JPH02226102A - Optical lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an optical lens with a stop function and a focusing variable function by applying a voltage to plural areas of an electrooptic elements independently. CONSTITUTION:First and second lenses 1 and 2 are arranged opposite each other while pinching spacers 3 and liquid crystal 4 is enclosed as the electrooptic element between the 1st and 2nd lenses 1 and 2. In this case, the voltage adjusting circuit composed of voltage regulators 11 and 11b and an AC voltage source 12 which applies the voltage is connected between a transparent conductive layer 6 formed on the 1st lens side and divided transparent conductive layers 8a and 8b formed on the 2nd lens side. For the purpose, when the voltage regulator 11b is adjusted to control the voltage applied to the peripheral part 8a of the divided transparent conductive layer 8, the operation of the liquid crystal 4 at the lens peripheral part can be controlled to obtain the stop function. For example, when the applied voltage is so adjusted that the refracting power of, for example, the lens peripheral part is smaller than the refracting power of the lens center part, the focusing variable function is also obtained in combination. Thus, the multifunctional optical lens which has both the stop function and focusing variable function in spite of a single element is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical lens using an optoelectronic element such as a liquid crystal.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, there have been many attempts to use optoelectronic devices such as liquid crystals, which have been used as display devices, in other fields, and efforts are being made to add functions that conventional devices did not have. Attempts are being made.

For example, in the past, the focal length of a lens was adjusted by combining two or more lenses and changing their positional relationship; The publication discloses an optical lens that is equipped with a voltage-based variable focus function, has a highly functional lens refracting function, and achieves this with a single lens.

In this way, by applying liquid crystal to optical elements such as optical lenses, for example, and making a single optical element have multiple functions, the number of elements can be reduced. As a result, by configuring an apparatus using such an optical element, it is possible to reduce the size, weight, and cost of the apparatus.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, advanced functionality is currently being proposed.

The reality is that the number of multifunctional optical elements is extremely limited, and they have not been able to fully meet market needs. For example, in the case of optical lenses, an optical element having a lens function and other functions has not yet been proposed, and the development of such an optical element has been desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional optical lens that has both an aperture function that can be adjusted by voltage and a variable focus function that can also be adjusted by voltage.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention has taken the following measures to solve the above problems and achieve the objects. That is, first and second lenses arranged opposite to each other, an electro-optical element housed in a region formed between the first and second lenses, and a voltage applied independently to multiple regions of this electro-optical element. The configuration includes a voltage applying means capable of applying voltage.

[Effect]

By taking the above measures, the following effects are achieved. That is, 1st. With respect to the electro-optical element housed in the area formed between the second lenses, a voltage can be applied independently to, for example, the central part of the lens and the peripheral part of the lens, so that the electro-optical element is By adjusting the voltage applied to a predetermined region of the element, an aperture operation and/or a variable focus operation can be performed.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1(a) is a sectional view of an optical lens according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This optical lens 10 has first and second lenses 1 and 2, each of which has a flat surface and a convex lens shape, and a convex surface of the first lens 1 and a flat surface of the second lens 2. The first. The structure is such that a liquid crystal 4 is sealed between the second lenses 1 and 2 as an electro-optical element. In addition,
A space surrounded by the first lens 1, the second lens 2, and the spacer 3 has a lens shape.

A polarizing film 5 is attached to the first lens 1 on the flat side, and a transparent conductive layer 6 is formed on the convex side. An alignment film 7 is formed on this transparent conductive layer 6. On the other hand, in the second lens 2, a divided transparent conductive layer 8 is formed on the plane side, and an alignment film 9 is formed on this divided transparent conductive layer 8.

The divided transparent conductive layer 8 is divided into two regions, a region 8a at the center of the lens and a region 8b at the periphery of the lens, in a regular hexagonal division pattern as shown in FIG. 1(b). They are electrically insulated from each other by removing the conductive layer.

Transparent conductive layer 6, divided transparent conductive layer 8, and each transparent conductive layer 6.8
The voltage regulators 11a and llb connected to the AC voltage source 12 constitute a voltage applying means. Note that the voltage regulator 11a includes the peripheral portion 8b of the divided transparent conductive layer 8, and the voltage regulator 11b includes the central portion 8a of the divided transparent conductive layer 8.
are connected correspondingly.

In particular, regarding the central portion 8a of the divided transparent conductive layer 8, the first
As shown in Figure (b), a regular hexagonal collapsible portion 8c is formed, and the electrode can be easily taken out using this portion 8C. This voltage applying means applies a voltage independently between the transparent conductive layer 6 on the first lens side and the central portion 8a1 and the peripheral portion 8b of the divided transparent conductive layer 8.

Next, a manufacturing process for the optical lens 10 configured as described above will be explained. First, optical glass is polished to form a 31fS1 with one surface shaped like a convex lens and the other surface shaped like a flat surface.
and create a second lens 1.2. An ITO transparent conductive layer 6 is formed on the convex surface of the created first lens 1, and an ITO transparent conductive layer 8 is formed on the flat surface of the second lens 2. Then, the transparent conductive layer 8 is etched to form a boundary region 8d as shown in FIG. 1(b), thereby forming a divided conductive layer 8 divided into a lens center portion 8a and a lens peripheral portion 8b.

Next, polyimide alignment films 7 and 9 are formed on the transparent conductive layer 6 formed on the first lens 1 and the divided transparent conductive layer 8 formed on the second lens 2, and subjected to rubbing alignment treatment with a nylon cloth. .

Next, the first lens 1 and the second lens 2 are connected to each other using a spacer 3.
Paste together through. Then, the first lens 1 and the second lens
A liquid crystal 4 is sealed in a sealed space formed between the lens 2 and the lens 2 by a vacuum injection method. Next, a transparent conductive layer 6 formed on the first lens side and a divided transparent conductive layer 8a formed on the second lens side.

A voltage adjustment circuit consisting of voltage regulators 11a and llb and an AC voltage source 12, which can independently apply a voltage between the voltage regulators 8b and 8b, is connected. In this way, the optical lens 10 is created.

Next, the operation of the optical lens produced as described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing changes in the refractive power of the optical lens, and shows the changes when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal 4 by the voltage applying means. As shown in the figure, as the voltage applied to the liquid crystal 4 is gradually increased, the refractive power of the optical lens 10 changes from the negative side to the positive side at about 2V. Note that such characteristics are due to the element configuration of the optical lens 10, and by changing the element configuration, it is possible to provide a characteristic in which the refractive power decreases as the applied voltage increases.

For the optical lens 10 exhibiting such refractive power characteristics,
FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show the focusing state of the lens when a voltage is applied using the voltage applying means described above.

FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing a light condensing state when a voltage of 10 V is applied uniformly over the entire area of the liquid crystal 4. FIG. That is, the transparent conductive layer 6 on the first lens side and the divided transparent conductive layer 8 on the second lens side are adjusted by adjusting the voltage regulators 11a and llb.
A voltage of IOV was applied between the central portion 3a and the peripheral portion 8b.

As a result, the parallel light incident on the optical lens 10 exhibited condensing characteristics as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3(a). Then, when the applied voltage was continuously changed from 10 V to 2 V, the focal length changed continuously, and changed from the solid line state to the broken line state in the figure.

FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing the light condensing state when different voltages are applied to the liquid crystal 4 at the center and the periphery of the lens. In other words, 10 mm is formed between the transparent conductive layer 6 on the first lens side and the central portion 8a of the divided transparent conductive layer 8 on the second lens side.
This is a case in which a voltage of V is applied, and no voltage is applied between the transparent conductive layer 6 on the first lens side and the peripheral portion 8b of the divided transparent conductive layer 8 on the second lens side. When a voltage was applied in this way, the light condensing characteristics shown by the solid line in FIG. 2(b) were exhibited. Then, when the voltage applied to the central portion 8a was changed from IOV to 2V, the condensed state continuously changed from the solid line state to the wavy line state in the figure. In addition, the light that passed through the peripheral part of the lens diverged as shown by the dotted chain line in the figure. Note that 20 is a fixed aperture provided for the purpose of blocking divergent light and eliminating stray light.

Therefore, according to the optical lens 10, voltage can be applied independently to the liquid crystal 4 in the center of the lens and the liquid crystal 4 in the periphery of the lens, so the voltage regulator 11b
By adjusting the voltage applied to the peripheral part 8a of the divided transparent conductive layer 8, the operation of the liquid crystal 4 in the peripheral part of the re-lens can be controlled, and an aperture function can be provided. Also,
For example, by adjusting the applied voltage so that the refractive power at the periphery of the lens is more negative than the refractive power at the center of the lens,
It can have a variable focus function. In this way, the optical lens 10 of this embodiment can have both an aperture function and a variable focus function even though it is a single element.

Note that, in the above embodiment, the refractive power at the peripheral portion of the optical lens 10 is set to be more negative than the refractive power at the center, but it may be set to be more positive.

FIG. 4 shows the condensing state of the optical lens 30 set to such a refractive power. Note that the light condensing state shown in the figure is under the same application conditions as when the light condensing state shown in FIG. 3(b) is obtained.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5(a) is a sectional view showing the structure of an optical lens according to the second embodiment. Note that the same parts as those of the optical lens 10 shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals. This optical lens 40 has a transparent conductive layer 21 formed on the plane side of the second lens 2, and an insulating layer 22 formed on this transparent conductive layer 21. A transparent conductive layer 23 is formed on the insulating layer 22 around the lens.

A manufacturing process for an optical lens having such a configuration will be described. First, optical glass is polished to create first and second lenses 1.2 with one surface having a convex lens shape and the other surface having a planar shape. I on the convex surface of the first lens l created
A TO transparent conductive layer 6 is formed, and an ITO transparent conductive layer 21 is formed on the plane of the second lens 2. On the transparent conductive layer 21 formed on the second lens 2, an Si 02 insulating layer 22 is formed.
, and then masking is performed to form an ITO transparent conductive layer 23 around the lens. At this time, the two electrode patterns are formed concentrically as shown in FIG. 5(b). After that, the transparent conductive layer 6 on the first lens side, the transparent conductive layer 23 and the insulating layer 2 on the second lens side
A polyimide alignment film 24 is formed on the exposed portion of the substrate 2, and a rubbing alignment treatment is performed using a nylon cloth. next,
A first lens 1 and a second lens 2 are bonded together via a spacer 3. Then, liquid crystal is sealed in the sealed space formed between the first lens 1 and the second lens 2 by vacuum injection. Next, a transparent conductive layer 6 formed on the first lens side and a transparent conductive layer 21 formed on the second lens side.
A voltage regulator 11a that can independently apply a voltage between 23 and 23;
A voltage adjustment circuit consisting of llb and an alternating current voltage [12] is connected.

Using the optical lens 40 created in this way, the first
When the same voltage was applied between the transparent conductive layer 6 on the lens side and the transparent conductive layer 21, 22 on the second lens side and the applied voltage was changed, the incident parallel light was focused over the entire field of view. It exhibited variable focus characteristics while exhibiting optical action. Also,
When different voltages were applied between the transparent conductive layer 6 on the first lens side and the transparent conductive layers 21 and 22 on the lens side of 1s2, the incident parallel light showed a variable focus characteristic at the center of the lens. At the periphery, it diverged and showed a diaphragm action.

In this way, the second embodiment can also provide the same effects as the first embodiment.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the electro-optical element housed in the region formed between the first and second lenses is configured to be able to independently apply a voltage to a plurality of regions by the voltage application means. An optical lens can have an aperture function and a variable focus function.

Therefore, by using the optical lens according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size, weight, and cost of the device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1(a) is a cross-sectional view of an optical lens, FIG. 1(b) is a plan view showing a division pattern of a divided transparent conductive layer, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing refractive power characteristics of the optical lens, and FIG. ) (b) is a diagram showing the condensing state of the optical lens, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the condensing characteristics of the optical lens with different refractive power characteristics. Figure 5 (a
) is a cross-sectional view of an optical lens according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3(b) is a diagram schematically showing concentric electrode patterns. 1...first lens, 2...second lens, 3...
- Spacer, 4...Liquid crystal, 6,21.23...Transparent conductive layer, 7.9...Alignment film, 8...Divided transparent conductive layer, 11a. 11b... Voltage regulator, 12... AC voltage source.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A first and a second lens arranged to face each other, an electro-optical element housed in a region formed between the first and second lenses, and voltages applied independently to each other in multiple regions of the electro-optical element. An optical lens characterized by comprising: a voltage applying means capable of applying a voltage. (2) The optical lens according to claim 1, wherein a boundary between the plurality of regions of the electro-optical element is formed in a concentric shape with the optical axis as the center. (3) The optical lens according to claim 1, wherein the boundary between the plurality of regions of the electro-optical element is formed in a regular polygon shape centered on the optical axis.