The first comprehensive survey of state-of-the-art tunable micro-optics, covering advances in materials, components and systems.

In imaging system, de-focus and astigmatism are the most common optical aberrations, and finding non-mechanical approach of correcting these aberrations is of great interest. Although non-mechanical correction of de-focus has been widely studied, astigmatism correction remains relatively unexplored. Motivated by this gap, this Ph.D. thesis focuses on the development of a new type of gradient refractive index (GRIN) liquid crystal (LC) lenses capable of non-mechanical correction of both astigmatism and de-focus. The proposed device consists of a stack of three electrically tunable cylindrical lenses that implement a concentric stripe electrode and segmented phase profile design. This system offers several advantages, including a simple, low-cost structure, a large aperture size (50 mm), low voltage drive, and a compact design. Compared to conventional mechanical approaches, this non-mechanical solution has significant potential for various applications such as wavefront correction in large telescopes, microscopy, augmented reality/virtual reality, and prescription eyeglasses. In the second part of the thesis, challenges associated with concentric electrode-based large aperture (50 mm) LC lenses with segmented phase profile designs are investigated, including haze-related and diffraction-related issues. Effective solutions are provided to enhance the optical quality of these lenses (reduction of fringing field effect with an insulator layer and inclusion of black mask). By addressing these challenges, a 50 mm aperture size electrically focus tunable LC spherical lens with enhanced optical quality is developed. The proposed tunable lenses exhibit lightweight (

Presents readers with the basic science, technology, and applications for every type of adaptive lens An adaptive lens is a lens whose shape has been changed to a different focal length by an external stimulus such as pressure, electric field, magnetic field, or temperature. Introduction to Adaptive Lenses is the first book ever to address all of the fundamental operation principles, device characteristics, and potential applications of various types of adaptive lenses. This comprehensive book covers basic material properties, device structures and performance, image processing and zooming, optical communications, and biomedical imaging. Readers will find homework problems and solutions included at the end of each chapter—and based on the described device structures, they will have the knowledge to fabricate adaptive lenses for practical applications or develop new adaptive devices or concepts for advanced investigation. Introduction to Adaptive Lenses includes chapters on: Optical lenses Elastomeric membrane lenses Electro-wetting lenses Dielectrophoretic lenses Mechanical-wetting lenses Liquid crystal lenses This is an important reference for optical engineers, research scientists, graduate students, and undergraduate seniors.

Principles of Adaptive Optics describes the foundations, principles, and applications of adaptive optics (AO) and its enabling technologies. Addressing the fundamentals of AO at the core of new uses in biomedical imaging, communications, high-energy lasers, and astronomy, this fully revised and significantly expanded Fourth Edition:Contains all-new