We demonstrate an electrowetting based optical switch with tunable aperture. Under the influence of an electric field a non-transparent oil film can be replaced locally by a transparent water drop creating an aperture through which light can pass. Its diameter can be tuned between 0.2 and 1.2 mm by varying the driving voltage or frequency. The on and off response time of the switch is in the order of 2 and 120 ms respectively. Finally we demonstrate an array of switchable apertures that can be tuned independently or simultaneously.

© 2011 OSA

1. R. Shamai, D. Andelman, B. Berge, and R. Hayes, “Water, electricity, and between ... On electrowetting and its applications,” Soft Matter 4(1), 38–45 (2007). [CrossRef]
2. D. Y. Zhang, V. Lien, Y. Berdichevsky, J. Choi, and Y. H. Lo, “Fluidic adaptive lens with high focal length tunability,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 82(19), 3171–3172 (2003). [CrossRef]
3. L. Dong, A. K. Agarwal, D. J. Beebe, and H. R. Jiang, “Adaptive liquid microlenses activated by stimuli-responsive hydrogels,” Nature 442(7102), 551–554 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. B. A. Malouin, M. J. Vogel, J. D. Olles, L. L. Cheng, and A. H. Hirsa, “Electromagnetic liquid pistons for capillarity-based pumping,” Lab Chip 11(3), 393–397 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. H. W. Ren, H. Q. Xianyu, S. Xu, and S. T. Wu, “Adaptive dielectric liquid lens,” Opt. Express 16(19), 14954–14960 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. H. W. Ren and S. T. Wu, “Optical switch using a deformable liquid droplet,” Opt. Lett. 35(22), 3826–3828 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. H. Ren, S. Xu, D. Ren, and S. T. Wu, “Novel optical switch with a reconfigurable dielectric liquid droplet,” Opt. Express 19(3), 1985–1990 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. F. Mugele and J. C. Baret, “Electrowetting: From basics to applications,” J. Phys. Condens. Matter 17(28), R705–R774 (2005). [CrossRef]
9. N. R. Smith, D. C. Abeysinghe, J. W. Haus, and J. Heikenfeld, “Agile wide-angle beam steering with electrowetting microprisms,” Opt. Express 14(14), 6557–6563 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. R. A. Hayes and B. J. Feenstra, “Video-speed electronic paper based on electrowetting,” Nature 425(6956), 383–385 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. T. Roques-Carmes, R. A. Hayes, B. J. Feenstra, and L. J. M. Schlangen, “Liquid behavior inside a reflective display pixel based on electrowetting,” J. Appl. Phys. 95(8), 4389–4396 (2004). [CrossRef]
12. J. Heikenfeld and A. J. Steckl, “High-transmission electrowetting light valves,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, - (2005).
13. J. Heikenfeld, K. Zhou, E. Kreit, B. Raj, S. Yang, B. Sun, A. Milarcik, L. Clapp, and R. Schwartz, “Electrofluidic displays using Young-Laplace transposition of brilliant pigment dispersions,” Nat. Photonics 3(5), 292–296 (2009). [CrossRef]
14. N. R. Smith, L. L. Hou, J. L. Zhang, and J. Heikenfeld, “Fabrication and Demonstration of Electrowetting Liquid Lens Arrays,” J. Disp. Technol. 5(11), 411–413 (2009). [CrossRef]
15. B. Berge and J. Peseux, “Variable focal lens controlled by an external voltage: An application of electrowetting,” Eur. Phys. J. E 3(2), 159–163 (2000). [CrossRef]
16. J. L. Jackel, S. Hackwood, J. J. Veselka, and G. Beni, “Electrowetting Switch for Multimode Optical Fibers,” Appl. Opt. 22(11), 1765–1770 (1983). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
17. J. M. Oh, G. Manukyan, D. Ende, and F. Mugele, “Electric-field–driven instabilities on superhydrophobic surfaces,” Europhys. Lett. 93(5), 56001 (2011). [CrossRef]
18. H. Gu, M. H. G. Duits, and F. Mugele, “A hybrid microfluidic chip with electrowetting functionality using ultraviolet (UV)-curable polymer,” Lab Chip 10(12), 1550–1556 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
19. G. Manukyan, J. M. Oh, D. van den Ende, R. G. H. Lammertink, and F. Mugele, “Electrical Switching of Wetting States on Superhydrophobic Surfaces: A Route Towards Reversible Cassie-to-Wenzel Transitions,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
20. K. Zhou, J. Heikenfeld, K. A. Dean, E. M. Howard, and M. R. Johnson, “A full description of a simple and scalable fabrication process for electrowetting displays,” J. Micromech. Microeng. 19(6), 065029 (2009). [CrossRef]
21. J. T. H. Tsai, C. M. Ho, F. C. Wang, and C. T. Liang, “Ultrahigh contrast light valve driven by electrocapillarity of liquid gallium,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 251110 (2009).
22. A. Staicu and F. Mugele, “Electrowetting-induced oil film entrapment and instability,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
23. B. Sun and J. Heikenfeld, “Observation and optical implications of oil dewetting patterns in electrowetting displays,” J. Micromech. Microeng . 18(2), 025027 (2008). [CrossRef]
24. D. Bonn, J. Eggers, J. Indekeu, J. Meunier, and E. Rolley, “Wetting and spreading,” Rev. Mod. Phys. 81(2), 739–805 (2009). [CrossRef]
25. J. C. Baret and M. Brinkmann, “Wettability control of droplet deposition and detachment,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, - (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Opt.

• J. L. Jackel, S. Hackwood, J. J. Veselka, and G. Beni, “Electrowetting Switch for Multimode Optical Fibers,” Appl. Opt. 22(11), 1765–1770 (1983). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• D. Y. Zhang, V. Lien, Y. Berdichevsky, J. Choi, and Y. H. Lo, “Fluidic adaptive lens with high focal length tunability,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 82(19), 3171–3172 (2003). [CrossRef]

Eur. Phys. J. E

• B. Berge and J. Peseux, “Variable focal lens controlled by an external voltage: An application of electrowetting,” Eur. Phys. J. E 3(2), 159–163 (2000). [CrossRef]

Europhys. Lett.

• J. M. Oh, G. Manukyan, D. Ende, and F. Mugele, “Electric-field–driven instabilities on superhydrophobic surfaces,” Europhys. Lett. 93(5), 56001 (2011). [CrossRef]

J. Appl. Phys.

• T. Roques-Carmes, R. A. Hayes, B. J. Feenstra, and L. J. M. Schlangen, “Liquid behavior inside a reflective display pixel based on electrowetting,” J. Appl. Phys. 95(8), 4389–4396 (2004). [CrossRef]

J. Disp. Technol.

• N. R. Smith, L. L. Hou, J. L. Zhang, and J. Heikenfeld, “Fabrication and Demonstration of Electrowetting Liquid Lens Arrays,” J. Disp. Technol. 5(11), 411–413 (2009). [CrossRef]

J. Micromech. Microeng .

• B. Sun and J. Heikenfeld, “Observation and optical implications of oil dewetting patterns in electrowetting displays,” J. Micromech. Microeng . 18(2), 025027 (2008). [CrossRef]

J. Micromech. Microeng.

• K. Zhou, J. Heikenfeld, K. A. Dean, E. M. Howard, and M. R. Johnson, “A full description of a simple and scalable fabrication process for electrowetting displays,” J. Micromech. Microeng. 19(6), 065029 (2009). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. Condens. Matter

• F. Mugele and J. C. Baret, “Electrowetting: From basics to applications,” J. Phys. Condens. Matter 17(28), R705–R774 (2005). [CrossRef]

Lab Chip

• B. A. Malouin, M. J. Vogel, J. D. Olles, L. L. Cheng, and A. H. Hirsa, “Electromagnetic liquid pistons for capillarity-based pumping,” Lab Chip 11(3), 393–397 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• H. Gu, M. H. G. Duits, and F. Mugele, “A hybrid microfluidic chip with electrowetting functionality using ultraviolet (UV)-curable polymer,” Lab Chip 10(12), 1550–1556 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nat. Photonics

• J. Heikenfeld, K. Zhou, E. Kreit, B. Raj, S. Yang, B. Sun, A. Milarcik, L. Clapp, and R. Schwartz, “Electrofluidic displays using Young-Laplace transposition of brilliant pigment dispersions,” Nat. Photonics 3(5), 292–296 (2009). [CrossRef]

Nature

• R. A. Hayes and B. J. Feenstra, “Video-speed electronic paper based on electrowetting,” Nature 425(6956), 383–385 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• L. Dong, A. K. Agarwal, D. J. Beebe, and H. R. Jiang, “Adaptive liquid microlenses activated by stimuli-responsive hydrogels,” Nature 442(7102), 551–554 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Express

• H. W. Ren, H. Q. Xianyu, S. Xu, and S. T. Wu, “Adaptive dielectric liquid lens,” Opt. Express 16(19), 14954–14960 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• N. R. Smith, D. C. Abeysinghe, J. W. Haus, and J. Heikenfeld, “Agile wide-angle beam steering with electrowetting microprisms,” Opt. Express 14(14), 6557–6563 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• H. Ren, S. Xu, D. Ren, and S. T. Wu, “Novel optical switch with a reconfigurable dielectric liquid droplet,” Opt. Express 19(3), 1985–1990 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• H. W. Ren and S. T. Wu, “Optical switch using a deformable liquid droplet,” Opt. Lett. 35(22), 3826–3828 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• G. Manukyan, J. M. Oh, D. van den Ende, R. G. H. Lammertink, and F. Mugele, “Electrical Switching of Wetting States on Superhydrophobic Surfaces: A Route Towards Reversible Cassie-to-Wenzel Transitions,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• A. Staicu and F. Mugele, “Electrowetting-induced oil film entrapment and instability,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• J. C. Baret and M. Brinkmann, “Wettability control of droplet deposition and detachment,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, - (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Rev. Mod. Phys.

• D. Bonn, J. Eggers, J. Indekeu, J. Meunier, and E. Rolley, “Wetting and spreading,” Rev. Mod. Phys. 81(2), 739–805 (2009). [CrossRef]

Soft Matter

• R. Shamai, D. Andelman, B. Berge, and R. Hayes, “Water, electricity, and between ... On electrowetting and its applications,” Soft Matter 4(1), 38–45 (2007). [CrossRef]

Other

• J. Heikenfeld and A. J. Steckl, “High-transmission electrowetting light valves,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, - (2005).
• J. T. H. Tsai, C. M. Ho, F. C. Wang, and C. T. Liang, “Ultrahigh contrast light valve driven by electrocapillarity of liquid gallium,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 251110 (2009).

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