Actuator with variable cylinder

A liquid lens comprising:

• a substrate;
• an actuator overlying the substrate;
• an antireflective coating comprising a refractive index gradient;
• a liquid layer disposed between the substrate and the actuator;
• and
• a seal located between the substrate and the actuator peripheral to the liquid layer, wherein the actuator is configured to create a variable cylinder radius and axis in a surface of the liquid layer.

A method comprising:

• forming an actuator over a transparent substrate, the actuator comprising a stack of electromechanical layers and electrodes configured to apply an electric field independently across each of the electromechanical layers, wherein an orientation of neighboring electromechanical layers differs by at least approximately 10°;
• forming an antireflective coating comprising a refractive index gradient over at least a portion of the electrodes opposite to the stack of electromechanical layers;
• dispensing a liquid layer between the actuator and the substrate;
• and
• applying a voltage to at least one of the electrodes to create a variable cylinder radius and axis in a surface of the liquid layer.