A fluidic lens with reduced optical aberration

We present an electrically-actuated adaptive fluidic lens having a 10-mm aperture, 4-diopter range and center-thickness less than 1 mm. The lens employs dual deflectable glass membranes encasing an optical fluid. A piezoelectric ring bender actuator draws less than 1 mW and is built into the 25-mm-diameter lens housing. The adaptive lens demonstrates resolution comparable to commercial precision glass singlet lenses of similar format over a wide range of field angles and focal powers. Focal power vs. voltage, resolution, modulation transfer function (MTF), life testing and dynamic response are examined and show that the lens is suitable for numerous adaptive lens applications demanding high optical quality.