Analyzing effects of aperture size and applied voltage on the response time

Abstract

Electrowetting lens is a promising technique for non-mechanical vari-focal lens, because of fast response time, wide expressible diopter, and etc. Although electrowetting related papers are actively published, no one did not clearly define the relationship among electrowetting parameters, especially in AC driven case. Analysis for AC voltage driving is needed because AC electrowetting has many advantages like low hysteresis and short settling time. In this experiment we confirmed that the response time depends on aperture size and applied voltage. Response time measurement for lens aperture of 200-1000um and applied voltage of 0-70V with 1kHz frequency was conducted. Experimental data was compared with simulation result by COMSOL Multiphysics program with the same condition, and they correspond with each other well. As voltage increases, the overshoot height becomes higher, so it has longer oscillation and settling time. On the other hand if aperture size decreases, the surface tension of lens wall could be delivered effectively to the center region of meniscus, so it has less oscillation and shorter settling time. The result was that in 500um aperture no more than 30V should be applied to ensure 1ms response time. In 200um aperture, the voltage limit is disappeared.