The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 17, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 21, 2005
Nobuyuki Hashimoto, Iruma, JP;
Nobuyuki Hashimoto, Iruma, JP;
Citizen Holdings Co., Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention is directed to the provision of a liquid crystal optical element that is inexpensive, has an ideal refractive index profile, and functions as a high-performance gradient-index lens. The liquid crystal optical element () includes a first planar substrate (), a second planar substrate (), a liquid crystal () provided between the first and second planar substrates, an electrode pattern () formed on one of the first and second planar substrates and having a plurality of regions (to) each for varying an effective refractive index for a light beam by a respectively different degree, and a counter electrode (), formed on the other one of the first and second planar substrates, for applying voltage with respect to the electrode pattern, wherein the refractive index for a light beam varies with the square of the distance from the center of the liquid crystal optical element along a radial direction across the liquid crystal optical element when the voltage is applied between the electrode pattern and the counter electrode.