Optical focus system and zoom system including at least one deformable mirror therein

• US 20070109667A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chen-Wei Chiu
• Original Assignee: Chen-Wei Chiu
• Inventors: Chiu, Chen-Wei
• Application Number:
  US11/467,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20070109667A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/726
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/177 having a negative front lens or group of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0812 off-axis or unobscured systems in which all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24

Abstract

An optical zoom system for imaging an object on an image-sensing element comprises at least one first passive optical element disposed on a light traveling path for changing the light direction, at least two deformable mirrors having variable focal lengths and disposed on the light traveling path, and at least one passive optical element disposed on the light traveling path for collecting and correcting the light to image the object on the image-sensing element.

Claims

1. An optical focus system for imaging an object on a image-sensing element comprising:

a deformable mirror having variable focal length and disposed on a light traveling path;

at least one first passive optical element disposed on the light traveling path for changing the light direction; and

at least one second passive optical element disposed on the light traveling path for collecting and correcting the light to image the object on the image-sensing element.

2. The optical focus system of claim 1, wherein the at least one second passive optical element comprises a lens.

3. The optical focus system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first passive optical element comprises at least one prism or mirror.

4. The optical focus system of claim 3, wherein the at least one first passive optical element have the function of total internal reflection (TIR).

5. The optical focus system of claim 1, wherein the deformable mirror comprises:

an upper portion comprising an organic thin film and a reflecting layer disposed on a lower surface or on an upper surface of the organic thin film;

a lower portion comprising a conductive substrate; and

a spacer disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion.

6. The optical focus system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of electrodes forming in concentric circle shape for the deformable mirror to have a spherical or aspheric contour.

7. The optical focus system of claim 1 further comprising an electronic circuit connecting to the deformable mirror to supply a voltage for the deformable mirror having variable focal lengths.

8. An optical zoom system for imaging an object on a image-sensing element comprising:

at least one first passive optical element disposed on a light traveling path for changing the light direction;

at least two deformable mirrors having variable focal lengths and disposed on the light traveling path; and

at least one second passive optical element disposed on the light traveling path for collecting and correcting the light to image the object on the image-sensing element.

9. The optical zoom system of claim 8, wherein the at least one first passive optical element comprises at least one prism or mirror.

10. The optical zoom system of claim 8, wherein the at least one second passive optical element comprises a lens.

11. The optical zoom system of claim 9, wherein the at least one first passive optical element have the function of total internal reflection (TIR).

12. The optical zoom system of claim 8, wherein the at least one deformable mirror comprises:

an upper portion comprising an organic thin film and a reflecting layer disposed on a lower surface or on an upper surface of the organic thin film;

a lower portion comprising a conductive substrate; and

a spacer disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion.

13. The optical zoom system of claim 8,further comprising a plurality of electrodes forming in concentric circle shape for the at least one deformable mirror to have a spherical or aspheric contour.

14. The optical zoom system of claim 8 further comprising an electronic circuit connecting to the at least one deformable mirror to supply a voltage for the at least one deformable mirror having variable focal lengths.

15. A camera system comprising:

at least one first passive optical element disposed on a light traveling path for changing the light direction;

at least one deformable mirrors having variable focal lengths and disposed on the light traveling path;

at least one second passive optical element disposed on the light traveling path for collecting and correcting the light to image an object;

an image-sensing element disposed on the light traveling path for receiving the object image thereon; and

a data processing unit electronically connecting with the image-sensing element for processing the object image and output the object image.

16. The camera system of claim 15, wherein the at least one first passive optical element comprises at least one prism or mirror.

17. The camera system of claim 16, wherein the at least one first passive optical element have the function of total internal reflection (TIR).

18. The camera system of claim 15, wherein the at least one deformable mirror comprises:

an upper portion comprising an organic thin film and a reflecting layer disposed on a lower surface or on an upper surface of the organic thin film;

a lower portion comprising a conductive substrate; and

a spacer disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion.

19. The camera system of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of electrodes forming in concentric circle shape for the at least one deformable mirror to have a spherical or aspheric contour.

20. The camera system of claim 15 further comprising an electronic circuit connecting to the at least one deformable mirror to supply a voltage for the at least one deformable mirror having variable focal lengths.