The shape of liquid interfaces can be precisely controlled using electrowetting,an actuation mechanism which has been widely used for tunable optofluidic micro-optical components such as lenses or irises.We have expan...The shape of liquid interfaces can be precisely controlled using electrowetting,an actuation mechanism which has been widely used for tunable optofluidic micro-optical components such as lenses or irises.We have expanded the considerable flexibility inherent in electrowetting actuation to realize a variable optofluidic slit,a tunable and reconfigurable two-dimensional aperture with no mechanically moving parts.This optofluidic slit is formed by precisely controlled movement of the liquid interfaces of two highly opaque ink droplets.The 1.5mmlong slit aperture,with controllably variable discrete widths down to 45 mm,may be scanned across a length of 1.5mmwith switching times between adjacent slit positions of less than 120 ms.In addition,for a fixed slit aperture position,the width may be tuned to a minimum of 3 mmwith high uniformity and linearity over the entire slit length.This compact,purely fluidic device offers an electrically controlled aperture tuning range not achievable with extant mechanical alternatives of a similar size.展开更多
We demonstrate a tunable imaging system based on the functionality of the mammalian eye using soft-matter micro-optical components.Inspired by the structure of the eye,as well as by the means through which nature tune...We demonstrate a tunable imaging system based on the functionality of the mammalian eye using soft-matter micro-optical components.Inspired by the structure of the eye,as well as by the means through which nature tunes its optical behavior,we show that the technologies of microsystems engineering and micro-optics may be used to realize a technical imaging system whose biomimetic functionality is entirely distinct from that of conventional optics.The engineered eyeball integrates a deformable elastomeric refractive structure whose shape is mechanically controlled through application of strain using liquid crystal elastomer(LCE)actuators;two forms of tunable iris,one based on optofluidics and the other on LCEs with embedded heaters;a fixed lens arrangement;and a commercial imaging sensor chip.The complete microsystem,optimized to yield optical characteristics close to those of the human eye,represents the first fully functional,soft-matter-based tunable single-aperture eye-like imager.展开更多
基金funded by the German Research Foundation DFG within the Priority Program Active Micro-optics(SPP 1337).
文摘The shape of liquid interfaces can be precisely controlled using electrowetting,an actuation mechanism which has been widely used for tunable optofluidic micro-optical components such as lenses or irises.We have expanded the considerable flexibility inherent in electrowetting actuation to realize a variable optofluidic slit,a tunable and reconfigurable two-dimensional aperture with no mechanically moving parts.This optofluidic slit is formed by precisely controlled movement of the liquid interfaces of two highly opaque ink droplets.The 1.5mmlong slit aperture,with controllably variable discrete widths down to 45 mm,may be scanned across a length of 1.5mmwith switching times between adjacent slit positions of less than 120 ms.In addition,for a fixed slit aperture position,the width may be tuned to a minimum of 3 mmwith high uniformity and linearity over the entire slit length.This compact,purely fluidic device offers an electrically controlled aperture tuning range not achievable with extant mechanical alternatives of a similar size.
基金supported by the Priority Program‘Active Micro-optics’funded by the German Research Foundation(DFG).
文摘We demonstrate a tunable imaging system based on the functionality of the mammalian eye using soft-matter micro-optical components.Inspired by the structure of the eye,as well as by the means through which nature tunes its optical behavior,we show that the technologies of microsystems engineering and micro-optics may be used to realize a technical imaging system whose biomimetic functionality is entirely distinct from that of conventional optics.The engineered eyeball integrates a deformable elastomeric refractive structure whose shape is mechanically controlled through application of strain using liquid crystal elastomer(LCE)actuators;two forms of tunable iris,one based on optofluidics and the other on LCEs with embedded heaters;a fixed lens arrangement;and a commercial imaging sensor chip.The complete microsystem,optimized to yield optical characteristics close to those of the human eye,represents the first fully functional,soft-matter-based tunable single-aperture eye-like imager.
