Abstract

We demonstrate a variable focal length achromatic lens that consists of a flat liquid crystal diffractive lens and a pressure-controlled fluidic refractive lens. The diffractive lens is composed of a flat binary Fresnel zone structure and a thin liquid crystal layer, producing high efficiency and millisecond switching times while applying a low ac voltage input. The focusing power of the diffractive lens is adjusted by electrically modifying the sub-zones and re-establishing phase wrapping points. The refractive lens includes a fluid chamber with a flat glass surface and an opposing elastic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane surface. Inserting fluid volume through a pump system into the clear aperture region alters the membrane curvature and adjusts the refractive lens’ focal position. Primary chromatic aberration is remarkably reduced through the coupling of the fluidic and diffractive lenses at selected focal lengths. Potential applications include miniature color imaging systems, medical and ophthalmic devices, or any design that utilizes variable focal length achromats.

©2011 Optical Society of America

Full Article  |  PDF Article
OSA Recommended Articles
Nonmechanical zoom system through pressure-controlled tunable fluidic lenses

Nickolaos Savidis, Gholam Peyman, Nasser Peyghambarian, and Jim Schwiegerling
Appl. Opt. 52(12) 2858-2865 (2013)

Algebraic and numerical analysis of imaging properties of thin tunable-focus fluidic membrane lenses with parabolic surfaces

Antonin Miks, Jiri Novak, and Pavel Novak
Appl. Opt. 52(10) 2136-2144 (2013)

Large aperture tunable-focus liquid lens using shape memory alloy spring

Nazmul Hasan, Hanseup Kim, and Carlos H. Mastrangelo
Opt. Express 24(12) 13334-13342 (2016)

More Recommended Articles

References

  • View by:
  • Article Order
  • |
  • Year
  • |
  • Author
  • |
  • Publication
  1. D. C. O'Shea, T. J. Suleski, A. D. Kathman, and D. W. Prather, Diffractive Optics: Design, Fabrication, and Test (SPIE Press Book, 2004).
  2. P. Valley, D. L. Mathine, M. R. Dodge, J. Schwiegerling, G. Peyman, and N. Peyghambarian, “Tunable-focus flat liquid-crystal diffractive lens,” Opt. Lett. 35(3), 336–338 (2010).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  3. P. Valley, M. Reza Dodge, J. Schwiegerling, G. Peyman, and N. Peyghambarian, “Nonmechanical bifocal zoom telescope,” Opt. Lett. 35(15), 2582–2584 (2010).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  4. S. Sato, A. Sugiyama, and R. Sato, “Variable-focus liquid-crystal fresnel lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 24(Part 2, No. 8), L626–L628 (1985).
    [Crossref]
  5. H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable Fresnel lens using nanoscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(8), 1515–1517 (2003).
    [Crossref]
  6. B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
    [Crossref]
  7. H. C. Lin and Y. H. Lin, “An electrically tunable focusing liquid crystal lens with a built-in planar polymeric lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 98(8), 083503 (2011).
    [Crossref]
  8. O. Pishnyak, S. Sato, and O. D. Lavrentovich, “Electrically tunable lens based on a dual-frequency nematic liquid crystal,” Appl. Opt. 45(19), 4576–4582 (2006).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  9. H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, S. Gauza, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus flat liquid crystal spherical lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(23), 4789–4791 (2004).
    [Crossref]
  10. D. Y. Zhang, N. Justis, and Y. H. Lo, “Integrated fluidic adaptive zoom lens,” Opt. Lett. 29(24), 2855–2857 (2004).
    [Crossref]
  11. H. Ren, D. Fox, P. A. Anderson, B. Wu, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus liquid lens controlled using a servo motor,” Opt. Express 14(18), 8031–8036 (2006).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  12. R. Marks, D. L. Mathine, G. Peyman, J. Schwiegerling, and N. Peyghambarian, “Adjustable fluidic lenses for ophthalmic corrections,” Opt. Lett. 34(4), 515–517 (2009).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  13. T. Stone and N. George, “Hybrid diffractive-refractive lenses and achromats,” Appl. Opt. 27(14), 2960–2971 (1988).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  14. G. Zhou, H. M. Leung, H. Yu, A. S. Kumar, and F. S. Chau, “Liquid tunable diffractive/refractive hybrid lens,” Opt. Lett. 34(18), 2793–2795 (2009).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  15. J. E. Greivenkamp, Field guide to geometrical optics (SPIE Press, 2004).
  16. M. Daimon and A. Masumura, “Measurement of the refractive index of distilled water from the near-infrared region to the ultraviolet region,” Appl. Opt. 46(18), 3811–3820 (2007).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  17. B. Apter, U. Efron, and E. Bahat-Treidel, “On the fringing-field effect in liquid-crystal beam-steering devices,” Appl. Opt. 43(1), 11–19 (2004).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]

2011 (1)

H. C. Lin and Y. H. Lin, “An electrically tunable focusing liquid crystal lens with a built-in planar polymeric lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 98(8), 083503 (2011).
[Crossref]

2010 (2)

2009 (2)

2007 (1)

2006 (3)

2004 (3)

2003 (1)

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable Fresnel lens using nanoscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(8), 1515–1517 (2003).
[Crossref]

1988 (1)

1985 (1)

S. Sato, A. Sugiyama, and R. Sato, “Variable-focus liquid-crystal fresnel lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 24(Part 2, No. 8), L626–L628 (1985).
[Crossref]

Anderson, P. A.

Apter, B.

Bagwell, B. E.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Bahat-Treidel, E.

Batchko, R.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Chau, F. S.

Daimon, M.

Dodge, M. R.

Efron, U.

Fan, Y. H.

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, S. Gauza, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus flat liquid crystal spherical lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(23), 4789–4791 (2004).
[Crossref]

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable Fresnel lens using nanoscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(8), 1515–1517 (2003).
[Crossref]

Fox, D.

Gauza, S.

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, S. Gauza, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus flat liquid crystal spherical lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(23), 4789–4791 (2004).
[Crossref]

George, N.

Harriman, J.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Justis, N.

Kumar, A. S.

Lavrentovich, O. D.

Leung, H. M.

Lin, H. C.

H. C. Lin and Y. H. Lin, “An electrically tunable focusing liquid crystal lens with a built-in planar polymeric lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 98(8), 083503 (2011).
[Crossref]

Lin, Y. H.

H. C. Lin and Y. H. Lin, “An electrically tunable focusing liquid crystal lens with a built-in planar polymeric lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 98(8), 083503 (2011).
[Crossref]

Lo, Y. H.

Mansell, J. D.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Marks, R.

Martinez, T.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Masumura, A.

Mathine, D. L.

Payne, D. M.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Peyghambarian, N.

Peyman, G.

Pishnyak, O.

Ren, H.

H. Ren, D. Fox, P. A. Anderson, B. Wu, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus liquid lens controlled using a servo motor,” Opt. Express 14(18), 8031–8036 (2006).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, S. Gauza, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus flat liquid crystal spherical lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(23), 4789–4791 (2004).
[Crossref]

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable Fresnel lens using nanoscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(8), 1515–1517 (2003).
[Crossref]

Restaino, S. R.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Reza Dodge, M.

Sato, R.

S. Sato, A. Sugiyama, and R. Sato, “Variable-focus liquid-crystal fresnel lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 24(Part 2, No. 8), L626–L628 (1985).
[Crossref]

Sato, S.

O. Pishnyak, S. Sato, and O. D. Lavrentovich, “Electrically tunable lens based on a dual-frequency nematic liquid crystal,” Appl. Opt. 45(19), 4576–4582 (2006).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

S. Sato, A. Sugiyama, and R. Sato, “Variable-focus liquid-crystal fresnel lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 24(Part 2, No. 8), L626–L628 (1985).
[Crossref]

Schwiegerling, J.

Serati, S.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Sharp, G.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Stone, T.

Sugiyama, A.

S. Sato, A. Sugiyama, and R. Sato, “Variable-focus liquid-crystal fresnel lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 24(Part 2, No. 8), L626–L628 (1985).
[Crossref]

Valley, P.

Wick, D. V.

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Wu, B.

Wu, S. T.

H. Ren, D. Fox, P. A. Anderson, B. Wu, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus liquid lens controlled using a servo motor,” Opt. Express 14(18), 8031–8036 (2006).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, S. Gauza, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus flat liquid crystal spherical lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(23), 4789–4791 (2004).
[Crossref]

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable Fresnel lens using nanoscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(8), 1515–1517 (2003).
[Crossref]

Yu, H.

Zhang, D. Y.

Zhou, G.

Appl. Opt. (4)

Appl. Phys. Lett. (3)

H. C. Lin and Y. H. Lin, “An electrically tunable focusing liquid crystal lens with a built-in planar polymeric lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 98(8), 083503 (2011).
[Crossref]

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, S. Gauza, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable-focus flat liquid crystal spherical lens,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(23), 4789–4791 (2004).
[Crossref]

H. Ren, Y. H. Fan, and S. T. Wu, “Tunable Fresnel lens using nanoscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(8), 1515–1517 (2003).
[Crossref]

Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. (1)

S. Sato, A. Sugiyama, and R. Sato, “Variable-focus liquid-crystal fresnel lens,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 24(Part 2, No. 8), L626–L628 (1985).
[Crossref]

Opt. Express (1)

Opt. Lett. (5)

Proc. SPIE (1)

B. E. Bagwell, D. V. Wick, R. Batchko, J. D. Mansell, T. Martinez, S. R. Restaino, D. M. Payne, J. Harriman, S. Serati, G. Sharp, and J. Schwiegerling, “Liquid crystal based active optics,” Proc. SPIE 6289, 628908, 628908-12 (2006).
[Crossref]

Other (2)

D. C. O'Shea, T. J. Suleski, A. D. Kathman, and D. W. Prather, Diffractive Optics: Design, Fabrication, and Test (SPIE Press Book, 2004).

J. E. Greivenkamp, Field guide to geometrical optics (SPIE Press, 2004).

Cited By

OSA participates in Crossref's Cited-By Linking service. Citing articles from OSA journals and other participating publishers are listed here.

Alert me when this article is cited.


Figures (5)

Fig. 1
Fig. 1

Schematic of the hybrid liquid crystal diffractive lens and fluidic lens.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 4
Fig. 4

Chromatic dispersion of the variable focal plano-convex lens alone applying methanol at the three test wavelengths when set for 80 mm focal length and higher.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 2
Fig. 2

The test setup: three laser beams aligned and collimated to measure the focal lengths of the diffractive and fluidic lens by a color CCD camera on a rail.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 3
Fig. 3

Sample images of the best focus spots for the diffractive lens B when it is set to the focal length of 133 mm at the green wavelength.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 5
Fig. 5

(a-e) Focal spots when the diffractive and fluidic lenses are combined to produce the best focus for the red and the blue lights. The focal length values at the green wavelength are: (a) fdiffractive = 1000 mm, ffluidic = 252 mm; (b) fdiffractive = 500 mm, ffluidic = 126 mm; (c) fdiffractive = 250 mm, ffluidic = 63 mm; (d) fdiffractive = 400 mm, ffluidic = 101 mm; (e) fdiffractive = 200 mm, ffluidic = 51 mm; (f) overall focal length of the hybrid system for the green, red and blue wavelengths.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Tables (3)

Tables Icon

Table 1 Values Needed for Fluidic Lens Focal Lengths fg (in mm) at Different Fluid Abbe Number Values and Given Diffractive Lens Focal Lengths at the Design Wavelength of 555 nm

View Table | View all tables in this article
Tables Icon

Table 2 Diffractive Lens A Results: Measured and Calculated Focal Lengths at the Three Test Wavelengths

View Table | View all tables in this article
Tables Icon

Table 3 Diffractive Lens B Results: Measured and Calculated Focal Lengths at the Three Test Wavelengths

View Table | View all tables in this article

Metrics