CAREER: Electrowetting Microprisms - from Agile Fresnel Optics to Wide-Angle Phased Arrays

职业：电润湿微棱镜 - 从敏捷菲涅尔光学到广角相控阵

• 批准号: 0640964
• 负责人: Jason Heikenfeld
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: University of Cincinnati Main Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-07-01 至 2012-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0640964&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Electrowetting; Microprisms; Agile; Fresnel

Intellectual Merit. The objective of this CAREER proposal is to array electrowetting microprisms and create a form of flat electro-optics that has not existed before. Electrowetting microprisms voltage-modulate the contact angle between a saline liquid and a dielectric. This contact angle modulation can then be used to reconfigure the saline meniscus geometry and consequently the refraction of light. Specific research aims include: (1) silicon-integrate and stabilize long-channel devices; (2) array multiple devices into agile Fresnel optics and phase-continuous flat optics; (3) create novel AC drive schemes and feedback controls to increase accuracy. Leading intellectual issues include: (a) enabling flat electrowetting optics via a breakthrough in cylindrical meniscus stabilization; (b) creating the first electro-optical 2p-phase profile without need for multi-electrode step-indexing; (c) developing advanced controls for accurate multiplexing of numerous electrowetting devices; (d) demonstrating new optical tools for investigating microscopic electrowetting non-idealities.Broader Impact. The educational aims are: (1) amplify 3 months of NSF-supported sophomore research experience into 18 months of co-op research experience at one of four industrial research partners; (2) elevate the K-college educational experience by creating a highly-visible resource center for electrowetting education/science. Preliminary experiments support projections that electrowetting microprisms will provide performance leaps over liquid-crystal phased-arrays in the categories of steering angle (10X, 30), transmission efficiency at all polarizations (2X, 80%), and switching speed (100X, 10 kHz). These attributes are highly desired for applications such as beam steering for laser radar. Broader impacts include electrowetting microprisms as an enabler for networked solar-lighting and for agile endoscopy. The improved understanding provided by this project will allow the PI to expand electrowetting into projects such as switchable photonic crystals and ultra-accurate liquid sampling for lab-on-chip.

智力优点。 该职业提案的目标是排列电润湿微棱镜并创建一种以前不存在的平面电光形式。 电润湿微棱镜对盐水和电介质之间的接触角进行电压调制。 然后可以使用这种接触角调制来重新配置盐水弯月面几何形状，从而重新配置光的折射。 具体研究目标包括：（1）硅集成和稳定长沟道器件； (2) 将多个器件排列成敏捷菲涅耳光学器件和相位连续平面光学器件； (3) 创建新颖的交流驱动方案和反馈控制以提高精度。 主要的智力问题包括：（a）通过圆柱弯月面稳定性的突破实现平面电润湿光学器件； (b) 创建第一个电光 2p 相位分布，无需多电极步进索引； (c) 开发先进的控制装置，以精确复用众多电润湿装置； (d) 展示用于研究微观电润湿非理想性的新光学工具。更广泛的影响。 教育目标是：(1) 将 NSF 支持的大二学生 3 个月的研究经验扩大为在四个工业研究合作伙伴之一的 18 个月的合作研究经验； (2) 通过创建一个引人注目的电润湿教育/科学资源中心来提升 K 学院的教育体验。 初步实验支持这样的预测：电润湿微棱镜将在转向角（10X，30）、所有偏振下的传输效率（2X，80%）和切换速度（100X，10 kHz）方面提供超越液晶相控阵的性能飞跃）。 这些属性对于激光雷达波束控制等应用来说是非常需要的。 更广泛的影响包括电润湿微棱镜作为网络太阳能照明和敏捷内窥镜的推动者。 该项目提供的更好的理解将使 PI 能够将电润湿扩展到可切换光子晶体和芯片实验室超精确液体采样等项目。