Frequency characteristics of an ultrasonic varifocal liquid crystal lens.

Compound lens systems with mechanical actuators are used to focus objects at near to far distances. The focal length of ultrasound varifocal liquid crystal (LC) lenses can be controlled by modulating the refractive index spatial distribution of the medium through the acoustic radiation force, resulting in thin and fast-response varifocal lenses. The frequency characteristics of such a lens are evaluated in this paper, and several axisymmetric resonant vibration modes over 20 kHz are observed. The effective lens aperture decreased with the wavelength of the resonant flexural vibration generated on the lens, meaning that this parameter can be controlled with the driving frequency.