對於光遮蔽器部分，我們證實了一個機械式光遮蔽器，它整合了適應性光學系統和可重構的黑色液體（摻雜染料的溶液）。使用注射器吸入溶液加上精確的容量控制，使非透明且摻雜染料的薄膜可由透明彈性膜取代局部空間，形成一個可通光的孔徑。此裝置的孔徑變化可由0.6 mm到6.9 mm連續變化的，藉由注射器幫浦射入或吸出液體體積來做孔徑的精密調整。經由實驗上的研究，在搭配適應性光學(adaptive optical, AO)系統後，藉由波前的校正，可以提升光強度。實驗中，不同的AO gain值，會有不同的控制補償效果，分別使用值為2000、1000、500和100的gain值來量測光強度的平均值並做比較，結果量測出AO gain值在500的條件下，由實驗結果證實有無AO比較下，有最大的光強度差值為~5μW。在先前的文獻實驗數據中，光強度在24μW的微弱情況下搭配AO，增加最大光強度差值亦為~5μW。由此可知，此光遮蔽器搭配AO在微弱光源下時，有良好的補償效果。對於光束控制器部分，我們展示了一個可藉由重新配置流體透鏡來達到無震盪式驅動的新型光束控制器。此裝置主要由位在PDMS孔中間層的彈性膜與被透光平板分別包夾在中間且充滿著兩種不同流體（水和空氣）的腔體所組成。在啟動的狀態下，藉著形成的平凹透鏡讓穿過水與空氣界面的入射光被發散開來，導致形成一個黑暗的狀態。在未啟動的狀態下，此處的彈性膜恢復其原始的平坦狀態，並傳輸入射光形成開啟的明亮狀態。相較之下，流體透鏡在使用傳統的光束控制切換開關狀態時，必會遭遇各種程度的震盪，是由於彈性膜與剛性基板間機械力接觸所導致，而與使用液體的黏滯程度與表面張力間存在著複雜的關聯性。相對於常關(normally-close)的裝置而言，本次目標的驅動裝置是屬於較流行的常開(normally-open)形式，而這樣的方式也完全地避免了在啟動時，彈性膜會撞擊到剛性基板的問題。同樣地，我們也證實了在LED白光下反應時間相對於不同照度(Illumination)變化的範圍關係圖，使此裝置的反應時間可依其照度的條件做50毫秒至200毫秒的調整。這新型的驅動機構有巨大的潛力應用於光柵、可調變的光衰減器、可調式光圈、顯示器。For optical switches part, we demonstrate a mechanical based optical switch integrated with adaptive optics and a reconfigurable black liquid (dye-doped liquid). Using the suction of a syringe and precise volume control, a non-transparent dye-doped film can be replaced locally by a transparent elastomeric membrane, creating an aperture through which light can pass. Its diameter can be continuously tuned between 0.6 and 6.9 mm, simply by varying the injected fluid volume. Adaptive optics (AO) capability and possible enhancement of the lost power intensity of ink-polluted glass plate is also experimentally investigated. AO gain effects of using gain values of 2000, 1000, 500, and 100, respectively by adjusting and comparing average power intensity are investigated. The measured power intensity with/without AO for the Gain = 500 indicates a maximum difference value ~5μW. Optical switches and tunable optical apertures (or diaphragms) have great potential in various areas of application, such as communication, microscopy, display and lab-on-a-chip. For optical beam controller part, we demonstrate a mechanical based, liquid-driven optical switch integrated with adaptive optics and a reconfigurable black liquid (dye-doped liquid). Device aperture can be continuously tuned between 0.6 and 6.9 mm, precisely achieved by a syringe pump for volume control. Adaptive optics (AO) capability and possible enhancement of the lost power intensity of ink-polluted glass plate is also experimentally investigated. While measured power intensity with/without AO indicates only a marginal difference of ~1%, a significant difference of 3 seconds in the response characteristic of “switching on” time can be observed. Extremely high contrast ratio of ~105 for a red color light is achieved.
