An Electrically Tunable Zoom System Using Liquid Lenses

Li, Heng; Cheng, Xuemin; Hao, Qun

doi:10.3390/s16010045

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Moreover, ETLs are extensively used to increase the axial scanning range and provide extended depth of focus imaging and autofocusing (Barak et al, 2020, 2021 a ). ETL has also been utilized to enable optical zooming without the need of typical mechanical lens movement (Lin et al, 2011; Li et al, 2016; Iwai et al, 2019; Sanz et al, 2020). By controlling the curvatures of liquid lenses, the effective focal length of the system can be adjusted to provide zooming.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and Development of an Automated Dual-Mode Microscopic System Using Electrically Tunable Lenses

2021

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Maintaining telecentricity and zooming in microscopic systems with prolonged depths of focus is a difficult challenge because these properties degrade while moving to different axial planes in the extended focal depth. In this paper, we propose the proof of concept for an automated dual-mode microscopic system that combines two electrically tunable lenses (ETLs) with a variable numerical aperture controller placed. It acts as a viable solution to allow both multiplane microscopic zooming and telecentricity with consistent image resolution throughout the objective's extended focal depth. The image plane remains fixed for both the modes of operation, namely telecentricity and multiplane zooming. To validate the performance of the proposed idea, both simulations and experiments are carried out at various ETL curvature ranges. Over the whole zoom distance range, the experimental zoom ratio is determined to range from −2.723X to −34.42X. The experimental and simulation findings are compared and found to be quite similar, with magnification error percentages of 2.26% for zoom mode and 1.27% for telecentric mode. The comprehensive explanation of simulation and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method for both multiplane zoom and telecentric operations on a single platform in microscopic applications.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and Development of an Automated Dual-Mode Microscopic System Using Electrically Tunable Lenses

2021

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“…It seems the manufacturers of FTLs are purely relying on the low dispersion material for maintaining low chromatic aberration without any further color correction. Furthermore, when discussing the applications of FTLs in general, the impact caused by gravity when positioning FTLs in the horizontal direction is often overlooked by designers [19]. In this manuscript, we address these issues by providing a comprehensive evaluation on optical performance of 3D microscopy using FTL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optical performance evaluation and chromatic aberration correction of a focus tunable lens used for 3D microscopy

Yan¹,

Tian²,

Liang³

et al. 2019

Biomed. Opt. Express

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Recently, the development of motion-free 3D microscopy utilizing focus tunable lenses (FTL) has been rapid. However, the downgrade of optical performance due to FTL and its gravity effect are rarely discussed in detail. Also, color dispersion is usually maintained purely depending on the FTL material without further correction. In this manuscript, we provide a quantitative evaluation of the impact of FTL on the optical performance of the microscope. The evaluation is based on both optical ray tracing simulations and lab experiments. In addition, we derive the first order conditions to correct axial color aberration of FTL through its entire power tuning range. Secondary spectrum correction is also possible and an apochromatic motion-free 3D microscope with 2 additional doublets is demonstrated. This study will serve a guidance in utilizing FTL as a motion-free element for 3D microscopy.

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“…Liquid lenses, which are light and enable changing of the focal length without mechanical movement [9,10], have been considered an effective alternative to traditional solid optical elements. These lenses are also widely used to design various optical systems, such as 3D displays [11], zoom systems [12,13,14], microscopes [15,16,17], endoscopes [18], and bionic human eyes [19]. However, electrowetting liquid lenses [16,20,21,22] and membrane liquid lenses [23,24,25] require suitable liquid thickness [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrathin Tunable Lens Based on Boundary Tension Effect

Yang

Cao

Zhang

et al. 2019

Sensors

Self Cite

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Solid and liquid lenses are commonly used in optical design. Such lenses have suitable thicknesses due to their working principle and processing mode. Thus, zoom optical systems comprising solid and liquid lenses are extremely large. This work presents a new ultrathin tunable lens (UTL) comprising two liquid film lenses (LFLs) obtained through aspheric deformation and produced from the surface of a micro-liquid under gravity and boundary tension. The UTL can flexibly change focal lengths between positive and negative lenses when the device thickness is merely 2.15 mm. The proposed lens has the advantages of small volume, light weight, simple fabrication, and independence from external force during zooming. This research makes up for the drawback that traditional solid and liquid lenses cannot further reduce their thicknesses. The proposed UTL provides a new lens form and fabrication method, and can be used to replace solid and liquid lenses for designing miniature zoom optical systems.

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An Electrically Tunable Zoom System Using Liquid Lenses

Cited by 20 publications

References 17 publications

Design and Development of an Automated Dual-Mode Microscopic System Using Electrically Tunable Lenses

Design and Development of an Automated Dual-Mode Microscopic System Using Electrically Tunable Lenses

Optical performance evaluation and chromatic aberration correction of a focus tunable lens used for 3D microscopy

Ultrathin Tunable Lens Based on Boundary Tension Effect

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