LIQUID OPTICS IMAGE STABILIZATION

• US 20090141352A1
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Blackeye Optics, LLC
• Inventors: Jannard, James H., Neil, Iain
• Granted Patent: US 8,687,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/557
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/143105 arranged +-+
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/004 based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length

Abstract

A lens system suitable for use with a camera is disclosed. The lens system employs liquid optics to provide stabilization of an image. A pair of liquid lens cells provides stabilization of the image. A second pair of liquid lens cells may provide stabilization in another direction. The two pairs of liquid cells may provide stabilization in any direction.

Claims

1. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a plurality of lens elements aligned along at least two optical axes; and

at least one liquid lens cell comprising first and second contacting liquids, wherein a contacting optical surface between the contacting liquids has a variable shape that is substantially symmetrical to its own optical axis and is asymmetrical to at least one other optical axis;

wherein the plurality of lens elements and the at least one liquid lens cell are configured to collect radiation emanating from an object side space and provide at least partial stabilization of radiation delivered to an image side space.

2. The image stabilization system of claim 1, further comprising a second liquid lens cell, wherein the at least one liquid lens cell and the second liquid lens cell are configured to provide substantial stabilization of radiation delivered to an image side space.

3. The image stabilization system of claim 2, wherein the substantial stabilization is along a linear direction.

4. The image stabilization system of claim 2, wherein the radiation delivered to the image side space is substantially stabilized in the vertical direction.

5. The image stabilization system of claim 1, comprising at least four liquid lens cells.

6. The image stabilization system of claim 5, wherein the at least four liquid lens cells are configured to provide substantial stabilization of radiation delivered to an image side space.

7. The image stabilization system of claim 6, wherein the substantial stabilization is in a plurality of directions.

8. The image stabilization system of claim 6, wherein the radiation delivered to the image side space is substantially stabilized in all directions.

9. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a plurality of lens elements aligned along a common optical axis; and

at least one liquid lens cell comprising first and second contacting liquids, wherein a contacting optical surface between the contacting liquids has a variable shape that is substantially symmetrical relative to an optical axis of the liquid lens cell;

wherein the plurality of lens elements aligned along the common optical axis and the liquid lens cell are arranged to collect radiation emanating from an object side space and provide stabilization of radiation delivered to an image side space.

10. The image stabilization system of claim 9, wherein the common optical axis of the plurality of lens elements is not aligned with the optical axis of the liquid lens cell.

11. The image stabilization system of claim 9, wherein the shape of the contacting optical surface is electronically controlled to provide stabilization of the radiation delivered to the image side space.

12. The image stabilization system of claim 9, further comprising an accelerometer to detect movement of at least one lens element.

13. The image stabilization system of claim 12, wherein the detected movement from the accelerometer is used to control the variable shape of the contacting liquids.

14. The image stabilization system of claim 9, further comprising a laser gyroscope to detect movement of at least one lens element.

15. The image stabilization system of claim 9, wherein the shape of the contacting optical surface is variable at a frequency greater than 5 Hz.

16. The image stabilization system of claim 9, wherein the radiation delivered to the image side space is substantially stabilized.

17. The image stabilization system of claim 9, further comprising a motion-type detection mechanism, such that panning motion is not stabilized.

18. The image stabilization system of claim 9, wherein motion having a frequency less than 2 Hz is not stabilized

19. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a first liquid lens cell comprising contacting liquids, wherein a first contacting optical surface between the contacting liquids has a variable shape; and

a second liquid lens cell comprising contacting liquids, wherein a second contacting optical surface between the contacting liquids has a variable shape;

wherein the first liquid lens cell and the second liquid lens cell are controlled in tandem to provide stabilization in at least one direction for radiation delivered to an image side space.

20. The image stabilization system of claim 19, wherein a power of the first liquid lens cell is equal and opposite a power of the second liquid lens cell so that focus at an image plane is axially fixed.

21. The image stabilization system of claim 19, wherein a power of the first liquid lens cell and a power of the second liquid lens cell are set to provide focus at an image plane.

22. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a first pair of liquid lens cells offset from each other along an optical axis; and

a second pair of liquid lens cells offset from each other along an optical axis, where the offset of the second pair of liquid cells is in a direction substantially perpendicular to the offset of the first pair of liquid cells.

23. The image stabilization system of claim 22, wherein the first pair of liquid lens cells provide image stabilization in the direction of the offset of the first pair, and the second pair of liquid lens cells provide image stabilization in the direction of the offset of the second pair.

24. The image stabilization system of claim 22, wherein the first pair of liquid lens cells provide image stabilization in a first direction, and the second pair of liquid lens cells provide image stabilization in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

25. The image stabilization system of claim 22, wherein the first pair of liquid lens cells provide image stabilization in a first direction, and the second pair of liquid lens cells operates to allow panning in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

26. The image stabilization system of claim 22, further comprising a liquid cell substantially centered along the optical axis to adjust the focus of radiation delivered to an image side space.

27. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a first pair of liquid lens cells offset from each other along an optical axis; and

a second pair of liquid lens cells offset from each other along an optical axis, where the offset of the second pair of liquid cells is in a direction substantially different from the offset of the first pair of liquid cells.

28. The image stabilization system of claim 27, wherein the first pair of liquid lens cells provide image stabilization in the direction of the offset of the first pair, and the second pair of liquid lens cells provide image stabilization in the direction of the offset of the second pair.

29. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a first liquid lens cell offset from an optical axis in a first direction;

a second liquid lens cell offset from the optical axis in a second direction; and

a third liquid lens cell substantially centered on the optical axis,

wherein the first liquid lens cell provides stabilization along an axis parallel to the first direction, the second liquid lens cell provides stabilization along an axis parallel to the second direction, and the third liquid lens cell compensates for changes in the focus position.

30. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a first liquid lens cell offset from an optical axis in a first direction; and

a second liquid lens cell,

wherein the first liquid lens cell contributes to stabilization along an axis parallel to the first direction, and the second liquid lens cell contributes to focusing of radiation delivered to an image side space.

31. The image stabilization system of claim 30, wherein the second liquid lens cell is offset in a second direction opposite from the first direction.

32. The image stabilization system of claim 30, wherein the second liquid lens cell is substantially centered on the optical axis.

33. The image stabilization system of claim 30, wherein the second liquid lens cell contributes to stabilization along the axis parallel to the first direction.

34. The image stabilization system of claim 30, wherein the first liquid lens cell contributes to focusing of radiation delivered to an image side space.

35. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a first pair of liquid lens cells offset from each other along an optical axis; and

a second pair of liquid lens cells offset from each other along an optical axis, where the offset of the second pair of liquid lens cells is in a direction substantially different from the offset of the first pair of liquid lens cells, and the magnitude of the offset of the second pair of liquid lens cells is greater than the magnitude of the offset of the first pair of liquid lens cells.

36. The image stabilization system of claim 35, wherein a stabilization range for the first pair of liquid lens cells is greater than twice a stabilization range for the second pair of liquid lens cells.