U.S. patent application number 14/689919 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-06 for optical system and its display system.
The applicant listed for this patent is LIQXTAL TECHNOLOGY INC., National Chiao Tung University. Invention is credited to Hung-Shan CHEN, Yi-Hsin LIN.
Application Number | 20150219893 14/689919 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53754708 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150219893 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; Hung-Shan ; et
al. |
August 6, 2015 |
OPTICAL SYSTEM AND ITS DISPLAY SYSTEM
Abstract
An optical system for aberration compensation comprising an
optical module and an asymmetric refractive index distribution film
is disclosed. The asymmetric refractive index distribution film
comprises a liquid crystal and a liquid crystalline polymer,
wherein the asymmetric refractive index distribution film set on an
out-light surface or an in-light surface of the optical module. A
display system comprising the above-mentioned optical system and an
image panel are also disclosed herein. The asymmetric refractive
index distribution film of the present invention has non-uniform
refractive index distribution so as to effectively compensate the
aberration formed by the optical module.
Inventors: |
CHEN; Hung-Shan; (Taichung
City, TW) ; LIN; Yi-Hsin; (Zhubei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LIQXTAL TECHNOLOGY INC.
National Chiao Tung University |
Tainan City
Hsinchu City |
|
TW
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
53754708 |
Appl. No.: |
14/689919 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13828723 |
Mar 14, 2013 |
|
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14689919 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
349/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 2001/294 20130101;
G02B 27/0172 20130101; G02B 17/0856 20130101; G02B 3/0087 20130101;
G02B 27/0025 20130101; G02F 1/29 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 27/00 20060101
G02B027/00; G02B 5/30 20060101 G02B005/30; G02B 5/09 20060101
G02B005/09; G02B 3/00 20060101 G02B003/00; G02B 3/02 20060101
G02B003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 7, 2013 |
TW |
102104728 |
Claims
1. An optical system with an aberration compensation function,
comprising: an optical module, comprising a curved surface; and a
refractive index distribution film comprising a liquid crystal and
a liquid crystalline polymer, wherein a refractive index
distribution of the refractive index distribution film is
asymmetric and the tilt angle of the liquid crystal of the
refractive index distribution film is fixed; the refractive index
distribution film is arranged on a first side or a second side of
the optical module; and the refractive index distribution film is
utilized to compensate the aberration generated by the optical
module.
2. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical
module comprises a lens or a curved reflector.
3. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical
module comprises a free form lens.
4. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical
module comprises a free form lens and a see-through corrector; the
first side is a light entrance surface of the free form lens; the
second side is a light exit surface of the free form lens; the
see-through corrector is attached on a third side of the free form
lens; and an incident light passes through the free form lens from
the first side, and the incident light is reflected by the second
side and the third side to pass through the second side of the free
form lens.
5. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical
module comprises a lens and a beam splitter; the lens is set on a
light entrance side of the beam splitter; and the first side is a
light entrance surface or a light exit surface of the lens; and the
second side is a light entrance surface or a light exit surface of
the beam splitter.
6. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical
module comprises a lens and a reflector; the lens is set on a light
entrance side of the reflector; the first side is a light entrance
surface or a light exit surface of the lens; the second side is a
light entrance surface or a light exit surface of the
reflector.
7. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical
module comprises a curved reflector array; and the refractive index
distribution film is set on a light entrance side or a light exit
side of the curved reflector array.
8. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the refractive
index distribution film is flexible.
9. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the refractive
index distribution film is directly adhered on the first side or
the second side of the optical module.
10. A display system with an aberration compensation function,
comprising: an optical system, comprising: an optical module,
comprising a curved surface; and a refractive index distribution
film comprising a liquid crystal and a liquid crystalline polymer,
wherein a refractive index distribution of the refractive index
distribution film is asymmetric and the tilt angle of the liquid
crystal of the refractive index distribution film is fixed; the
refractive index distribution film is arranged on a first side or a
second side of the optical module; and the refractive index
distribution film is utilized to compensate the aberration
generated by the optical module; an image panel for displaying an
image, wherein the image panel set on a light entrance side of the
optical system, and the image light projected from the image panel
passes through the optical system to a viewer's eyes.
11. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the optical
module comprises a lens or a curved reflector.
12. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the optical
module comprises a free form lens.
13. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the optical
module comprises a free form lens and a see-through corrector; the
first side is a light entrance surface of the free form lens; the
second side is a light exit surface of the free form lens; the
see-through corrector is attached on a third side of the free form
lens; and the image light projected from the image panel passes
through the free form lens from the first side, and the image light
is reflected by the second side and the third side to pass through
the second side of the free form lens into the viewer's eyes.
14. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the optical
module comprises a lens and a beam splitter; the lens is set on a
light entrance side of the beam splitter; the first side is a light
entrance surface or a light exit surface of the lens; and the
second side is a light entrance surface or a light exit surface of
the beam splitter; and the image light projected from the image
panel passes through the refractive index distribution film, the
lens, and the beam splitter to reflect into the viewer's eyes.
15. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the optical
module comprises a lens and a reflector; the lens is set on a light
entrance side of the reflector; and the first side is a light
entrance surface or a light exit surface of the lens; the second
side is a light entrance surface or a light exit surface of the
reflector; and the image light projected from the image panel
passes through the refractive index distribution film, the lens,
and the reflector to reflect into the viewer's eyes.
16. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the optical
module comprises a curved reflector array; and the refractive index
distribution film is attached on the first side or the second side
of the lens; and the image light projected from the image panel
passes through the refractive index distribution film, the curved
reflector array to reflect into the viewer's eyes.
17. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the
refractive index distribution film is flexible.
18. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the
refractive index distribution film is directly adhered on the first
side or the second side of the optical module.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
13/828,723, filed in Mar. 14, 2013.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an optical system, and more
particularly to an optical system and a display system having a
refractive index distribution film with non-uniform refractive
index distribution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In general, the principle of designing a lens is to let a
traveling light produce an optical path difference
(thickness*refractive-index). Since the conventional spherical lens
has a thickness increases with the optical power, therefore an
improved method uses a Fresnel lens to divide the thickness into a
smaller periodical structure was proposed. But the manufacture of
the mold for the Fresnel lens is very complicated and relatively
difficult, and the optical performance has the issues of a high
chromatic dispersion and low diffraction efficiency. Therefore,
conventional flat lenses such as glasses lenses achieve a change of
the optical path difference by changing the refractive index
distribution.
[0004] Wherein, the liquid crystalline polymer has the unique
birefringence feature, and thus it can be used for the design of a
flat lens. Since the liquid crystalline polymer also has the
properties of dielectric anisotropy, therefore the electric field
distribution can be applied to manufacture an electrically tunable
liquid crystal lens. However, the present liquid crystalline
polymer film only has the same refractive index distribution. In
other words, each position of the liquid crystalline polymer film
has the same focal length. Therefore, the present liquid
crystalline polymer film with the design of a single focal length
cannot be used freely with other lens. Due to the liquid
crystalline polymer film having the design of a single focal
length, additional components are required to change the refractive
index distribution of the liquid crystal lens for manufacturing the
electrically controlled liquid crystal lens.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to an optical system and
its display system, the asymmetric refractive index distribution
film having multi-segment or gradual variation of optical power is
utilized to effectively compensate the aberration formed by the
optical module.
[0006] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present
invention provides an optical system with an aberration
compensation function comprises an optical module and a refractive
index distribution film. The optical module has a curved surface.
The refractive index distribution film comprises a liquid crystal
and a liquid crystalline polymer, wherein a refractive index
distribution of the refractive index distribution film is
asymmetric and the tilt angle of the liquid crystal of the
refractive index distribution film is fixed; the refractive index
distribution film is arranged on a first side or a second side of
the optical module; and the refractive index distribution film is
utilized to compensate the aberration generated by the optical
module.
[0007] To achieve another objective, the present invention further
provides a display system with an aberration compensation function
comprises an optical system and an image panel. The optical system
comprises a refractive index distribution film and an optical
module. The refractive index distribution film comprises a liquid
crystal and a liquid crystalline polymer, wherein a refractive
index distribution of the refractive index distribution film is
asymmetric and the tilt angle of the liquid crystal of the
refractive index distribution film is fixed; the refractive index
distribution film is arranged on a first side or a second side of
the optical module; and the refractive index distribution film is
utilized to compensate the aberration generated by the optical
module. The image panel is utilized for displaying an image,
wherein the image panel set on a light entrance side of the optical
system, and the image light projected from the image panel passes
through the optical system to a viewer's eyes.
[0008] In summation, the liquid crystalline polymer lens structure
of the present invention has one or more of the following
advantages:
[0009] (1) The liquid crystalline polymer film of the present
invention is flexible, so that it can be used together with the
lens as a simple lens sticker.
[0010] (2) The liquid crystalline polymer film of the present
invention with a non-uniform refractive index distribution has the
effect of correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia,
parallax and compensating the aberration.
[0011] (3) The liquid crystalline polymer film of the present
invention has a non-uniform refractive index distribution and after
finishing the production, the tilt angle of the liquid crystal of
the refractive index distribution film is fixed. Due to no
additional electrically-controlled component is needed, the cost
can be reduced substantially.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a refractive index
distribution film of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a first schematic view of a method of
manufacturing a refractive index distribution film in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a second schematic view of a method of
manufacturing a refractive index distribution film in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a first schematic view of a method of
manufacturing a refractive index distribution film in accordance
with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a second schematic view of a method of
manufacturing a refractive index distribution film in accordance
with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a liquid crystalline polymer
lens structure in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a liquid crystalline polymer
lens structure in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a first schematic view showing the lens effect of
a liquid crystalline polymer lens structure in accordance with the
third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a second schematic view showing the lens effect of
a liquid crystalline polymer lens structure in accordance with the
third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a liquid crystalline polymer
lens structure in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a liquid crystalline polymer
lens structure in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a liquid crystalline polymer
lens structure in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are schematic diagrams illustrating an
optical system with an aberration compensation function in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are schematic diagrams illustrating an
optical system with an aberration compensation function in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are schematic diagrams illustrating an
optical system with an aberration compensation function in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are schematic diagrams illustrating an
optical system with an aberration compensation function in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B are schematic diagrams illustrating an
optical system with an aberration compensation function in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B are schematic diagrams illustrating an
optical system with an aberration compensation function in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B are schematic diagrams illustrating a
display system with an aberration compensation function in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B are schematic diagrams illustrating a
display system with an aberration compensation function in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 21A, FIG. 21B, FIG. 21C and FIG. 21D are schematic
diagrams illustrating a display system with an aberration
compensation function in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0033] FIG. 22A, FIG. 22B, FIG. 22C and FIG. 22D are schematic
diagrams illustrating a display system with an aberration
compensation function in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0034] FIGS. 23A and 23B are schematic diagrams illustrating a
display system with an aberration compensation function in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] The technical characteristics, contents, advantages and
effects of the present invention will be apparent with the detailed
description of a preferred embodiment accompanied with related
drawings as follows. The drawings are provided for the
illustration, and same numerals are used to represent respective
elements in the preferred embodiments. It is intended that the
embodiments and drawings disclosed herein are to be considered
illustrative rather than restrictive. Same numerals are used for
representing same respective elements in the drawings.
[0036] With reference to FIG. 1 for a schematic view of a
refractive index distribution film of the present invention, the
refractive index distribution film 1 comprises a liquid crystalline
molecule and a liquid crystalline polymer, and the refractive index
distribution film 1 is flexible. In present embodiment, the
refractive index distribution film 1 has an optical axis in a
direction of the X-direction. In other embodiments of the present
invention, the optical axis of the refractive index distribution
film 1 can be in a direction of the Y-direction. The refractive
index distribution film 1 of the present invention is made of a
liquid crystalline polymer, so that it has the property of
birefringence. In other words, the refractive index of incident
lights having different polarizations and passing through the
refractive index distribution film 1 varies. For example, when a
light passes through the refractive index distribution film 1, the
polarized light with a polarization direction in X-direction and
the polarized light with a polarization direction in Y-direction
have different focuses.
[0037] It is noteworthy that the refractive index distribution film
1 of present embodiment has a symmetric refractive index
distribution in the XY-direction, and the refractive index
distribution film 1 in other embodiments of the present embodiment
may have an asymmetric refractive index distribution. For better
understanding, the manufacturing method of a refractive index
distribution film in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention is described below.
[0038] With reference to FIG. 2 for a first schematic view of a
method of manufacturing a refractive index distribution film in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
two-voltage structure providing a non-uniform voltage distribution
is adopted in this preferred embodiment to manufacture a refractive
index distribution film 1 with a refractive index distribution
having a circular symmetry.
[0039] More specifically, components used for manufacturing a
refractive index distribution film include a glass substrate 12,
20, a transparent electrode 14, 18, 26, alignment layer 22, 24 and
an insulating layer 16. Wherein, the components used for
manufacturing the refractive index distribution film are disposed
on the glass substrate 12, the transparent electrode 14, the
insulating layer 16, the transparent electrode 18, the glass
substrate 20, the alignment layer 22, the alignment layer 24, the
transparent electrode 26 and the glass substrate 28 along the
Z-direction. The mixture of a liquid crystal and a liquid
crystalline polymer used for forming the refractive index
distribution film 1 is disposed between the alignment layer 22 and
the alignment layer 24. Wherein, the transparent electrode 18 is
designed as a circular electrode layer; the transparent electrode
14, 20 is designed as a planar electrode structure; a first voltage
V.sub.1 is applied between the transparent electrodes 18 and 26,
and a second voltage V.sub.2 is applied between the transparent
electrodes 14 and 26 to form a circular symmetric voltage
distribution.
[0040] By controlling the magnitude of the first voltage V.sub.1
and the second voltage V.sub.2, the mixture of the liquid crystal
and the liquid crystalline polymer in the refractive index
distribution film 1 can be adjusted to form a circular symmetric
refractive index distribution. Wherein, the glass substrate 12, 20,
28 of this preferred embodiment can be substituted by a material
with high dielectric constant or high impedance.
[0041] With reference to FIG. 3 for a second schematic view of a
method of manufacturing a refractive index distribution film in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an
ultraviolet (UV) light exposure can cure the mixture of the liquid
crystal and liquid crystalline polymer, and the refractive index
distribution film 1 undergoes a phase separation. In other words,
the liquid crystal and polymer in the refractive index distribution
film 1 are cured and peeled off the refractive index distribution
film 1 from the components used for manufacturing the refractive
index distribution film 1.
[0042] With reference to FIG. 4 for a first schematic view of a
method of manufacturing a refractive index distribution film in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the
difference between the manufacturing method of this embodiment and
the manufacturing method as shown in FIG. 2 resides on this
embodiment adopts a circular asymmetric glass substrate to achieve
the non-uniform electric field for manufacturing the refractive
index distribution film 1 with a non-uniform refractive index
distribution.
[0043] More specifically, components used for manufacturing a
refractive index distribution film include a glass substrate 30,
32, a transparent electrode 34, 36, and an alignment layer 38, 40.
Wherein, the components used for manufacturing the refractive index
distribution film are disposed along the Z-direction include a
transparent electrode 34, a glass substrate 30, an alignment layer
38, an alignment layer 40, a transparent electrode 36 and a glass
substrate 32, and a mixture of a liquid crystal and a liquid
crystalline polymer used for forming the refractive index
distribution film 1 is disposed between the alignment layer 38 and
the alignment layer 40. In the present embodiment, a voltage
V.sub.3 is applied between the transparent electrode 34 and the
transparent electrode 36, and the glass substrate 30 is designed
thicker on a side and thinner on the other opposite side to achieve
a non-uniform electric field distribution. In other words, the
electric field at a position on the thicker side is smaller, and
the electric field at a position on the thinner side is greater, so
that a refractive index distribution film with a gradual refractive
index distribution can be manufactured.
[0044] In addition to the aforementioned manufacturing method,
another method of using a pixel electrode to drive a liquid crystal
and a liquid crystalline polymer mixture at different positions in
the refractive index distribution film 1 to manufacture a
refractive index distribution film with a non-uniform refractive
index distribution, such as the aforementioned refractive index
distribution film with a gradual and symmetric refractive index
distribution or the refractive index distribution film with any
refractive index distribution.
[0045] With reference to FIG. 5 for a second schematic view of a
method of manufacturing a refractive index distribution film in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the
liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 2 comprises a flexible
substrate 100, a first lens 110 and a first refractive index
distribution film 120.
[0046] The first refractive index distribution film 120 composed of
a liquid crystal and a liquid crystalline polymer having the
feature of birefringence is manufactured by the aforementioned
method and encapsulated inside a flexible substrate 100. The first
refractive index distribution film 120 has a first refractive index
in the X-direction and a second refractive index in the
Y-direction.
[0047] The flexible substrate 100 is a laminating film or a
flexible plastic substrate used for packaging the first refractive
index distribution film 120. In the present embodiment, after the
first refractive index distribution film is packaged inside the
flexible substrate 100, and an adhesive 121 can be coated onto a
side of the flexible substrate 100 and adhered with a first side
111 of the first lens 110, so that the focal length of the first
lens 110 can be adjusted. In industrial applications, the flexible
substrate 100 encapsulated with the first refractive index
distribution film 120 can be laminated onto a glasses lens for
adjusting the power of the glasses.
[0048] With reference to FIG. 6 for a schematic view of a liquid
crystalline polymer lens structure in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention, the difference between the
liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 2 of the first embodiment
and the liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 3 of the present
embodiment resides on that the liquid crystalline polymer lens
structure 3 further comprises a second refractive index
distribution film 130 which is a mixture of a liquid crystal and a
liquid crystalline polymer and encapsulated inside flexible
substrate 100 according to the aforementioned method, so that the
liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 3 has the feature of
birefringence. The second refractive index distribution film 130
has a third refractive index in the X-direction and the fourth
refractive index in the Y-direction.
[0049] In the present embodiment, the second refractive index
distribution film 130 is encapsulated inside the flexible substrate
100, and the first refractive index distribution film 120 has an
optical axis in the X-direction, and the second refractive index
distribution film 130 has an optical axis in the Y-direction.
Wherein, the flexible substrate 100 can be a laminating film or a
flexible plastic film for encapsulating the first refractive index
distribution film 120 and the second refractive index distribution
film 130. With the two refractive index distribution films 120, 130
with their optical axes perpendicular to each other, the liquid
crystalline polymer lens structure 3 of the present embodiment can
achieve the expected effect without requiring the polarizer.
[0050] With reference to FIG. 7 for a schematic view of a liquid
crystalline polymer lens structure in accordance with a third
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the major difference
between the liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 4 of this
preferred embodiment and the liquid crystalline polymer lens
structure 3 of the second preferred embodiment resides on that the
liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 4 of this preferred
embodiment further comprises a second lens 140, and the second lens
140 has a second side 141 opposite to the first side 111 of the
first lens 110, and the flexible substrate 100 laminated between
the first side 111 and the second side 141 by the adhesive 121.
[0051] It is noteworthy that each liquid crystalline polymer lens
structure 2, 3, 4 of the first embodiment, the second embodiment
and the third embodiment has the first refractive index and the
second refractive index of the first refractive index distribution
film 120 and the third refractive index and the fourth refractive
index of the second refractive index distribution film 130 in the
X- and Y-directions, and also has a circular symmetric optical
power, a gradual optical power or any refractive index
distribution. By adjusting the refractive index distribution of the
refractive index distribution film in the X- and Y-directions, the
focal length of the lens or the power of glasses can be
adjusted.
[0052] With reference to FIG. 8 for a first schematic view showing
the lens effect of a liquid crystalline polymer lens structure in
accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, the
refractive index distribution film manufactured according to the
method as shown in FIG. 2 is used as an example. Since the liquid
crystalline polymer molecules at the ends of the first refractive
index distribution film 120 and the second refractive index
distribution film 130 are erected, therefore the refractive index
remains unchanged and there is no lens effect. Other parts of the
first refractive index distribution film 120 and the second
refractive index distribution film 130 have a single lens effect
due to the distribution of the liquid crystal molecules.
[0053] With reference to FIG. 9 for a second schematic view showing
the lens effect of a liquid crystalline polymer lens structure in
accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, the
refractive index distribution film manufactured according to the
method as shown in FIG. 4 is used as an example. Since the liquid
crystalline polymer molecules at the ends of the first refractive
index distribution film 120 and the second refractive index
distribution film 130 are erected, therefore the refractive index
remains unchanged and there is no lens effect. The optical power is
increasing gradually along the X-direction for providing additional
optical power to improve the presbyopia's reading ability.
[0054] With reference to FIG. 10 for a schematic view of a liquid
crystalline polymer lens structure in accordance with a fourth
embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystalline polymer
lens structure 5 comprises a first lens 200, a second lens 240, a
first electrode layer 250, a second electrode layer 260 and a
composite layer 270. Wherein, the first lens 200 has a first side
211, and the second lens 240 has a second side 241 facing the first
side 211. The first electrode layer 250 is disposed on the first
side 211 of the first lens 200, and the second electrode layer 260
is disposed on the second side 241 of the second lens 240. The
composite layer 270 is disposed between the first electrode layer
250 and the second electrode layer 260, and the composite layer
270, arranged along the direction from the first electrode layer
250 to the second electrode layer 260 (which is the Z-direction),
sequentially comprises a first alignment layer 280, a first liquid
crystal layer 290 and a first refractive index distribution film
120.
[0055] Wherein, the first alignment layer 280 is disposed on the
first electrode layer 250, and the first liquid crystal layer 290
is disposed on the first alignment layer 280, and the first
refractive index distribution film 120 is disposed on the first
liquid crystal layer 290. Wherein, the first refractive index
distribution film is the refractive index distribution film 120
manufactured by the aforementioned method and composed of a liquid
crystal and a macromolecular polymer, and the first refractive
index distribution film has the feature of birefringence.
[0056] With the first liquid crystal layer 290 in the composite
layer 270 as shown in the figure, if a voltage V is applied between
the first electrode layer 250 and the second electrode layer 260,
the arrangement of the liquid crystals in the first liquid crystal
layer will be affected and rotated, so that the polarization
direction of the incident light can be changed, and the focal
length of the liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 5 can be
changed. If an additional polarizer 300 is added at a position
opposite to the first side 211 of the first lens 200, the liquid
crystalline polymer lens structure 5 can be used as a signal switch
of the optical signal or applied in 3D display technologies.
[0057] With reference to FIG. 11 for a schematic view of a liquid
crystalline polymer lens structure in accordance with a fifth
embodiment of the present invention, the composite layer 270 of the
liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 6 along the Z-direction
further comprises a second refractive index distribution film 130,
a second liquid crystal layer 310 and a second alignment layer 320.
Wherein, the second refractive index distribution film 130 is the
refractive index distribution film 130 manufactured by the
aforementioned method and composed of a liquid crystal and a
macromolecular polymer, and the second refractive index
distribution film 130 has the feature of birefringence.
[0058] The second liquid crystal layer 310 is disposed on the
second refractive index distribution film 130, and the second
alignment layer 320 is disposed on the second liquid crystal layer
310. Wherein, the alignment direction of the first liquid crystal
layer 290 is different from the alignment direction of the second
liquid crystal layer 310, and the alignment direction of the first
refractive index distribution film 120 is different from the
alignment direction of the second refractive index distribution
film 130. Since the liquid crystalline polymer distribution film
has a dielectric constant distribution and an ability of aligning
liquid crystals, therefore this present embodiment with the design
of the liquid crystal and the electrode layer can achieve the
effect of a dynamic lens. For example, if no voltage is applied
between the electrode layers in the present embodiment, the liquid
crystalline polymer lens structure 6 will have a constant optical
power. On the other hand, if a voltage is applied between the
electrode layers, the liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 6
will have a continuous optical power distribution.
[0059] It is noteworthy that by adjusting the alignment directions
of the first alignment layer 280 and the second alignment layer
320, the first liquid crystal layer 290 or the second liquid
crystal layer 310 of the present embodiment can be aligned as an
anti-parallel alignment, a vertical alignment, a hybrid alignment
or a twisted nematic alignment.
[0060] With reference to FIG. 12 for a schematic view of a liquid
crystalline polymer lens structure in accordance with a sixth
embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystalline polymer
lens structure 7 comprises a refractive index distribution film 10,
a polarizer 400 and a polarization controller 410. The refractive
index distribution film 10 is the refractive index distribution
film 130 manufactured by the aforementioned method and composed of
a liquid crystal and a liquid crystalline polymer, and the
refractive index distribution film 10 has the feature of
birefringence.
[0061] The polarizer 400 is installed on a side of the refractive
index distribution film 10, and the polarization controller 410 is
installed between the polarizer 400 and the refractive index
distribution film 10. Wherein, the polarization controller 410 is
used for changing the polarization direction of a polarized light
passing through the polarizer 400 in order to change the focal
length of the liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 7. For
example, if the polarization controller 410 changes the
polarization direction of the polarized light passing through the
polarizer 400 from the X-direction to the Y-direction or vice
versa, the liquid crystalline polymer lens structure 7 will have
two different optical power distributions.
[0062] In one embodiment, the refractive index distribution film
may be utilized to compensate the aberration generated by an
optical module. Referring to FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, FIG. 13A and
FIG. 13B are schematic diagrams illustrating an optical system with
an aberration compensation function of the present invention. As
shown in the figures, the optical system 8 comprises an optical
module 80 and a refractive index distribution film 10. The optical
module 80 has a curved surface, such as numeral 81 and 82, and the
optical module can be a single element or an element comprising at
least two components, wherein the optical module comprises a lens
or a curved reflector. The refractive index distribution film 10
comprises a liquid crystal and a liquid crystalline polymer,
wherein a refractive index distribution of the refractive index
distribution film 10 is asymmetric and the tilt angle of the liquid
crystal of the refractive index distribution film is fixed and
cannot be changed by an external electronic device. The refractive
index distribution film 10 is arranged on a first side 81 or a
second side 82 of the optical module 80. In one embodiment, the
refractive index distribution film 10 is directly adhered on the
first side 81 or a second side 82 of the optical module 80; and the
first side 81 is a light entrance surface of the optical module 80
and the second side 82 is a light exit surface of the optical
module 80. In another embodiment, the refractive index distribution
film 10 can be modularly attached on the first side 81 or a second
side 82 of the optical module 80 (as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B,
position P.sub.1) An incident light L.sub.in can pass through the
refractive index distribution film 10 and the optical module 80 to
compensate the aberration generated by the optical module 80.
Besides, due to the refractive index distribution film 10 is
flexible, the refractive index distribution film 10 can be easily
and smoothly attached on the curved surface of the optical
module.
[0063] Continuing the above description, in one embodiment, the
optical module comprises a free form lens. As shown in FIGS. 14A
and 14B, the optical module 80 comprises the free form lens 800 and
a see-through corrector 810. The see-through corrector 810 is
attached on a third side 803 of the free form lens 800. As shown in
FIG. 14A, the refractive index distribution film 10 is arranged on
the first side (light entrance surface) 801 (position P.sub.2) of
the free form lens 800. It can be understood that the refractive
index distribution film 10 also can be attached on the second side
(light exit surface) 803 of the free form lens (such as shown in
FIG. 14B, position P.sub.2). As abovementioned description, the
refractive index distribution film 10 can be directly adhered on
the light entrance surface or the light exit surface (as shown in
FIGS. 14A and 14B, position P.sub.2), or modularly attached on the
first side 801 or the second side 802 (shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B,
position P.sub.1). An incident light L.sub.in passes through the
free form lens 800 from the first side 801, and the incident light
L.sub.in is reflected by the second side 802 and the third side 803
to pass through the second side 802 of the free form lens 800. The
refractive index distribution film 10 is utilized to set on the
light entrance surface 801 or the light exit surface 802 to
compensate the aberration generated from the incident light, which
is an off-axis light or has a large incident angle, passing through
the optical module.
[0064] In another embodiment, the optical module of the optical
system comprises a curved reflector. Referring to FIGS. 15A and
15B, take a curved reflector array 820 for example, the refractive
index distribution film 10 is arranged on the first side (light
entrance surface) 821 or the second side (light exit surface) 822
of the curved reflector array 820.
[0065] In yet another embodiment, the optical module of the optical
system comprises a lens and a beam splitter. Referring to FIGS. 16A
and 16B, the lens 830 is set on a light entrance side of the beam
splitter 840; and the refractive index distribution film 10 is
arranged on the first side (light entrance surface) 831 or the
second side (light exit surface) 832 of the lens 830. As shown in
FIG. 16B, the refractive index distribution film 10 also can be
arranged on the first side (light entrance surface) 841 or the
second side (light exit surface) 842 of the beam splitter 840.
[0066] In yet another embodiment, the optical module of the optical
system comprises a lens and a reflector. Referring to FIGS. 17A and
17B, the lens 830 is set on a light entrance side of the reflector
850; and the refractive index distribution film 10 is arranged on
the first side (light entrance surface) 831 (position P.sub.1 and
P.sub.2) or the second side (light exit surface) 832 (position
P.sub.3, P.sub.4) of the lens 830. As shown in FIG. 17B, the
refractive index distribution film 10 also can be set on a first
side (light entrance side) 851 or a second side (light exit side)
852 of the reflector 850.
[0067] In yet another embodiment, the optical module of the optical
system comprises a curved mirror. As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B,
the refractive index distribution film 10 is arranged on the first
side (light entrance surface) 861 or the second side (light exit
surface) 862 of the curved mirror 860.
[0068] In one embodiment, the display system comprises an optical
system and an image panel, in one embodiment, the display system
comprises but not limited to a head-mount display. The optical
system comprises an optical module and a refractive index
distribution film, wherein the optical module comprises a curved
surface, such as a lens or a curved reflector. The refractive index
distribution film comprises a liquid crystal and a liquid
crystalline polymer, wherein a refractive index distribution of the
refractive index distribution film is asymmetric; the refractive
index distribution film is arranged on a first side or a second
side of the optical module; and the refractive index distribution
film is utilized to compensate the aberration generated by the
optical module. The image panel for displaying an image, wherein
the image panel set on a light entrance side of the optical system,
and the image light projected from the image panel passes through
the optical system to a viewer's eyes. In one embodiment, the
refractive index distribution film is attached on a first side
(light entrance surface) or a second side (light exit surface) of
the optical module.
[0069] Continuing the above description, in one embodiment, the
lens comprises a free form lens. As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B,
FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B are schematic diagrams illustrating a display
system 9 with an aberration compensation function of the present
invention. In the embodiment, the display system comprises an image
panel 90 and an optical system 91, and the optical module 91
comprises the free form lens 910 and a see-through corrector 920.
The see-through corrector 920 is attached on a third side 913 of
the free form lens 910. As shown in FIG. 19A, the refractive index
distribution film 10 is arranged on the first side (light entrance
surface) 911 (may be set on position P.sub.1 or position P.sub.2)
of the free form lens 910. It can be understood that the refractive
index distribution film 10 also can be attached on the second side
(light exit surface) 912 of the free form lens 910 (such as shown
in FIG. 19B, may be set on position P.sub.1 or position P.sub.2).
An image light L.sub.i passes through the free form lens 910 from
the first side 911, and the image light L.sub.i is reflected by the
second side 912 and the third side 913 to pass through the second
side 912 of the free form lens 910. Due to the margin of the panel
is the incident light having a large incident angle for the optical
element, the aberration is generated by the optical module. The
refractive index distribution film 10 is utilized to set on the
light entrance surface 911 or the light exit surface 912 to
compensate the aberration generated from the incident light, which
is an off-axis light or has a large incident angle, passing through
the optical module. Besides, the see-through corrector 920 set on
the third side 913 is utilized to compensate the image distortion
generated by an ambient light L.sub.a.
[0070] In another embodiment, the optical module of the display
system comprises a curved reflector. Referring to FIGS. 20A and
20B, take a curved reflector array 930 for example, the refractive
index distribution film 10 is attached on the first side (light
entrance side) 931 or the second side (light exit side) 932 of the
curved reflector array 930. The image light L.sub.i projected from
the image panel 90 passes through the optical module 91 and the
refractive index distribution film 10 to reflect into a viewer's
eyes 500; and the refractive index distribution film 10 is utilized
to compensate the aberration generated by the optical system
91.
[0071] In yet another embodiment, the optical module of the display
system comprises a lens and a beam splitter. Referring to FIGS. 21A
and 21B, the lens 940 is set on a light entrance side of the beam
splitter 950; and the refractive index distribution film 10 is
arranged on the first side (light entrance surface) 941 or the
second side (light exit surface) 942 (may be adhered on position
P.sub.1 or attached on position P.sub.2) of the lens 940. As shown
in FIG. 21C and FIG. 21D, the refractive index distribution film 10
also can be attached on the first side (light entrance surface) 951
or the second side (light exit surface) 952 of the beam splitter
950.
[0072] In yet another embodiment, the optical module of the display
system comprises a lens and a reflector. Referring to FIGS. 22A and
22B, the lens 940 is set on a light entrance side of the reflector
960; and the refractive index distribution film 10 is arranged on
the first side (light entrance surface) 941 or the second side
(light exit surface) 942 (may be adhered on position P.sub.1 or
attached on position P.sub.2) of the lens 940. As shown in FIG. 22C
and FIG. 22D, the refractive index distribution film 10 also can be
set on a first side (light entrance side) 961 or a second side
(light exit side) 962 of the reflector 960.
[0073] In yet another embodiment, the optical module of the display
system comprises a curved mirror. As shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B,
the refractive index distribution film 10 is arranged on the first
side (light entrance surface) 971 or the second side (light exit
surface) 972 of the curved mirror 970.
[0074] In summation of the description above, the refractive index
distribution film has a plurality of the refractive index
distribution and the tilt angle of the liquid crystal of the
refractive index distribution film is fixed and cannot be changed
by an external electronic device. Due to no additional
electrically-controlled component is needed to change the
refractive index distribution, the production cost can be reduced
substantially. Besides, the refractive index distribution film can
be encapsulated by a flexible substrate and laminated onto a
glasses lens for changing the power of glasses, providing
additional optical power for a presbyopia's reading ability.
Moreover, the refractive index distribution film can be adhered
onto or attached on an optical module to compensate the aberration
generated by the optical module which has an off-axis incident
light or has a large incident angle. Therefore, the refractive
index distribution film of the present invention can be applied
onto various kinds of lenses or curved reflector easily or
laminated onto an optical module to act as a simple and convenient
lens sticker.
[0075] While the means of specific embodiments in present invention
has been described by reference drawings, numerous modifications
and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set
forth in the claims.
* * * * *