Novel dual-function lens with microscopic and vari-focus capability incorporated with an aberration-suppression aspheric lens

Substantial aberrations are ubiquitous in many conventional adaptive lenses due to the existence of deformable interface and thus inevitably compromise the optical performance. In this paper, we introduce a novel concept of dual-function fluidic lenses (DFFL) with a built-in aspheric polydimethylsiloxane lens (APL) to enable the design of a compact optical system with tunable imaging and aberration suppression properties. This is achieved by varying both hydrostatic pressures (i.e. adjusting the injected liquid volume change) such that a widely tunable focal length and the simultaneously integrated APL for aberrations correction. DFFL can transform to 4 modes: microscopic mode (APL only), APL/concave mode, APL/plano mode, and APL/convex mode. Focal tunability of DFFL from 12/8 mm to about 90/65 mm (DI water/ethanol) is demonstrated without any mechanical moving components. Aberration characterization is carried out systematically and the low cost, high performance microscopic mode can be easily achieved by actuating the contact between APL and PDMS membrane. In addition, DFFL turning to microscopic mode (focal length 7.32 mm and magnification 50X) can rival the images quality of commercial microscopes.