Optical Switchable Electrowetting Lens

The authors report an optical switchable lens using an electrowetting liquid lens. The optical switchable lens is obtained through two different paths, either the annular aperture or the central aperture of the liquid lens. Three polarizers and a liquid crystal cell are used as a light shutter for the two-path transition. A prototype is demonstrated, and the authors analyzed the properties of the switchable electrowetting liquid lens. In contrast to the conventional liquid lenses, our lens system can present high optical power with high resolution for the path of annular aperture, while it can reduce the aberrations and extend the depth of field for the path of central clear aperture. Our lens system has potential applications in target tracking, biomedical science, imaging security, and portable electronic devices.