Annular liquid crystal spatial light modulator for beam shaping and extended depth of focus

A liquid crystal device made of eight annular zones using indium–tin oxide as transparent electrode on glass is designed, built and analyzed as a spatial light modulator both for phase and amplitude. Its integration into imaging systems is demonstrated for variety of implementations such as tunable beam shaping and tunable extended depth of field as well as electronically controlled ring type tunable focus lens even when the fundamental limitation structure conditions are not met.