Via the Rochester Business Journal
Sometimes science takes a surprising turn. While working on a high-tech imaging project, Professor Dominic Zerulla and his nano-optics team at the University College of Dublin (UCD) discovered something unexpected: by applying a small voltage to a nanometer thin optical coating, they could not only change the overall shape of the optical element but control that shape with extreme precision.
Realizing the potential of this breakthrough, a startup called LirOptic was formed. Based in Dublin, the spinout from UCD is developing smart, solid-state lenses that can adjust their shape on demand — without any mechanically shifting parts.
These shape-shifting lenses could solve long-standing problems in today’s adjustable optics, opening up new possibilities in everything from medical imaging and smartphones to space tech and self-driving cars.
Revolutionizing optics and imaging
“Existing adjustable lens technologies have limitations that impact how and where they can be used,” said Simon Forsyth, co-founder and CEO of LirOptic. “Our adjustable solid-state lens offers optical innovators unparalleled compactness, reliability, and precision. In addition to facilitating the miniaturization of medical imaging devices, our technology has the potential to improve cell phone imaging systems, as well as demanding optical applications for extended reality (XR), space, and automotive.”
These improvements are made possible by several key differentiators over the adjustable lenses on the market today.
Because LirOptic’s lens can have an aperture size of less than 1 mm, both the lens and the housing/packaging that controls the lens can be far more compact, making it easier to integrate into products that require smaller footprints like medical devices, such as endoscopes.
By offering variable focal lengths, as opposed to a number of fixed focal lengths, the lens has the potential to reduce the number of cameras needed in smartphones to satisfy diverse user needs, from selfies and group shots to panoramic landscapes.
“Liquid lenses can be prone to leakage or degradation over time. This creates long-term reliability risks like mechanical fatigue or the sealing of fluids,” Forsyth said. “Because we electronically control the shape of a lens, we eliminate the need for liquids and moving parts. This enables us to create aspherical and arbitrary lens shapes with exceptional precision that are not impacted by gravity, vibration, magnetic interference, or ambient temperature—either hot or cold.”
The companies of Luminate cohort 8 will compete for $2 million in follow-on funding at Luminate Finals 2025 on October 22, which is open to the public. The program is funded by Empire State Development’s Finger Lakes Forward Upstate Revitalization Initiative. For more information about the Luminate accelerator and Finals 2025, visit luminate.org.