Electrically-tunable lenses and lens systems

Abstract

An optical device includes an electro-optical layer, having an effective local index of refraction at any given location within an active area of the electro-optical layer that is determined by a voltage waveform applied across the electro-optical layer at the location. Conductive electrodes extend over the first and second sides of the electro-optical layer. The conductive electrodes include an array of excitation electrodes including parallel stripes of a transparent conductive material having gaps between the stripes of a gap width that is less than the layer thickness of the electro-optical layer. Control circuitry is coupled to apply respective control voltage waveforms to the excitation electrodes and to modify the control voltage waveforms applied to each of the excitation electrodes concurrently and independently so as to generate a phase modulation profile in the electro-optical layer.