Tunable cylindrical microlenses based on aluminum nitride membranes

Steffen Leopold; Daniel Paetz; Fabian Knoebber; Oliver Ambacher; Stefan Sinzinger; Martin Hoffmann

doi:10.1117/12.2005131

13 March 2013 Tunable cylindrical microlenses based on aluminum nitride membranes

Steffen Leopold, Daniel Paetz, Fabian Knoebber, Oliver Ambacher, Stefan Sinzinger, Martin Hoffmann

Proceedings Volume 8616, MOEMS and Miniaturized Systems XII; 861611 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2005131
Event: SPIE MOEMS-MEMS, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We introduce sputtered aluminum nitride thin films for tunable micro-optics. During lens fabrication, AlN is deposited on a silicon substrate. Silicon is structured by using DRIE, which allows fabrication of circular, rectangular and irregular membrane shapes. In this contribution, we present the design, fabrication and characterization of AlN membranes for tunable cylindrical lenses. An optimized “dogbone” membrane is presented, which deflects cylindrically and has a small footprint. Compared to conventional rectangular membranes the optically useful area is doubled. The load deflection characteristic is investigated and basic relations between the refractive power and applied pressure are found. The relation can be used for tailoring the membrane properties, i.e. their residual stress, for a specific application. According to this calculation, a refractive power of 25 dpt with a lens aperture of 3x3 mm² is achieved for 12 kPa of applied pressure. The cylindrical deflection of the “dogbone” membrane is measured. The maximum shape difference in measured to be 270 nm.

Citation Download Citation

Steffen Leopold, Daniel Paetz, Fabian Knoebber, Oliver Ambacher, Stefan Sinzinger, and Martin Hoffmann "Tunable cylindrical microlenses based on aluminum nitride membranes", Proc. SPIE 8616, MOEMS and Miniaturized Systems XII, 861611 (13 March 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2005131

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