Abstract: A variable angle beam control device is capable of maintaining the same color temperature of the light source regardless of the changes in the angle of the beam. The controllable light beam device has a light source with primary optics producing a low divergence light beam having an inverted angular distribution of the correlated color temperature (CCT), and a liquid crystal device with an electrically variable refractive index distribution arranged to receive said light beam and to provide a variable angle beam.

Abstract: A variable angle beam control device is capable of maintaining the same color temperature of the light source regardless of the changes in the angle of the beam. The controllable light beam device has a light source with primary optics producing a low divergence light beam having an inverted angular distribution of the correlated color temperature (CCT), and a liquid crystal device with an electrically variable refractive index distribution arranged to receive said light beam and to provide a variable angle beam.

Abstract: An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.

Abstract: An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.

Abstract: An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.

Abstract: A tunable liquid crystal optical device is described. The optical device has an electrode arrangement associated with a liquid crystal cell and includes a hole patterned electrode, wherein control of the liquid crystal cell depends on electrical characteristics of liquid crystal optical device layers. The optical device further has a circuit for measuring said electrical characteristics of the liquid crystal optical device layers, and a drive signal circuit having at least one parameter adjusted as a function of the measured electrical characteristics. The drive signal circuit generates a control signal for the electrode arrangement.

Abstract: An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.

Abstract: An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.

Abstract: An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.

Abstract: A tunable liquid crystal optical device is described. The optical device has an electrode arrangement associated with a liquid crystal cell and includes a hole patterned electrode, wherein control of the liquid crystal cell depends on electrical characteristics of liquid crystal optical device layers. The optical device further has a circuit for measuring said electrical characteristics of the liquid crystal optical device layers, and a drive signal circuit having at least one parameter adjusted as a function of the measured electrical characteristics. The drive signal circuit generates a control signal for the electrode arrangement.