A compact, large-aperture tunable lens with adaptive spherical correction

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a fast, compact adaptive lens with a large aperture, spherical aberration correction, and integrated actuation, suitable for high-speed optical applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, fast, and compact adaptive lens with integrated piezo actuators enabling large aperture and aberration correction in less than 2mm thickness.

Findings

Aperture size is approximately two-thirds of the system diameter.

Response time is a few milliseconds at 12mm aperture.

The lens design allows for large aperture and aberration correction in a very thin form factor.

Abstract

In this paper, we present the proof of concept of a very fast adaptive glass membrane lens with a large aperture/diameter ratio, spherical aberration correction and integrated actuation. The membrane is directly deformed using two piezo actuators that can tune the focal length and the conical parameter. This operating principle allows for a usable aperture of the whole membrane diameter. Together with the efficient actuation mechanism, the aperture is around 2/3 of the total system diameter - at a thickness of less than 2mm. The response time is a few milliseconds at 12mm aperture, which is fast compared to similar systems.