Characterization of deformable elastic lenses using PDI and null screen

Abstract

In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the use of variable focal length lenses (VFLL), due to the fact that they are used as micro lenses in photographic cameras, endoscope, etc. The VFLL's come mainly in three types, one of them are formed of two transparent elastic membranes with a liquid medium between them, those made of an elastic material inside a mount which allow radial forces to be applied on its perimeter, and finally those which are made of a dielectric liquid medium. In these VFLL always have a mechanism that allows the shape of the lens and its geometrical parameters can be changed. In this study, we implement a mechanical mount to applied radial force, in the perimeter of a solid elastic lens. We measure the aberrations of wavefront present in deformable solid elastic lens (VFLL), when we change the radial forces applied on its borders. The wave sensor used were the Point Diffraction Interferometer (PDI) and null screen tests. Theoretical and experimental results are presented.