元繞射透鏡；且曲線圖(d)為四等級(four－level)近似繞射透鏡。Figure 1 shows an illustration of a diffractive lens: graph (a) is a conventional refractive lens; graph (b) is a diffractive lens having a continuous secondary flame profile; and graph (c) is a binary diffractive lens; And the graph (d) is a four-level approximate diffractive lens.
圖1之曲線圖(a)展示一習知折射透鏡之一部分。藉由自該折射透鏡移除多個2π相位延遲，獲得一如圖1之曲線圖(b)中所示之繞射透鏡。對於設計波長λ0 而言，每一區邊界處之相位躍變為2π，且每一區中之火焰輪廓在焦點處形成完全相長干涉。圖1之曲線圖(c)及圖1之曲線圖(d)展示圖1(b)中所要之相位輪廓之不同近似，其中使用在每一區中之多個步進來近似所要之相位輪廓。Graph (a) of Figure 1 shows a portion of a conventional refractive lens. A diffraction lens as shown in the graph (b) of Fig. 1 is obtained by removing a plurality of 2π phase delays from the refractive lens. For the design wavelength λ 0 , the phase jump at the boundary of each zone becomes 2π, and the flame profile in each zone forms a fully constructive interference at the focus. The graph (c) of Figure 1 and the graph (d) of Figure 1 show different approximations of the desired phase profiles in Figure 1(b), where multiple steps in each zone are used to approximate the desired phase profile.
圖2展示一繞射透鏡之構造。焦距(f)沿著光軸顯示。半徑(rm )垂直於光軸顯示。注意：為了具有相長干涉，半徑(rm )處進入透鏡之光到達焦點F所經過的路徑等於焦距(f)加上整數個波長(mλ)。Figure 2 shows the construction of a diffractive lens. The focal length (f) is displayed along the optical axis. The radius (r m ) is displayed perpendicular to the optical axis. Note: In order to have constructive interference, the path through which the light entering the lens at the radius (r m ) reaches the focal point F is equal to the focal length (f) plus an integer number of wavelengths (mλ).
換言之，藉由區之週期判定繞射透鏡之焦距(f)。光學路徑長度差異為波長之倍數。對於第m個區而言，注意f＋mλ為圖2中之直角三角形之斜邊：
對於近軸近似，f>>mλ，區或區邊界之半徑(r)由下式給定：
第m個區之第n(n＝1,2,3...L，L為每一區中之相位等級的數目)個子區之外徑由下式給定：
此判定菲涅耳區圖案，其以γ2
為週期。週期等於γ1 2
。注意：γ1
為第一區之半徑，且每一區具有相同面積。繞射透鏡之焦距為：
以上方程式指示藉由選擇區週期可改變焦距。對於具有焦距為p．f之透鏡而言，每一區之尺寸(面積)為p．γ1 2
。多等級繞射透鏡(或L相位等級繞射透鏡)之繞射效率由下式給定
表1給出1－屈光度繞射透鏡之不同參數。如表1中所見，繞射效率隨著相位等級之數目之增加而增加且最後子區之寬度隨著透鏡之孔徑之增加而減小。Table 1 gives the different parameters of the 1-diopter diffractive lens. As seen in Table 1, the diffraction efficiency increases as the number of phase levels increases and the width of the last sub-region decreases as the aperture of the lens increases.
液晶晶格在此項技術中為已知的。此項技術中亦已知液晶晶格之許多晶格組態及操作。Liquid crystal lattices are known in the art. Many lattice configurations and operations of liquid crystal lattices are also known in the art.
圖3展示一電活性液晶晶格之說明性實施例，其中液晶層夾於具有導電內表面之兩個玻璃板之間。該等板之表面塗布有諸如聚乙烯醇(PVA)或耐綸6,6之對準層且係藉由摩擦進行處理以給出同類分子定向。如此項技術中已知，以箭頭所示方向磨光對準層。將一電壓施加至該等板之內導電表面。在一使用一諸如電光媒體之液晶之電活性晶格中，每一區具有相同厚度，但當一電壓施加至該媒體時歸因於液晶分子之重定向則異常光束之折射率改變。如圖3中所示，藉由磨光方向判定液晶分子之初始定向。液晶分子之長軸(光軸)垂直地對準。當施加適當電壓時，分子旋轉。有效折射率(ne
')由下式給出：
在本文所描述之液晶晶格中，一基板上之導電材料不形成同類層，而是如下文進一步所描述形成電極圖案。In the liquid crystal lattice described herein, the conductive material on a substrate does not form a homogeneous layer, but an electrode pattern is formed as described further below.
圖4說明一具有圖案化電極之電活性液晶透鏡的一般結構，自上部至底部，該等層包含：410基板，420圖案化電極(個別可控制電極)，430對準層，440液晶及450間隔物(或若干間隔物)，430對準層，460接地，及410基板。4 illustrates the general structure of an electroactive liquid crystal lens having patterned electrodes, from top to bottom, the layers comprising: 410 substrates, 420 patterned electrodes (individual controllable electrodes), 430 alignment layers, 440 liquid crystals and 450 Spacers (or spacers), 430 alignment layers, 460 ground, and 410 substrates.
具體言之，圖4說明本文所使用之電活性液晶透鏡之一般結構。一液晶層430夾於圖案化電極420與接地電極460之間。如此項技術中已知可藉由對沉積於玻璃基板上之導電薄膜進行光微影處理來製造圖案化電極430，且接地電極460含有以如此項技術中已知之任一方式形成的均勻導電層。如本文所描述，圖案化電極包含其半徑由所要焦距判定之環的圓形陣列。液晶440之電光效應導致電可控制的雙折射。如本文進一步描述，橫跨透鏡之相位輪廓係藉由將適當電壓施加至圖案化電極來特製。In particular, Figure 4 illustrates the general structure of an electroactive liquid crystal lens as used herein. A liquid crystal layer 430 is sandwiched between the patterned electrode 420 and the ground electrode 460. As is known in the art, patterned electrode 430 can be fabricated by photolithographic processing of a conductive film deposited on a glass substrate, and ground electrode 460 contains a uniform conductive layer formed in any manner known in the art. . As described herein, the patterned electrode comprises a circular array of rings whose radius is determined by the desired focal length. The electro-optic effect of liquid crystal 440 results in electrically controllable birefringence. As further described herein, the phase profile across the lens is tailored by applying an appropriate voltage to the patterned electrode.
導電材料可為任何適當材料(包括本文所具體描述之材料)及此項技術中已知之其它材料。較佳地導電材料為透明的，諸如氧化銦、氧化錫或氧化銦錫(ITO)。基板可為可提供所要光學傳播且可在本文所描述之裝置及方法中作用的任何材料，諸如此項技術中已知之石英、玻璃或塑膠。導電層之厚度通常在30 nm與200 nm之間。層必須足以厚以提供充分傳導，但不是厚得提供對於整個透鏡結構之過度厚度。可使用光微影技術，諸如本文所描述的技術及熟習此項技術者所知悉的技術來形成圖案化電極420。The electrically conductive material can be any suitable material, including materials specifically described herein, as well as other materials known in the art. Preferably the electrically conductive material is transparent, such as indium oxide, tin oxide or indium tin oxide (ITO). The substrate can be any material that provides the desired optical propagation and can function in the devices and methods described herein, such as quartz, glass or plastic as is known in the art. The thickness of the conductive layer is usually between 30 nm and 200 nm. The layer must be thick enough to provide sufficient conduction, but not thick enough to provide excessive thickness for the entire lens structure. Patterned electrode 420 can be formed using photolithography techniques, such as the techniques described herein and techniques known to those skilled in the art.
圖5A說明一其中所有電極處於同一平面之結構(一層結構)，其中相鄰子區之間存在小間隙。控制器或驅動器510藉由導線520連接至通道或接點530，其接著連接至個別可控制電極540。注意：導線520可藉由絕緣層(未圖示)與電極540電絕緣，且接著該等導線可選擇性地經由通道(該絕緣層中之孔或路徑)或接點530來接觸電極。在製造業之微影中及在積體電路製造中此類型接點之製造為眾所熟知的。Figure 5A illustrates a structure (a layer structure) in which all of the electrodes are in the same plane with a small gap between adjacent sub-regions. Controller or driver 510 is coupled to channel or junction 530 by wire 520, which in turn is coupled to individual controllable electrode 540. Note that the wires 520 can be electrically insulated from the electrodes 540 by an insulating layer (not shown), and then the wires can selectively contact the electrodes via vias (holes or paths in the insulating layer) or contacts 530. The manufacture of this type of contact is well known in the lithography of manufacturing and in the manufacture of integrated circuits.
更具體言之，圖5A說明在一層中之同心、個別可定址(個別可控制)之環形電極的布局。忽略穿過絕緣物之導線520及通道，因為所有電極處於單一層中，所以將此布局界定為"一層"結構。More specifically, Figure 5A illustrates the layout of concentric, individually addressable (individually controllable) ring electrodes in a layer. The wires 520 and the channels that pass through the insulator are ignored, since all of the electrodes are in a single layer, this layout is defined as a "layer" structure.
或者，可在一關於同心環電極徑向走向之匯流排中將導線520緊密地加固於一起。Alternatively, the wires 520 can be tightly reinforced together in a busbar about the radial direction of the concentric ring electrodes.
注意：可使用其它圖案化電極形狀。舉例而言，六角形陣列可含有六角形像素，或一柵格陣列可含有正方形像素，或一組不規則形狀可修正非對稱折射誤差。可製造不規則或複雜形狀電極以修正一特殊非對稱或非習知或高階折射誤差。此外，為了與液晶產生更複雜之相互作用，電極在光軸方向上可具有可變厚度。Note: Other patterned electrode shapes can be used. For example, a hexagonal array may contain hexagonal pixels, or a grid array may contain square pixels, or a set of irregular shapes may correct asymmetric refractive errors. Irregular or complex shaped electrodes can be fabricated to correct a particular asymmetrical or non-conventional or high order refractive error. Further, in order to generate a more complicated interaction with the liquid crystal, the electrode may have a variable thickness in the optical axis direction.
或者，可控制具有高像素密度之陣列以近似圖5A之同心環來產生繞射透鏡，特定言之，若兩個以上之像素裝配於一環電極之寬度之內。此等高像素密度陣列亦可近似更複雜之形狀。Alternatively, an array having a high pixel density can be controlled to approximate the concentric ring of Figure 5A to produce a diffractive lens, in particular if more than two pixels are mounted within the width of a ring electrode. These high pixel density arrays can also approximate more complex shapes.
返回至圖5A中，讓吾人將最內環電極定義為第一電極，且向外計數至第16即最外部電極。注意：最內部電極較佳可為一全圓而不是一環，但圖5A為對稱而說明一環，且使用最內環電極以更清楚地說明通道或接點530。Returning to Figure 5A, let us define the innermost ring electrode as the first electrode and count it outward to the 16th, the outermost electrode. Note that the innermost electrode may preferably be a full circle rather than a ring, but Figure 5A is symmetrical to illustrate a ring and the innermost ring electrode is used to more clearly illustrate the channel or contact 530.
為了產生一4等級或4相位繞射透鏡，可將最內部之四個環組合成一區。此第一區包含電極1至電極4(自最內電極向外計數)。該等電極1至電極4之每一者為第一區之一子區。第二區由電極5至電極8組成。第三區由電極9至電極12組成。第四區由電極13至電極16組成。16個電極之該組織產生一具有4個區之4等級(或相位)繞射透鏡。To create a 4-level or 4-phase diffractive lens, the innermost four rings can be combined into one zone. This first zone contains electrodes 1 to 4 (counted outward from the innermost electrode). Each of the electrodes 1 to 4 is a sub-region of the first region. The second zone consists of an electrode 5 to an electrode 8. The third zone consists of an electrode 9 to an electrode 12. The fourth zone is composed of the electrode 13 to the electrode 16. This tissue of the 16 electrodes produces a 4-level (or phase) diffractive lens with 4 zones.
如上文所論述，每一環電極540藉由導線520而獨立地可定址。若所有電極分佈於一層中，則相鄰電極之間必須存在電絕緣間隙。電極之間之間隙可引起相位失真，且此設計之模擬展示此相位失真可極大地影響繞射效率及其它效能量測。As discussed above, each ring electrode 540 is independently addressable by wire 520. If all of the electrodes are distributed in one layer, there must be an electrically insulating gap between adjacent electrodes. The gap between the electrodes can cause phase distortion, and the simulation of this design shows that this phase distortion can greatly affect the diffraction efficiency and other energy measurements.
為了減輕由一層設計中之電極之間的絕緣間隙所引起的失真，可使用其它電極組態。舉例而言，可將環電極分開為兩個分離層以產生一"兩層"設計。To alleviate the distortion caused by the insulation gap between the electrodes in a layer of design, other electrode configurations can be used. For example, the ring electrode can be split into two separate layers to create a "two layer" design.
具體言之，可將奇數環置於一電極層中，且將偶數環置於一隔開之第二電極層中。可藉由諸如SiO2 之絕緣層隔開此等兩個分離之電極層。Specifically, an odd number of rings can be placed in an electrode layer, and an even number of rings can be placed in a spaced second electrode layer. The two separate electrode layers can be separated by an insulating layer such as SiO 2 .
圖5B說明一其中奇數電極及偶數電極交錯於兩個水平層中且相鄰子區之間無間隙的結構(兩層結構)。Fig. 5B illustrates a structure (two-layer structure) in which odd-numbered electrodes and even-numbered electrodes are staggered in two horizontal layers and there is no gap between adjacent sub-areas.
控制器或驅動器510經導線520與電極通信，且將電極組合成為一具有偶環542之層及一具有奇環544之層。藉由一絕緣層SiO2 544隔開此等兩個電極層。亦展示Cr對準標記560以用於光微影製造對準。對應於自圖5A之相鄰區，亦展示區m 580及區m＋1 590。The controller or driver 510 is in communication with the electrodes via wires 520 and combines the electrodes into a layer having an even ring 542 and a layer having an odd ring 544. The two electrode layers are separated by an insulating layer SiO 2 544. A Cr alignment mark 560 is also shown for photolithographic fabrication alignment. Corresponding to the adjacent area from Fig. 5A, the area m 580 and the area m+1 590 are also displayed.
在圖5B中，顯示該兩層電極圖案之橫截面，其中將奇數環及偶數環分佈於兩個隔開之層中且當在垂直方向觀察(沿光軸觀察)時兩個相鄰電極之間無間隙。具體言之，注意：區m 580自rm 延伸至rm ＋ 1 且包含總共4個電極。區m 580中之4個電極之兩者甚至被編號且駐留於層542中，且區m 580中之其餘兩個電極駐留於層544中。In FIG. 5B, a cross section of the two-layer electrode pattern is shown, in which odd and even rings are distributed in two separate layers and two adjacent electrodes are observed when viewed in the vertical direction (as viewed along the optical axis). There is no gap between them. Specific, Note: Area m 580 extends from r m r m + 1 and to comprise a total of four electrodes. Both of the four electrodes in region m 580 are even numbered and reside in layer 542, and the remaining two electrodes in region m 580 reside in layer 544.
在此情形下，可自經由如一層情形中之通道的一額外層(圖5B中未圖示)來個別地定址每一環電極540。可將導線520定位於任何方便位置或層中。In this case, each ring electrode 540 can be individually addressed from an additional layer (not shown in Figure 5B) of the channel as in one layer. The wire 520 can be positioned in any convenient location or layer.
接著描述兩層結構之形成的一實例。對於其上施加有圖案化電極之基板而言，可將對準標記560沉積於導電層上。可將任何適合材料(諸如Cr)使用於對準標記。對準標記560允許各種光微影遮罩與基板之適當對準，且因此允許當圖案化電極時在處理步驟中所產生之與來自為了具有電極之所要總光微影界定而製造之"遮罩組"的每一遮罩之使用相關聯之圖案適當對準。使用此項技術中已知且在此描述之方法使圖案化電極之區之一部分形成於導電層中。將諸如SiO2 之絕緣物層550沉積於圖案化導電層上。將第二層導體沉積於SiO2 上且將圖案化電極區之第二部分形成於第二層導體中。Next, an example of the formation of a two-layer structure will be described. For the substrate on which the patterned electrode is applied, the alignment mark 560 can be deposited on the conductive layer. Any suitable material, such as Cr, can be used for the alignment marks. Alignment marks 560 allow for proper alignment of the various photolithographic masks with the substrate, and thus allow for "masking" in the processing steps when patterning the electrodes and from the definition of the desired total photolithography for the electrodes. Each mask of the mask set is properly aligned using the associated pattern. A portion of the region of the patterned electrode is formed in the conductive layer using methods known in the art and described herein. An insulator layer 550, such as SiO 2 , is deposited over the patterned conductive layer. A second layer of conductor is deposited on the SiO 2 and a second portion of the patterned electrode region is formed in the second layer of conductor.
將對準層(未圖示)置於第二層導體上且位於第二基板之導體上方。藉由諸如單向摩擦之此項技術中已知之方法製備該對準層。當前所用之對準層旋塗有聚乙烯醇或耐綸6,6。較佳地一基板上之對準層反平行於另一基板上之對準層摩擦。如此項技術中已知，此允許液晶之適當對準。將一液晶層置於該等基板之間，且保持該等基板處於與玻璃間隔物相隔所要距離(諸如隔開3微米與20微米之間的一距離)，或如此項技術中已知之其它方法。間隔物可為諸如聚酯薄膜(Mylar)、玻璃或石英或其它用於提供所要間隔之任何所要材料。為了達成有效繞射，該液晶層必須足夠厚以提供被觸發延遲之一光波(d>λ/δn~2.5 μm，其中δn為液晶媒體之雙折射)，而較厚之液晶層有助於防止飽和現象。較厚晶格之缺點包括較長切換時間(隨d2 變化)及電活性特徵界定之損失。可將透明基板隔開為允許圖案化電極之所要數目及液晶層之所要厚度的任一距離。在特定實施例中，該等透明基板相隔3微米與20微米之間的一距離，且所有個別值及範圍位於其中。一當前較佳間隔為5微米。An alignment layer (not shown) is placed over the second layer conductor and over the conductor of the second substrate. The alignment layer is prepared by methods known in the art such as one-way rubbing. The alignment layer currently used is spin-coated with polyvinyl alcohol or nylon 6,6. Preferably, the alignment layer on one of the substrates rubs anti-parallel to the alignment layer on the other substrate. This allows for proper alignment of the liquid crystal as is known in the art. A liquid crystal layer is placed between the substrates and the substrates are maintained at a desired distance from the glass spacer (such as a distance between 3 and 20 microns), or other methods known in the art. . The spacer may be, for example, Mylar, glass or quartz or any other desired material for providing the desired spacing. In order to achieve effective diffraction, the liquid crystal layer must be thick enough to provide one of the triggered delays (d > λ / δn ~ 2.5 μm, where δ n is the birefringence of the liquid crystal medium), while a thicker liquid crystal layer helps prevent Saturated phenomenon. Disadvantages of thicker crystal lattices include longer switching times (as a function of d 2 ) and loss of defined electrical activity characteristics. The transparent substrate can be separated by any distance that allows the desired number of patterned electrodes and the desired thickness of the liquid crystal layer. In a particular embodiment, the transparent substrates are separated by a distance between 3 microns and 20 microns, and all individual values and ranges are located therein. A currently preferred spacing is 5 microns.
操作中，藉由一控制器將需用於將折射率改變至一所要位準的電壓施加至電極上。"控制器"可包括一處理器、一微處理器、一積體電路、一IC、一電腦晶片及/或一晶片或包括於一處理器、一微處理器、一積體電路、一IC、一電腦晶片及/或一晶片中。通常，將高達約2 Vrm之電壓施加至該等電極上。將相位同步之波形控制驅動器連接至共用接地組態中之每一電極組。為獲得最大聚焦繞射效率則同步地優化驅動器振幅。如此項技術中已知，需用於將折射率改變至一所要位準的電壓功能係藉由所使用之液晶或液晶混合物來判定。In operation, a voltage required to change the refractive index to a desired level is applied to the electrodes by a controller. The "controller" may include a processor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, an IC, a computer chip and/or a chip or a processor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, an IC. , a computer chip and / or a wafer. Typically, a voltage of up to about 2 Vrm is applied to the electrodes. Connect the phase-synchronized waveform control driver to each of the electrode groups in the common ground configuration. The driver amplitude is optimized synchronously to achieve maximum focus diffraction efficiency. As is known in the art, the voltage function required to change the refractive index to a desired level is determined by the liquid crystal or liquid crystal mixture used.
圖6展示使用個別可定址電極圖案之數位可變焦距的實例。曲線圖(a)對應於基本焦距F，其藉由初始單一電極之面積(即，初始結構之週期)來判定。該結構之週期為初始單一電極之面積。在不影響繞射效率之情況下藉由增加透鏡之週期可將焦距增加至F的倍數。曲線圖(b)對應焦距2F。圖6B之每一區(子區)之面積為圖6A之每一區(子區)之面積的兩倍。對於兩種情形而言，繞射效率相同。Figure 6 shows an example of a digital zoom using individual addressable electrode patterns. The graph (a) corresponds to the basic focal length F, which is determined by the area of the initial single electrode (i.e., the period of the initial structure). The period of the structure is the area of the initial single electrode. The focal length can be increased to a multiple of F by increasing the period of the lens without affecting the diffraction efficiency. The graph (b) corresponds to a focal length of 2F. The area of each zone (sub-zone) of Figure 6B is twice the area of each zone (sub-zone) of Figure 6A. The diffraction efficiency is the same for both cases.
在一特定實例中，施加至一特定4相位等級透鏡之四個電極的電壓分別為1.1 V、1.31 V、1.49 V及1.72 V。在另一實例中，施加至一特定8相位等級透鏡之8個電極的電壓分別為0.71 V、0.97 V、1.05 V、1.13 V、1.21 V、1.30 V、1.37 V及1.48 V。如此項技術中已知，熟習此項技術者可容易地判定施加至電極之電壓而無需不適當之實驗且其為所使用之液晶、晶格配置及其它因素的函數。如上所述，該等電壓可為正的或負的，如此項技術中已知，其視所要之焦距而定。在一實施例中，施加至該等電極之電壓為在0.5 V與2 V之間的正值或負值，且所有個別值及子範圍位於其中。In a specific example, the voltages applied to the four electrodes of a particular 4-phase grade lens are 1.1 V, 1.31 V, 1.49 V, and 1.72 V, respectively. In another example, the voltages applied to the eight electrodes of a particular 8-phase grade lens are 0.71 V, 0.97 V, 1.05 V, 1.13 V, 1.21 V, 1.30 V, 1.37 V, and 1.48 V, respectively. As is known in the art, those skilled in the art can readily determine the voltage applied to the electrodes without undue experimentation and which is a function of the liquid crystal, lattice configuration, and other factors used. As noted above, the voltages can be positive or negative, as is known in the art, depending on the desired focal length. In one embodiment, the voltage applied to the electrodes is a positive or negative value between 0.5 V and 2 V, and all individual values and sub-ranges are located therein.
絕緣材料可為任何適合材料，包括本文所具體描述之材料及此項技術中已知之其它材料。在一實施例中，導電材料及絕緣材料以交替圖案排列，例如具有不斷增加之半徑的圓形。如本文所描述，該等圖案可為諸如圓形的、半圓形的、正方形的、有角的或提供所要效應之任何其它形狀的任一所要圖案。術語"圓形的、半圓形的、正方形的、有角的"或其它形狀並非意謂形成一完美形狀，實情為，該形狀係一般地形成，且可包括(如此項技術中已知)匯流排線或將電流經過基板傳送的其它方法。The insulating material can be any suitable material, including materials specifically described herein and other materials known in the art. In one embodiment, the electrically conductive material and the insulative material are arranged in an alternating pattern, such as a circle having an increasing radius. As described herein, the patterns can be any desired pattern such as circular, semi-circular, square, angular, or any other shape that provides the desired effect. The term "circular, semi-circular, square, angular" or other shape does not mean to form a perfect shape, as the case is, the shape is generally formed and may include (as is known in the art) Busbars or other methods of transferring current through a substrate.
在本發明中可使用任何液晶。較佳地切換時間足夠快以使得使用者不會注意到自一焦距切換至另一焦距之延遲。在本文所描述之特定實施例中，將向列型液晶用作電光媒體。在此實施例中，透鏡具有一對光之兩個垂直偏振組件之一者的光學回應。亦可使用偏振不靈敏之膽固醇型液晶，在此情形下，偏振器為不必要的。本發明中所使用之液晶包括形成向列型、碟狀或膽固醇型相之液晶，該等相位具有可由電場控制之長距定向秩序。較佳地液晶具有一較寬之向列溫度範圍，較容易之對準能力、較低之臨限電壓、較大之電活性回應及較快之切換速度，以及經驗證之穩定性及可靠商業可用性。在一較佳實施例中，使用E7(Merck出售之氰基聯苯與氰基三聯苯之向列型液晶混合物)。可用於本發明之其它向列型液晶之實例為：戊基－氰基－聯苯(5CB)、(n－辛基氫氧基)－4－氰基聯苯(80CB)。可用於本發明之其它向列型液晶之實例為n＝3、4、5、6、7、8、9之化合物4－氰基－4－n－烴基聯苯、4－n－戊氧基－聯苯、4－氰基－4"－n－烴基－p－三聯苯及諸如E36、E46及由BDH(British Drug House)－Merck製造之ZLI－系列之商業混合物。Any liquid crystal can be used in the present invention. Preferably, the switching time is fast enough so that the user does not notice the delay in switching from one focal length to another. In a particular embodiment described herein, nematic liquid crystals are used as electro-optic media. In this embodiment, the lens has an optical response of one of a pair of two vertically polarized components of light. It is also possible to use a polarization-insensitive cholesteric liquid crystal, in which case a polarizer is unnecessary. The liquid crystal used in the present invention includes liquid crystals forming a nematic, dish or cholesteric phase having a long-range orientation order controllable by an electric field. Preferably, the liquid crystal has a wider nematic temperature range, easier alignment capability, lower threshold voltage, greater electrical activity response and faster switching speed, and proven stability and reliable business. Availability. In a preferred embodiment, E7 (a nematic liquid crystal mixture of cyanobiphenyl and cyano terphenyl sold by Merck) is used. Examples of other nematic liquid crystals which can be used in the present invention are: pentyl-cyano-biphenyl (5CB), (n-octylhydroxyoxy)-4-cyanobiphenyl (80CB). Examples of other nematic liquid crystals which can be used in the present invention are compounds of n = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 4-cyano-4-n-hydrocarbylbiphenyl, 4-n-pentyloxy Biphenyl, 4-cyano-4"-n-hydrocarbyl-p-terphenyl and commercial mixtures such as E36, E46 and ZLI-series manufactured by BDH (British Drug House)-Merck.
本發明中亦可使用電活性聚合物。電活性聚合物包括諸如1996年N.Y.Woodburry之美國物理研究所的J.E.Mark在"Physical Properties of Polymers Handbook"中所揭示的任一透明光學聚合物材料，其含有具有非對稱偏振之共軛π電子的分子，該等電子位於諸如1995年Amsterdam之Gordon and Breach出版社出版之Ch.Bosshard等人的"Organic Nonlinear Optical Materials"中所揭示的施體與受體基團(稱為發色團)之間。聚合物之實例如下：聚苯乙烯、聚碳酸酯、聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯、聚乙烯咔唑、聚醯亞胺、聚矽烷。發色團之實例有：對硝基苯胺(PNA)、分散紅1(DR1)、3－甲基－4－甲氧基－4'－硝基二苯乙烯、二乙基胺基硝基芪(DANS)、二乙基－硫基－巴比妥酸。如此項技術中已知，電活性聚合物包括可由以下方法來產生：a)遵循主/客之方法，b)發色團之共價合併為聚合物(側及主鏈)及/或c)藉由諸如交聯之晶格淬火方法。Electroactive polymers can also be used in the present invention. Electroactive polymers include any of the transparent optical polymeric materials disclosed in "Physical Properties of Polymers Handbook" by JEMark, American Institute of Physics, NY Woodburry, 1996, which contain conjugated π-electrons with asymmetric polarization. Molecules, such as those between the donor and acceptor groups (referred to as chromophores) as disclosed in "Organic Nonlinear Optical Materials" by Ch. Bosshard et al., published by Gordon and Breach, Amsterdam, 1995. . Examples of polymers are as follows: polystyrene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl carbazole, polyimide, polydecane. Examples of chromophores are: p-nitroaniline (PNA), disperse red 1 (DR1), 3-methyl-4-methoxy-4'-nitrostilbene, diethylamino nitroguanidine (DANS), diethyl-thio-barbituric acid. As is known in the art, electroactive polymers can be produced by: a) following a host/guest method, b) covalently combining chromophores into polymers (side and backbone) and/or c) By a lattice quenching method such as cross-linking.
亦可將聚合物液晶(PLC)用於本發明中。有時亦可將聚合物液晶稱為液晶聚合物、低分子質量液晶、自增強聚合物、原位複合物及/或分子複合物。PLC為同時含有諸如W.Brostow之"Liquid Crystal line Polymers：From Structures to Applications"(1992年New－York－London,Elsevier之A.A Collyer編輯之第一章)中所揭示的相對剛性及繞性序列的共聚物。PLC之實例為：包含苯甲酸4－氰基苯酯側基之聚甲基丙烯酸酯及其它類似化合物。Polymer liquid crystal (PLC) can also be used in the present invention. Polymeric liquid crystals may also be referred to as liquid crystal polymers, low molecular weight liquid crystals, self-reinforced polymers, in situ composites, and/or molecular composites. The PLC is a relatively rigid and entangled sequence as disclosed in "Liquid Crystal line Polymers: From Structures to Applications" by W. Brostow (1992, New-York-London, Elsevier, AA Collyer, eds.). Copolymer. An example of a PLC is a polymethacrylate containing a pendant group of 4-cyanophenyl benzoate and other similar compounds.
亦可將聚合物分散液晶(PDLC)使用於本發明中。PDLC由聚合物矩陣中之液晶滴之分散物質組成。如此項技術中已知，此等材料係藉由以下幾種方法製成：(i)藉由向列曲線對準相法(NCAP)；藉由熱誘發相分離法(TIPS)；溶劑蒸發誘發相分離法(SIPS)；及聚合誘發相分離法(PIPS)。PDLC之實例為：液晶E7(BDH－Merch)與NOA65(Norland products,Inc.NJ)之混合物；E44(BDH－Merch)與聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)之混合物；E49(BDH－Merch)與PMMA之混合物；單體二異戊四醇羥基五丙烯酸酯、液晶E7、N－乙烯吡咯烷酮、N－苯基甘氨酸及染料玫瑰紅(Rose Bengal)之混合物。Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) can also be used in the present invention. The PDLC consists of a dispersion of liquid crystal droplets in a polymer matrix. As is known in the art, these materials are made by (i) phase alignment by nematic (NCAP); by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS); solvent evaporation induced Phase separation method (SIPS); and polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS). Examples of PDLC are: a mixture of liquid crystal E7 (BDH-Merch) and NOA65 (Norland products, Inc. NJ); a mixture of E44 (BDH-Merch) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); E49 (BDH-Merch) Mixture with PMMA; a mixture of monomeric diisopentyl alcohol hydroxypentaacrylate, liquid crystal E7, N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-phenylglycine, and Rose Bengal.
亦可將聚合物穩定液晶(PSLC)使用於本發明中。PSLC為由聚合物網路中之液晶組成之材料，在該聚合物網路中聚合物組成按重量計小於10%。將可光聚單體與液晶及UV(紫外線)聚合引發劑混合在一起。在液晶對準之後，通常藉由UV曝光來引發單體之聚合且所得之聚合物產生使液晶穩定之網路。對於PSLC之實例而言，參見，例如：C.M.Hudson等人發表在Journal of the Society for Information Display,vol.5/3,1－5,(1997)上之Optical Studies of Anisotropic Networks in Polymer－Stabilized Liquid Crystals；G.P.Wiederrecht等人發表在J.Am.Chem.Soc.,120,3231－3236(1998年)上之"聚合物穩定向列型液晶的光折射"(Photorefractivity in Polymer－Stabilized Nematic Liquid Crystals)。Polymer stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) can also be used in the present invention. PSLC is a material consisting of liquid crystals in a polymer network in which the polymer composition is less than 10% by weight. The photopolymerizable monomer is mixed with a liquid crystal and a UV (ultraviolet) polymerization initiator. After alignment of the liquid crystals, polymerization of the monomers is typically initiated by UV exposure and the resulting polymer produces a network that stabilizes the liquid crystals. For examples of PSLC, see, for example, CM Hudson et al., Journal of the Society for Information Display, vol. 5/3, 1-5, (1997), Optical Studies of Anisotropic Networks in Polymer-Stabilized Liquid Crystals; GP Wiederrecht et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 120, 3231-3236 (1998) "Photorefractivity in Polymer-Stabilized Nematic Liquid Crystals" .
亦可將自組非線性超分子結構使用於本發明中。自組非線性超分子結構包括電活性非對稱有機薄膜，其由使用以下方法來製成：Langmuir－Blodgett薄膜；與水溶液交替聚電解質沉積(聚陰離子/聚陽離子)；分子束磊晶法；藉由共價耦合反應之連續合成(例如：基於有機三氯矽烷(organotrichlorosilane)之自組多層沉積)。此等技術通常導致具有小於約1 μm之厚度的薄膜。Self-organizing nonlinear supramolecular structures can also be used in the present invention. The self-organizing nonlinear supramolecular structure comprises an electroactive asymmetric organic film which is prepared by using the following method: Langmuir-Blodgett film; alternating polyelectrolyte deposition with aqueous solution (polyanion/polycation); molecular beam epitaxy; Continuous synthesis by covalent coupling reactions (eg, self-assembled multilayer deposition based on organotrichlorosilane). Such techniques typically result in a film having a thickness of less than about 1 μm.
儘管本文之非限定描述提供特殊例示性實施例之進一步細節，但對於多種應用而言，不同透鏡及電極組態係有效的。舉例而言，一透鏡可浸入液晶溶液中，或液晶可夾於具有一梯度折射率變化之平坦電極板之間。後者使液晶對準更容易且使晶格更薄，此允許更快之切換。此外，可將不同電極區組態使用於本發明之該等方法及裝置中。意欲將此等不同透鏡及電極區組態及此項技術中已知之其它組態包括於本揭示案中。Although the non-limiting description herein provides further details of a particular illustrative embodiment, different lens and electrode configurations are effective for a variety of applications. For example, a lens can be immersed in a liquid crystal solution, or a liquid crystal can be sandwiched between flat electrode plates having a gradient of refractive index change. The latter makes liquid crystal alignment easier and makes the crystal lattice thinner, which allows for faster switching. In addition, different electrode zone configurations can be used in the methods and apparatus of the present invention. It is intended that such different lens and electrode zone configurations and other configurations known in the art are included in the present disclosure.
為了克服先前設計之侷限性，須個別地定址圖案化電極之每一電極子區。在此提出兩個不同例示性應用。一者允許基本焦距與基本焦距之倍數之間進行切換。另一者為更普通的且允許焦距自最小可能值至無窮大之連續調節。To overcome the limitations of previous designs, each electrode sub-region of the patterned electrode must be individually addressed. Two different illustrative applications are presented here. One allows switching between a basic focal length and a multiple of the basic focal length. The other is a more general continuous adjustment that allows the focal length to be from the smallest possible value to infinity.
考慮圖3中所示之液晶透鏡之普通結構及圖5A或圖5B中所示之電極圖案。藉由將適當電壓施加至圖案化電極上來調節橫跨透鏡之相位輪廓且相位輪廓判定繞射效率。Consider the general structure of the liquid crystal lens shown in Fig. 3 and the electrode pattern shown in Fig. 5A or 5B. The phase profile across the lens is adjusted and the phase profile determines the diffraction efficiency by applying an appropriate voltage to the patterned electrode.
個別地定址圖案化電極之子區允許增加區週期且因此增加焦距而不會犧牲繞射效率。假定為具有L相位準之相位調變之焦距F來設計電極圖案之幾何圖形。基於方程式(2a)、(2b)及(3)，若藉由將每兩個相鄰子區組合為一個(即，將相同電壓施加至兩個相鄰電極上)來將區週期r1 2 增加至2 r1 2 ，則焦距變成為2F而不改變繞射效率(圖6)。類似地，使用固定電極圖案，藉由將區週期增加至3 r1 2 、4 r1 2 、…、焦距可分別改變為3F、4F、…。一般而言，藉由將區週期增加至可將焦距改變為kF(k為正整數)。Individually addressing the sub-regions of the patterned electrodes allows for increased zone periods and thus increased focal length without sacrificing diffraction efficiency. The geometry of the electrode pattern is assumed to be the focal length F with phase modulation of the L phase. Based on equations (2a), (2b), and (3), if the two adjacent sub-regions are combined into one (ie, the same voltage is applied to two adjacent electrodes), the region period r 1 2 Increasing to 2 r 1 2 , the focal length becomes 2F without changing the diffraction efficiency (Fig. 6). Similarly, by using a fixed electrode pattern, by increasing the period of the region to 3 r 1 2 , 4 r 1 2 , ..., the focal length can be changed to 3F, 4F, ..., respectively. In general, by increasing the zone period to The focal length can be changed to kF (k is a positive integer).
若為具有(例如)3屈光度(焦距F＝33.33 cm)及8等級相位步進之基本聚焦功率之適應性透鏡設計個別可定址電極圖案，則透鏡具有95%之繞射效率。藉由將週期增加為兩倍，可將焦距增加為2F＝66.67 cm(聚焦功率＝1.5屈光度)而繞射效率仍為95%。藉由將週期增加為3倍，可將焦距增加為3F＝100 cm，從而對應於1屈光度之聚焦功率，而效率仍相同。藉由將週期增加為4倍，可將焦距增加為4F＝133.32 cm，從而對應於0.75屈光度之聚焦功率，而效率仍相同。近似地，使用相同效率可達成更大焦距(更小聚焦功率)。當關閉透鏡時，無聚焦功率存在。表2展示多種聚焦功率之參數。表3至表5分別展示用於3屈光度、1.5屈光度及1屈光度透鏡之每一子區的半徑。此等結構參數自可本文所呈現之方程式來計算出。可容易地看出對於三個聚焦功率之子區邊界之間的關係。If the individual addressable electrode pattern is designed for an adaptive lens having a basic focus power of, for example, 3 diopters (focal length F = 33.33 cm) and 8 levels of phase steps, the lens has a diffraction efficiency of 95%. By increasing the period by a factor of two, the focal length can be increased to 2F = 66.67 cm (focus power = 1.5 diopters) and the diffraction efficiency is still 95%. By increasing the period by a factor of three, the focal length can be increased to 3F = 100 cm, corresponding to the power of focus of 1 diopter, while the efficiency remains the same. By increasing the period by a factor of four, the focal length can be increased to 4F = 133.32 cm, which corresponds to a focus power of 0.75 diopters, while the efficiency remains the same. Probably, a larger focal length (smaller focus power) can be achieved using the same efficiency. When the lens is turned off, no focus power is present. Table 2 shows the parameters of various focus powers. Tables 3 through 5 show the radii for each of the 3 diopter, 1.5 diopter, and 1 diopter lenses, respectively. These structural parameters are calculated from the equations presented herein. The relationship between the sub-area boundaries for the three focus powers can be easily seen.
表2給出某些聚焦功率之實例，該等聚焦功率可使用個別可定址圖案化電極來達成。假定基本聚焦功率為3屈光度(F＝33.3 cm)且透鏡之孔徑為10 mm。表2展示當焦距改變時繞射效率保持相同。Table 2 gives examples of certain focus powers that can be achieved using individual addressable patterned electrodes. It is assumed that the basic focusing power is 3 diopters (F = 33.3 cm) and the aperture of the lens is 10 mm. Table 2 shows that the diffraction efficiency remains the same when the focal length changes.
個別可定址圖案化電極之顯著優點為：其真正提供具有適應性能力之相同透鏡以用於相同繞射效率之不同聚焦功率。A significant advantage of the individually addressable patterned electrodes is that they truly provide the same lens with adaptability for different focusing powers of the same diffraction efficiency.
在此應用中，可調節焦距為基本焦距F及基本焦距之倍數。因此調節之解析度亦為F。舉例而言，若設計電極以用於10 cm之基本焦距，則可調節焦距將為10 cm、20 cm、30 cm等、直至無窮大。若欲得到其它中間焦距，則可使用較小基本焦距。然而，對於較大孔徑透鏡而言，電極之特徵尺寸變得很小且在當前可用技術情況下其難以使電極具有低成本。In this application, the focal length can be adjusted to be a multiple of the basic focal length F and the basic focal length. Therefore, the resolution of the adjustment is also F. For example, if the electrode is designed for a basic focal length of 10 cm, the adjustable focal length will be 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, etc., up to infinity. For other intermediate focal lengths, a smaller basic focal length can be used. However, for larger aperture lenses, the feature size of the electrodes becomes very small and it is difficult to make the electrodes low cost in the current available technology.
希望設計適應性透鏡以便所有病人及應用皆可使用。此要求透鏡具有在所要範圍內連續改變焦距的能力。為達到此目的，開發一種更普通之設計方法以允許連續調節焦距。如上所述，圖案化電極為特定尺寸之環之圓形陣列。每一環為個別可定址。藉由待調節之焦距範圍來判定環之適當解析度。對於每一所要焦距而言，使用方程式(2a)及(2b)可計算所有區之每一子區的尺寸。可選擇一定數目之環以形成每一子區且可施加適當電壓。若環之解析度足夠佳，則當焦距改變時透鏡可始終具有高效率而無效率之顯著改變。如本文所描述，對於所要之透鏡而言，藉由最後少數區中之子區之尺寸判定圖案化電極所必需之解析度。It is desirable to design an adaptive lens for use in all patients and applications. This requires the lens to have the ability to continuously change the focal length within the desired range. To achieve this, a more general design method has been developed to allow continuous adjustment of the focal length. As noted above, the patterned electrode is a circular array of rings of a particular size. Each ring is individually addressable. The appropriate resolution of the loop is determined by the range of focal lengths to be adjusted. For each desired focal length, the dimensions of each sub-region of all zones can be calculated using equations (2a) and (2b). A certain number of rings can be selected to form each sub-region and an appropriate voltage can be applied. If the resolution of the ring is good enough, the lens can always have a significant change in efficiency and inefficiency as the focal length changes. As described herein, for a desired lens, the resolution necessary to pattern the electrodes is determined by the size of the sub-regions in the last few regions.
圖7展示使用具有適當解析度之電極之個別可定址圓形陣列來連續調節焦距。圖7中之四個實例展示用於電極之子集之電極間距(以μm表示)。在實例A、B、C及D中分別描繪用於3D、2.5D、2D及1D之聚焦功率的幾何參數。r為區邊界之半徑。Figure 7 shows the continuous adjustment of the focal length using an individually addressable circular array of electrodes of appropriate resolution. The four examples in Figure 7 show the electrode spacing (expressed in μm) for a subset of electrodes. Geometric parameters for the focused power of 3D, 2.5D, 2D, and 1D are depicted in Examples A, B, C, and D, respectively. r is the radius of the zone boundary.
在此說明將焦距自~30 cm連續改變至無窮大之實例。假定透鏡之直徑為10 mm且使用8等級相位調變。為說明該原理，在圖7中描繪用於3D、2.5D、2D及1D之可調節聚焦功率的幾何參數，其中清晰地展示每一區邊界之半徑及最後一個或兩個區之每一子區的寬度。在表3至表7中可看到用於此等透鏡之更詳細參數。可看到：對於一特定聚焦功率而言，在此等透鏡之邊緣處每一子區之寬度的變化很小，且當透鏡之孔徑增加時變化甚至更小。對於較高聚焦功率而言，每一子區之寬度以及面積更小。假定在此面積中每一電極為1 μm寬。在此實例中，由於每一子區之寬度大於1 μm，故可將若干電極組合在一起以形成一子區且可使每一子區之邊界舍入至最近之電極邊界。組合該等電極意謂將相同電壓施加至其上。Here is an example of continuously changing the focal length from ~30 cm to infinity. The diameter of the lens is assumed to be 10 mm and an 8-level phase modulation is used. To illustrate this principle, geometric parameters for adjustable focus power for 3D, 2.5D, 2D, and 1D are depicted in Figure 7, where the radius of each zone boundary and each of the last or two zones are clearly shown. The width of the area. More detailed parameters for these lenses can be seen in Tables 3 through 7. It can be seen that for a particular focus power, the variation in the width of each sub-region at the edges of such lenses is small and the change is even smaller as the aperture of the lens increases. For higher focus power, each sub-area has a smaller width and area. It is assumed that each electrode in this area is 1 μm wide. In this example, since the width of each sub-region is greater than 1 μm, several electrodes can be combined to form a sub-region and the boundaries of each sub-region can be rounded to the nearest electrode boundary. Combining the electrodes means applying the same voltage thereto.
舉例而言，對於2D情形(實例C)而言，可組合7個電極以形成區45之所有子區。可類似地產生所有其它子區。舍入誤差引起繞射效率之很小變化。另一方面，在鄰近透鏡之中心之區域中，若使用類似精確電極，則相位步進可高於8且因此在此區域中可增加繞射效率。一般而言，當調節聚焦功率時，繞射效率將幾乎相同。當焦距自1 m(聚焦功率1D)增加至無窮大時，每一子區之寬度增加，且藉由組合可計算數目之電極可產生所有子區。因此在此實例中，可將所有焦距自~30 cm調節至無窮大(聚焦功率自0至3D)，且可將透鏡用於其需要在不同距離視覺之範圍內進行校正的所有患者。For example, for a 2D case (Example C), seven electrodes can be combined to form all of the sub-regions of region 45. All other sub-regions can be similarly generated. Rounding errors cause small changes in diffraction efficiency. On the other hand, in a region adjacent to the center of the lens, if a similar precision electrode is used, the phase step can be higher than 8 and thus the diffraction efficiency can be increased in this region. In general, when adjusting the focus power, the diffraction efficiency will be almost the same. As the focal length increases from 1 m (focus power 1D) to infinity, the width of each sub-region increases, and all sub-regions can be generated by combining a countable number of electrodes. Thus in this example, all focal lengths can be adjusted from ~30 cm to infinity (focus power from 0 to 3D) and the lens can be used for all patients whose corrections need to be corrected over a range of distance visions.
如上文所指出，由於鄰近中心之區具有更大之幾何尺寸，故在此區域之電極之密度與鄰近邊緣之區域中之電極的密度相比要更小(鄰近中心之電極之尺寸大於處於其它區域中之電極之尺寸)。若在鄰近中心之區域中保持電極之相同密度，則可獲得較高之相位等級且可增加繞射效率。As noted above, since the region adjacent the center has a larger geometry, the density of the electrodes in this region is smaller than the density of the electrodes in the region adjacent to the edge (the size of the electrode adjacent the center is larger than in the other The size of the electrode in the area). If the same density of electrodes is maintained in the vicinity of the center, a higher phase level can be obtained and the diffraction efficiency can be increased.
達成此目的之另一方法為使用像素化空間光調變器，其中使用小矩形像素。類似於圖5B中所說明之兩層圓形電極，當垂直於基板觀察時，此等像素可處於多層中以減小或消除間隙。Another way to achieve this is to use a pixelated spatial light modulator in which small rectangular pixels are used. Similar to the two-layer circular electrode illustrated in Figure 5B, such pixels may be in multiple layers to reduce or eliminate gaps when viewed perpendicular to the substrate.
儘管本文之描述含有許多特殊性，但不應將此等特殊性理解為限定本發明之範疇，而僅是提供本發明之所呈現之較佳實施例之一部分的實例。其它實施例係在本發明之範疇內。未將本發明限於使用於眼鏡中。亦可將本發明使用於顯微鏡、鏡子、雙筒望遠鏡及通過其使用者可觀察之其它光學裝置中。此外，一般技術者將顯而易見，本發明在諸如電信、光學開關及醫療裝置之其它領域中係有用的。如一般技術者所知，在本發明中，提供在所要波長處所要相位傳輸功能之任一液晶或液晶之混合物係有用的。此項技術中已知判定適當電壓及將適當電壓施加至液晶材料以產生一所要相位傳輸功能。While the description herein contains many specifics, the invention is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are within the scope of the invention. The invention has not been limited to use in glasses. The invention can also be used in microscopes, mirrors, binoculars, and other optical devices that are viewable by its users. Moreover, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is useful in other fields such as telecommunications, optical switches, and medical devices. As is known to those skilled in the art, in the present invention, it is useful to provide a mixture of liquid crystals or liquid crystals of any desired phase transfer function at a desired wavelength. It is known in the art to determine the appropriate voltage and apply an appropriate voltage to the liquid crystal material to produce a desired phase transfer function.
除非另外說明，可使用所描述或例舉之每一裝置或組件之組合來實施本發明。一般技術者已知諸如用於施加所用電壓之驅動器、用於電壓之控制器及任何額外光學組件之其它組件且在無不適當實驗情況下進行併入。因為已知熟習此項技術者可給同一化合物進行不同命名，所以化合物之特定名稱意欲為例示性的。當在本文描述一化合物使得未詳細說明化合物之特定異構體或對映異構物(例如，以分子式或以化學名稱)時，此描述意欲包括以個別或任一組合描述之化合物的每一異構體及對映異構物。一般技術者將明白在未採取不適當實驗情況下可應用除了特殊例舉之外的方法、裝置元件、起始物質及製造方法來實施本發明。任何該等方法、裝置元件、起始物質及製造方法之此項技術中已知之所有功能等同物意欲包括於本發明中。只要在說明書中給出一範圍(例如，厚度範圍或電壓範圍)，則所有中間範圍及子範圍，以及該等範圍中所包括之所有個別值意欲包括於本揭示案中。The invention may be practiced using a combination of each of the devices or components described or exemplified, unless otherwise stated. A general driver such as a driver for applying the voltage used, a controller for voltage and other components of any additional optical components are known and incorporated without undue experimentation. The specific names of the compounds are intended to be exemplary since it is known to those skilled in the art that the same compounds may be named differently. When a compound is described herein such that a particular isomer or enantiomer of a compound is not specified (eg, by molecular formula or by chemical name), this description is intended to include each of the compounds described in individual or any combination. Isomers and enantiomers. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that methods, device components, starting materials, and methods of manufacture other than the specific embodiments may be employed without departing from the practice. All of the functional equivalents known in the art to which such methods, device components, starting materials and methods of manufacture are intended are included in the present invention. All of the intermediate ranges and sub-ranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges, are intended to be included in the present disclosure as long as a range (e.g., thickness range or voltage range) is given in the specification.
如本文所使用的，"包含"與"包括"、"含有"或"特徵為"同義，且為包含在內的或開放式的且不排除其它的未列舉之元件或方法步驟。如本文所使用，"由...組成"不包含申請專利範圍元件中未說明之任何元件、步驟或成份。如本文所使用，"基本上由…組成"並不排除不在本質上影響申請專利範圍之基本及新穎特徵的材料或步驟。術語"包含"之本文中之任何列舉(尤其在一組合物之成份之描述或一裝置之元件之描述中)應理解為包含由所列舉之成份或元件基本上組成或組成之組合物及方法。在不存在本文未具體揭示之任一元件或若干元件、限制或若干限制的情況下可實施本文適當地說明性地描述的本發明。"Inclusion" as used herein, is synonymous with "including," or "characterized," and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude other unillustrated elements or method steps. As used herein, "consisting of" does not include any element, step, or component that is not described in the claims. As used herein, "consisting essentially of" does not exclude materials or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. Any reference herein to the term "comprising", particularly in the description of the components of the composition or the description of the elements of a device, is understood to include compositions and methods consisting essentially of or consisting of the recited components or components. . The invention as suitably described herein may be practiced without any element or elements, limitations or limitations that are not specifically disclosed herein.
已應用之術語及表達式係用作描述之術語而非限制性之術語，且該等術語及表達式之使用並不存在排除所展示及所描述之特徵或其部分之任何等同物的目的，而應明白在所主張及所描述之本發明之範疇內多種修改係可能的。因此，應明白儘管已藉由較佳實施例及可選擇之特徵具體揭示了本發明，但熟習此項技術者可採用本文所揭示之概念之修改及更改，且此等修改及更改被視為在本發明之範疇內。The use of terms and expressions are used to describe terms, and are not intended to be limiting, and the use of such terms and expressions does not have the purpose of excluding any equivalents of the features shown or described. It should be understood that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as claimed and described. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention may be <Desc/Clms Page number>> </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; Within the scope of the invention.
一般而言，本文所使用之術語及短語具有此項技術公認之意義，藉由參考熟習此項技術者已知之標準文本、期刊參考及上下文可查找到此意義。提供具體定義以闡明其於本發明之上下文中之具體使用。說明書中所提及之所有專利及公開案指出熟習本發明從屬之技術之人士的技術等級。In general, the terms and phrases used herein have the recognized meaning of the art and can be found by reference to standard texts, journal references, and contexts known to those skilled in the art. Specific definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the present invention. All patents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the technical skill of those skilled in the art.
熟習此項技術者將易明白本發明較佳地適於執行目標並獲得所提及結果及優點以及其固有本質。本文所描述之作為較佳實施例之當前代表之裝置及方法及附屬方法為例示性的且並非意欲為限制本發明之範疇。熟習此項技術者可想到其改變及其它用途，該等改變及其它用途包含於由申請專利範圍之範疇界定之本發明之精神之內。Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is preferably adapted to carry out the objects and the results and advantages and the nature of the invention. The presently described apparatus and methods and associated methods of the present invention are described as illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Such changes and other uses are contemplated by those skilled in the art, and such modifications and other uses are encompassed within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the claims.
在本說明書之揭示內容並不存在矛盾之範圍內，將本文所例舉之所有參照案由此以引用的方式併入本文中。本文所提供之某些參照案以引用的方式併入本文中以提供關於本發明之額外裝置組件、額外液晶晶格組態、用於圖案化電極之額外圖案、額外分析方法及額外用途之詳情。All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent that the disclosure of the present disclosure. Certain references provided herein are incorporated herein by reference to provide details of additional device components, additional liquid crystal lattice configurations, additional patterns for patterning electrodes, additional analytical methods, and additional uses in accordance with the present invention. .
1997年Cambridge University Press出版之G.Smith等人的The eye and visual optical instruments。The eye and visual optical instruments of G. Smith et al., published by Cambridge University Press, 1997.
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410．．．基板410. . . Substrate
420．．．圖案化電極420. . . Patterned electrode
430．．．對準層/液晶層/圖案化電極430. . . Alignment layer / liquid crystal layer / patterned electrode
440．．．液晶440. . . liquid crystal
450．．．間隔物450. . . Spacer
460．．．接地電極460. . . Ground electrode
510．．．控制器或驅動器510. . . Controller or driver
520．．．導線520. . . wire
530．．．通道或接點530. . . Channel or contact
540．．．電極540. . . electrode
542．．．偶環/層542. . . Even ring/layer
544．．．奇環/層544. . . Odd ring/layer
550．．．絕緣層SiO2 550. . . Insulating layer SiO 2
560．．．Cr對準標記560. . . Cr alignment mark
580．．．區m580. . . Area m
590．．．區m＋1590. . . Area m+1
圖1展示一繞射透鏡之說明：曲線圖(a)為習知折射透鏡；曲線圖(b)為具有連續二次火焰輪廓之繞射透鏡；曲線圖(c)為二元繞射透鏡；且曲線圖(d)為四等級(four－level)近似繞射透鏡。Figure 1 shows an illustration of a diffractive lens: graph (a) is a conventional refractive lens; graph (b) is a diffractive lens having a continuous secondary flame profile; and graph (c) is a binary diffractive lens; And the graph (d) is a four-level approximate diffractive lens.
圖2展示一繞射透鏡之構造。Figure 2 shows the construction of a diffractive lens.
圖3展示一液晶晶格。Figure 3 shows a liquid crystal lattice.
圖4展示一具有圖案化電極之電活性液晶透鏡之一般結構。Figure 4 shows the general structure of an electroactive liquid crystal lens having patterned electrodes.
圖5A說明一其中所有電極位於同一平面之結構(一層結構)，其中相鄰子區之間存在一小間隙。Figure 5A illustrates a structure (a layer structure) in which all of the electrodes are in the same plane with a small gap between adjacent sub-regions.
圖5B說明一其中奇數電極與偶數電極交錯於兩個水平層中且相鄰子區之間無間隙的結構(兩層結構)。Fig. 5B illustrates a structure (two-layer structure) in which odd and even electrodes are staggered in two horizontal layers and there is no gap between adjacent sub-regions.
圖6展示使用個別可定址電極圖案之數位可變焦距的實例。Figure 6 shows an example of a digital zoom using individual addressable electrode patterns.
圖7展示使用具有適當解析度之電極之個別可定址圓形陣列來連續調節焦距。Figure 7 shows the continuous adjustment of the focal length using an individually addressable circular array of electrodes of appropriate resolution.
410．．．基板410. . . Substrate
420．．．圖案化電極420. . . Patterned electrode
430．．．對準層430. . . Alignment layer
440．．．液晶440. . . liquid crystal
450．．．間隔物450. . . Spacer
460．．．接地電極460. . . Ground electrode
Claims (28)
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Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10054725B2 (en) | 2012-02-27 | 2018-08-21 | E-Vision Smart Optics, Inc. | Electroactive lens with multiple depth diffractive structures |
| US11963868B2 (en) | 2020-06-01 | 2024-04-23 | Ast Products, Inc. | Double-sided aspheric diffractive multifocal lens, manufacture, and uses thereof |
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| JPH05100201A (en) * | 1991-10-09 | 1993-04-23 | Seiko Epson Corp | Variable focus lens |
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| JP2002148581A (en) * | 2000-11-09 | 2002-05-22 | Pioneer Electronic Corp | Aberration correction element and aberration correction device |
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| JPH05100201A (en) * | 1991-10-09 | 1993-04-23 | Seiko Epson Corp | Variable focus lens |
| US5877876A (en) * | 1992-10-09 | 1999-03-02 | Apeldyn Corporation | Diffractive optical switch with polarizing beam splitters |
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| TW200421201A (en) * | 2002-12-30 | 2004-10-16 | Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv | Controllable two layer birefringent optical component |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| US10054725B2 (en) | 2012-02-27 | 2018-08-21 | E-Vision Smart Optics, Inc. | Electroactive lens with multiple depth diffractive structures |
| US11963868B2 (en) | 2020-06-01 | 2024-04-23 | Ast Products, Inc. | Double-sided aspheric diffractive multifocal lens, manufacture, and uses thereof |
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