Apparatus and method comprising deformable lens element

• US 7,813,047 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Feng, Chen, Havens, William H., Wang, Ynjiun P., Li, Jianhua
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US11/897,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20080144185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 359/665, 359/666, 359/811
• US Class Current: 359/665
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0081 having one or more elements with analytic function to create variable power variable magnification in general G02B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/36 using image sharpness techniques , e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a lens assembly, said apparatus comprising:

a deformable lens member having an axis and a deformable surface, at least part of which transmits image forming light rays; and

a force imparting structural member disposed to impart a force to said deformable surface;

wherein said apparatus is adapted so that said force imparting structural member is capable of imparting a pushing force to said deformable surface resulting in a thickness of said deformable lens member along said axis decreasing;

wherein said force is generated by an actuator having an optically clear area disposed about said axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said force imparting structural member is configured to impart said pushing force to said deformable surface at a plurality of force impartation points that include an area about said axis, the force imparting structural member being optically clear for transmittal of image forming light rays.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deformable lens member is normally convex in an unstressed state thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said force imparting structural member imparts a force to said deformable surface at a plurality of points defined substantially over an entire area of said deformable surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a major body of said deformable lens member is provided by a resiliently deformable member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said force is generated by an electro-active polymer actuator having an optically clear area disposed about said axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said force is generated by an electro-active polymer actuator comprising a flexible member substantially conforming to a shape of the deformable surface, the flexible member having an optically clear area disposed about said axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted so that said pushing force is imparted in a direction generally in a direction of said axis.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deformable surface partially defines a cavity that holds focus fluid.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a major body of said deformable lens element comprises a resiliently deformable member, and wherein said deformable lens element is devoid of a focus fluid.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted so that both of a pushing force and a pulling force can be imparted to said deformable surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted so that a pulling force can be imparted to said deformable surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator has a flexible member adapted to substantially conform to a shape of said deformable lens element.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deformable lens element comprises silicon gel.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deformable lens element is a one piece element consisting of a resiliently deformable member.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said force imparting structural member is provided by said actuator.

9. An optical system for use in imaging an object, said system comprising:

a deformable lens element capable of being deformed wherein said deformable lens element has a deformable surface that faces an exterior of said deformable lens element, said deformable lens element having an axis;

wherein said optical system is adapted so that said system can impart a force to said deformable surface generally in a direction of said axis toward said deformable lens element in such manner that an optical property of said deformable lens element is changed by impartation of said force;

wherein said optical system includes an actuator including an aperture disposed about said axis for imparting said force to said deformable lens element generally in a direction of said axis.

10. The optical system of claim 9, wherein said optical system is adapted so that said system imparts said force at a plurality of positions spaced apart from and peripherally disposed about said axis.

24. The optical system of claim 9, wherein said deformable surface partially defines a cavity that holds focus fluid.

25. The optical system of claim 9, wherein a major body of said deformable lens element comprises a resiliently deformable member, and wherein said deformable lens element is devoid of a focus fluid.

26. The optical system of claim 9, wherein said optical system is adapted so that both of a pushing force and a pulling force can be imparted to said deformable surface.

27. The optical system of claim 9, wherein said optical system is adapted so that a pulling force can be imparted to said deformable surface.

28. The optical system of claim 9, wherein said actuator has a flexible member adapted to substantially conform to a shape of said deformable lens element.

29. The optical system of claim 9, wherein said deformable lens element comprises silicon gel.

30. The optical system of claim 9, wherein said deformable lens element is a one piece element consisting of a resiliently deformable member.

31. The optical system of claim 9, wherein the force imparting structural member is provided by said actuator.

11. An optical system for use in imaging an object, said system comprising:

a deformable lens element having a deformable surface, at least part of which transmits image forming light rays and which faces an exterior of said deformable lens element, said deformable lens surface being one of normally convex or capable of exhibiting a convex curvature, said deformable lens element having an axis; and

an actuator for generating a force that is imparted to said deformable surface, the actuator having an aperture disposed about said axis, the optical system being adapted so that actuation of said actuator results in a force being imparted to said deformable surface to vary a convexity of said deformable lens element.

12. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said optical system includes a pressure element transferring a said force generated by said actuator to said deformable lens element.

13. The optical system of claim 11 wherein said deformable lens element is configured so that, for achieving deformation thereof, said deformable lens element is contacted at a plurality of positions spaced apart from and peripherally disposed about said axis.

14. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said optical system includes a force imparting structural member for imparting a force generated by said actuator and for imparting said force generated by said actuator to said deformable surface.

15. The optical system of claim 14, wherein said force imparting structural member is said actuator.

32. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said actuator imparts said force generally in a direction of said axis.

33. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said deformable surface partially defines a cavity that holds focus fluid.

34. The optical system of claim 11, wherein a major body of said deformable lens element comprises a resiliently deformable member, and wherein said deformable lens element is devoid of a focus fluid.

35. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said optical system is adapted so that both of a pushing force and a pulling force can be imparted to said deformable surface.

36. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said optical system is adapted so that a pulling force can be imparted to said deformable surface.

37. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said optical system is adapted so that a pushing force can be imparted to said deformable surface, and further so that said deformable surface bulges outward in an area of said deformable surface about said axis responsively to imparting of the pushing force.

38. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said deformable surface is capable of a concave configuration, and wherein said system is adapted so that a pulling force can be imparted to said deformable surface to increase a concavity of said deformable surface.

39. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said deformable surface is capable of a convex configuration, and wherein said system is adapted so that a pushing force can be imparted to said deformable surface to increase a convexity of said deformable surface.

40. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said force generated by said actuator can be either of a pushing force or pulling force.

41. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said actuator is an electro-active polymer actuator.

42. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said force is imparted to said deformable surface in a direction generally in a direction of said axis.

43. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said actuator includes a plurality of tab-like elements.

44. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said actuator includes an electro-active polymer having a flexible member, and wherein said actuator imparts said force to said deformable surface.

45. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said actuator is an electro-active polymer actuator which includes a ring-shaped deformable element comprising a plurality of tab-like pressure elements, said system further having a ring shaped pressure element, said deformable element being circumferentially disposed about said axis, said plurality of tab-like elements engaging said ring shaped pressure element.

46. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said actuator has a flexible member adapted to substantially conform to a shape of said deformable lens element.

47. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said deformable lens element comprises silicon gel.

48. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said deformable lens element is a one piece element consisting of a resiliently deformable member.

49. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said actuator is an ion conductive electro-active polymer actuator.

50. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said actuator is a dielectric electro-active polymer actuator.

51. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said actuator is a hollow stepper motor.

52. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said deformable surface is a light entry surface, and wherein said deformable lens element includes a deformable light exit surface, wherein the system comprises a second actuator that generates a force that is imparted to the deformable light exit surface.

53. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said deformable lens element consists of a one piece resiliently deformable member.

54. The optical system of claim 11, wherein said deformable lens element comprises a curved surface having an optical power.

55. The optical system of claim 11, wherein the optical system comprises a force imparting structural member that is provided by said actuator.

56. The optical system of claim 11, wherein the optical system comprises a force imparting structural member that is provided by a pressure element.