Abstract: A tunable optical beam steering device includes: a first means for providing surface localized in-plane electric fields on a first substrate and also on a second substrate that together define a sandwich structure containing a liquid crystal material; a second means for providing electric fields between the two substrates that can be at an angle to the surface normal, or along the surface normal; and an alignment layer on a surface of each substrate that causes the liquid crystal director to align with a small angle relative to the surface normal and whose projection onto the plane of the substrates is different on the two substrates.

Abstract: An optical combiner includes first, second, and third polarization volume holograms (PVHs) configured to deflect light of a first color, a second color, and a third color, respectively. The optical combiner further includes a first polarization interference filter (PIF) configured to switch light of the first color from a polarization that is not deflected by the first PVH to a polarization that is deflected by the first PVH. The optical combiner may further include a second PIF configured to switch light of the second color from a polarization that is not deflected by the second PVH to a polarization that is deflected by the second PVH. The optical combiner may further include a third PIF configured to switch light of the third color from a polarization that is not deflected by the third PVH to a polarization that is deflected by the third PVH.

Abstract: A waveguide assembly includes a waveguide having a first surface and a second surface; an input deflection grating; an output deflection grating; and a first compensator layer on the first surface of the waveguide. The first compensator layer includes a material selected from aligned liquid crystal reactive mesogens, birefringent polymers, and inorganic birefringent materials.

Abstract: A non-mechanical, electrically tunable optical system provides both focus and astigmatism power correction with an adjustable axis. The optical system includes three liquid crystal based cylindrical lenses which are simple, low cost, and have compact flat structure.

Abstract: Optical phase control elements are based on the Pancharatnam phase. Tunable liquid crystal devices containing the optical phase control elements may include a liquid crystal cell between a pair of substrates, a first plurality of electrodes, and a second plurality of electrodes. Each individual phase control element is defined by one electrode from the first plurality and one electrode from the second plurality.

Abstract: An optical beam deflection device includes a dual-twist Pancharatnam phase device (DTPPD) with first and second Pancharatnam layers each with an in-plane twist and a transverse twist that is at least 60° over the thickness of each Pancharatnam layer, and more preferably at least 75°, and still more preferably at least 90°, with the twist sense of the second Pancharatnam layer being opposite the twist sense of the first Pancharatnam layer. To provide switchable beam deflection, an electro-optic polarization element inputs a circularly polarized light beam to the DTPPD with left-handed circular polarization or right-handed circular polarization controlled by an electrical input.

Abstract: Optical phase control elements are based on the Pancharatnam phase. Tunable liquid crystal devices containing the optical phase control elements may include a liquid crystal cell between a pair of substrates, a first plurality of electrodes, and a second plurality of electrodes. Each individual phase control element is defined by one electrode from the first plurality and one electrode from the second plurality.

Abstract: An optical magnification system comprises two Pancharatnam lenses, and provides a first magnification for left-hand circularly polarized light and a second magnification different from the first magnification for right-hand circularly polarized light. An optical magnification system comprises two lenses, each having different focal lengths for left-handed and right-handed circularly polarized light, respectively, and configured to provide a first magnification for left-handed circularly polarized light and a second magnification different from the first magnification for right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A stereoscopic display device is provided for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) image as viewed by eyes consisting of a left eye and a right eye. In the display device, a single display screen, or separate left and right display screens, present a left image to the left eye but not the right eye, and present a right image to the right eye but not the left eye. A gaze distance tracker is configured to track gaze distance of the eyes. Variable-power lenses include a left variable-power lens arranged to provide eye accommodation for the left eye, and a right variable-power lens arranged to provide eye accommodation for the right eye. An electronic eye accommodation controller is configured to control the power of the variable power lenses to allow the image from the display to be focused on the retina, while the biological eye lens is accommodated to the gaze distance.

Abstract: An optical beam deflection device includes a dual-twist Pancharatnam phase device (DTPPD) with first and second Pancharatnam layers each with an in-plane twist and a transverse twist that is at least 60° over the thickness of each Pancharatnam layer, and more preferably at least 75°, and still more preferably at least 90°, with the twist sense of the second Pancharatnam layer being opposite the twist sense of the first Pancharatnam layer. To provide switchable beam deflection, an electro-optic polarization element inputs a circularly polarized light beam to the DTPPD with left-handed circular polarization or right-handed circular polarization controlled by an electrical input.

Abstract: An optical magnification system comprises two Pancharatnam lenses, and provides a first magnification for left-hand circularly polarized light and a second magnification different from the first magnification for right-hand circularly polarized light. An optical magnification system comprises two lenses, each having different focal lengths for left-handed and right-handed circularly polarized light, respectively, and configured to provide a first magnification for left-handed circularly polarized light and a second magnification different from the first magnification for right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A stereoscopic display device is provided for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) image as viewed by eyes consisting of a left eye and a right eye. In the display device, a single display screen, or separate left and right display screens, present a left image to the left eye but not the right eye, and present a right image to the right eye but not the left eye. A gaze distance tracker is configured to track gaze distance of the eyes. Variable-power lenses include a left variable-power lens arranged to provide eye accommodation for the left eye, and a right variable-power lens arranged to provide eye accommodation for the right eye. An electronic eye accommodation controller is configured to control the power of the variable power lenses to allow the image from the display to be focused on the retina, while the biological eye lens is accommodated to the gaze distance.

Abstract: Electro-optic lenses, including liquid crystals, wherein the power of the lenses can be modified by application of an electric field. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal-based lenses include ring electrodes having a resistive bridge located between adjacent electrodes, and in a preferred embodiment, input connections for several electrode rings are spaced on the lens. In a further embodiment, liquid crystal-based lenses are provided that can increase optical power through the use of phase resets, wherein in one embodiment, a lens includes ring electrodes on surfaces of the substrates on opposite sides of the liquid crystal cell such that a fixed phase term can be added to each set of electrodes that allows for phase change across each group of electrodes to be the same and also be matched with respect to a previous group.

Abstract: Electro-optic lenses, including liquid crystals, wherein the power of the lenses can be modified by application of an electric field. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal-based lenses include ring electrodes having a resistive bridge located between adjacent electrodes, and in a preferred embodiment, input connections for several electrode rings are spaced on the lens. In a further embodiment, liquid crystal-based lenses are provided that can increase optical power through the use of phase resets, wherein in one embodiment, a lens includes ring electrodes on surfaces of the substrates on opposite sides of the liquid crystal cell such that a fixed phase term can be added to each set of electrodes that allows for phase change across each group of electrodes to be the same and also be matched with respect to a previous group.

Abstract: Electro-optic lenses, including liquid crystals, wherein the power of the lenses can be modified by application of an electric field. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal-based lenses include ring electrodes having a resistive bridge located between adjacent electrodes, and in a preferred embodiment, input connections for several electrode rings are spaced on the lens. In a further embodiment, liquid crystal-based lenses are provided that can increase optical power through the use of phase resets, wherein in one embodiment, a lens includes ring electrodes on surfaces of the substrates on opposite sides of the liquid crystal cell such that a fixed phase term can be added to each set of electrodes that allows for phase change across each group of electrodes to be the same and also be matched with respect to a previous group.

Abstract: Electro-optic lenses, including liquid crystals, wherein the power of the lenses can be modified by application of an electric field. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal-based lenses include ring electrodes having a resistive bridge located between adjacent electrodes, and in a preferred embodiment, input connections for several electrode rings are spaced on the lens. In a further embodiment, liquid crystal-based lenses are provided that can increase optical power through the use of phase resets, wherein in one embodiment, a lens includes ring electrodes on surfaces of the substrates on opposite sides of the liquid crystal cell such that a fixed phase term can be added to each set of electrodes that allows for phase change across each group of electrodes to be the same and also be matched with respect to a previous group.

Abstract: Liquid crystal cells and lenses having a variable resulting pre-tilt across two or more areas of the cell, and in particular, cells and lenses are provided wherein a resulting pre-tilt is varied across the cell according to any desired birefringence profile that can be utilized in liquid crystalline optical elements and liquid crystal displays. Methods of fabrication of the liquid crystal cells with variable resulting pre-tilt are disclosed.

Abstract: Liquid crystal cells and lenses having a variable resulting pre-tilt across two or more areas of the cell, and in particular, cells and lenses are provided wherein a resulting pre-tilt is varied across the cell according to any desired birefringence profile that can be utilized in liquid crystalline optical elements and liquid crystal displays. Methods of fabrication of the liquid crystal cells with variable resulting pre-tilt are disclosed.

Abstract: Electro-optic lenses, including liquid crystals, wherein the power of the lenses can be modified by application of an electric field. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal-based lenses include ring electrodes having a resistive bridge located between adjacent electrodes, and in a preferred embodiment, input connections for several electrode rings are spaced on the lens. In a further embodiment, liquid crystal-based lenses are provided that can increase optical power through the use of phase resets, wherein in one embodiment, a lens includes ring electrodes on surfaces of the substrates on opposite sides of the liquid crystal cell such that a fixed phase term can be added to each set of electrodes that allows for phase change across each group of electrodes to be the same and also be matched with respect to a previous group.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device by introducing a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) between two substrates, contacting the FLC to a molecularly smooth edge, and aligning the FLC by introducing a temperature gradient normal to the edge. In one embodiment, the FLC is aligned by cooling it from an isotropic phase to a smectic phase at a rate that is relatively slow. For example, the cooling rate may be less than about 3 degrees Celsius per hour. In one embodiment, smectic layers are formed that are parallel to the edge. In one embodiment, the molecularly smooth edge is an air bubble.