• Acta Photonica Sinica
  • Vol. 54, Issue 2, 0211003 (2025)
Zhixiang GU1,4, Lu ZENG1,2, Feng PEI1,2, Yi XIAO1,4..., Jianquan LI1 and Sizhu WU1,2,3,*|Show fewer author(s)
Author Affiliations
  • 1School of Instrument Science and Opto-electronic Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
  • 2Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Intelligent Interconnected Systems, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
  • 3Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Measurement Theory and Precision Instruments, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
  • 4School of Mechanical Engineering, Nantong Vocational University, Nantong 226000, China
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    DOI: 10.3788/gzxb20255402.0211003 Cite this Article
    Zhixiang GU, Lu ZENG, Feng PEI, Yi XIAO, Jianquan LI, Sizhu WU. Tunable Imaging and Simulation Based on Microlens Array[J]. Acta Photonica Sinica, 2025, 54(2): 0211003 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Microlens arrays have become indispensable core components in advanced micro-optical systems due to their large field of view, low aberrations, and lightweight characteristics. In recent years, as research in micro-optics has deepened, the manufacturing technology for microlens arrays has also been continuously evolving, particularly with significant progress in producing microlens arrays with complex surface profiles. However, to achieve adjustable performance of microlens arrays in areas such as imaging, 3D display, and optical sensing, we need to integrate more functional components into the microlens arrays, which often leads to increased system size and complexity. Therefore, the practical application of adjustable microlens array still faces many challenges. To address this, the use of smart materials such as shape memory polymers, hydrogels, and piezoelectric materials, driven by external stimuli, offers new approaches for the reconfigurability of microlens arrays. The experimental research process is generally divided into three parts: the preparation of the micro-hole array template, the fabrication of the SMP, and the soft lithography process. First, the femtosecond laser parameters are set to create a pit array on quartz glass. Next, the surface is subjected to wet etching with HF, causing the pits to gradually enlarge over time, resulting in the desired micro-hole array template. The preparation of SMP involves mixing epoxy resin and hardener in a 3∶1 ratio, followed by vacuum treatment in an electric vacuum drying oven. Finally, the SMP is evenly coated onto the micro-hole array template, heated at 65 ℃ for three hours, and then peeled off from the quartz template to obtain the SMP-MLA. The MLA obtained through the above process shows clear and smooth edges, and can produce sharp imaging of objects. Initially, the MLA provides a clear image of the letter “T”. At the transition temperature (130 ℃), by mechanically flattening it, the MLA becomes flat, resulting in a sharp decrease in height. Due to the change in the shape of the MLA, clear imaging of objects is no longer possible. However, when the MLA is reheated to the transition temperature, the shape of the MLA quickly returns to its original state, allowing for clear imaging of objects, showcasing the adjustable functionality of the shape memory MLA. We also measured its focal length and resolution. Subsequently, we used the simulation software Zemax to simulate the microlens, obtaining theoretical focal lengths and resolutions. A comparison of the experimental data with the theoretical data indicates that they are consistent. In summary, this paper successfully fabricated a reconfigurable microlens array using smart materials (SMP). Through simulations with Zemax software, the theoretical focal length of the microlens array was determined to be 45 μm, with a theoretical resolution of 5.692 lp/mm. The experimentally measured actual focal length was 45.7 μm, and the resolution measured using a resolution chart was 5.657 lp/mm, indicating that the experimental data aligns well with the theoretical data. The experimental results show that the shape memory MLA possesses unique plasticity and reversibility. By applying mechanical force, the MLA can temporarily deform into a flat state and maintain this shape, allowing for adjustments to its focusing and imaging behavior for controllable modulation. Once the MLA is flattened under mechanical pressure, simply applying heat can trigger its reconfiguration process, restoring its original optical performance. The measured focal length of the recovered microlens array was 45.175 μm, which shows minimal deviation from the initial focal length of 45.7 μm. This experimental result fully validates the adjustable imaging capabilities of this method.
    Zhixiang GU, Lu ZENG, Feng PEI, Yi XIAO, Jianquan LI, Sizhu WU. Tunable Imaging and Simulation Based on Microlens Array[J]. Acta Photonica Sinica, 2025, 54(2): 0211003
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