Variable aperture stop based on the design of a single chamber silicone membrane lens with integrated actuation

In this Letter we report on the fabrication and testing of an extremely thin variable aperture stop based on the design of a single chamber adaptive membrane lens with integrated actuation. The aperture consists of a ring-shaped piezoelectric bending actuator with an elastic silicone membrane in the center. The formed cavity is filled with a nontransparent fluid and sealed with a glass platelet. In a voltage range up to 80 V, an opening of the aperture of 4.55mm in diameter is obtained. The transmission in comparison to a standard mechanical aperture stop is maximum 6% lower. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America