title: Tuneable bioinspired lens.
abstract: Bioinspired lenses that rely on changes of curvature to achieve focus are interesting candidates for miniaturized tuneable lenses as they require fewer mechanical moving parts compared to their conventional counter-parts. The lens described in this manuscript closely mimics the design and actuation principle of the vertebrate lens. It consists of a liquid lens encapsulated in a transparent polymer membrane. Application of a radial strain changes the curvature of the lens thereby changing its focal length. The unstrained lens has a focal length of 50 mm, which rises to a value of 100 mm at a maximum radial strain of 0.67%. This range compares favourably to both biological lenses and other published examples of biomimetic lenses. Finally we point out a few routes to improve the quality of the lens and expand its focal length range.
authors.affiliation: Nanoscience Centre, University of Cambridge, 11 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0FF, UK.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charmet
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oyen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology*; D007909:Lenses; D008027:Light; D012542:Scattering, Radiation