Elastomeric optical elements with deformable surface topographies: applications to force measurements, tunable light transmission and light focusing

We fabricated and characterized three elastomeric optical devices whose opt ical properties are controlled by distorting the surface topographies of th e elastomeric elements. In the force sensor, an applied force distorts the retroreflective corner cube surface pattern increasing the transmissivity o f the device. The magnitude and the location of the force can be related to the intensity of the transmitted light. In the thermal light valve, the co rner cube topography is distorted thermally; the transmissivity is controll ed by the amount of heat delivered to the device. In the elastomeric Fresne l lens, heating of the elastomer results in defocusing of light passing thr ough the lens. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.