Tunable liquid crystal lens module
First Claim
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1. A zoom lens control system comprising:
- at least one electronically tunable liquid crystal lens module comprising a liquid crystal lens, and a pair of ITO electrodes sandwiching opposed sides of said liquid crystal lens;
at least one conventional optical element attached to at least one of said electronically tunable liquid crystal lens modules, said conventional optical element operable to receive light from a scene;
a power supply for applying a controlled voltage across the two electrodes of said electronically tunable liquid crystal lens module so as to adjust the refractive index of said liquid crystal lens module;
an operator control for generating a signal representative of a desired zoom level;
an image sensor operative to receive light passing through said electronically tunable liquid crystal lens module and said conventional optical element to generate an output signal; and
an image signal processor operative to receive the output signal from said image sensor and said desired zoom level signal and to adjust the voltage applied across the two electrodes of said electronically tunable liquid crystal lens module in order to achieve the inputted zoom level.
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Abstract
An electrically controlled liquid crystal zoom lens system for a camera or the like is set to a desired zoom by an operator. The desired zoom signal is provided to an image signal processor which also receives the output of an image sensor at the output of the lens. The process generates a control signal for a power supply which adjusts the voltage between electrodes sandwiching the liquid crystal module. By rapid, iterative adjustment the actual zoom is brought to the desired zoom level. The liquid crystal module is combined in series with conventional lenses which may be integrated with the liquid crystal.
73 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A zoom lens control system comprising:
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at least one electronically tunable liquid crystal lens module comprising a liquid crystal lens, and a pair of ITO electrodes sandwiching opposed sides of said liquid crystal lens; at least one conventional optical element attached to at least one of said electronically tunable liquid crystal lens modules, said conventional optical element operable to receive light from a scene; a power supply for applying a controlled voltage across the two electrodes of said electronically tunable liquid crystal lens module so as to adjust the refractive index of said liquid crystal lens module; an operator control for generating a signal representative of a desired zoom level; an image sensor operative to receive light passing through said electronically tunable liquid crystal lens module and said conventional optical element to generate an output signal; and an image signal processor operative to receive the output signal from said image sensor and said desired zoom level signal and to adjust the voltage applied across the two electrodes of said electronically tunable liquid crystal lens module in order to achieve the inputted zoom level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A zoom lens control system for focusing on a subject, comprising:
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a pair of electronically tunable liquid crystal lenses, with transparent electrodes sandwiching opposed sides of each of said liquid crystal lenses; at least one conventional optical element disposed in contact with at least one of said electronically tunable liquid crystal lenses, the liquid crystal lenses and the conventional optical element being positionable so that light reflected from the subject passes through the lenses and the optical element; a power supply for applying controlled voltages across the electrodes of each of said electronically tunable liquid crystal lenses to adjust the refractive index and the powers of said liquid crystal lenses; an operator control for generating a signal representative of a desired zoom level; an image sensor operative to receive light reflected from the subject and passed through said electronically tunable liquid crystal lenses and said conventional optical element to generate an output signal; and an image signal processor operative to receive the output signal from said image sensor and said desired zoom level signal and to adjust the voltages applied across the electrodes of said electronically tunable liquid crystal lenses in order to achieve the inputted zoom level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification