TUNABLE POLYMER DISPERSED LIQUID CRYSTAL GRIN PRISM

1 . A camera system comprising:

an image sensor assembly configured to capture images, the image sensor assembly centered about an optical axis;

a tunable optical element for focusing light onto the image sensor, the tunable optical element a substantially rectangular block having a bottom side, and a top side and centered about the optical axis comprising:

a first layer of a first material, wherein a polarization of the first material is controllable by an applied electric field, wherein the first layer has a first refractive index controllable by the polarization of the first material,

a first control element coupled to the tunable optical element for applying a voltage differential to the first layer, the voltage differential creating the electric field controlling the first refractive index of the first layer of the tunable optical element such that the first material forms a layer stack of refractive indexes when exposed to an applied electric field, the first control element comprising:

a sheet resistor coupled to the top side of the first layer;

a first set of electrodes coupled to the outer edges of the sheet resistor; and

a bottom electrode coupled to the bottom side of the first layer.

2 . The camera system of claim 1 wherein energizing the first set of electrodes with a voltage differential creates a voltage drop in the sheet resistor.

3 . The camera system of claim 2 wherein the voltage drop in the sheet resistor is linearly dependent on the distance from the set of electrodes.

4 . The camera system of claim 3 wherein the voltage drop in the sheet resistor is linearly dependent on the distance from the set of electrodes in two dimensions.

5 . The camera system of claim 3 wherein the voltage drop induces a linearly dependent electric field to control the optical properties of the tunable optical element.

6 . The camera system of claim 1 wherein the first material is a tunable polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

7 . The camera system of claim 1 wherein the first material comprises a first state and a second state, the first state configuring the tunable element to transmit light and the second state configured to modify the transmitted light.

8 . The camera system of claim 8 , wherein the applied electric field toggles the first material from the first state to the second state.

9 . The camera system of claim 9 , wherein the polarization of the first material in the first state is a first value and the polarization of the first material in the second state is a second value.

10 . The camera system of claim 1 wherein applying the electric field changes the dispersion of the tunable element.

11 . The camera system of claim 1 wherein applying an electric field to the tunable element affects the optical path of the camera system.

12 . The camera system of claim 1 comprising a lens tube comprising optical elements, the tunable element one of the optical elements of the lens tube.

13 . A tunable optical element comprising:

a first layer of a first material, wherein a polarization of the first material is controllable by an applied electric field, wherein the first layer has a first refractive index controllable by the polarization of the first material, a first control element coupled to the tunable optical element for applying a voltage differential to the first layer, the voltage differential creating the electric field controlling the first refractive index of the first layer of the tunable optical element such that the first material forms a layer stack of refractive indexes when exposed to an applied electric field, the first control element comprising:

a sheet resistor coupled to the top side of the first layer, a first set of electrodes coupled to the outer edges of the sheet resistor, and a bottom electrode coupled to the bottom side of the first layer; and

wherein the tunable optical element is a substantially rectangular block having a bottom side, and a top side and centered about an optical:

14 . The tunable optical element of claim 13 wherein energizing the first set of electrodes with a voltage differential creates a voltage drop in the sheet resistor.

15 . The tunable optical element of claim 14 wherein the voltage drop in the sheet resistor is linearly dependent on the distance from the set of electrodes.

16 . The tunable optical element of claim 15 wherein the voltage drop induces a linearly dependent electric field to control the optical properties of the tunable optical element.

17 . A camera system comprising:

a tunable optical element that is substantially rectangular block having a bottom side, and a top side and centered about the optical axis comprising:

a first layer of a first material, wherein refractive index of the first material is controllable by an applied electric field,

a first control element coupled to the tunable optical element for applying a voltage differential to the first layer, the voltage differential creating the electric field controlling the refractive index of the first layer of the tunable optical element such that the first material forms a layer stack of refractive indexes when exposed to an applied electric field, the first control element comprising:

a sheet resistor coupled to the top side of the first layer;

a first set of electrodes coupled to the outer edges of the sheet resistor; and

a bottom electrode coupled to the bottom side of the first layer.

18 . The camera system of claim 17 wherein energizing the first set of electrodes with a voltage differential creates a voltage drop in the sheet resistor.

19 . The camera system of claim 18 wherein the voltage drop in the sheet resistor is linearly dependent on the distance from the set of electrodes.

20 . The camera system of claim 19 wherein the voltage drop induces a linearly dependent electric field to control the optical properties of the tunable optical element.