VARIO LENSES AS FIXED ELEMENTS OF ZOOM-OPTICAL SYSTEMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20535/kpisn.2026.1.353417Keywords:
membrane vario lenses, electrowetting vario lenses, cardinal points of vario lenses, shifts of cardinal points of vario lensesAbstract
Baсkground. The modernisation and structural improvement of zoom optical systems by utilising fixed vario lenses that are either electrically or mechanically controlled.
Objective. An evaluation of the accomplishments in the advancement and enhancement of adaptive vario lenses featuring externally regulated optical power, intended for integration into zoom optical systems as permanent elements. An analysis of the factors that could result in the instability of the cardinal points within the optical system of vario lenses.
Methods. An examination of the physical principles governing contemporary externally controlled vario lenses, with a focus on the conditions that facilitate alterations in their optical power. Application of the fundamental tenets of optical system theory to evaluate how variations in the geometric configuration and placement of the interface between the operational optical media of vario lenses influence their optical power. A thorough analysis and organization of information available on manufacturers' websites, as well as in public information sources and publications from varifocal lens developers, regarding the design characteristics of their existing models.
Results. A comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms responsible for alterations in the optical power of membrane and electrically wetted vario lenses revealed that fluctuations in their optical power result from modifications in the radius of curvature of the surface separating the working optical media, as well as by changes in the position of this surface along the optical axis. This leads to a shift along the optical axis of the vario lens of the cardinal (principal and nodal) points of the vario lens and a corresponding shift of their focal points.
Conclusions. In the examined membrane and electrowetting vario lenses, alterations in the geometric shapes of the space occupied by the working optical media affects not only the optical power, but also the position of the cardinal points of the vario lenses. Therefore, in zoom-optical systems, vario lenses cannot be regarded as fixed optical components despite the fact that their physical locations within the system design are actually fixed. The shift factor of the cardinal points of the vario lenses requires comprehensive further investigation and determination of the functional dependence between the specified shift and the values of the optical power of the vario lense. The practical application of the findings from these investigations will allow improving the algorithm of parametric synthesis of zoom-optical systems with vario lenses built into them, and will also provide a theoretical foundation for more accurate programming of the level of control electrical signals supplied from microcontrollers to the vario lenses. This will aid in averting detrimental axial shifts of the images formed by them (image defocusing) and disruption of the aberration correction of the system during the operation of zoom optical systems
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