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In this study, we investigated the electrically controlled tunable-focus characteristics of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) lens doped with Ag nanoparticles (NPs). The design and simulation of a circular lens and cylindrical lens show that a good lens effect closely depends on the size of etched circular and rectangular holes. Our results show a good focusing effect for 0.5 and 1 mm diameter circular lenses and 1 × 5 mm and 0.5 × 2.5 mm cylindrical lenses. In addition, the measured focal length of the PDLC lens is consistent with the simulation results. The circular lens and cylindrical lens have good electrically controlled tunable-focus properties when the applied voltage is 100 V rms and 80 V rms , respectively. Moreover, incorporated Ag nanoparticles function to improve transmittance of the PDLC lens. The advantages of controlled flexibility, easy fabrication, and small size of such a PDLC lens have wide applications within imaging and three-dimensional displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the urgent needs of current optical system for tunable focus and achromatism, this paper presents a one-dimensional tunable cylindrical liquid crystal lens based on FPGA controlled liquid crystal cell, which can realize tunable focus and achromatic function in time domain. Based on the indium tin oxide (ITO) one-dimensional stripe electrode structure, the lens can realize the self-focusing function through controlling the order and amplitude of external voltage applying on each unit electrode stripe. Experimentally, we designed 128 stripes electrode on the liquid crystal lens within 10 mm × 10 mm. The experimental result shows that the focal length varying range is from 300 mm to infinite in 633 nm. What's more, this liquid crystal lens has the ability to realize the transverse achromatic function to obtain the almost same focal point for both 405 nm and 633 nm incident beam by computer- electrically- controlled method within the time domain. The new type of electrically controlled element has the characteristics of high efficiency and small volume, which will hopefully play an important role in microscopic imaging and color display system in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]