Liquid optics image stabilization

• US 8,687,281 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKES, ZACHARY W
• Application Number:
  US12/327,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20090141352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 359665-667, 359554-557
• US Class Current: 359/666
• 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 first pair of liquid lens cells offset from each other along a common axis and offset from each other along a first direction non-parallel to the common axis;

a second pair of liquid lens cells offset from each other along the common axis and offset from each other along a second direction non-parallel to the common axis, where an offset from the common axis of each of the second pair of liquid lens cells is in a direction substantially different from an offset from the common axis of each of the first pair of liquid lens cells, and the magnitude of the offset from the common axis of each of the second pair of liquid lens cells is greater than the magnitude of the offset from the common axis of each of the first pair of liquid lens cells, and where each liquid lens cell in the first and second pairs of liquid lens cells comprises contacting liquids and a contacting surface between the contacting liquids having a variable shape;

a sensor configured to detect movement of at least one lens element; and

a controller configured to vary the shape of the contacting surfaces of the liquid lens cells in the first and second pairs to compensate for movement of the at least one lens element and provide stabilization of an image formed by radiation that is delivered to an image side space.

2. The image stabilization system of claim 1, 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.

3. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a first pair of liquid lens cells, each liquid lens cell in the first pair having an optical axis that is offset from a common axis along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the common axis, the liquid lens cells in the first pair offset from each other along the common axis, an offset of an optical axis of a first liquid lens cell of the first pair being in a first direction along the first axis and an offset of an optical axis of a second liquid lens cell of the first pair being in a second direction opposite the first direction along the first axis;

a second pair of liquid lens cells, each liquid lens cell in the second pair having an optical axis that is offset from a common axis along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the common axis, the liquid lens cells in the second pair offset from each other along the common axis, an offset of an optical axis of a first liquid lens cell of the second pair being in a first direction along the second axis and an offset of an optical axis of a second liquid lens cell of the second pair being in a second direction opposite the first direction along the second axis, where the first axis and the second axis extend in substantially different directions, and where each liquid lens cell in the first and second pairs of liquid lens cells comprises contacting liquids and a contacting surface between the contacting liquids having a variable shape;

a sensor configured to detect movement of at least one lens element; and

a controller configured to vary the shape of the contacting surfaces of the liquid lens cells in the first and second pairs to compensate for movement of the at least one lens element and provide stabilization of an image formed by radiation that is delivered to an image side space.

4. The image stabilization system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to vary the shape of the contacting surfaces of the liquid lens cells in the first pair of liquid lens cells to provide image stabilization in the direction of the offset of the first pair, and the controller is configured to vary the shape of the contacting surfaces of the liquid lens cells in the second pair of liquid lens cells to provide image stabilization in the direction of the offset of the second pair.