Patent ID: 7483218

Claim:
An optical component for introducing optical aberrations to a light beam ( 20 ′, 22 ″) defining an optical axis ( 28 ), comprising: a fluid chamber ( 46 ) having a first fluid ( 56 ) and at least a second fluid ( 58 ) therein, the first and second fluids ( 56 , 58 ) being non-miscible, the first fluid ( 56 ) and the second fluid ( 58 ) being in contact along an interface ( 60 ) extending through the fluid chamber ( 46 ) substantially transverse to the optical axis ( 28 ), the first and second fluids ( 56 , 58 ) having different indices of refraction, the first fluid ( 56 ) being substantially electrically insulating and the second fluid ( 58 ) being substantially electrically conductive; at least a first electrode ( 62 - 70 ; 74 - 78 ) separated from the second fluid ( 58 ) and at least a second electrode ( 72 ) acting on the second fluid to alter the shape of the interface ( 60 ) in dependence on a voltage applied between the first and second electrode ( 62 - 70 , 72 ); characterized in that the at least one first electrode is arranged in an intermediate portion with respect to the interface ( 60 ) such that the intermediate portion (A, B) of the interface ( 60 ) is moved substantially in direction of the optical axis ( 28 ) in dependence on the voltage applied between the at least one first electrode ( 62 - 70 ; 74 - 78 ) and the at least one second electrode ( 72 ); and the at least one first electrode ( 62 - 70 ; 74 - 78 ) is arranged in a wall ( 52 ) of the fluid chamber ( 46 ) transverse to the optical axis ( 28 ).