JPH10221703A - Electrode structure for efficient wave front modulation of liquid crystal - Google Patents
Electrode structure for efficient wave front modulation of liquid crystalInfo
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- JPH10221703A JPH10221703A JP5971897A JP5971897A JPH10221703A JP H10221703 A JPH10221703 A JP H10221703A JP 5971897 A JP5971897 A JP 5971897A JP 5971897 A JP5971897 A JP 5971897A JP H10221703 A JPH10221703 A JP H10221703A
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- liquid crystal
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Abstract
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【発明の属する技術分野及び従来技術】ネマチック液晶
（ＬＣ）波板を介する光学波面制御の関心はますます高
まっている。適応性光学、光学信号処理および自由空間
レーザ通信等リサーチ分野におけるレーザビームの能動
的制御装置が開発されている。このような装置の人気の
理由は、ＬＣの強い複屈折を１０Ｖ以下の電圧で変調す
る可能性、あらゆる機械的運動に対する自由度、小型
化、軽量化、および低電力消費量にある。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is an increasing interest in optical wavefront control via nematic liquid crystal (LC) corrugations. Active control devices for laser beams in research fields such as adaptive optics, optical signal processing and free space laser communications have been developed. The reasons for the popularity of such devices are the possibility of modulating the strong birefringence of the LC with voltages below 10 V, the freedom for any mechanical movement, miniaturization, light weight and low power consumption.
【０００２】例えば、衛星上または光学地上局の様な、
光学的トランシーバーにおいて約１マイクロラジアンの
出入りレーザービームの角度の微小制御は、数１００ｋ
ｍから数１０００ｋｍにわたる良好な光学通信を達成維
持するために不可欠である。機械的手段を介した、所定
の精密な方向性の制御を得る事が困難のため、非機械的
ディフレクターについての研究が促進されて来ている。For example, on a satellite or on an optical ground station,
Fine control of the angle of the incoming and outgoing laser beam of about 1 microradian in an optical transceiver is in the order of several hundred k
It is essential to achieve and maintain good optical communication from m to several thousand km. Due to the difficulty in obtaining predetermined precise directional control via mechanical means, research on non-mechanical deflectors has been promoted.
【０００３】非機械的要素を光学系に挿入すると、可動
部品数が減少し、且つ系統の必要条件が達成される。電
子光学および音響光学装置の他、液晶パネルはビームデ
ィフレクターとして極めて魅力的候補である。ＬＣマイ
クロ光学分野で、他に熱心に研究された分野としては、
ＬＣの有効屈折率を二次関数を用いて空間的に変調する
ことによる、レンズの合焦性のエミュレーションするこ
とである。[0003] The insertion of non-mechanical elements into the optical system reduces the number of moving parts and achieves system requirements. Besides electro-optic and acousto-optic devices, liquid crystal panels are extremely attractive candidates as beam deflectors. In the field of LC micro optics, other fields that have been studied eagerly include:
The emulation of the focus of a lens by spatially modulating the effective refractive index of the LC using a quadratic function.
【０００４】低電圧でレンズのＦ数を強力に変更しえる
可能性は、最近多くの数の実現可能性のあるアイディア
を誘発した。ＬＣレンズは、一次元変調能力を持つ２つ
の装置、例えば、２つの円筒型ＬＣレンズを互いに重さ
ねあわせるか、または直接的に二次元変調をさせる電極
構造体を使用することにより実現できる。ＬＣ装置の開
発において、リサーチャーはこれまでは、次の２つの形
式の電極構造体に注目してきた。 即ち（ｉ）液晶が多
数の独立狭小ストライプ状低抵抗電極からなる手段によ
り変調される分離構造体と、（ｉｉ）異なる抵抗区域を
有する広幅の電極が、電極面で生ずる直線または非直線
電圧傾度を介し液晶を変調する連続構造体とである。The possibility of strongly changing the F-number of a lens at low voltages has recently triggered a large number of feasible ideas. The LC lens can be realized by two devices having one-dimensional modulation capability, for example, by weighing two cylindrical LC lenses on each other, or by using an electrode structure that directly performs two-dimensional modulation. In the development of LC devices, researchers have focused on the following two types of electrode structures. That is, (i) a separation structure in which liquid crystal is modulated by means of a large number of independent narrow stripe-shaped low resistance electrodes, and (ii) a wide electrode having different resistance areas is formed by a linear or non-linear voltage gradient generated on an electrode surface. And a continuous structure that modulates the liquid crystal via the liquid crystal.
【０００５】[0005]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】前者の提案の利点は、
高伝達効率と電極の容易な製作性にある。しかし、多数
の電極のため、複雑なＬＣドライバーの製作に高い費用
がかかる。後者の提案はＬＣドライバーの複雑さを抑制
するが、高い光学的生産性は未だ報告されていない。The advantages of the former proposal are:
High transmission efficiency and easy manufacturing of electrodes. However, due to the large number of electrodes, the production of complex LC drivers is expensive. Although the latter proposal reduces the complexity of the LC driver, high optical productivity has not yet been reported.
【０００６】本発明は、両提案に見られる利点を組み合
わせることを目的とする電極構成を提供する。 発明の概要 本発明の目的は、ビームディフレクター、球面状又は円
筒状の単一のマイクロレンズまたは、それらのレンズア
レー等に適用性を有する液晶光学波面変調装置の新たな
電極構成を提供することにある。[0006] The present invention provides an electrode configuration which aims to combine the advantages found in both proposals. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a new electrode configuration of a liquid crystal optical wavefront modulator having applicability to a beam deflector, a spherical or cylindrical single microlens, or a lens array thereof. is there.
【０００７】この構成は従来技術の改良であり、それは
従来技術に比べて制御信号数を減少し、以前の装置より
も製作方法が複雑でなく、直線および非直線的空間光学
波面変調を発生する実用手段を含む。This configuration is an improvement over the prior art, which reduces the number of control signals as compared to the prior art, is less complex to fabricate than previous devices, and produces linear and non-linear spatial optical wavefront modulation. Including practical means.
【０００８】[0008]
【課題を解決するための手段】この発明の目的は、光学
ビームを偏向し（直線波面変調）、光学ビームを合焦す
る（非直線波面変調）装置を提供することにより開示さ
れる。しかし、この発明の範囲はここに述べる装置によ
り限定されないで、任意に波面を発生する為のＬＣ変調
装置も考慮されるべきである。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is disclosed by providing an apparatus that deflects an optical beam (linear wavefront modulation) and focuses the optical beam (nonlinear wavefront modulation). However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the apparatus described here, and an LC modulator for arbitrarily generating a wavefront should be considered.
【０００９】本発明は上記した目的を達成する為、本発
明に係る電極の構造としては、以下に示す様な基本的な
技術構成を採用するものである。即ち、光学ビームを波
面変調する装置において、光学的に透明な共通電極を有
する第１窓と、電気的に束ねた平行ストライプ形状をし
た多数の透明導電電極を有する第２窓と、第１窓と第２
窓の中間に設けられた液晶分子層とを含む光学要素を備
え、光学装置は、光学ビームが第１窓に入射して第２窓
により反射または透過されるように位置決めされ、さら
に、制御信号を各セルの外側の電極に個々に印加する手
段を備えることにより、接合電極に沿いまたセル領域を
通して直線情報の電圧傾度を発生させ、それにより、Ｌ
Ｃの電子光学特性の直線または非直線部分により液晶層
に屈折率の局部的な変化を生ぜしめす様に構成されてい
る事を特徴とする光学ビームを波面変調する装置であ
る。In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following basic technical configuration as the structure of the electrode according to the present invention. That is, in an apparatus for wavefront modulating an optical beam, a first window having an optically transparent common electrode, a second window having a number of electrically conductive parallel stripe-shaped transparent conductive electrodes, and a first window. And the second
An optical element comprising a liquid crystal molecular layer provided in the middle of the window, wherein the optical device is positioned such that an optical beam is incident on the first window and is reflected or transmitted by the second window, and further includes a control signal. To the electrodes outside each cell individually to generate a linear information voltage gradient along the junction electrode and through the cell area, thereby
An apparatus for wavefront modulating an optical beam, characterized in that a local change in the refractive index is caused in the liquid crystal layer by a linear or non-linear portion of the electro-optical characteristic of C.
【００１０】当該装置は更に、ストライプ電極と同じま
たは異なる材料よりなる接合電極をさらに備え、ストラ
イプ電極の抵抗率は、好ましくは、低く、一方、接合電
極の抵抗率は好ましくは高く設定し、それによって各セ
ルに高入力抵抗を与えるものであり、当該接合電極は発
光している活性領域を包む電極構造体に含まれるかまた
は活性領域外に設けられる事を特徴とするものである。[0010] The device further comprises a junction electrode made of the same or different material as the stripe electrode, wherein the resistivity of the stripe electrode is preferably low, while the resistivity of the junction electrode is preferably set high. Thus, a high input resistance is given to each cell, and the junction electrode is included in the electrode structure surrounding the active region emitting light or is provided outside the active region.
【００１１】又、当該装置に於ける該接合電極は、ＬＣ
ドライバーから電圧を供給する２つ又は２以上の位置で
低抵抗金属電極に接続されるものである。一方、当該装
置に於いては、０度と３度間の予め定めた傾斜角度でＣ
Ｌ層のＬＣ電子光学特性の直線部分内からの電圧で活性
区域をアドレスすることにより、透過または反射光学波
面からなるブレーズ効果をもつ相特性を発生することに
よって光学ビームを偏向するのに使用される事を特徴と
するものである。[0011] Further, the bonding electrode in the apparatus is LC
It is connected to the low-resistance metal electrode at two or more positions for supplying a voltage from the driver. On the other hand, in this device, C is set at a predetermined inclination angle between 0 degree and 3 degrees.
It is used to deflect the optical beam by addressing the active area with a voltage from within the linear portion of the LC electro-optical properties of the L layer, thereby generating a blazed phase characteristic consisting of a transmitted or reflected optical wavefront. It is characterized by that.
【００１２】又、本発明に係る当該装置は、５度と２０
度間の予め定めた傾斜角度でＬＣ層のＬＣ電子光学特性
に於ける低電圧領域での非直線部分内から得られる電圧
で活性区域をアドレスすることにより、透過または反射
光学波面の２次相プロフィールを発生することによって
光学ビームを合焦させるのに使用される事に特徴があ
り、更に、当該装置は、近傍にある接合電極に印加され
る２つの交流電圧は同じ振幅と同じ周波数を有するが１
８０度位相がずれている（反対極性）事を特徴とするも
のである。Further, the device according to the present invention has a 5 ° and 20 ° angle.
Addressing the active area with a voltage derived from within the non-linear portion of the LC electro-optical properties of the LC layer in the low voltage region at a predetermined tilt angle in degrees, the secondary phase of the transmitted or reflected optical wavefront It is characterized in that it is used to focus an optical beam by generating a profile, and furthermore, the device has two alternating voltages applied to neighboring junction electrodes having the same amplitude and the same frequency Is 1
It is characterized by being out of phase by 80 degrees (opposite polarity).
【００１３】[0013]
【実施例】本発明に係る装置は、単色光用光学液晶波面
変調装置は２つの光学的透明窓の間に閉じ込められる均
質に配列された液晶層を含んでいる。この装置は、第１
の窓上に光学的に透明な共通電極と、第２窓に多数の光
学的に透明で、互いに平行なストライプ状電極（以下単
にストライプ電極と言う）とを有する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The device according to the invention comprises a monochromatic optical liquid crystal wavefront modulator comprising a homogeneously aligned liquid crystal layer confined between two optically transparent windows. This device is the first
And a plurality of optically transparent, parallel, stripe-shaped electrodes (hereinafter simply referred to as stripe electrodes) in the second window.
【００１４】実現される装置に付いては、該ストライプ
状電極の長手方向の形状は真っ直ぐであっても良くまた
は曲がっていても良い。第２の窓では、Ｎ個のストライ
プ状電極は抵抗材料の１つ以上の単一ストライプ電極
（以下単に接合電極と言う）を介し周期的に接合されＭ
個の束のストライプ状電極の束を形成し、図１に示すよ
うに、各束は液晶セル（以下単にセルと言う）を表す。For a device to be implemented, the longitudinal shape of the striped electrodes may be straight or curved. In the second window, the N stripe-shaped electrodes are periodically joined through one or more single-stripe electrodes (hereinafter simply referred to as junction electrodes) of a resistive material.
Each bundle forms a stripe-shaped electrode bundle, and as shown in FIG. 1, each bundle represents a liquid crystal cell (hereinafter simply referred to as a cell).
【００１５】各束の２つの外側のストライプ状電極は、
それぞれ、２つの独立した制御信号（例えば交流電圧信
号）が供給される。従って、多数の制御信号（ＮｘＭ）
はセル毎に２つの信号（２ｘＭ）に減少される。２つの
異なる電圧の印加により接合電極に沿って直線電圧傾度
を生ずる。これはまた、セル領域に亘って直線電圧傾度
を生ずる。この直線電圧傾度は、液晶の電子光学応答お
よびアドレス電圧に依拠して、液晶分子ー屈折率の直線
または非直線空間変化をもたらす。The two outer striped electrodes of each bundle are:
In each case, two independent control signals (for example, AC voltage signals) are supplied. Therefore, a large number of control signals (NxM)
Is reduced to two signals (2 × M) per cell. The application of two different voltages produces a linear voltage gradient along the junction electrode. This also creates a linear voltage gradient across the cell area. This linear voltage gradient results in a linear or non-linear spatial change in the liquid crystal molecule-refractive index, depending on the electro-optical response and address voltage of the liquid crystal.
【００１６】波面変調は、図２に示すように液晶の電子
光学応答の直線または非直線部分により達成される。電
子光学特性に関する形状は、液晶パラメータ、予め定め
た傾斜、弾性定数、誘電率等から決められる。たとえ
ば、低い予め定めた傾斜による配列によりシャープなし
きい値と当該しきい値にの直後に続く大きい直線状領域
が提供される。Wavefront modulation is achieved by a linear or non-linear portion of the electro-optical response of the liquid crystal as shown in FIG. The shape related to the electro-optical characteristics is determined from liquid crystal parameters, a predetermined inclination, an elastic constant, a dielectric constant, and the like. For example, an arrangement with a low predetermined slope provides a sharp threshold and a large linear region immediately following the threshold.
【００１７】高い傾斜整列（５ー２０度）により、低電
圧領域において電子光学応答の２次変調を得る。電子光
学応答の直線部分は、ビーム偏向の様な直線変調の目的
に、またはブレーズ効果を持たせた三角形回折格子をシ
ミュレートするのに使用される。２次曲線部分はレンズ
による波面変調をシミュレートするのに使用される。１
次元変調能力を有する装置、例えば、ＬＣ円筒状レンズ
を、２次元変調能力を有する装置、例えば、球面レンズ
へ拡張したものが図３に示されている。The high tilt alignment (5-20 degrees) provides a secondary modulation of the electro-optical response in the low voltage range. The linear portion of the electro-optical response is used for linear modulation purposes, such as beam deflection, or to simulate a blazed triangular grating. The quadratic portion is used to simulate the wavefront modulation by the lens. 1
FIG. 3 shows a device having a dimensional modulation capability, for example, an LC cylindrical lens, extended to a device having a two-dimensional modulation capability, for example, a spherical lens.
【００１８】直線形のストライプ状電極は、２次元変調
領域に於ける好ましい形状、つまり円形または楕円によ
り曲がった形のストライプ状電極に代えられる。接合電
極の外端部は、ＬＣドライバーの電圧を供給する低抵抗
金属電極に接続される。近傍の接合電極に、同波形、同
振幅Ａおよび同周波数であるが、位相差が１８０度の交
流電圧、すなわち、極性の異なる電圧が供給される。異
なる極性を接合電極の端部に印加すると、接合電極の中
間はゼロボルトになる。従って、接合電極の前半部分よ
り成るＬＣ領域は、従ってＡボルトから０ボルトに空間
的に変調され、図４に示すように、接合電極の後半部分
より成る領域は０ボルトからＡボルトに空間的に変調さ
れる。接合電極の両部分は電子光学特性の同部分をアド
レスするので、放物状の２次元空間変調が得られる。The linear striped electrode is replaced with a striped electrode having a preferable shape in the two-dimensional modulation area, that is, a shape curved by a circle or an ellipse. The outer end of the junction electrode is connected to a low resistance metal electrode that supplies the voltage of the LC driver. An AC voltage having the same waveform, the same amplitude A, and the same frequency but having a phase difference of 180 degrees, that is, voltages having different polarities, is supplied to the adjacent bonding electrodes. If different polarities are applied to the ends of the junction electrode, the middle of the junction electrode will be at zero volts. Thus, the LC region consisting of the first half of the junction electrode is spatially modulated from A volts to 0 volts, and the region consisting of the second half of the junction electrode is spatially modulated from 0 volts to A volts, as shown in FIG. Is modulated. Since both parts of the junction electrode address the same part of the electro-optical properties, a parabolic two-dimensional spatial modulation is obtained.
【００１９】以下に本発明にか係る装置の好ましい具体
例を説明する。図１は、本発明に於ける好ましい具体例
の一つを示すものであって、本発明に於ける好ましい電
極構造の一つが図示されている。係る具体例に於いて
は、一対の上下の端子１２０と１２２には、それぞれ同
じレベルの電位ΦＡが印加せしめられており、一方、他
の対である上下の端子１２６と１２８には、それぞれ同
じレベルの電位であるが、上記電位ΦＡとは異なる電位
Φが印加せしめられている。Hereinafter, preferred specific examples of the device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows one preferred embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates one preferred electrode structure of the present invention. In such a specific example, the same level of potential ΦA is applied to the pair of upper and lower terminals 120 and 122, respectively, while the same potential is applied to the other pair of upper and lower terminals 126 and 128, respectively. A potential Φ different from the above-mentioned potential ΦA is applied.
【００２０】一方、端子１２０と１２６との間に薄膜抵
抗線１０６が設けられると共に、端子１２２と１２８と
の間に薄膜抵抗線１０８が設けられている。当該抵抗線
はクロム薄膜、或いはニッケル−クロム合金薄膜、タン
タル薄膜、モリブデン薄膜等で形成されるものであって
も良い。更に、例えば、錫、インジウムから形成される
酸化性薄膜の様なＩＴＯ膜である金属酸化膜も使用する
事が可能である。On the other hand, a thin-film resistance wire 106 is provided between terminals 120 and 126, and a thin-film resistance wire 108 is provided between terminals 122 and 128. The resistance wire may be formed of a chromium thin film, a nickel-chromium alloy thin film, a tantalum thin film, a molybdenum thin film, or the like. Further, for example, a metal oxide film which is an ITO film such as an oxidizing thin film formed of tin or indium can be used.
【００２１】該電極端子１２０と１２２の間に形成され
る電圧レベルは、一定に維持され、従って、それらが互
いに低抵抗である金属電極１３１を介して接続されてい
ることから、該電極端子１２０と１２２の間は等電位に
保持される。同様に、該電極端子１２６と１２８の間に
形成される電圧レベルは、一定に維持され、従って、そ
れらが互いに低抵抗である金属電極１３８を介して接続
されていることから、該電極端子１２６と１２８の間は
等電位に保持される。The voltage level formed between the electrode terminals 120 and 122 is kept constant and, therefore, because they are connected to each other via the low resistance metal electrode 131, And 122 are kept at the same potential. Similarly, the voltage level formed between the electrode terminals 126 and 128 is kept constant, and therefore, because they are connected to each other via the low resistance metal electrode 138, the electrode terminal 126 And 128 are kept at the same potential.
【００２２】一方、上記等電位電極線１３１と１３８と
の間は、上記したものと同様の複数の低抵抗金属電極
で、それぞれ１３２、１３３、１３４、１３５、１３
６、１３７は、ストライプ状の形状を有するものが設け
られ且つ互いに平行となる様に配列せしめられている。
ここで、注目すべき点は、それぞれの金属電極の両端部
は、個別に該抵抗線１０６と１０８の此処の電位分割点
に接続せしめられており、その結果、該電極１３１と電
極１０８の間で且つ当該電極１３１と１３８の長手方向
には、等電位状態がが常に形成される事になり、一方当
該電極１３１と１３８の長手方向と直角の方向には、階
段状に変化する電位が形成される事になる。On the other hand, between the equipotential electrode lines 131 and 138, a plurality of low-resistance metal electrodes similar to those described above are provided, respectively 132, 133, 134, 135 and 13
6, 137 are provided so as to have a stripe shape and are arranged so as to be parallel to each other.
Here, it should be noted that both ends of each metal electrode are individually connected to this potential division point of the resistance lines 106 and 108, and as a result, the electrode 131 and the electrode 108 In addition, an equipotential state is always formed in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes 131 and 138, while a stepwise changing potential is formed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electrodes 131 and 138. Will be done.
【００２３】上記した様な電極構造は、例えば、透明ガ
ラス板或いはそれに類するものの上に形成する事が出来
る。又、透明性膜でより好ましくは高抵抗性の透明導電
性膜の様な高抵抗性膜が、上記した互いに平行に配置形
成された金属電極１３１、１３８、又は低抵抗性ＩＴＯ
膜、の表面上に形成された場合、当該電極１３１と１３
８の間に形成される電位は、ある傾斜を以て変化する様
になる。The electrode structure as described above can be formed, for example, on a transparent glass plate or the like. In addition, a transparent film, more preferably a high-resistivity film such as a high-resistivity transparent conductive film, is formed of the metal electrodes 131 and 138 arranged in parallel with each other or the low-resistance ITO.
When formed on the surface of the film, the electrodes 131 and 13
The potential formed during 8 changes with a certain slope.
【００２４】例えば、当該電極１３１に１０・ΦＡの電
位を与え、又電極１３８に３・ΦＡの電位を与えると、
電位１０・ΦＡから電位３・ΦＡに向けて直線的に電位
が変化する膜面が出来る。金属電極１３２から１３７の
存在によって、当該電極間に形成された、所定の傾斜を
持つ等電位線が形成され、当該等電位線は、互いに平行
に配置されている該電極１３１と１３８の長手方向と常
に平行した形状を示す。For example, when a potential of 10 · ΦA is applied to the electrode 131 and a potential of 3 · ΦA is applied to the electrode 138,
A film surface whose potential changes linearly from the potential 10 · ΦA toward the potential 3 · ΦA is formed. Due to the presence of the metal electrodes 132 to 137, equipotential lines having a predetermined slope formed between the electrodes are formed, and the equipotential lines extend in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes 131 and 138 arranged in parallel with each other. And always show a parallel shape.
【００２５】上記した電位に於ける所定の傾斜を持った
電極膜層がその表面に形成されている透明ガラス板と透
明導電性膜をその表面に形成したガラス板とを対向させ
て、且つ両者間に空間が形成される様に数ミクロン（μ
ｍ）の間隔を開けて、互いに平行になる様に配列し、そ
して、当該空間部に液晶（ＬＣ）を充填して、当該液晶
の配向が当該ガラス基板の表面と平行となる様に設定す
る事によって、光学変調素子が得られるのである。A transparent glass plate having an electrode film layer having a predetermined inclination at the above potential formed on its surface and a glass plate having a transparent conductive film formed on its surface are opposed to each other. Several microns (μ
m), the liquid crystal (LC) is filled in the space, and the orientation of the liquid crystal is set to be parallel to the surface of the glass substrate. As a result, an optical modulation element is obtained.
【００２６】本発明に係る具体例に於いては、該低抵抗
線１３１から１３８により生ずる効果の故に、高効率で
歪みが少ないと言う特徴を持った高性能の光学変調素子
が得られる。図２は、有効複屈折Δｎと液晶電圧との関
係を示すグラフであり、当該グラフに於いて、横軸は液
晶の駆動電圧を示すものであり、又縦軸は有効複屈折を
表わすものである。In the embodiment according to the present invention, a high-performance optical modulation element having characteristics of high efficiency and low distortion can be obtained due to the effects produced by the low resistance wires 131 to 138. FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the effective birefringence Δn and the liquid crystal voltage. In this graph, the horizontal axis represents the driving voltage of the liquid crystal, and the vertical axis represents the effective birefringence. is there.
【００２７】係るグラフから明らかな様に、個々のグラ
フは、直線的な変調領域と曲線的な変調領域とで構成さ
れている。従って、かかる曲線的な変調領域を利用する
と、薄いガラスレンズが、直交入射光波に対して、位置
要素の関数に関して球面レンズと同等の効果を発揮す
る。更に、本具体例に於いては、その曲率の変化を、当
該液晶に印加される電圧を変化させる事により、制御す
る事が可能である。As is apparent from the graphs, each graph includes a linear modulation region and a curved modulation region. Therefore, using such a curved modulation region, the thin glass lens exhibits the same effect as the spherical lens with respect to the function of the position element for the orthogonal incident light wave. Further, in this specific example, the change in the curvature can be controlled by changing the voltage applied to the liquid crystal.
【００２８】図３は、本発明に係る電極構造の他の具体
例を示す図であり、図中、図１に示すと同様に、電極端
子３０６、３０８、３０２、及び３０４は抵抗線３７
１、３８１、３０２、３０４に個別に接続されており、
更に、一対の抵抗線３７１と３５１の間、及び一対の抵
抗線３８１と３６１の間には、互いに同心円状に配置さ
れた複数の半円形をした細幅状の電極群が接続せしめら
れており、例えば複数の半円形をした細幅状の電極群３
１１、３１２、３１３、３１４、３１５、３１６、３１
７、３１９及び３４０は抵抗線３７１と３５１との間に
接続せしめられている。FIG. 3 is a view showing another specific example of the electrode structure according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, the electrode terminals 306, 308, 302 and 304 are connected to the resistance wire 37 in the same manner as shown in FIG.
1, 381, 302, 304, respectively.
Further, between the pair of resistance lines 371 and 351 and between the pair of resistance lines 381 and 361, a plurality of semicircular narrow electrode groups arranged concentrically with each other are connected. For example, a plurality of semi-circular narrow electrode groups 3
11, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 31
7, 319 and 340 are connected between the resistance lines 371 and 351.
【００２９】図３に注目すると、ストライプ（細幅）状
電極３１１、３１２、３１３、３１４、３１５、３１
６、３１７、３１９及び３４０は、パターン化された低
抵抗性の薄膜であり、ガラス基板の表面に形成されてい
る。この具体例に於いては、それぞれの半円形ストライ
プ状電極は個々の電圧を有しており又それぞれ等電圧を
示している。Referring to FIG. 3, stripe (narrow) electrodes 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 31
6, 317, 319, and 340 are patterned low-resistance thin films formed on the surface of the glass substrate. In this embodiment, each semi-circular striped electrode has an individual voltage and each indicates an equal voltage.
【００３０】ある電圧、例えば、−Ｖの電圧が、等しく
両電極端子３０６と３０８に印加され、別の電圧、例え
ば、＋Ｖの電圧が、等しく両電極端子３０２と３０４に
印加され時に、電位は抵抗線３８１と３６１から円の中
心の方向に向かって上昇し、その中心で０Ｖとなり、更
に当該円の中心から抵抗線３７１と３５１に向かう方向
に上昇して＋Ｖなる電圧となる。When a voltage, eg, a voltage of −V, is equally applied to both electrode terminals 306 and 308 and another voltage, eg, a voltage of + V, is equally applied to both electrode terminals 302 and 304, the potential becomes The voltage rises from the resistance lines 381 and 361 toward the center of the circle, becomes 0 V at the center, and further rises from the center of the circle toward the resistance lines 371 and 351 to become a voltage of + V.
【００３１】係る具体例に於いては、例えば厚さが１０
０〜４００ｎｍのＩｎＳｎ2 Ｏ3 膜の様な高抵抗性透明
導電薄膜が該低抵抗性のパターン化された電極膜の表面
に形成されるか、或いはガラス基板と該該低抵抗性のパ
ターン化された電極膜との間に形成された部位に形成さ
れた場合には、レンズとして使用可能な曲率電位分布を
有するガラス基板を得る事が出来る。In this specific example, for example, when the thickness is 10
A high-resistance transparent conductive thin film such as a 0-400 nm InSn 2 O 3 film is formed on the surface of the low-resistance patterned electrode film, or a glass substrate and the low-resistance pattern are formed. When it is formed in a portion formed between the formed electrode film, a glass substrate having a curvature potential distribution usable as a lens can be obtained.
【００３２】上記したガラス基板と、表面全体に透明導
電膜が形成された別のガラス基板とを、その間に或る間
隔、例えば数μｍの間隔を開けて互いに平行に対向した
配置すると同時に上記ガラス基板の間に形成された空間
に液晶層を形成し、当該 液晶の配向を該ガラス基板の
表面と平行になるように設定すると、本発明に於ける液
晶波面変調を持つ電極構造が得られる。The above glass substrate and another glass substrate having a transparent conductive film formed on the entire surface thereof are arranged in parallel with each other at a certain interval, for example, at an interval of several μm. When a liquid crystal layer is formed in a space formed between the substrates and the orientation of the liquid crystal is set to be parallel to the surface of the glass substrate, an electrode structure having liquid crystal wavefront modulation according to the present invention is obtained.
【００３３】本具体例に於いて、当該液晶の配向を該ガ
ラス基板の表面と平行に設定する事に限定せずに、非平
行となる様に、つまりツイストタイプに設定することも
可能である。本発明に於いては、円形の電極で、個々の
電極が等電位性を持ってる構成に基づき、ガラスレンズ
に関しては、球面歪みのない電界が形成され、従ってレ
ンズとしての特性が向上する。In the present embodiment, the orientation of the liquid crystal is not limited to being set parallel to the surface of the glass substrate, but may be set non-parallel, that is, a twist type. . In the present invention, an electric field free of spherical distortion is formed in a glass lens based on a configuration in which each electrode is a circular electrode and each electrode has an equipotential property, so that the characteristics as a lens are improved.
【００３４】上記した具体例に於いては、ΦＡ、ΦＢ、
ΦＡ（＋）、−Ｖ、＋Ｖ等で示される電位としては、例
えば、５〜１０ボルトで１〜１０００Ｈｚの様な交流パ
ルス源を実際の電圧源として使用する事が出来る。In the specific example described above, ΦA, ΦB,
As the potential indicated by ΦA (+), -V, + V, etc., for example, an AC pulse source such as 5 to 10 volts and 1 to 1000 Hz can be used as an actual voltage source.
【図１】図１は、本発明の電極構造の一具体例を説明す
る図である。FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of an electrode structure according to the present invention.
【図２】図２は、本発明の電極構造に於ける特性値を示
すグラフである。FIG. 2 is a graph showing characteristic values in the electrode structure of the present invention.
【図３】図３は、本発明の電極構造の他の具体例を説明
する図である。FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another specific example of the electrode structure of the present invention.
【図４】図４は、本発明の他の具体例に於ける電極構造
に於ける特性値を示すグラフである。FIG. 4 is a graph showing characteristic values in an electrode structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
１２０、１２６、１２２、１２８…端子 １０６、１０８…薄膜抵抗線 120, 126, 122, 128 ... terminals 106, 108 ... thin-film resistance wires
Claims (6)
て、 光学的に透明な共通電極を有する第１窓と、電気的に束
ねた平行ストライプ形状をした多数の透明導電電極を有
する第２窓と、第１窓と第２窓の中間に設けられた液晶
分子層とを含む光学要素を備え、光学装置は、光学ビー
ムが第１窓に入射して第２窓により反射または透過され
るように位置決めされ、さらに、制御信号を各セルの外
側の電極に個々に印加する手段を備えることにより、接
合電極に沿いまたセル領域を通して直線情報の電圧傾度
を発生させ、それにより、ＬＣの電子光学特性の直線ま
たは非直線部分により液晶層に屈折率の局部的な変化を
生ぜしめす様に構成されている事を特徴とする光学ビー
ムを波面変調する装置。An apparatus for wavefront modulating an optical beam, comprising: a first window having an optically transparent common electrode; and a second window having a number of transparent conductive electrodes in the form of electrically bundled parallel stripes. An optical element including a liquid crystal molecular layer provided between the first window and the second window, wherein the optical device is positioned such that an optical beam is incident on the first window and is reflected or transmitted by the second window. And by providing means for individually applying control signals to the outer electrodes of each cell to generate a linear information voltage gradient along the junction electrode and through the cell area, thereby providing an electro-optical characteristic of the LC. An apparatus for wavefront modulating an optical beam, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause a local change in a refractive index in a liquid crystal layer by a linear or non-linear portion.
または異なる材料よりなる接合電極をさらに備え、スト
ライプ電極の抵抗率は、好ましくは、低く、一方、接合
電極の抵抗率は好ましくは高く設定し、それによって各
セルに高入力抵抗を与えるものであり、当該接合電極は
発光している活性領域を包む電極構造体に含まれるかま
たは活性領域外に設けられる事を特徴とする請求項１記
載の装置。2. The device further comprises a junction electrode made of the same or different material as the stripe electrode, wherein the resistivity of the stripe electrode is preferably low, while the resistivity of the junction electrode is preferably set high. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a high input resistance to each cell, wherein the bonding electrode is included in the electrode structure surrounding the active region emitting light or provided outside the active region. Equipment.
供給する２つ又は２以上の位置で低抵抗金属電極に接続
される事を特徴とする請求項２記載の装置。3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the bonding electrode is connected to the low-resistance metal electrode at two or more positions for supplying a voltage from the LC driver.
Ｌ層のＬＣ電子光学特性の直線部分内からの電圧で活性
区域をアドレスすることにより、透過または反射光学波
面からなるブレーズ効果をもつ相特性を発生することに
よって光学ビームを偏向するのに使用される事を特徴と
する請求項３記載の装置。4. C at a predetermined inclination angle between 0 and 3 degrees
It is used to deflect the optical beam by addressing the active area with a voltage from within the linear portion of the LC electro-optical properties of the L layer, thereby generating a blazed phase characteristic consisting of a transmitted or reflected optical wavefront. 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein
ＬＣ層のＬＣ電子光学特性に於ける低電圧領域での非直
線部分内から得られる電圧で活性区域をアドレスするこ
とにより、透過または反射光学波面の２次相プロフィー
ルを発生することによって光学ビームを合焦させるのに
使用される事を特徴とする請求項３記載の装置。5. Addressing the active area with a voltage obtained from within a non-linear portion in the low voltage region in the LC electro-optical properties of the LC layer at a predetermined tilt angle between 5 and 20 degrees, 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is used to focus an optical beam by generating a secondary phase profile of a transmitted or reflected optical wavefront.
交流電圧は同じ振幅と同じ周波数を有するが１８０度位
相がずれている（反対極性）事を特徴とする請求項５記
載の装置。6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the two alternating voltages applied to the adjacent junction electrodes have the same amplitude and the same frequency but are 180 degrees out of phase (opposite polarity).
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP05971897A JP3814366B2 (en) | 1997-02-07 | 1997-02-07 | Liquid crystal wavefront modulation device and driving method thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP05971897A JP3814366B2 (en) | 1997-02-07 | 1997-02-07 | Liquid crystal wavefront modulation device and driving method thereof |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPH10221703A true JPH10221703A (en) | 1998-08-21 |
| JP3814366B2 JP3814366B2 (en) | 2006-08-30 |
Family
ID=13121274
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|---|---|---|---|
| JP05971897A Expired - Fee Related JP3814366B2 (en) | 1997-02-07 | 1997-02-07 | Liquid crystal wavefront modulation device and driving method thereof |
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| WO2013151164A1 (en) * | 2012-04-06 | 2013-10-10 | シャープ株式会社 | Stereoscopic display device |
| US9013647B2 (en) | 2012-12-05 | 2015-04-21 | Nlt Technologies, Ltd. | Stereoscopic image display device comprising a gradient-refractive-index liquid-crystal lens having a plurality of electrode groups |
| US10217425B2 (en) | 2013-11-08 | 2019-02-26 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Driving method of electro-optical device, electro-optical device and electronic apparatus |
| JP2017083615A (en) * | 2015-10-27 | 2017-05-18 | シチズン時計株式会社 | Liquid crystal optical element |
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