Auto-tunable microlens chip for sensing applications

Author

Wang, Weisong ; Fang, Ji ; Varahramyan, Kody

Author_Institution

Inst. for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech Univ., Ruston, LA

fYear

2005

fDate

Oct. 30 2005-Nov. 3 2005

Abstract

An integrated auto-tunable microlens chip, which is capable of adjusting its focal length over a wide range, is reported. The packaged microlens chip consists of a flexible 3D convex polymer lens, thermal actuator and sensor. The actuation mechanism based on the liquid´s thermal expansion is introduced for the first time ever into an auto-tunable microlens to obtain relatively large actuation force and displacement. The 3D convex polymer lens provides an initial focal point at no actuation. The focal length change is controlled by varying the voltage applied to the thermal actuator and without any mechanical moving parts. It varies from 9.197 to 2.619 mm, which corresponds to the change of numerical aperture from 0.146 to 0.448. Potential applications include single cell detection and immobilization, optical sensor, lab-on-a-chip, ophthalmologic mimetic system, high throughput scanning and confocal imaging system

Keywords

microlenses; polymers; temperature sensors; thermal expansion; 3D convex polymer lens; actuation displacement; actuation force; auto-tunable microlens chip; confocal imaging system; high throughput scanning; lab-on-a-chip; liquid thermal expansion; ophthalmologic mimetic system; optical sensor; single cell detection; thermal actuator; thermal sensor; Actuators; Force sensors; Lenses; Microoptics; Packaging; Polymers; Thermal expansion; Thermal force; Thermal lensing; Thermal sensors;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Sensors, 2005 IEEE

Conference_Location

Irvine, CA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-9056-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICSENS.2005.1597750

Filename

1597750