DigiLens unveils electrically switchable optics

DigiLens Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA) announced that it has developed electrically switchable diffractive optics—a technology it has been pursuing for years in secret. The company was formed in 1997 to capitalize on a form of liquid-crystal technology originally developed for laser defense systems for use by the US Air Force and is in partnership with Science Applications International Corp. (San Diego, CA), a 38,000-employee research and engineering firm with a wide range of interests, as well as revenues of $4.7 billion. The noteworthy size of DigiLens's partner is an indication of the importance of this technology, should it catch on. Electrically switchable lenses, prisms, optical filters, and mirrors could enhance optical systems in many ways--especially in view of the 35-ms switching time the company is claiming.