Digitally switchable multi-focal lens using freeform optics

Xuan Wang, Yi Qin, Hong Hua, Yun Han Lee, Shin Tson Wu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Optical technologies offering electrically tunable optical power have found a broad range of applications, from head-mounted displays for virtual and augmented reality applications to microscopy. In this paper, we present a novel design and prototype of a digitally switchable multi-focal lens (MFL) that offers the capability of rapidly switching the optical power of the system among multiple foci. It consists of a freeform singlet and a customized programmable optical shutter array (POSA). Time-multiplexed multiple foci can be obtained by electrically controlling the POSA to switch the light path through different segments of the freeform singlet rapidly. While this method can be applied to a broad range of imaging and display systems, we experimentally demonstrate a proof-of-concept prototype for a multi-foci imaging system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11007-11017
Number of pages11
JournalOptics Express
Volume26
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 16 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Digitally switchable multi-focal lens using freeform optics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this