2012 Volume 10 Pages 243-247
Most of lenses embedded in optical devices used today are as hard as a glass and not deformable. Therefore, it is needed to move the positions of the lenses in focusing and zooming. Actual optical devices sometimes become complex and large. Here we improve Double Network gel lens and newly propose deformable lens system by virtue of high-strength, transparent and transformable hydrogels. Shape-Memory gels are applied to the deformable lens systems. The focal length of DN gel lens was controlled by the degree of swelling of gels. In the deformable lens systems a water layer is sandwiched between two gel sheets to compose a variable focus lens. By changing the pressure of the water layer, the radius of convex curvature of the gel sheet surface can be controlled, and the focal length of the lens can be adjusted. Further, the SMG lens can memorize its shape, so that the focal length can be fixed. The DNG and SMG lenses bring new possibilities to develop actuated gel lenses, which are simple and small, but highly functionalized. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2012.243]
