High-power dynamic lens
US11106089B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2017 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/133769
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A dynamic lens for projecting different output beam shapes includes a first light source of laser diodes generating a first light beam toward a target. A projector generates a second light beam with a different wavelength than the first light beam. A beam combiner combines the first light beam together with the second light beam and directs the combined beams to a focusing plane that includes a lensing array to focus the first light beam into the output beam shape on the target. The lensing array includes a plurality of photoactive cells including at least one photoreactive group which changes molecular shape in response to light energy from the second light beam, thereby changing the orientation of adjacent liquid crystal molecules, which in turn alters the index of refraction of the photoactive cell. A method of operating the dynamic lens to generate the output beam shape is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.