Interest in variable-focus lenses is growing due to their dynamic optical power control and reduced spatial demands for focusing and/or zooming functions. Most variable-focus lenses are limited to small apertures (< 10mm), limiting their application scenarios. In this work, we designed and fabricated a 42mm large-aperture variable-focus lens based on a liquid-membrane-liquid (LML) structure. This design surpasses the typical limitations of small aperture sizes in variable-focus lenses. Experiments show that the prototype achieves consistent optical power actuation range in [−3D, +3D], high repeatability during the actuation process, and 82.1622% transmittance using a ~630nm laser beam. After constructing an imaging system incorporating the proposed prototype, the imaging tests yield average modulation transfer function (MTF) values of 0.7904 at 17.204lp/mm spacial frequency and 0.5439 at 34.409lp/mm in the region where no obvious distortion occurs. The prototype demonstrates potential applications in fields requiring large aperture and high-quality imaging capabilities, such as wearable devices and machine vision.
Head-mounted displays (HMDs) require precise measurement of virtual image distance for user comfort, but this is challenging due to dynamic variations. This paper addresses the difficulty by proposing a prototype using a variable-focus liquid lens and a calculation model for virtual image distance. We developed an experimental platform to validate the method and introduced an optimization algorithm to find the optimal focal length for maximum sharpness. Results showed a distance error of about 5 cm, confirming that our method accurately measures virtual image distance in HMDs, with potential applications in virtual and augmented reality.
The traditional method of monitoring cameras is employed in robot vision, surveillance cameras, and so on. However, it cannot track as fast as expected due to the large inertia of the camera and mechanical pan-tilt. It also decreases the optical resolution because of the digital zoom on the interest area. Therefore, we proposed high-speed zooming and tracking optics that consists of an optical zooming unit and an active tracking unit. The two units are designed with coaxial optical paths by a beam splitter. The zooming unit is built with three liquid lenses, one glass lens, and a high-speed camera. It can continuously change the magnification from 1x to 2x. By controlling the optical powers of three liquid lenses, the focal length of the zooming unit can be changed from 40 to 80 mm within milliseconds. The tracking unit composed of a high-speed mirror-based gaze controller, a high-speed camera, and pupil shift optics, can track the object and keep it in the center of both views. In addition, the zooming unit provides a compensation algorithm for the zooming unit to achieve adaptive zoom accurately. The experiment shows that the zooming unit performs adaptive optical zoom, and the tracking unit recognizes the object by adaptive tracking algorithm within 6 milliseconds.
Dynamic projection mapping for moving objects has attracted much attention in recent years. However, conventional approaches have faced some issues, such as the target objects being limited to planar objects, the limited moving speed of the targets, and the limitation of their narrow depth of field. Based on the high-speed liquid lens optics, an adaptive three-dimensional projection display method could project an always in-focus image on the target. Meanwhile, the location of the non-planar object could be detected, and calculated the mapped projection contents, as a result, a stable "printed" projection mapping should be viewed on a moving non-planar object.
A large open aperture in an optical system can capture high-resolution images but yields a shallow depth of field. To overcome this issue, we propose a method for improving microscopy imaging systems by using a variable-focus liquid lens to achieve 3D focus scanning. Specifically, the focal length of the imaging system was changed by the liquid lens, and a sequence of 12 images was captured in different focal planes. The image scale was adjusted according to the change in focal length, and the phase of the image was corrected by the phase only correction method. Then the in-focus pixels were abstracted by employing the Laplacian operator. Finally, an all-in-focus sharp image was generated, and a depth map was obtained. Additionally, to accelerate the processing speed, the Fast Fourier Transform image processing during phase correction was optimized. Meanwhile, we propose a parallel optimization solution for the original processing flow.
It is a challenge for conventional monocular-camera single-light source eye tracking methods to achieve high-speed eye tracking. Human gaze motion is a high-speed and miniature eye movement. Eye tracking requires a high-speed sampling frequency. In this work, an eye tracking method was proposed to overcomes the above limitation. The dual-ring infrared lighting source was designed to achieve bright and dark pupils in high-speed. The eye tracking method used a dual-ring infrared lighting source and synchronized triggers for the even and odd camera frames to capture bright and dark pupils. A pupillary corneal reflex was calculated by the center coordinates of the Purkinje spot and the pupil. A map function was established to map the relationship between pupillary corneal reflex and gaze spots. The gaze coordinate was calculated based on the mapping function. The detection time of each frame was less than five milliseconds, which achieved the purpose of high-speed eye tracking of the human gaze.
Based on the liquid lens focus mechanism, the optical tactile sensor and its signal acquisition system are designed. To balance the relationship the manufacturing complexity, perceptual precision and sensitivity, perceptual stability, and robustness of the tactile sensor, they are important components of smart devices. Some of them, such as robots, smart wearable devices, etc., because they can intuitively reflect the interaction state of the man-machine-environment. Firstly, according to the liquid-film lens structure, the sensing structure of the optical tactile sensor was designed, and its tactile perception mechanism was explored; secondly, the signal acquisition system for the sensor was designed to improve the integration of the tactile sensing system; finally, the optical tactile sensor performance test and application demonstration platform was designed-built to test-calibrate the sensor system performance, and explore its application potential in touch force detection. Experiments show that the sensor has an effective range from 0.01 to 1.2 N, a sensitivity of up to 0.1654 V/N (range from 0.01 to 0.4 N), and a linear goodness of fit of up to R2 = 0.996 (range from 0.01 to 0.4 N). Good perceptual stability and responsiveness (loading response time: 0.078 s), can achieve accurate measurement of the target mass, with an error of less than 0.02 N.
KEYWORDS: Image fusion, 3D image reconstruction, 3D image processing, Image quality, 3D acquisition, Image processing, Signal to noise ratio, Data fusion, Imaging systems, Reconstruction algorithms
The acquisition of sharp, full-focus images and the restoration of microscopic scenes require complex instrumentation and algorithms. To conveniently obtain the three-dimensional (3-D) structural information of full-focus images and high-quality microscopic scenes, we construct a zoomable 3-D microscope imaging system and propose new image fusion and depth reconstruction algorithms based on this imaging system. The image acquisition environment of the system is analyzed using interference factors such as light transmission variation and jitter, and the corresponding image preprocessing methods are discussed. We combined the new sum-modified-Laplacian (SML) and local band-limited contrast methods, which contain multiple image features but measure the image definition from different angles, then proposed a mixed-contrast factor, and combined it with the SML method to propose an image fusion method. We then proposed a depth reconstruction method based on the structural similarity of multifocus images. For cases where depth reconstruction results in large distortion with high noise, we proposed a depth value restoration method based on anisotropic diffusion to improve the 3-D reconstruction results. Experimental results show that the proposed image fusion and depth reconstruction methods exhibit excellent performance.
An extended depth-of-field projection is needed for spatial augmented reality. However, conventional projectors are often designed with a small F/#, which causes a narrow depth-of-field. This paper presents a new system consisting of a variable focus optical path and 1000-fps 8-bit high-speed projector. This system oscillates the focal length of the lens at high speed and synchronizes it with the projection. High speed performance contributes to project clear images even under the oscillated focal length and to realize all-in-focus projections on more than 10 targets at different depths.
To capture an all-in-focus and 3D depth image, shape from focus method is widely used. The phase accuracy of the image candidates should be processed and adjusted beforehand. Phase only correction method was employed in this work and to accelerate the processing speed, the image processing by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) was optimized. Meanwhile, the processing task was assigned in several parallel threads so that the performance would be improved. The method was used on a variable focus imaging system, and, as a result, the processing speed was improved to around 2.5-fps.
It is a challenge for conventional projectors to conduct projection mapping for a 3D dynamic moving object along the depth direction, due to the limitation of their narrow depth-of-field. Here, a dynamic projection system is proposed that has overcome the above limitation by employing a liquid-filled variable focal unit and a depth-sensing module. The depth sensor detected the depth information of the projection target, and then served as feedback to adjust the focal length of the variable focal lens, in turn, the focal length of the projection system would be controlled. A well-focused projection mapping with a randomly moving object would be demonstrated.
With the purpose of designing a liquid-filled variable focus lens with a large optical aperture and high-speed performance, an investigation research and a series of comparison experiments were conducted. One of the foundings is that the eigenfrequencies of the actuation unit and the lens' dynamic surface profile will become the critical parameters when the lens aperture becomes large. Mechanics analysis of the deformation was studied, and a series of the lens prototype was built.
Microscopy imaging optics can capture the high-resolution image at a certain focus plane, but the information outside that focal plane will become a blur and the information will be lost. We can adjust the optics stop or manually adjust the focal length, but the resolution will be reduced and it is capable of observing a high speed moving target in vivo. When a transparent plate was placed in front of a camera, the focusing point of the original system would be shifted. We proposed a variable focus system for extending the depth of field of the microscopy imaging system.
We report a novel method to manipulate the direction of a laser beam by controlling the thickness of a dielectric elastomer. The system is controlled by applying different voltages to multi-layers of dielectric elastomers without mechanical movement. We employed laser beams with different wavelengths to test the proposed system, and the experimental results showed that it has an excellent transmittance profile in the ultraviolet and visible wavelength bands, and that we achieved high-precision control in the micrometer range. The results show the feasibility of this technique for laser applications that require high positional accuracy, such as laser cutting, drilling machines, and 3D printing.
An adaptive chromatic doublet that designed by doublet variable focus lenses was proposed. Two lenses were in filled with different liquids, so that the lenses could perform low and high dispersion proprieties. The proposed doublet could performance a tunable focal length, and meanwhile its chromatic aberration could be corrected. Four available liquids candidates were proposed to fabricate two variable focus lenses that would be designed with liquid-membrane-liquid structure, so that they could realize a large aperture adaptive achromatic doublet. The improvement of the achromatic behaviors was confirmed that the chromatic focal shift range was 2.5% for the adaptive singlet and 0.05% for the adaptive doublet.
We describe and demonstrate a pair of diopter-adjustable eyeglasses aimed to correct presbyopia; the glasses provide a tunable optical power in the whole surface of the lens cell, eliminating the optical distortion typical of bifocal/trifocal or progressive glasses. The wearer can actively control the optical power by a simple sliding gesture on the bridge of the glasses, so that presbyopic vision can be interactively corrected. Results from a preliminary experiment showed that a presbyopia sufferer could clearly observe near and far objects under the assistant accommodation of the glasses. Designing a truly wearable system poses some challenges – none of them theoretical – so the system should be feasible in the near future.
With the purpose of designing a variable-focal lens with large optical aperture, a liquid lens with liquid-membrane-liquid
structure and 30mm optical aperture is proposed. Function of the inserted membrane is stated that much stronger elastic
force takes place of interface tension, and enlarging aperture size of liquid lens becomes possible. Mechanics analysis of
membrane’s deformation and finite element simulation was employed to demonstrate the elastic force maintains the
deformation into a parabolic shape. Moreover, a prototype lens was designed and optical performance with a refractive
power range of 7.7Diopters, and 7.13line-pair/mm resolution was measured in experiments.
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