Adaptive microlens array based on electrically charged polyvinyl chloride/dibutyl phthalate gel

Miao Xu; Hongwen Ren

doi:10.1117/1.OE.55.9.095104

22 September 2016 Adaptive microlens array based on electrically charged polyvinyl chloride/dibutyl phthalate gel

Miao Xu, Hongwen Ren

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 55, Issue 9, 095104 (September 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.55.9.095104

Abstract

We prepared an adaptive microlens array (MLA) using a polyvinyl chloride/dibutyl phthalate gel and an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) glass substrate. The gel forms a membrane on the glass substrate and the ITO electrode has a ring array pattern. When the membrane is electrically charged by a DC voltage, the surface of the membrane above each circular electrode in the ring array can be deformed with a convex shape. As a result, the membrane functions as an MLA. By applying a voltage from 20 to ∼65 V to the electrode, the focal length of each microlens can be tuned from 300 to ∼160 μm. The dynamic response time can by reduced largely by changing the polarity of the DC voltage. Due to the advantages of optical isotropy, compact structure, and good stability, our MLA has potential applications in imaging, biometrics, and electronic displays.

Citation Download Citation

Miao Xu and Hongwen Ren "Adaptive microlens array based on electrically charged polyvinyl chloride/dibutyl phthalate gel," Optical Engineering 55(9), 095104 (22 September 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.55.9.095104

Published: 22 September 2016

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