Abstract:
A tunable liquid microlens includes an insulating layer, a droplet of a transparent conducting liquid, and a lubricating layer disposed on a first surface of the insulating layer and between the droplet and the insulating layer. The microlens also includes a plurality of electrodes insulated from the droplet by the insulating layer and the lubricating layer, the plurality of electrodes being disposed such that they may be selectively biased to create a respective voltage potential between the droplet and each of the plurality of electrodes, whereby an angle between the droplet and a plane parallel to the first surface of the insulating layer may be varied and the droplet may be repositioned relative to the insulating layer.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the movement of a droplet disposed on a nanostructured or microstructured surface is determined by at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern or at least one characteristic of the droplet. In one embodiment, the movement of the droplet is laterally determined by at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern such that the droplet moves in a desired direction along a nanostructured feature pattern. In another embodiment, the movement of the droplet is determined by either at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern or at least one characteristic of the droplet in a way such that the droplet penetrates the feature pattern at a desired area and becomes substantially immobile.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the movement of a droplet disposed on a nanostructured or microstructured surface is determined by one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern. The characteristic is a distance between each of at least a portion of the nanostructures or microstructures.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the movement of a droplet disposed on a nanostructured or microstructured surface is determined by at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern or at least one characteristic of the droplet. The movement of the droplet is determined by either at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern or at least one characteristic of the droplet in a way such that the droplet penetrates the feature pattern at a desired area and becomes substantially immobile.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the movement of a droplet disposed on a nanostructured or microstructured surface is determined by at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern. The characteristic is the spatial density of at least a portion of said pattern of nanostructures or microstructures.
Abstract:
A tunable liquid microlens (100) includes an insulating layer (104), a droplet of a transparent conducting liquid (102) disposed on a first surface of the insulating layer and a plurality of electrodes (106) insulated from the droplet by the insulating layer (104). The plurality of electrodes are disposed such that they may be selectively biased to create a respective voltage potential between the droplet and each of the plurality of electrodes, whereby a contact angle (θ) between the droplet and the first surface is variable and the droplet may be repositioned along the first surface.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the movement of a droplet disposed on a nanostructured or microstructured surface is determined by at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern. The characteristic is the spatial density of at least a portion of said pattern of nanostructures or microstructures.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the movement of a droplet disposed on a nanostructured or microstructured surface is determined by at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern or at least one characteristic of the droplet. The movement of the droplet is determined by either at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern or at least one characteristic of the droplet in a way such that the droplet penetrates the feature pattern at a desired area and becomes substantially immobile.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprising a tunable liquid microlens (100) that includes a transparent supporting layers (106) and a transparent photoresponsive layer (104) disposed on a first surface of the supporting layer. A droplet (102) of a transparent liquid is disposed on the photoresponsive layer. The photoresponsive layer separates the supporting layer and the droplet. At least a portion of the photoresponsive layer that contacts the droplet may be selectively irradiated by at least one light source (108) such that a contact angle between the droplet and the photoresponsive layer may be varied and the droplet may be repositioned along the photoresponsive layer. In this manner, at least one of a focal length and a lateral position of a focal spot of the microlens may be adjusted directly by irradiation with a light beam.