Liquid crystal lens and lens module having same
A liquid crystal lens includes a first light-pervious plate, second light-pervious plate opposite to the first light-pervious plate, a first electrode layer on the first light-pervious plate, a second electrode layer on the second light-pervious layer, a liquid crystal layer and a driving voltage unit. The first electrode layer includes a plurality of concentric, annular electrodes and is comprised of carbon nanotubes. The liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the first and second light-pervious plates. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of annular regions spatially corresponding to the respective annular electrodes. A density of liquid crystal in the annular regions of the liquid crystal layer is different from each other. The driving voltage unit is configured for providing voltages between each of the annular electrodes and the second electrode layer for creating a gradient distribution of refractive index of the liquid crystal layer in radial directions.
1. A liquid crystal lens, comprising:
a first light-pervious plate;
a second light-pervious plate opposite to the first light-pervious plate;
a first electrode layer comprising a plurality of concentric, annular electrodes arranged on the first light-pervious plate, the first electrode layer being comprised of carbon nanotubes;
a second electrode layer arranged on the second light-pervious layer;
a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first light-pervious plate and the second light-pervious plate, the liquid crystal layer comprising a plurality of annular regions spatially corresponding to the respective annular electrodes, a density of liquid crystal in the annular regions of the liquid crystal layer being different from each other; and
a driving voltage unit for providing voltages between each of the annular electrodes and the second electrode layer for creating a gradient distribution of refractive index of the liquid crystal layer in radial directions.
2. The liquid crystal lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first electrode layer further comprises a round electrode concentric with the plurality of annular electrodes, the diameter of the round electrode is smaller than the interior diameter of the innermost annular electrode.
3. The liquid crystal lens as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the total number of the round electrode and annular electrodes is in the range from 5 to 20.
4. The liquid crystal lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a width of the annular electrodes decreases in the radial directions from a center to a periphery of the first electrode layer.
5. The liquid crystal lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a density of the liquid crystal in the annular regions gradually increases or decreases in radial directions from a center to a periphery of the liquid crystal layer.
6. The liquid crystal lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the total number of the round electrode and annular electrodes is in the range from 7 to 15.
7. The liquid crystal lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first electrode layer is in the range from 50 nanometers to 500 nanometers.
8. The liquid crystal lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first electrode layer is in the range from 100 nanometers to 300 nanometers.
9. The liquid crystal lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube is selected from a group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotube, multi-walled carbon nanotube, single-walled carbon nanotube bundles, multi-walled carbon nanotube bundles and super-aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube yarns.
10. A lens module, comprising:
a lens barrel; and
a liquid crystal lens engagingly received in the lens barrel, the liquid crystal lens comprising:
a first light-pervious plate;
a second light-pervious plate opposite to the first light-pervious plate;
a first electrode layer comprising a plurality of concentric, annular electrodes arranged on the first light-pervious plate, the first electrode layer being comprised of carbon nanotubes;
a second electrode layer arranged on the second light-pervious layer;
a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first light-pervious plate and the second light-pervious plate, the liquid crystal layer comprising a plurality of annular regions spatially corresponding to the respective annular electrodes, a density of liquid crystal in the annular regions of the liquid crystal layer being different from each other; and
a driving voltage unit for providing voltages between each of the annular electrodes and the second electrode layer for creating a gradient distribution of refractive index of the liquid crystal layer in radial directions.
11. The lens module as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first electrode layer further comprises a round electrode concentric with the plurality of annular electrodes, the diameter of the round electrode is smaller than the interior diameter of the innermost annular electrode.
12. The lens module as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a width of the annular electrodes decreases in the radial directions from a center to a periphery of the first electrode layer.
13. The lens module as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the carbon nanotube is selected from a group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotube, multi-walled carbon nanotube, single-walled carbon nanotube bundles, multi-walled carbon nanotube bundles and super-aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube yarns.