Realization of liquid crystal lens of large aperture and low driving voltages using thin layer of weakly conductive material

We report a liquid crystal ( LC) lens with a large aperture but low driving voltages with a thin layer of weakly conductive material. The effect of the conductive layer is demonstrated. A LC lens is realized with a diameter as large as 15 mm and with driving voltages as low as 11 V-rms. The properties of the LC lens are electrically tunable, and high optical quality is observed over the entire voltage range. The lens power decreases monotonically with the controlling voltage. (c) 2008 Optical Society of America.