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Water Drop Lens

1 2 3 4 Twist one end of the wire around the pencil. Slide the pencil out of the wire. You will have a round loop at one end of the wire. Fill a small bowl or cup with water. Dip the wire into the water with the open loop. Carefully lift the wire out of the water, making sure not the break the surface tension of the water droplet in the loop. This is your lens. Hold the loop and water droplet over the newspaper. Look through the water and the letters should be much larger. The water droplet makes a convex lens that magnifies similar to the lens of your eye.

INTRODUCTION The theory behind liquid lens is based on the properties of one or m o r e f l u i d s t o c r e a t e m a g n i f i c a t i o n s w i t h i n a s m a l l a m o u n t o f space. Liquid lens can be considered as "infinitely variables" lenswith variable focus, and the focus is controlled without using anym o v i n g p a r t s . T h e f o c u s o f a l i q u i d l e n s i s c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e surface of the liquid. Water forms naturally a bubble shape whena d h e re d t o m at e r i a l s s u c h a s g l a s s o r p l a s t i c s . T h i s d e s i r a b l e property makes water a very suitable candidate for the productionof a liquid lens. To generate a liquid lens, a mixture of two liquidsis sandwiched between two pieces of clear plastics or glass. Thesecond liquid needs to encapsulate the water drop and to fill anyfree space or void. It is well known that water and oil do not mix,a n d o i l i s a l s o i n e x p e n s i v e a n d s a f e t o u s e . T h e r e f o r e , o i l i s chosen to be used as the other liquid mixture for the liquid lenss y s t e m . T h e s u r f a c e p ro f i l e s o f t h e l i q u i d s d e t e r m i n e t h e f o c a l l e n g t h o f t h e l i q u i d l e n s s y s t e m , a n d u l t i m a t e l y, h o w t h e l i q u i d lens focuses light. In other words, by altering the surface profile of t h e l i q u i d s , t h e f o c a l l e n g t h c a n b e a d j u s t e d . T h i s i s d o n e b y changing the shape and size of the drop of water within the liquidlens. IMRE has made a breakthrough in lens technology. The lens isc h e a p e r t o m a k e h a s o p t i c a l z o o m i n g a b i l i t i e s a n d u s e s o n l y a fraction of the space of most conventional lenses are called asf l u i d l e n s o r l i q u i d l e n s . I n t h e p a s t 2 - 3 d e c a d e s , t h e n e e d f o r m i n i a t u r i z a t i o n o f op t i c a l s y s t em s h a s i n c re a s e d d r a m a t i c a l l y, e s p e c i a l l y incoherent light handling, for various a p p l i c a t i o n s including c o m m u n i c a t i on s , d at a storage, security or p e r s o n a l identification. More recently this trend has extended to imagingsystems. Nowadays camera modules, integrating a digital sensor a n d a n o p t i c a l s y s t e m a l t o g e t h e r , h a v e e n t e r e d i n t o m o b i l e phones and slim digital cameras, bringing the need for develop inminiature optical systems.The camera module were developed first withl o w c o u n t p i x e l s a n d u l t r a s m a l l f o r m a t sensors (CIF resolution, single element lens),b u t t h e n e e d f o r b e t t e r i m a g e q u a l i t y l e a d s n o w t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f m e g a p i x e l s sensors, 1/4

or less. These sensors are nowc o m m e rc i a l l y a v a i l a b l e , b u t t h e n e e d f o r a u t o f o c u s a n d z o o m compound lenses remains open: no commercial solution existsup to now at reasonable prices for this very large scale market. T h e l i q u i d l e n s t e c h n o l o g y t h a t w e p r e s e n t h e r e c o u l d b e t h e solution to this demanding application.A new principle of variable lenses with tunable focal length will bedemonstrated : two iso-density non-miscible liquids are trappedinside a transparent cell. The liquid-liquid interface forms a dropshape. The natural interfacial tension between liquids produces as m o o t h o p t i c a l i n t e r f a c e , w h i c h c u r v a t u r e i s a c t u a t e d b y e l e c t ro w e t t i n g . I n a d d i t i o n , i n order to have a usable lens, it isn e c e s s a r y t o i n c o r p o r a t e a c e n t e r i n g m e c h a n i s m , s u c h t h a t o p t i c a l a x i s re m a i n s s t a b l e . I n t r i n s i c p h y s i c a l limitations will bep r e s e n t e d a s w e l l a s a c t u a l p e r f o r m a n c e s o f t h e t e c h n o l o g y. S e v e r a l a p p l i c a t i o n s w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d i n t h e autofocus/macro/zoom o p t i c s f o r C M O S a n d C C D m i n i a t u r e imagers. But, because the technique relies on the surface tensiono f t h e l i q u i d s i n s i d e t h e l e n s , i t c a n n o t b e u s e d t o m a k e l e n s e s larger than a centimetre in diameter. This would place a limit onthe resolution of images.N o n e t h e l e s s , K u i p e r b e l i e v e s t h a t F l u i d F o c u s l en s e s c o u l d b e especially useful for reading from Blu-Ray DVD disks, which storeinformation more densely than ordinary DVDs. Blu-Ray playersrequire highly accurate optical systems capable of adjusting for distortions that naturally occur during dual layer disc reading andwriting. The liquid lens technology that we present here could be t h e solution to this demanding application.A new principle of variable lenses with tunable focal length will bedemonstrated : two iso-density non-miscible liquids are trappedinside a transparent cell. The liquid-liquid interface forms a dropshape. The natural interfacial tension between liquids produces as m o o t h optical i n t e r f a c e , w h i c h c u r v a t u r e i s a c t u a t e d b y e l e c t ro w e t t i n g . I n addition, in order to have a usable lens, it isn e c e s s a r y t o i n c o r p o r a t e a c e n t e r i n g m e c h a n i s m , s u c h t h a t o p t i c a l a x i s re m a i n s s t a b l e . I n t r i n s i c physical limitations will bep r e s e n t e d a s w e l l a s a c t u a l p e r f o r m a n c e s o f t h e t e c h n o l o g y. S e v e r a l a p p l i c a t i o n s w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d i n t h e autofocus/macro/zoom o p t i c s f o r C M O S a n d C C D m i n i a t u r e imagers. But, because the technique relies on the surface tensiono f t h e l i q u i d s i n s i d e t h e l e n s , i t c a n n ot b e u s e d t o m a k e l e n s e s larger than a centimetre in diameter. This would place a limit onthe resolution of images.N o n e t h e l e s s , K u i p e r b e l i e v e s t h a t F l u i d F o c u s l e n s e s c o u l d b e especially useful for reading from Blu-Ray DVD disks, which storeinformation more densely than ordinary DVDs. Blu-Ray playersrequire highly accurate optical systems capable of adjusting for distortions that naturally occur during dual layer disc

reading andwriting. Reflective l i q u i d l e n s e s a r e a c t u a l l y v a r i a b l e m i r r o r s , a n d ar e used in reflector telescopes in place of traditional glass mirrors.W h e n a c o n t a i n e r o f f l u i d ( i n t h i s c a s e , m e r c u r y ) i s r o t a t e d , c e n t r i p e t a l f or c e cr e a t e s a s m o o t h r ef l e c t i v e c o n c a v i t y t h a t i s ideally suited for telescope applications. Normally, such a smoothcurved surface has to be meticulously ground and polished intoglass in an extremely expensive and tricky process (remember t h e H u b b l e S p a c e Te l e s c o p e m i r r o r f i a s c o ) . A r e f l e c t i v e l i q u i d lens would never suffer from that problem, as a simple change inr o t a t i o n s p e e d w o u l d change the curve of the meniscus to theproper shape. Scientists at the U n i v e r s i t y o f B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a ( U B C ) h a v e b u i l t a 2 3 6- i n c h ( 6 - m e t er ) L i q u i d M i r r o r Te l e s c o p e (LMT). The world's 13th largest telescope, its reflective surface ismade of a flat container of mercury spinning at about 5 RPM. Thetelescope costs only about $1 million, a significant reduction fromt h e r o u g h l y $ 1 0 0 m i l l i o n c o s t o f w h a t a c o n v e n t i o n a l t e l e s c o p e with a regular solid glass mirror of the same size would require. Transmissive liquid lenses use two immiscible fluids, each with adifferent refractive index, to create variable-focus lenses of highoptical quality as small as 10 m (microns). The two fluids, onea n e l e c t r i c a l l y c o n d u c t i n g a q u e o u s s o l u t i o n a n d o n e a nonconducting oil, are contained in a short tube with transparentend caps. The interior of the tube and one of the caps is coated 6 with a hydrophobic material, which causes the aqueous solutionto form a hemispherical lens-shaped mass at the opposite end of t h e t u b e . T h e s h a p e o f t h e l e n s i s a d j u s t e d b y a p p l y i n g a d c voltage across the coating to decrease its water repellency in aprocess called electrowetting. Electrowetting adjusts the liquid'ssurface tension, changing the radius of curvature in the meniscusa n d t h e r e b y t h e f o c a l l e n g t h of t h e l e n s . O n l y 0 . 1 m i c r o j o u l e s (J) are needed for each change of focus. Extremely shock andvibration resistant, such a lens is capable of seamless transitionf r o m c o n v e x ( c o n v e rg e n t ) t o c o n c a v e ( d i v e rg e n t ) l e n s s h a p e s w i t h s w i t c h i n g t i m e s m e a s u r e d i n m i l l i s e c o n d s . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e boundary between the two fluids forms an extremely smooth andr e g u l a r s u r f a c e , m a k i n g l i q u i d l e n s e s o f a q u a l i t y s u i t a b l e f o r endoscopic medical imaging and other space-constrained high-r e s o l u t i o n a p p l i c a t i o n s l i k e m i c r o c a m e r a s a n d f i b e r - o p t i c telecommunications systems.The aforementioned liquid-formed lenses are a cool technologyas well, and used mostly on image sensors. Tiny drops of epoxya r e p l a c e d o n e a c h p i x e l , w h i c h t h e n f or m i n d i v i d u a l l e n s e s t o i n c r e a s e l i g h t - c a p t u r i n g a b i l i t y. T h e y a r e a l s o u s e d o n n o v e l t y items to create a magnifying effect.

7 WORKING PRINCIPLE: The magnifying principle of a liquid lens is similar to that of our e y e . W h e n w e t r y t o s e e a n o b j e c t , t h e l i g h t w h i c h c o m e s f r o m the object falls on our eye ball. Our eye ball(pupil) has the abilityt o c o n t r a c t o r e x p a n d i t s e l f d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e object. Which then leaves the perfect light ray to fall on the retinawhich results visibility of the object.If the pupil cant adjust itself then we are not able to see the object.The liquid lens acts on thesame principle. 8 T h e l e n s h a s a n a c t u a t o r w h i c h i s d r i v e n b y t h e d i e l e c t r i c power. Which results in adjustment of the lens, hence we areable to take the picture.T h e f i g u r e b e l o w d e p i c t s t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f a l i q u i d l e n s actuated by the dielectric force. The liquid lens consists of a1 5 L ( l i q u i d ) d r o p l e t w i t h a l o w d i e l e c t r i c c o n s t a n t and asealing liquid with a high dielectric constant. The bottomd i a m e t e r o f t h e d r o p l e t w a s 7 m m w h e n n o v o l t a g e w a s a p p l i e d . T h e t w o l i q u i d s w e r e i n j e c t e d i n s i d e a 3 m m t h i c k PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) chamber that was sealed 9 b e t w e e n t w o I T O g l a s s s u b s t r a t e s . T h e c o n c e n t r i c I T O electrodes on t h e b o t t o m g l a s s s u b s t r a t e w e r e c o a t e d w i t h 1m thick Teflon to reduce friction between the droplet andt h e g l a s s s u b s t r a t e . T h e w i d t h a n d s p a c i n g o f t h e I T O electrodes was 50m. The mass density of the sealing liquidw a s a d j u s t e d t o m a t c h t h a t o f t h e d r o p l e t t o m i n i m i z e t h e gravitational effect, since the gravitational effect may induceno uniform deformation of the droplet profile, causing opticala b e r r a t i o n s . A s t h e v o l t a g e w a s a p p l i e d , a d i e l e c t r i c f o r c e a r o s e o n t h e d r o p l e t d u e t o t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e d i e l e c t r i c constant between the two liquids. The dielectric force shrunkt h e d r o p l e t , i n c r e a s i n g t h e d r o p l e t ' s c o n t a c t a n g l e a n d s h o r t e n i n g t h e f o c a l l e n g t h of t h e l i q u i d l e n s . T h e d i e l e c t r i c force induced is described by equation given beloww h e r e 0 is the permittivity of free space, 1 and 2 ared i e l e c t r i c c o n s t a n t s o f t h e s e a l i n g l i q u i d a n d t h e d r o p l e t , respectively. E denotes the electric field intensity across theinterface of the two liquids

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