Adaptive micro-eye based on tunable micro-optical components

The imaging quality of the human eye is based on the combination of multiple functionalities such as the tunability of focal power, aperture size, and orientation of the eye. Thus the imaging process can be adapted to image specific details in object space with high resolution by using a single lens system. We present the design, fabrication and optical performance of a system that imitates the imaging process of the human eye by using tunable micro-optical components based on aluminum nitride membranes for refocusing and scanning as well as electro-chrome polymers to realize a tunable aperture. We discuss design restrictions that result from the properties of these tunable elements to achieve system requirements concerning optical performance and system size. In order to combine all tunable components to a single compact functional unit we developed concepts for alignment and integration of multiple elements and show a demonstrator with hand-held dimensions.