A method is described whereby the focal distance of a lens can be varied digitally using electrooptics or other means without changing the magnification or spot size. The device is limited to lenses with halfangles less than 15°. Pairs ofpolarization switches and passive birefringent elements are used. A total of 2^N equally spaced focal positions can be achieved with N switches. If a total length L of birefringent material (indices of refraction n and n + Δn) isused, the total shift in focal distance can be as high as LΔn/n². A ten-stage(1024-position)devicefallswithin the limitations set by material and depth-of-field considerations. The shift in focaldistance can be magnified optically to arbitrary distances, but the image or spot size is also magnified in the process.Several practical applications of this device are discussed.

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