Arrayed optical switches based on integrated liquid-crystal microlens arrays

Based on our previous work in liquid-crystal microlens arrays (LCMAs), a new kind of arrayed optical switches (AOSs) based on LCMAs with a key dual-mode function including beam convergence and divergence, is proposed and simulated in this paper. Different with our previous LCMAs, the developed LCMAs leading to AOSs have two layers of control electrodes deposited directly over the surface of the top glass substrate. One is the patterned electrode, which is designed into basic circular holes with suitable diameter, and the other is the planar electrode. Both layered electrodes are effectively separated by a thin SiO2 film with a typical thickness of about several micrometers, and then driven by electrical signals with different root mean square (rms) voltage amplitude. The experiment results show that the AOSs can work well through applying proper voltage signals over the device. Compared with other AOS structures, our AOSs have a greater integration level and lower cost.