High index lens including uniaxial or biaxial organic solid material
An optical element (e.g., a lens) may include an optically uniaxial or optically biaxial organic solid, for example, an organic molecular solid. The direction of a maximum refractive index of the organic solid may be aligned substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens. In some examples, a device may include a display and an optical configuration configured to receive light from the display and direct the light to a remote view location. In some examples, the optical configuration may comprise a lens and at least one surface of the lens may include a plurality of facets, for example, to form a Fresnel lens.
1 . A device comprising:
a display; and
an optical configuration configured to:
receive display light from the display; and
direct the display light to a remote viewing location, wherein:
the optical configuration comprises a lens;
the lens comprises an organic solid; and
the organic solid comprises a uniformly aligned refractive index profile, uniformly aligned organic molecular crystals, and is optically anisotropic.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the organic solid is a uniaxial optical material having a direction of higher refractive index.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein:
the lens has an optical axis through a center of the lens; and
the direction of higher refractive index is perpendicular to the optical axis.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the organic solid is a biaxial optical material having a direction of highest refractive index.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein:
the lens has an optical axis through a center of the lens; and
the direction of highest refractive index is perpendicular to the optical axis.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the lens is a Fresnel lens.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the Fresnel lens comprises an organic solid body having at least one patterned surface.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one patterned surface comprises a plurality of oblique facets separated by steps.
9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the organic solid body is located on a first substrate, wherein:
the first substrate comprises glass.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the organic solid is an organic molecular solid.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the organic solid is an organic molecular crystal.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the device is a head-mounted device; and
the optical configuration is configured to direct the display light to any eye of a user when the user wears the head-mounted device.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is an augmented reality device.
14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a virtual reality device.
15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the optical configuration further comprises a beam-splitter and a polarized reflector.
16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the organic solid comprises an organic molecular species, wherein:
the organic molecular species comprises at least two aromatic ring structures.
17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the organic solid comprises a uniform thickness and a uniform molecular orientation.
18 . A method comprising:
introducing an organic liquid into a mold; and
solidifying the organic liquid into an organic solid to form a Fresnel lens,
wherein:
at least one surface of the organic solid comprises a plurality of facets;
the organic solid comprises uniformly aligned organic molecular crystals, a uniformly aligned refractive index profile, and has optical anisotropy; and
a direction of a maximum refractive index of the organic solid is orthogonal to an optical axis of the Fresnel lens.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the organic solid comprises a molecular crystal.
20 . A method, comprising:
forming a patterned surface profile in an organic solid to form a Fresnel lens, wherein:
the organic solid comprises a uniformly aligned refractive index profile, uniformly aligned organic molecular crystals, and is optically anisotropic; and
a direction of a maximum refractive index of the organic solid is orthogonal to an optical axis of the Fresnel lens.