The liquid lens is a cell containing a liquid that is sealed off with an elastic polymer membrane, wrapped in a voice coil. Current flowing through the coil to produces a magnetic field that causes the membrane to change its shape.

Changing the shape of the liquid lens lets you focus on different planes within a certain range which depends on the design of the optic. This means that we are effectively able to refocus the optic at a different working distance by means of an electrical signal.

The liquid lens technology allows for a faster refocus compared to mechanical focusing by step motors or hand adjustment. Furthermore, the focus is more precise compared to the rotation of a focusing gear. This is a strong advantage of this technology because it increases repeatability across different systems and different focus positions.

For what concerns the dimensions, the liquid lenses diameters are in the order of few centimeters considering both the lens clear aperture and the electronics to control its shape. Additionally, a change in lens radius in the order of few micrometers allows a working distance variation equivalent to moving the entire lens several centimeters in a mechanical focusing system. The electronics needed to control the lens only require a small Hirose 6 pin connector on the side of the optics. The design is compact and robust, and high reliability is also guaranteed thanks to a billion cycles of tests. In addition, due to the absence of moving parts, it has a lower chance of breaking.