Suited to a wide range of optical imaging applications including such things as digital cameras, camera phones, endoscopes, home security systems and optical storage drives, the FluidFocus system mimics the action of the human eye using a fluid lens that alters its focal length by changing its shape.

Shapes of a 6-mm diameterlens taken at different applied voltages

The new lens, which lends itself to high-volume manufacturing, overcomes the fixed-focus disadvantages of many of today’s low-cost imaging systems.

The FluidFocus lens consists of two immiscible (non-mixing) fluids of different refractive index (optical properties). One is an electrically conducting aqueous solution and the other an electrically non-conducting oil, both contained in a short tube with transparent end caps.