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Optical zoom camera module using two poly-dimethylsiloxane deformable mirrors
Applied Optics
|October 17, 2014
Summary
Researchers developed a compact optical zoom system using deformable mirrors made from polydimethylsiloxane. This innovative reflective optics approach enables 2x optical zoom in a thin 10mm module for portable devices.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Miniaturization is crucial for portable electronic devices.
- Traditional motor-driven lens systems for optical zoom are bulky and power-hungry.
- Reflective optics offers advantages like path folding and reduced chromatic aberration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a compact optical zoom module for portable devices.
- To utilize reflective optics with deformable mirrors for zoom functionality.
- To overcome the limitations of conventional motor-driven lens systems.
Main Methods:
- Employed a deformable mirror as a reflecting element within an optical zoom system.
- Utilized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a deformable membrane due to its low Young's modulus and residual stress.
- Constructed an optical zoom module comprising a pair of micromachined deformable mirrors.
Main Results:
- Achieved a 2x optical zoom capability within a 10 mm thick module.
- The system demonstrated a smallest effective focal length of 4.7 mm at a 52° field angle and f-number of 4.4.
- The largest effective focal length achieved was 9.4 mm with an f-number of 6.4.
Conclusions:
- A compact, thin optical zoom module was successfully demonstrated using deformable mirrors.
- PDMS-based deformable mirrors offer a viable solution for miniaturized optical zoom systems.
- This technology advances the design of portable devices requiring optical zoom functionality.
