CN116381999A

CN116381999A - Liquid crystal lens device, liquid crystal lens display system and driving method

Info

Publication number: CN116381999A
Application number: CN202211707067.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 庄林凡; 刘国栋; 曾吉勇
Original assignee: Lianchuang Electronic Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Lianchuang Electronic Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2022-12-29
Filing date: 2022-12-29
Publication date: 2023-07-04

Abstract

The invention provides a liquid crystal lens device, a liquid crystal lens display system and a driving method. Through the arrangement of the first liquid crystal lens unit and the second liquid crystal lens unit matched with the liquid crystal optical rotation component, not only can the quick switching between different focal lengths be realized, but also the shorter focal length or the larger diopter can be realized. When the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly needs to be rapidly switched between different focal lengths, the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly can be switched between a first state and a second state, and the first liquid crystal lens unit and the second liquid crystal lens unit are correspondingly controlled to alternately work, at the moment, the zooming corresponding time of the liquid crystal lens device is only influenced by the driving voltage of the first liquid crystal lens unit and the second liquid crystal lens unit, and the response time of the liquid crystal lens device for switching between different focal lengths can be kept consistent through setting the driving voltage, so that the display effect of the liquid crystal lens device is improved. The lc optical rotatory component can be adjusted to a third state and the first lc lens unit and the second lc lens unit are controlled to operate simultaneously to achieve a shorter focal length or a larger diopter.

Description

Liquid crystal lens device, liquid crystal lens display system and driving method

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of liquid crystal technology, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal lens device, a liquid crystal lens display system, and a driving method.

Background

With the continuous development of liquid crystal technology, liquid crystals are widely applied to the fields of display technology, various optical devices and the like. Due to the anisotropy of the molecular structure of the liquid crystal, the propagation of light in the liquid crystal may generate a birefringence phenomenon, generate ordinary rays (o rays) and extraordinary rays (e rays), and exhibit optical anisotropy. As a refractive index anisotropic material, liquid crystals produce different amounts of phase retardation when incident light is incident in different polarization directions, and modulation of different amounts of phase retardation can be achieved by voltage control of the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules. When a beam of polarized light passes through the chiral left-handed liquid crystal or the chiral right-handed liquid crystal, the vibration surface rotates, when seen from the propagation direction of the incident light, the vibration surface rotates clockwise, namely the chiral right-handed liquid crystal, and the vibration surface rotates anticlockwise, namely the chiral left-handed liquid crystal, and the chiral left-handed liquid crystal or the chiral right-handed liquid crystal can be obtained by adding a proper amount of chiral agent into the liquid crystal.

The liquid crystal optical rotation device is an electrically controlled adjustable optical element, and whether liquid crystal molecules have optical rotation effect is determined by changing the driving voltage, so that the polarization state of incident light is adjusted. The liquid crystal optical rotation device generally has an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the upper and lower substrates, an upper electrode being generally disposed in the upper substrate, and a lower electrode being disposed in the lower substrate, and rubbing directions of the upper and lower electrodes forming a certain twist angle (preset angle). The liquid crystal optical rotation device generally has an on state and an off state, when the linearly polarized light passes through the liquid crystal optical rotation device, if the liquid crystal optical rotation device is in the off state, the liquid crystal has an optical rotation effect, the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light is rotated to a preset angle in a preset direction, and the linearly polarized light or the elliptically polarized light is obtained after rotation; if the liquid crystal optical rotation device is in an on state, the liquid crystal optical rotation effect disappears, and the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light passing through the liquid crystal optical rotation device is unchanged.

The liquid crystal lens is an optical component which focuses or diverges a light beam by utilizing the birefringence characteristic of liquid crystal molecules and the arrangement characteristic of the liquid crystal molecules along with the distribution change of an electric field. The liquid crystal lens can change the arrangement direction of liquid crystal molecules by changing the driving voltage, so as to realize the effect of adjusting the focal length, and further realize the effect of effective optical zooming in a smaller space. For a liquid crystal lens, the response time refers to the time required for the liquid crystal lens to change from one relatively stable state to another relatively stable state during switching of the drive voltage. The response time of the liquid crystal lens generally comprises two parts, namely the response time of power-on and the response time of power-off, because of the limitations of capacitance between liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal lens and the rotational viscosity of the liquid crystal molecules, the response time of the liquid crystal molecules returning to an initial state after the electric field is removed is far longer than the response time under the control of the electric field, namely the response time of power-on is mainly controlled by the magnitude of driving voltage under the condition of fixed devices, and the response time of power-off is mainly limited by the characteristics of liquid crystal materials, so that the response time of power-off is usually far longer than the response time of power-on, namely the response time of the liquid crystal lens is mainly dependent on the magnitude of the response time of power-off.

In the prior art, a plurality of liquid crystal lenses are generally assembled into a liquid crystal lens device according to different requirements for use. For example, the rubbing directions of a plurality of liquid crystal lenses are arranged in anti-parallel, and the liquid crystal lenses work simultaneously to realize more focal lengths or more diopters; or, the rubbing directions of the liquid crystal lenses are orthogonally arranged, and the liquid crystal lenses work simultaneously to realize response to natural light, so that multi-focal length or larger diopter can be realized. However, the current zoom efficiency of the liquid crystal lens is greatly influenced by the power-off response time, the response speed of switching between different focal lengths is high or low, the display fluency in the focal length switching process is seriously influenced, and the visual experience is influenced. In order to improve the smoothness of display, in some prior art, a plurality of lens friction directions are orthogonally arranged and matched with a 90-degree optical rotation device to form a liquid crystal lens device, so that the quick switching of focal length (the incident light is linearly polarized light) is realized, but the diopter of the liquid crystal lens device is generally smaller, which is not beneficial to realizing short focal length display.

The matters in the background section are only those known to the inventors and do not, of course, represent prior art in the field.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of one or more of the drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention provides a liquid crystal lens device, comprising:

a liquid crystal optically active component having a first state, a second state, and a third state, wherein in the first state, the liquid crystal optically active component rotates a polarization direction of first linearly polarized light passing therethrough by a first preset angle and emits first light polarized in the first direction; in a second state, the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly rotates the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing through the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly by a second preset angle and emits second light polarized along the second direction; in a third state, the lc optically active assembly maintains the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing therethrough unchanged;

a first liquid crystal lens unit disposed downstream of the optical path of the liquid crystal optically active component, wherein the first liquid crystal lens unit is frictionally oriented in a first direction; and

and a second liquid crystal lens unit disposed downstream of the optical path of the first liquid crystal lens unit, wherein the second liquid crystal lens unit is frictionally oriented in a second direction.

According to an aspect of the present invention, wherein the liquid crystal optically active component comprises:

a first liquid crystal optical rotation device having an on state in which a polarization direction of the first linear polarization passing therethrough is maintained unchanged, and an off state in which the first liquid crystal optical rotation device rotates the polarization direction of the first linear polarization passing therethrough by the first preset angle and exits; and

A second liquid crystal optical rotation device having an on state in which the polarization direction of the first linear polarization passing therethrough is maintained unchanged, and an off state in which the first liquid crystal optical rotation device rotates the polarization direction of the first linear polarization passing therethrough by the second preset angle and exits;

wherein the first liquid crystal optical rotation device and the second liquid crystal optical rotation device are overlapped, the first liquid crystal optical rotation device is a chiral left-handed liquid crystal optical rotation device, the second liquid crystal optical rotation device is a chiral right-handed liquid crystal optical rotation device,

when the first liquid crystal optical rotation device is in an off state and the second liquid crystal optical rotation device is in an on state, the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly is in a first state; when the first liquid crystal optical rotation device is in an on state and the second liquid crystal optical rotation device is in an off state, the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly is in a second state; the liquid crystal optically active component is in a third state when both the first liquid crystal optically active device and the second liquid crystal optically active device are in an on state.

According to one aspect of the invention, wherein the first liquid crystal lens unit comprises one or more first liquid crystal lenses; the second liquid crystal lens unit includes one or more second liquid crystal lenses.

According to one aspect of the invention, an included angle of 70-90 degrees is formed between the first direction and the second direction.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first preset angle and the second preset angle are the same in magnitude and opposite in direction.

According to an aspect of the present invention, further comprising a control unit electrically connected to the lc optical rotatory assembly, the first lc lens unit, the second lc lens unit, respectively, the control unit being configured to switch the lc optical rotatory assembly to the first state, the second state, or the third state, and to drive the first lc lens unit and/or the second lc lens unit to adjust the lc lens apparatus to a target focal length.

According to one aspect of the invention, wherein the control unit is configured to: driving the first liquid crystal lens unit to drive a focal length of the first liquid crystal lens unit to a target focal length of the liquid crystal lens device while switching the liquid crystal optically active component to the first state; driving the second liquid crystal lens unit to drive the second liquid crystal lens unit to a target focal length of the liquid crystal lens device while switching the liquid crystal optically active component to the second state; upon switching the liquid crystal optically active assembly to the third state, the first and second liquid crystal lens units are driven to collectively provide a target focal length of the liquid crystal lens device through the first and second liquid crystal lens units.

According to one aspect of the present invention, wherein the product of the cell thickness and the liquid crystal refractive index anisotropy is an integer multiple of the wavelength of the first linearly polarized light for both the first liquid crystal optically active device and the second liquid crystal optically active device.

The present invention also provides a liquid crystal lens display system, comprising:

the display module is used for emitting image light, and the image light is first linearly polarized light;

the liquid crystal lens device is arranged at the downstream of the optical path of the display module and used for receiving the first linearly polarized light and projecting the first linearly polarized light.

The present invention also provides a driving method of a liquid crystal lens apparatus, wherein the liquid crystal lens apparatus includes a liquid crystal optical rotation assembly, a first liquid crystal lens unit, and a second liquid crystal lens unit, the driving method including:

switching the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly to a first state, a second state or a third state, wherein in the first state, the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly rotates the polarization direction of first linearly polarized light passing through the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly by a first preset angle and emits first light polarized along the first direction; in a second state, the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly rotates the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing through the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly by a second preset angle and emits second light polarized along the second direction; in a third state, the lc optically active assembly maintains the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing therethrough unchanged;

The first liquid crystal lens unit and/or the second liquid crystal lens unit are driven to adjust the liquid crystal lens device to a target focal length.

the step of switching the liquid crystal optically active component to the first state, the second state or the third state: switching the liquid crystal optically active component to a first state by switching the first liquid crystal optically active device to an off state and switching the second liquid crystal optically active device to an on state; switching the liquid crystal optically active component to a second state by switching the first liquid crystal optically active device to an on state and the second liquid crystal optically active device to an off state; the liquid crystal optically active assembly is switched to a third state by switching both the first liquid crystal optically active device and the second liquid crystal optically active device to an on state.

According to an aspect of the present invention, wherein the first liquid crystal lens unit is driven to adjust the liquid crystal lens device to a target focal length when the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly is switched to the first state; driving the second liquid crystal lens unit to adjust the liquid crystal lens device to a target focal length while switching the liquid crystal optically active component to a second state; when the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly is switched to the third state, the first liquid crystal lens unit and the second liquid crystal lens unit are driven to adjust the liquid crystal lens device to a target focal length.

According to one aspect of the invention, wherein the liquid crystal lens device is configured to receive a first linearly polarized light; the first liquid crystal lens unit is rubbed in a first direction, the second liquid crystal lens unit is rubbed in a second direction, the first liquid crystal lens unit comprises one or more first liquid crystal lenses, and the second liquid crystal lens unit comprises one or more second liquid crystal lenses.

Compared with the prior art, the embodiment of the invention provides a liquid crystal lens device, a liquid crystal lens display system and a driving method. Through the arrangement of the first liquid crystal lens unit and the second liquid crystal lens unit matched with the liquid crystal optical rotation component, not only can the quick switching between different focal lengths be realized, but also the shorter focal length or the larger diopter can be realized. For example, when the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly needs to be rapidly switched between different focal lengths, the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly can be switched between a first state and a second state, and the first liquid crystal lens unit and the second liquid crystal lens unit are correspondingly controlled to alternately work, at this time, the zooming response time of the liquid crystal lens device is only influenced by the driving voltages of the first liquid crystal lens unit and the second liquid crystal lens unit, and the response time of the liquid crystal lens device switched between different focal lengths can be kept consistent by setting the driving voltages, so that the display effect of the liquid crystal lens device is facilitated to be improved. For another example, the lc optical rotatory assembly can be adjusted to a third state and the first lc lens unit and the second lc lens unit can be controlled to operate simultaneously to achieve a shorter focal length or a greater diopter.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the invention and together with the embodiments of the invention, serve to explain the invention. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a liquid crystal lens device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a first direction, a second direction, and a polarization direction of first linear polarization light, according to one embodiment of the invention;

fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an operating state of a liquid crystal lens device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices in FIG. 3, in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices have weak anchoring energy;

FIG. 5 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices in FIG. 3, in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices have strong anchoring energy;

fig. 6 is a schematic view showing another operation state of the liquid crystal lens device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices in FIG. 6, in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices have weak anchoring energy;

FIG. 8 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices in FIG. 6, where the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices have strong anchoring energy;

fig. 9 is a schematic view showing still another operation state of the liquid crystal lens device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices in FIG. 9, in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices have weak anchoring energy;

FIG. 11 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices in FIG. 9, in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically active devices have strong anchoring energy;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a partial structure of a liquid crystal lens display system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 shows a flowchart of a driving method of a liquid crystal lens device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure: 100. a liquid crystal lens device; 110. a liquid crystal optical rotation component; 111. a first liquid crystal optical rotation device; 112. a second liquid crystal optical rotation device; 120. a first liquid crystal lens unit; 130. a second liquid crystal lens unit; 200. a liquid crystal lens display system; 210. a display module; 300. a driving method.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As will be recognized by those of skill in the pertinent art, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings are merely for convenience in describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be configured and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like, are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying a relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defining "a first" or "a second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the described features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more, unless explicitly defined otherwise.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless explicitly specified and limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, and may be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, and may be mechanically connected, electrically connected, or may communicate with each other, for example; can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can be communicated with the inside of two elements or the interaction relationship of the two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art according to the specific circumstances.

In the present invention, unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, a first feature "above" or "below" a second feature may include both the first and second features being in direct contact, as well as the first and second features not being in direct contact but being in contact with each other through additional features therebetween. Moreover, a first feature being "above," "over" and "on" a second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicating that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. The first feature being "under", "below" and "beneath" the second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicating that the first feature is less level than the second feature.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the invention. In order to simplify the present disclosure, components and arrangements of specific examples are described below. They are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the present invention may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples, which are for the purpose of brevity and clarity, and which do not themselves indicate the relationship between the various embodiments and/or arrangements discussed. In addition, the present invention provides examples of various specific processes and materials, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the application of other processes and/or the use of other materials.

The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it should be understood that the embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation of the present invention only, and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal lens device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a first direction, a second direction, and a polarization direction of first linear polarization light according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the detailed description is given below with reference to fig. 1 and 2.

As shown in fig. 1, the liquid crystal lens apparatus 100 includes a liquid crystal optically active component 110, a first liquid crystal lens unit 120, and a second liquid crystal lens unit 130, which are stacked, wherein the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 is disposed downstream of the liquid crystal optically active component 110, and the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 is disposed downstream of the first liquid crystal lens unit 120. The lc optical rotatory component 110 has a first state, a second state, and a third state, and can be rapidly switched among the first state, the second state, and the third state. In the first state, the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 rotates the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing therethrough by a first preset angle and emits the first light polarized along the first direction; in the second state, the lc optically active assembly 110 rotates the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing therethrough by a second preset angle and emits a second light polarized in the second direction; in the third state, the lc optically active assembly 110 maintains the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing therethrough. The first liquid crystal lens unit 120 is rubbed in a first direction, and in particular, the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 may include one or more first liquid crystal lenses, which are rubbed in the first direction, and a focal length of the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 may be adjusted according to a driving voltage applied to the first liquid crystal lens unit 120. The second liquid crystal lens unit 130 is frictionally aligned in the second direction, and in particular, the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 may include one or more second liquid crystal lenses, which are frictionally aligned in the second direction, and the focal length of the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 may be adjusted according to a driving voltage applied to the second liquid crystal lens unit 130. The first liquid crystal lens and the second liquid crystal lens may be refractive index graded lenses (microlens arrays) or fresnel liquid crystal lenses.

According to an aspect of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, an included angle of 70-90 ° is formed between the first direction and the second direction, and the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light is located between the first direction and the second direction, preferably, the included angle between the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light and the first direction is equal to the included angle between the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light and the second direction, that is, the first preset angle and the second preset angle are the same in magnitude and opposite in direction. For example, in this embodiment, an included angle of 90 ° is formed between the first direction and the second direction, and the plane rectangular coordinate system is used as a reference, the first direction is the X-axis direction, the second direction is the Y-axis direction, the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light is-45 °, the first preset angle is 45 °, and the second preset angle is-45 °.

In the invention, the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110 can be controlled to switch between the first state and the second state, and the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 and the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 are correspondingly controlled to work alternately, so that the liquid crystal lens device 100 can provide different focal lengths according to the requirement, and quick switching between the different focal lengths is realized.

Specifically, when the first lc lens unit 120 is in the operation state, the lc molecules in the second lc lens unit 130 may be in the initial alignment position (e.g., when the second lc lens unit 130 is not used for a long period of time, the lc molecules in the second lc lens unit 130 are in the initial alignment position), and the lc molecules in the second lc lens unit 130 may be still in the process of returning from a certain state to the initial alignment position (e.g., when the second lc lens unit 130 is just switched from the operation state to the off state), but because of the large angle (70-90 °) between the first direction and the second direction, the focal length of the lc lens apparatus 100 is determined only by the first lc lens unit 120 and is not affected by the second lc lens unit 130. Accordingly, when the second lc lens unit 130 is in the operating state, the lc molecules in the first lc lens unit 120 may be in the initial alignment position, and the lc molecules in the first lc lens unit 120 may be in the process of returning from a certain state to the initial alignment position, but the focal length of the lc lens device 100 is determined only by the second lc lens unit 130 and is not affected by the first lc lens unit 120 due to the large included angle (70-90 °) between the first direction and the second direction.

Accordingly, in the present invention, by controlling the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 to switch between the first state and the second state and correspondingly controlling the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 to alternately operate, the lc lens apparatus 100 can be rapidly switched between different focal lengths (the zoom response time of the lc lens apparatus 100 is affected only by the driving voltages of the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130). By setting the driving voltages of the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 and the second liquid crystal lens unit 130, the response time of switching the liquid crystal lens device 100 between different focal lengths can be kept uniform, which contributes to improving the display effect of the liquid crystal lens device 100. Since the included angle between the polarization direction of the first linear polarization and the first direction is preferably equal to the included angle between the polarization direction of the first linear polarization and the second direction (the first preset angle and the second preset angle are the same in magnitude and opposite in direction), the brightness of the liquid crystal lens device 100 is substantially the same when the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 and the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 are alternately operated.

In the present invention, the lc optical rotatory element 110 may be switched to the third state, and the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 are controlled to operate simultaneously, where the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light is unchanged after passing through the lc optical rotatory element 110, and since the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light and the rubbing direction (first direction) of the first lc lens unit 120 and the rubbing direction (second direction) of the second lc lens unit 130 preferably have the same included angle (for example, 45 ° included angle), and the included angle is smaller, the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 both converge the first linearly polarized light, and the focal length of the lc lens apparatus 100 is determined by the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 together, and the lc lens apparatus 100 may have a larger diopter and a smaller focal length. For example, when the first and second

lc lens units

120 and 130 have the same focal length f, the focal length of the lc lens device 100 is 0.5f, and the optical power is doubled.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1, the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110 includes a first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111 and a second liquid crystal optical rotation device 112 that are disposed to overlap, and the first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111 and the second liquid crystal optical rotation device 112 each have an on state and an off state. The first lc optical rotatory device 111 may be, for example, a chiral left-handed lc optical rotatory device, where the first lc optical rotatory device 111 maintains the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light passing therethrough unchanged in an on state, and the first lc optical rotatory device 111 rotates the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light passing therethrough by a first preset angle and emits light in an off state. The second lc optical rotatory device 112 may be, for example, a chiral right-handed lc optical rotatory device, and in the on state, the second lc optical rotatory device 112 maintains the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light passing therethrough unchanged, and in the off state, the second lc optical rotatory device 112 rotates the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light passing therethrough by a second preset angle and emits light.

By controlling the switching of the first lc optical rotatory device 111 and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 between the on state and the off state, respectively, the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 can be rapidly switched among the first state, the second state and the third state, specifically, when the first lc optical rotatory device 111 is in the off state and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 is in the on state, the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is in the first state. When the first lc optical rotatory device 111 is in the on state and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 is in the off state, the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is in the second state. When both the first and second lc optical

rotatory devices

111 and 112 are in the on state, the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is in the third state.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the first liquid crystal optically-active device 111 and the second liquid crystal optically-active device 112 each satisfy the product of the cell thickness and the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal as an integer multiple of the wavelength of the first linearly polarized light, for example, the first liquid crystal optically-active device 111 satisfies Δn1d1=k1λ, the second liquid crystal optically-active device 112 satisfies Δn2d2=k2λ, where λ is the wavelength of the first linearly polarized light, Δn1 is the refractive index anisotropy value of the liquid crystal material used in the first liquid crystal optically-active device 111, d1 is the cell thickness (thickness of the liquid crystal layer) of the first liquid crystal optically-active device 111, Δn2 is the refractive index anisotropy value of the liquid crystal material used in the second liquid crystal optically-active device 112, d2 is the cell thickness (thickness of the liquid crystal layer) of the second liquid crystal optically-active device 112, and k2 and k1 are constants. According to the above arrangement, the first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111 may rotate the first linearly polarized light by a first preset angle (for example, 45 °) in the off state and emit the first light polarized in the first direction; the second lc optical rotatory device 112 may rotate the first linearly polarized light by a second preset angle (e.g., -45 °) and emit a second light polarized in a second direction in the off state. The first lc optical rotatory device 111, the second lc optical rotatory device 112, the first lc lens cell 120, and the second lc lens cell 130 may all be fabricated using a positive lc material.

Liquid crystal alignment films are generally provided on the surfaces of the upper and lower substrates of the liquid crystal optical rotation device. The magnitude of the anchoring energy of the liquid crystal alignment film to the liquid crystal molecules (the anchoring effect of the surface of the fixed substrate to the nematic liquid crystal is generally described by the anchoring free energy per unit area, which is called anchoring energy), will have a certain influence on the polarization state of linearly polarized light passing through the liquid crystal optically active device in the on state. When the anchoring energy is large, even if a large voltage is applied to the upper and lower electrodes of the liquid crystal optical rotation device, some liquid crystal molecules cannot change the original alignment direction, especially liquid crystal molecules near the liquid crystal alignment film, which causes a residual phase retardation during operation of the liquid crystal optical rotation device, which is always present for twisted nematic liquid crystals, whether twisted by 90 ° or 45 °, which part of the participation phase retardation will have a certain influence on the polarization state of linearly polarized light passing through the liquid crystal optical rotation device. Taking a chiral left-handed liquid crystal optical rotation device as an example, when the anchoring energy is strong, the linearly polarized light passes through the chiral left-handed liquid crystal optical rotation device and then the emergent light is changed into left-handed elliptical polarized light; when the anchoring energy is weaker, the emergent light is still the linearly polarized light after passing through the chiral left-handed liquid crystal optical rotation device.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an operating state of the liquid crystal lens device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in FIG. 3 have weak anchoring energy; FIG. 5 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in FIG. 3 have strong anchoring energy; the following is a detailed description with reference to fig. 3 to 5.

As shown in fig. 3, 4, and 5, in the liquid crystal lens device 100: the first lc optical rotatory device 111 is in an off state, the second lc optical rotatory device 112 is in an on state, the first lc lens cell 120 is in an on state, and the second lc lens cell 130 is in an off state. When the first linearly polarized light passes through the first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111, the first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111 rotates the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light by a first preset angle, and emits first light polarized in the first direction (the first light is linearly polarized light having the polarization direction of the first direction at this time). When the first light passes through the second lc optical rotatory device 112, if the second lc optical rotatory device 112 has weak anchoring energy (as shown in fig. 4), the first light still has the linearly polarized light with the first polarization direction after passing through the second lc optical rotatory device 112; the rubbing direction of the first light and the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 is the same (both are the first direction), the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 performs a converging function (focuses) on the first light, the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 does not perform a converging function on the first light, and at this time, the focal length of the liquid crystal lens device 100 is determined by the first liquid crystal lens unit 120, and has the first focal length. When the first light passes through the second lc optical rotatory device 112, if the second lc optical rotatory device 112 has strong anchoring energy (as shown in fig. 5), the first light passes through the second lc optical rotatory device 112 and becomes right-handed elliptical polarized light with a semi-major axis located in the first direction, but the vibration component of the first light is still mainly located in the first direction, and the lc lens apparatus 100 still has the first focal length.

Fig. 6 shows another operation state diagram of the liquid crystal lens device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in FIG. 6 have weak anchoring energy; FIG. 8 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in FIG. 6 have strong anchoring energy; the following is a detailed description with reference to fig. 6 to 8.

As shown in fig. 6, 7, and 8, in the liquid crystal lens device 100: the first lc lens unit 120 is in an off state, the second lc lens unit 130 is in an on state, the first lc optical rotatory device 111 is in an on state, and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 is in an off state. If the first lc optical rotatory device 111 has weak anchoring energy (as shown in fig. 7), the polarization state is maintained when the first linearly polarized light passes through the first lc optical rotatory device 111, and then the second lc optical rotatory device 112 rotates the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light by a second preset angle when the first linearly polarized light passes through the second lc optical rotatory device 112, and emits a second light (the second light is linearly polarized light having the polarization direction of the second direction at this time); the rubbing direction of the second light and the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 is the same (both are the second direction), the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 performs a converging function (focuses) on the second light, the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 does not perform a converging function on the second light, and at this time, the focal length of the liquid crystal lens device 100 is determined by the second liquid crystal lens unit 130, and has a second focal length. If the first lc optical rotatory device 111 has strong anchoring energy (as shown in fig. 8), when the first linearly polarized light passes through the first lc optical rotatory device 111 and becomes the left-hand elliptical polarized light with its semi-long axis located in the-45 ° direction, and the left-hand elliptical polarized light passes through the second lc optical rotatory device 112, the second lc optical rotatory device 112 rotates the polarization direction of the left-hand elliptical polarized light by a second preset angle, and emits a second light (the second light is the left-hand elliptical polarized light with its semi-long axis located in the second direction at this time), and the vibration component of the second light is mainly in the second direction, and the lc lens apparatus 100 still has the second focal length.

Fig. 9 shows still another operation state diagram of the liquid crystal lens device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention; fig. 10 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second lc optical

rotatory devices

111, 112 in the case where the first and second lc optical

rotatory devices

111, 112 in fig. 9 have weak anchoring energy; FIG. 11 shows the polarization state of the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in the case where the first and second liquid crystal optically

active devices

111, 112 in FIG. 9 have strong anchoring energy; the following describes in detail with reference to fig. 9 to 11.

As shown in fig. 9, 10, and 11, in the liquid crystal lens device 100: the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 are both in an operating state, and the first lc optical rotatory device 111 and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 are both in an on state. If both the first lc optical rotatory device 111 and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 have weak anchoring energy (as in fig. 10), the first lc optical rotatory device 111 keeps the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light unchanged when the first linearly polarized light passes through the first lc optical rotatory device 111; when the first linearly polarized light passes through the second lc optical rotatory device 112, the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light is kept unchanged by the second lc optical rotatory device 112, and since the first linearly polarized light has the same included angle (for example, 45 ° included angle) with the rubbing direction (first direction) of the first lc lens unit 120 and the rubbing direction (second direction) of the second lc lens unit 130, and the included angle is smaller, the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 both converge the incident light, and the focal length of the lc lens apparatus 100 is determined by the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 together, and the lc lens apparatus 100 has the third focal length. In this embodiment, taking the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light as an example of-45 °, the first linearly polarized light can be regarded as the combination of two linearly polarized lights having equal amplitudes in the x and y directions and a phase difference of (2k+1) pi; if the first lc optical rotatory device 111 and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 have strong anchoring energy (as shown in fig. 11), when the first linearly polarized light passes through the first lc optical rotatory device 111, a phase retardation- ΔΦ is generated, and the first linearly polarized light becomes a left-handed elliptical polarized light with a semi-major axis located in a direction of-45 °, i.e., the phase difference of the x and y two light beams becomes (2k+1) pi- ΔΦ; when the left-handed elliptical polarized light passes through the second lc optical rotatory device 112, a phase retardation ΔΦ is generated, that is, the phase difference generated by the first linearly polarized light after passing through the first lc optical rotatory device 111 and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 is substantially- ΔΦ+ΔΦ=0, and as a result, the initial phase difference (2k+1) pi is maintained, so that the outgoing light is still the first linearly polarized light, and the lc lens apparatus 100 still has the third focal length. When both the first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111 and the second liquid crystal optical rotation device 112 are in the on state, there is no significant difference in the weak anchoring energy or the strong anchoring energy of the first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111 and the second liquid crystal optical rotation device 112.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1, the liquid crystal lens apparatus 100 may further include a control unit electrically connected to the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110, the first liquid crystal lens unit 120, and the second liquid crystal lens unit 130, respectively. The control unit is configured to switch the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 to the first state, the second state, or the third state, and to drive the first lc lens unit 120 and/or the second lc lens unit 130 to adjust the lc lens device 100 to a target focal length. Specifically, when the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is switched to the first state, the first lc lens unit 120 is driven at an appropriate voltage to drive the focal length of the first lc lens unit 120 to the target focal length of the lc lens apparatus 100. When the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110 is switched to the second state, the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 is driven with a suitable driving voltage to drive the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 to the target focal length of the liquid crystal lens device 100. When the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is switched to the third state, the first and second

lc lens units

120 and 130 are driven with appropriate driving voltages, respectively, to commonly provide the target focal length of the lc lens apparatus 100 through the first and second

lc lens units

120 and 130.

Fig. 12 shows a partial schematic structure of a liquid crystal lens display system 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a control unit is not shown in fig. 12, and is described in detail below in connection with fig. 12.

As shown in fig. 12, the liquid crystal lens display system 200 includes a display module 210 and the liquid crystal lens device 100 as described above. The display module 210 is configured to emit image light, where the image light is first linearly polarized light. The liquid crystal lens device 100 is disposed downstream of the optical path of the display module 210 to receive and project image light (first linearly polarized light). The display module 210 may be a display screen. When the light emitted from the display module 210 is non-linearly polarized, a polarizer or a wave plate may be disposed on the light emitting side of the display module 210 to convert the light emitted from the display module 210 into linearly polarized light.

In the lc lens display system 200, the display module 210 can emit image light, and the lc lens display system 200 can rapidly switch between different focal lengths and display images by controlling the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 to alternately operate and correspondingly controlling the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 to switch between the first state and the second state. The liquid crystal lens display system 200 may display an image at a smaller focal length by emitting image light through the display module 210, by switching the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110 to the third state, and accordingly controlling the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 and the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 to operate simultaneously.

Fig. 13 shows a flowchart of a driving method 300 of the liquid crystal lens device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is described in detail below with reference to fig. 13.

A liquid crystal lens apparatus, such as the liquid crystal lens apparatus 100 shown in fig. 1, includes a liquid crystal optically active component 110, a first liquid crystal lens unit 120, and a second liquid crystal lens unit 130, which are disposed in this order. Wherein the liquid crystal lens device 100 is configured to receive image light, the image light being first linearly polarized light. The lc optical rotatory component 110 has a first state, a second state, and a third state, and can be rapidly switched among the first state, the second state, and the third state. In the first state, the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 rotates the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing therethrough by a first preset angle and emits the first light polarized along the first direction; in the second state, the lc optically active assembly 110 rotates the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing therethrough by a second preset angle and emits a second light polarized in the second direction; in the third state, the lc optically active assembly 110 maintains the polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light passing therethrough. The first liquid crystal lens unit 120 is rubbed in a first direction, and in particular, the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 may include one or more first liquid crystal lenses, which are rubbed in the first direction, and a focal length of the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 may be adjusted according to a driving voltage applied to the first liquid crystal lens unit 120. The second liquid crystal lens unit 130 is frictionally aligned in the second direction, and in particular, the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 may include one or more second liquid crystal lenses, which are frictionally aligned in the second direction, and the focal length of the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 may be adjusted according to a driving voltage applied to the second liquid crystal lens unit 130.

The lc optical rotatory assembly 110 includes a first lc optical rotatory device 111 and a second lc optical rotatory device 112 disposed in an overlapping manner, and the first lc optical rotatory device 111 and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 each have an on state and an off state. The first lc optical rotatory device 111 may be, for example, a chiral left-handed lc optical rotatory device, where the first lc optical rotatory device 111 maintains the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light passing therethrough unchanged in an on state, and the first lc optical rotatory device 111 rotates the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light passing therethrough by a first preset angle and emits light in an off state. The second lc optical rotatory device 112 may be, for example, a chiral right-handed lc optical rotatory device, and in the on state, the second lc optical rotatory device 112 maintains the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light passing therethrough unchanged, and in the off state, the second lc optical rotatory device 112 rotates the polarization direction of the first linear polarization light passing therethrough by a second preset angle and emits light. When the first lc optical rotatory device 111 is in the off state and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 is in the on state, the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is in the first state. When the first lc optical rotatory device 111 is in the on state and the second lc optical rotatory device 112 is in the off state, the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is in the second state. When both the first and second lc optical

rotatory devices

As shown in fig. 13, the driving method 300 includes the following steps, and each step in the driving method 300 may be performed sequentially or simultaneously according to the actual situation, which is not limited herein, and each step of the driving method 300 is described in detail below.

In step S310: the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110 is switched to the first state, the second state, or the third state. Wherein the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110 can be switched to the first state by switching the first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111 to the off state and the second liquid crystal optical rotation device 112 to the on state; the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110 may be switched to the second state by switching the first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111 to the on state and the second liquid crystal optical rotation device 112 to the off state; the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110 is switched to the third state by switching both the first liquid crystal optical rotation device 111 and the second liquid crystal optical rotation device 112 to the on state.

In step S320: the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 and/or the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 are driven to adjust the liquid crystal lens device 100 to a target focal length. Wherein, when the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is switched to the first state, the first lc lens unit 120 is driven with a suitable driving voltage to adjust the lc lens apparatus 100 to a target focal length. When the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is switched to the second state, the second lc lens unit 130 is driven with a suitable driving voltage to adjust the lc lens apparatus 100 to a target focal length. When the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is switched to the third state, the first and second

lc lens units

120 and 130 are driven with an appropriate driving voltage to adjust the lc lens apparatus 100 to a target focal length.

In comparison with the prior art, the embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid crystal lens device 100, a liquid crystal lens display system 200 and a driving method 300. By arranging the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 together with the lc optical rotatory element 110, not only can the fast switching between different focal lengths be realized, but also a shorter focal length or a larger diopter can be realized. For example, when the liquid crystal lens device needs to be switched between different focal lengths rapidly, the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 and the second liquid crystal lens unit 130 can be controlled to work alternately, and the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly 110 can be switched between the first state and the second state correspondingly, at this time, the zooming corresponding time of the liquid crystal lens device 100 is only affected by the driving voltage of the first liquid crystal lens unit 120 and the second liquid crystal lens unit 130, and by setting the driving voltage, the response time of the liquid crystal lens device 100 for switching between different focal lengths can be kept consistent, which is helpful for improving the display effect of the liquid crystal lens device 100. For another example, the first lc lens unit 120 and the second lc lens unit 130 may be controlled to operate simultaneously and the lc optical rotatory assembly 110 is adjusted to the third state to achieve a shorter focal length or a larger diopter.

Finally, it should be noted that: the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting, and although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing illustrative embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above, or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal lens device comprising:

2. The liquid crystal lens device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal optically active component comprises:

3. The liquid crystal lens device of claim 1, wherein the first liquid crystal lens unit comprises one or more first liquid crystal lenses; the second liquid crystal lens unit includes one or more second liquid crystal lenses.

4. A liquid crystal lens device according to claim 3, wherein the first direction and the second direction have an angle of 70-90 °.

5. The liquid crystal lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first preset angle and the second preset angle are the same in magnitude and opposite in direction.

6. The liquid crystal lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a control unit electrically connected to the liquid crystal optically active component, the first liquid crystal lens unit, the second liquid crystal lens unit, respectively, the control unit being configured to switch the liquid crystal optically active component to the first state, the second state, or the third state, and to drive the first liquid crystal lens unit and/or the second liquid crystal lens unit to adjust the liquid crystal lens device to a target focal length.

7. The liquid crystal lens device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured to: driving the first liquid crystal lens unit to drive a focal length of the first liquid crystal lens unit to a target focal length of the liquid crystal lens device while switching the liquid crystal optically active component to the first state; driving the second liquid crystal lens unit to drive the second liquid crystal lens unit to a target focal length of the liquid crystal lens device while switching the liquid crystal optically active component to the second state; upon switching the liquid crystal optically active assembly to the third state, the first and second liquid crystal lens units are driven to collectively provide a target focal length of the liquid crystal lens device through the first and second liquid crystal lens units.

8. The liquid crystal lens apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a product of a cell thickness and a liquid crystal refractive index anisotropy is an integer multiple of a wavelength of the first linearly polarized light for both the first liquid crystal optically active device and the second liquid crystal optically active device.

9. A liquid crystal lens display system comprising:

a liquid crystal lens device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, disposed downstream of the optical path of the display module to receive the first linearly polarised light and project it.

10. A driving method of a liquid crystal lens apparatus, wherein the liquid crystal lens apparatus includes a liquid crystal optical rotation assembly, a first liquid crystal lens unit, and a second liquid crystal lens unit, the driving method comprising:

11. The driving method according to claim 10, wherein the liquid crystal optically active component comprises:

12. The driving method according to claim 10, wherein the first liquid crystal lens unit is driven to adjust a liquid crystal lens device to a target focal length when the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly is switched to a first state; driving the second liquid crystal lens unit to adjust the liquid crystal lens device to a target focal length while switching the liquid crystal optically active component to a second state; when the liquid crystal optical rotation assembly is switched to the third state, the first liquid crystal lens unit and the second liquid crystal lens unit are driven to adjust the liquid crystal lens device to a target focal length.

13. The driving method according to claim 10, wherein the liquid crystal lens device is configured to receive the first linearly polarized light; the first liquid crystal lens unit is rubbed in a first direction, the second liquid crystal lens unit is rubbed in a second direction, the first liquid crystal lens unit comprises one or more first liquid crystal lenses, and the second liquid crystal lens unit comprises one or more second liquid crystal lenses.