A novel optical scanning device based on electrowetting micro-prism (EMPs) is proposed, to solve the problems of beam deflection controlling with laser line source . The basic beam control unit is made from EMPs, which including three kinds of immiscible liquids (water / oil / water),whith utilizing electrowetting modulation of liquid contact angle in order to mimic the refractive behavior for various classical prism geometries. Through the electro-wetting effect, the beam deflection angle of the liquid prism can be adjusted about -15 ° ~ 15 °continuously in a specific voltage range (30 ~ 110V).And compared to other electronic control deflection, this device has great deflection angle, whith exceeding the continuous steering angles demonstrated for optical phased-array technology. At the same time, as the devices become smaller in size ,its switching response speed can be much less than ms. This device will help us study robust Fresnel and phased-array optics.
[1]
J. Baret,et al.
Electrowetting: from basics to applications
,
2005
.
[2]
D. S. Hobbs,et al.
High-efficiency liquid-crystal optical phased-array beam steering.
,
1996,
Optics letters.
[3]
S. Kuiper,et al.
Variable-focus liquid lens for miniature cameras
,
2004
.
[4]
Y. Fainman,et al.
Optimal cascade operation of optical phased-array beam deflectors.
,
1998,
Applied optics.
[5]
Jason Heikenfeld,et al.
Agile wide-angle beam steering with electrowetting microprisms.
,
2006,
Optics express.
[6]
T. Dorschner,et al.
Applications look at the use of liquid crystal writable gratings for steering passive radiation
,
1993
.