Switchable optical element
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A switchable optical element comprising:
- a fluid chamber including first and second bodies of fluid disposed relative to one another along an optical axis of the switchable optical element,a third body of fluid within the fluid chamber disposed relative to the first and second bodies of fluid along the optical axis of the switchable optical element,a first electrode coupled to the first body of fluid,a second electrode, anda third electrode,wherein the second body of fluid is arranged to move substantially transverse to the optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis, andwherein the third body of fluid is arranged to move in a direction substantially transverse to the optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and third electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis.
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Abstract
A switchable optical element has a fluid chamber including immiscible first and second bodies of fluid disposed relative to one another along an optical axis of the element. The second body of fluid is movable in a direction away from the optical axis (A) by electro-wetting action, giving the switchable optical element a changeable transmissivity along the optical axis.
128 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A switchable optical element comprising:
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a fluid chamber including first and second bodies of fluid disposed relative to one another along an optical axis of the switchable optical element, a third body of fluid within the fluid chamber disposed relative to the first and second bodies of fluid along the optical axis of the switchable optical element, a first electrode coupled to the first body of fluid, a second electrode, and a third electrode, wherein the second body of fluid is arranged to move substantially transverse to the optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis, and wherein the third body of fluid is arranged to move in a direction substantially transverse to the optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and third electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical device comprising a switchable optical element, wherein the switchable optical element comprises:
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a fluid chamber including first and second bodies of fluid disposed relative to one another along an optical axis of the switchable optical element, the fluid chamber further including a third body of fluid disposed relative to the first and second bodies of fluid along the optical axis of the switchable optical element, a first electrode coupled to the first body of fluid, a second electrode, and a third electrode, wherein the second body of fluid is arranged to move substantially transverse to the optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis, and wherein the third body of fluid is arranged to move in a direction substantially transverse to the optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and third electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of manufacturing a switchable optical element, the method comprising the acts of;
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providing a fluid chamber including first and second bodies of fluid disposed relative to one another along an optical axis of the switchable optical element; providing a third body of fluid within the fluid chamber disposed relative to the first and second bodies of fluid along the optical axis of the switchable optical element; and providing a first electrode coupled to the first body of fluid, a second electrode, and a third electrode; wherein the second body of fluid is arranged to move substantially transverse to optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis, and wherein the third body of fluid is arranged to move in a direction substantially transverse to the optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and third electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis.
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29. A method of manufacturing an optical scanning device for scanning an information layer of an optical record carrier, the method comprising the acts of;
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providing a first radiation source for generating a first radiation beam; providing an objective system for converging the first radiation beam on the information layer; and providing a switchable optical element arranged to control the first radiation beam, wherein the switchable optical element comprises; a fluid chamber including first and second bodies of fluid disposed relative to one another along an optical axis of the switchable optical element, a third body of fluid within the fluid chamber disposed relative to the first and second bodies of fluid along the optical axis of the switchable optical element, a first electrode coupled to the first body of fluid, a second electrode, and a third electrode, wherein the second body of fluid is arranged to move substantially transverse to the optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis, and wherein the third body of fluid is arranged to move in a direction substantially transverse to the optical axis in response to a voltage applied to the first and third electrodes and thereby change the transmissivity of the fluid chamber along the optical axis.
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Specification