Embedded Liquid Lens Controller
for OEM Applications
Key features:
One channel output
Include constant current lens drive and lens EEPROM data communications
-400 mA to +400 mA in 0.11 mA steps
Compatible with Optotune EL-16-40 TC lens
Full current calibration with lens temperature compensation (pre-calibrated lenses only)
Application benefits:
Precision, embedded controller for Optotune lenses
Compatible with the most common communication protocols for embedded devices
Compatibility
| Embedded Lens Controller | |
|---|---|
| Output Channels | One channel, including constant current lens drive and lens EEPROM data communications. Automatically reads data from EEPROM inside lens which calibrates the controller response. The performance of the controller is therefore automatically tailored to each individual lens. |
| Lens Compatibility | Compatible with following Optotune lens ranges |
| Operating Modes | 1. Single configurable optical power2. Two optical powers, selected by digital input3. Optical power set by analog input4. Configurable single-shot or continuous waveforms 0.03Hz to 200Hz |
| Input | Accepts digital or analog input. Active voltage can be customized from 1V to 24V. 12-bit analog measurement |
| Refocus Latency | Nominal 6ms including lens response |
| Output Current | 6 ms (not including lens response) |
| Output Voltage | -400mA to +400mA in 0.1mA steps Accuracy +/- 0.5mA |
| User Interface Command and Configuration Interface Options | IIC at up to 1MHz. TTL UART up to 115200 baud. USB 2.0 |
| Power Input | Optional 3.3V or 5V at up to 300mA. Regulated. |
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to +65°C |
| Humidity | Up to 95% non-condensing |
| Dimensions | 20mm x 15mm (reduced size available on request) |
| Standards | REACH, RoHS |
| Connections | Power input solder pads (x2), IIC or UART communications solder pads (x2), trigger input solder pads (x2), lens drive output solder pads (x2) |
Gardasoft has extended its capability for industrial lens control with an embedded addition to the range. The Embedded Lens Controller is available as a compact PCB lens controller which is supplied as completed, tested, enclosure-free, miniature hardware that can be fitted into the user’s equipment. A design module that can be cut and pasted into the user’s PCB design files is also available. Please contact us to discuss how Gardasoft can contribute towards your project.
A new white paper discusses the embedded implementation of lens control for motorised lenses and liquid lenses: Embedded Lens Control White Paper.
The Embedded Lens Controller includes constant current Lens drive and Lens EEPROM data communications that are compatible with lenses that have calibration data in their internal EEPROMs such as the Optotune EL-10-30-Ci and EL-16-40-TC. Where a tunable lens does not have an internal EEPROM, such as the Optotune EL-3-10, the Embedded Lens Controller can hold lens calibration data.
With a fast focus change (under 10ms), the Embedded Lens Controller offers dynamic lens control in Machine Vision applications which deal with varying height objects – Postal identification for example.
Microscopy and Life Sciences are other key market sectors for tunable lens control, addressing applications such as Z slices, Light sheet imaging, In vivo (live tissue) imaging, and many types of automated imaging.
The Embedded Lens Controller can be communicated with using I2C, UART or USB and so cover the most commonly used interface protocols for embedded equipment. This communication can be used for:
Changing the configuration of the lens
Setting the optical power
Checking the status of the lens
Detecting errors, such as a disconnected lens
For additional ease of use, it is not necessary for the user to configure the Controller as Gardasoft is able to pre-configure it to the user’s requirements prior to shipping. Also, the Controller has a non-volatile memory and so configuration and calibration retention during power outages is automatic.
The Embedded Lens Controller is designed specifically for high-volume, OEM applications. For lower volume applications please refer to the CL180 Industrial Lens Controller.
Compatibility
Compatible with Optotune focus tunable lenses
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Optotune Lenses
Optotune’s focus tunable lenses provide a versatile and compact solution to adjust the focus within milliseconds. As no translational mechanics are involved such systems are robust and achieve billions of cycles.
The technology of Optotune’s shape-changing lenses is based on a combination of optical fluids and a polymer membrane. To tune the lens, fluid is pressed into the center of the lens by a current controlled voice coil thus changing the curvature of the membrane and with that the focal length of the lens.
The waveform can be continuously output or can be output once for each application of an external trigger signal. The repetition period of the sequence can be set from 5ms (200Hz) to 30 seconds. For other focus profiles, the lens optical power can also be controlled by an analog input voltage. The user can configure the mapping of analog voltage conversion to optical power store it in onboard memory. Again, Gardasoft can install this configuration prior to shipping the unit.
Applications
In many applications, the tunable lens will be required to cycle through a repetitive focus profile. The Embedded Lens Controller can accommodate this by featuring built-in focus sequences as follows:
- Square wave
- Sawtooth
- Sine
- Staircase
- Triangle
- User configurable