APPARATUS AND METHOD COMPRISING DEFORMABLE LENS ELEMENT
First Claim
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1. A focus apparatus comprising:
- a deformable lens element having an axis, wherein a major body of said deformable lens element comprises a resiliently deformable member having at least one normally convex lens surface; and
an actuator for deforming said deformable lens element, the actuator having a flexible member adapted to substantially conform to a shape of said convex lens surface and having one of a coated area or an aperture disposed about said axis, the focus apparatus being adapted so that by varying a voltage applied to said flexible member a convexity of said normally convex lens surface changes.
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Abstract
An apparatus comprising a deformable lens element can be provided wherein a deformable lens element can be deformed to change an optical property thereof by the impartation of a force to the deformable lens element.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A focus apparatus comprising:
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a deformable lens element having an axis, wherein a major body of said deformable lens element comprises a resiliently deformable member having at least one normally convex lens surface; and an actuator for deforming said deformable lens element, the actuator having a flexible member adapted to substantially conform to a shape of said convex lens surface and having one of a coated area or an aperture disposed about said axis, the focus apparatus being adapted so that by varying a voltage applied to said flexible member a convexity of said normally convex lens surface changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A focus apparatus comprising:
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a deformable lens element having a deformable light entry surface and an opposing deformable light exit surface, the deformable lens element having an axis intersecting respective centers of said deformable light entry surface and said opposing deformable light exit surface; a first actuator for deforming said deformable light entry surface to change an optical property of said deformable lens element; and a second actuator for deforming said deformable light exit surface to change an optical property of said deformable lens element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An optical imaging system comprising:
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a deformable lens element having an axis, wherein a major body of said deformable lens element is provided by a resiliently deformable member having a hardness measurement of less than Shore A 60; and wherein said imaging system is configured so that a force can be applied to an external surface of said deformable lens for varying an optical characteristic of said imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification