title: Electromechanically driven variable-focus lens based on transparent dielectric elastomer.
abstract: Dielectric elastomers with low elastic stiffness and high dielectric constant are smart materials that produce large strains (up to 300%) and belong to the group of electroactive polymers. Dielectric elastomer actuators are made from films of dielectric elastomers coated on both sides with compliant electrode material. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), which is known as a transparent conducting polymer, has been widely used as an interfacial layer or polymer electrode in polymer electronic devices. In this study, we propose the transparent dielectric elastomer as a material of actuator driving variable-focus lens system using PEDOT as a transparent electrode. The variable-focus lens module has light transmittance up to 70% and maximum displacement up to 450. When voltage is applied to the fabricated lens module, optical focal length is changed. We anticipate our research to be a starting point for new model of variable-focus lens system. This system could find applications in portable devices, such as digital cameras, camcorder, and cell phones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-ik
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pugal
authors.forename: Taeseon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hyouk Ryeol
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ja Choon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Youngkwan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Do
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Nam