Liquid optics created which change focus through sound waves

[Visual Reality]

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/39419/113/


Troy (NY) - A research team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has developed a new type of liquid lens that rapidly changes focus through sound wave energy. The lens is extremely light weight, durable and may have future applications in cell phones and other low-power, high speed stationary cameras for security. Amir H. Hirsa and Carlos A. Lopez co-authored a paper that explains the technology in detail. It will appear in the October issue of the Nature Photonics journal.

Interesting.

[S_p_i_d_e_r]

Interesting indeed. But the first liquid camera lens was invented last year at Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering, Jena, Germany in cooperation with French company Varioptic. And what's more, this lens gives 2x magnification with a single element.

http://www.fotopolis.pl/obrazki/varioptic.gif

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/dn12038-liquid-lens-can-magnify-at-the-flick-of-a-switch.html

[James DeRuvo DHQ]

I'm not so sure that having a fluid lens is a good idea. Imagine being at a sporting event or concert and the noise wreaking havoc on your cameras ability to focus where you want it too.

But it is rather cool on it's face.

[downtrodden]

Are the sound waves from an external source, like random noises in the room? I would think not.. I bet the lens generates it's own frequency sound waves to achieve that 100,00 per second rate.

But still capturing 250FPS? that's pretty sweet but uh... Kind of over kill.