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Patterning via Optical Saturable Transitions - Fabrication and Characterization

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Published on: December 11, 2014

Ultrathin Tunable Lens Based on Boundary Tension Effect.

Ao Yang¹, Jie Cao², Fanghua Zhang³

¹School of optics and photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100081, China. yangao293@126.com.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)

|September 22, 2019

Summary

Researchers developed a new ultrathin tunable lens (UTL) using liquid film lenses (LFLs). This innovation enables flexible focal length changes in a compact 2.15 mm device, ideal for miniature zoom optical systems.

Keywords:

boundary tension effect optical imaging ultrathin tunable lens

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Last Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Patterning via Optical Saturable Transitions - Fabrication and Characterization

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Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces

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Published on: September 9, 2022

Area of Science:

Optical Engineering
Materials Science

Background:

Traditional solid and liquid lenses result in bulky zoom optical systems due to their inherent thickness.
Existing lens technologies face limitations in achieving further miniaturization.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a novel ultrathin tunable lens (UTL) design.
To overcome the thickness limitations of conventional lenses for compact optical systems.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of an ultrathin tunable lens (UTL) using two liquid film lenses (LFLs).
Utilizing aspheric deformation of micro-liquid surfaces under gravity and boundary tension.
Demonstrating tunable focal lengths from positive to negative.

Main Results:

The UTL achieves a device thickness of only 2.15 mm.
The lens exhibits flexible focal length adjustment, functioning as both positive and negative lenses.
The UTL offers advantages including small volume, light weight, and simple fabrication.

Conclusions:

The proposed UTL design overcomes the thickness limitations of traditional lenses.
This innovation provides a new lens form and fabrication method for miniature zoom optical systems.
The UTL is a viable replacement for conventional lenses in compact optical designs.