Optical Element

• US 20080252960A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kuiper, Stein, Van Santen, Helmar, Hendriks, Bernardus H.W., Tukker, Teus, Van Der AA, Michiel J.M., Ophey, Wil J.L.
• Application Number:
  US11/569,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20080252960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/280
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length

Abstract

An optical element comprises a fluid chamber and a device for providing a magnetic field over at least a portion of the fluid chamber The fluid chamber has side portions and end portions, and contains a first fluid and a second fluid. The fluids are non-miscible and the second fluid is capable of being influenced by a magnetic field. The end portions of the fluid chamber are connected together only by the side portions.

Claims

1. An optical element comprising a fluid chamber (12), the fluid chamber (12) having side portions (14) and end portions (16, 18), and containing a first fluid (20) and a second fluid (22), the fluids (20, 22) being non-miscible and the second fluid (22) capable of being influenced by a magnetic field, and a device (24) for providing a magnetic field over at least a portion of the fluid chamber (12), wherein the end portions (16, 18) of the fluid chamber (12) are connected together only by the side portions (14).

2. An optical element according to claim 1, wherein the end portions (16, 18) of the fluid chamber (12) are substantially flat.

3. An optical element according to claim 1, wherein the second fluid (22) is in contact with a first end portion (18) of the fluid chamber (12), and the magnetic field is capable of moving the second fluid (22) so that the first fluid (20) contacts the first end portion (18).

4. An optical element according to claim 1, wherein an end portion (18) of the fluid chamber (12) is repellent of the first fluid (20).

5. An optical element according to claim 1, wherein an end portion (18) of the fluid chamber (12) is provided with a coating that is repellent of the first fluid (20).

6. An optical element according to claim 1, wherein the second fluid (22) is a ferrofluid (22).

7. An optical element according to claim 1, wherein the side portions (14) of the fluid chamber (12) comprise a substantially cylindrical wall (14).

8. An optical element according to claim 1, wherein the device (24) for providing a magnetic field over at least a portion of the fluid chamber comprises a voltage source (24) for generating a gradient magnetic field.

9. An optical element according to claim 8, wherein the voltage source (24) comprises one or more coils (26) around the fluid chamber (12).

10. An optical element according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid (20) is transparent and the second fluid (22) is not transparent.

11. An optical element according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid (20) is transparent and the second fluid (22) is partially transparent.

12. An image capture device incorporating an optical element according to claim 1.

13. An optical recording device incorporating an optical element according to claim 1.