Abstract
The thermal stability of dielectric liquid lenses is studied by measuring the focal length at different temperatures. Two types of liquids lenses are investigated: Type-I (SL-5267/glycerol) and Type-II (glycerol/ BK7 matching liquid). A threshold-like behavior is found. Below the threshold temperature, the focal length is temperature insensitive. Above the threshold, the focal length changes exponentially with the temperature. Both refractive index and surface profile are responsible for the focal length change, although the former decreases linearly with the temperature. The threshold temperature of Type-I and Type-II liquid lens are 60°C and 40°C, respectively. Type-I lens shows a good temperature stability in a wide range. Moreover, the lens can recover to its original state even though it is operated at a high temperature.
Highlights
Adaptive liquid lenses provide innovative and exciting opportunities to enhance the optical performance, accuracy, throughput, and reliability while reducing overall cost in machine vision, medical, and optical communication systems [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
Studying the temperature effect on a dielectric liquid lens is critically important for practical applications
To study the temperature effect, the fabricated liquid lens was placed in a closed chamber (Linkam, LTS350), whose temperature was controlled by a computer as Fig. 1(b) shows
Summary
Adaptive liquid lenses provide innovative and exciting opportunities to enhance the optical performance, accuracy, throughput, and reliability while reducing overall cost in machine vision, medical, and optical communication systems [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. The ambient temperature may change, which would affect the lens’ focal length and imaging performance because the physical properties of the employed liquids are temperature dependent. Studying the temperature effect on a dielectric liquid lens is critically important for practical applications. We prepared two dielectric liquid lenses with two liquid pairs, and evaluated their temperature dependent focal length and image performance. The liquid lens with SL5267 optical fluid and glycerol presents very good thermal stability as long as the temperature is below 70 °C. It recovers to its original state even heated at 130 °C for several minutes
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