Lens assembly apparatus and method

• US 8,699,141 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation), Optotune AG (Optotune Switzerland AG)
• Original Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation), Optotune AG (Optotune Switzerland AG)
• Inventors: Aschwanden, Manuel, Niederer, David, Schmidhausler, Thomas, Romer, Christoph, Kern, Thomas, Yang, Shu-Heng, King, Charles, Kirchhoefer, Dennis Ray, Warren, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKES, ZACHARY W
• Application Number:
  US12/720,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20100232161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 359665-667, 359/824
• US Class Current: 359/666
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/04 with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/10 by relative axial movement of several lenses, e.g. of varifocal objective lens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/685 performed by mechanical compensation

Abstract

An optical apparatus includes a first membrane, a second membrane and at least one electromagnetically displaceable component. The first membrane includes an optically active area. The first membrane and the second membrane are coupled by a filler material disposed in a reservoir. At least one electromagnetically displaceable component is coupled to the filler material via the second membrane, such that a displacement of the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component is operative to cause a deformation of the optically active area of the first membrane by movement of the filler material.

Claims

1. An optical apparatus comprising

a first flexible membrane comprising an optically active area used to form images;

a fixed lens;

an optical axis extending through a center of the fixed lens and a center of the first flexible membrane

a second flexible membrane having a non-moving periphery and not having an optically active area;

wherein the first flexible membrane and the second membrane are coupled by a filler material;

at least one electromagnetically displaceable component coupled to the filler material via at least a portion of the second flexible membrane, such that a displacement of the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component is operative to cause a deformation of the optically active area of the first flexible membrane by movement of the filler material;

a lens shaper adjacent to the optically active area and being fixed in space longitudinally and radially with respect to the fixed lens and the optical axis, the lens shaper being separate and distinct from the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component;

wherein the first membrane has a radial perimeter defined by the non-moving lens shaper;

wherein the second flexible membrane is in contact with the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component and wherein the periphery of the second membrane is fixed in space with respect to the fixed lens.

2. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filler material is a material selected from the group consisting of a liquid, an ionic liquid, a gel, a gas, and a polymer.

3. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component comprises a coil.

4. The optical apparatus of claim 3 wherein applying a current to the electrical coil is operative with a magnetic field to create an electromotive force and to move the electrical coil in a generally axial direction with respect to an optical axis of the apparatus.

5. The optical apparatus of claim 3, wherein the coil comprises a bobbin which is attached to the second membrane and an electrically conductive wire which is arranged on the bobbin.

6. The optical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the bobbin is constructed from a rigid material.

7. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component comprises at least one magnet.

8. The optical apparatus of claim 7 wherein a coil is stationary with respect to a container and the at least one magnet is movable with respect to the coil.

9. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component is constructed from a magnetically soft material.

10. The optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filler material and the membrane comprise the same material.

11. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the electromagnetically displaceable component is mechanically coupled to the second membrane, such that a deformation of the second membrane results in a deformation of the first membrane by movement of the filler material.

12. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component is attached to the second membrane section by an attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanical adhesion, chemical adhesion, dispersive adhesion, electrostatic adhesion and diffusive adhesion.

13. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first membrane and the second membrane are delimited from each other by the lens shaper.

14. The optical apparatus of claim 13, wherein the lens shaper comprises a circular opening which defines the shape of the optically active area of the first membrane.

15. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component is positioned on either side of the second membrane.

16. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second membrane laterally surrounds the first membrane.

17. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component laterally surrounds the first membrane.

18. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first membrane or the second membrane is arranged in a pre-stretched manner.

19. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first or second membrane is at least partially constructed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

gels, elastomers, thermoplast, and duroplast.

20. The optical apparatus of claim 1, wherein a coil operates to interact with a magnetized structure.

21. The optical apparatus of claim 20, wherein the magnetized structure comprises at least one magnet.

22. The optical apparatus of claim 20, wherein the magnetized structure comprises a flux guiding structure.

23. The optical apparatus of claim 22 wherein the flux guiding structure is constructed from a magnetically soft material.

24. The optical apparatus of claim 20, wherein a periphery of the magnetized structure is substantially rectangular in shape.

25. The optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is at least part of one of an optical focusing, zoom system, and illumination system.

26. An optical apparatus comprising:

at least one electromagnetically displaceable component;

a continuous flexible membrane, the membrane having a first membrane section and a second membrane section, the second membrane section extending from the first membrane section, wherein the first membrane section comprises an optically active area used to form images;

a fixed lens;

an optical axis extending through a center of the fixed lens and a center of the first membrane section;

wherein the first membrane section and the second membrane section are coupled via a filler material;

wherein a displacement of the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component causes movement of the second membrane section, thereby causing movement of the filler material that deforms at least a part of the first membrane section;

a lens shaper adjacent to the optically active area that delimits between the first membrane section and the second membrane section, the lens shaper being fixed with respect to the fixed lens and the optical axis, the lens shaper being separate and distinct from the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component;

wherein the first membrane section has a radial perimeter defined by the non-moving lens shaper;

wherein the second membrane section is in contact with the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component and wherein the periphery of the second membrane is fixed in space with respect to the fixed lens.

27. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein the filler material is a deformable material.

28. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component comprises a coil.

29. The optical apparatus of claim 28, wherein the coil is coupled to a bobbin which is attached to the second membrane and the bobbin is not part of the lens shaper.

30. The optical apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the bobbin is constructed from a rigid material.

31. The optical apparatus of claim 28, wherein the coil operates to interact with a magnetized structure.

32. The optical apparatus of claim 31, wherein the magnetized structure comprises at least one magnet.

33. The optical apparatus of claim 31, wherein the magnetized structure comprises a flux guiding structure.

34. The optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein the flux guiding structure is constructed from a magnetically soft material.

35. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component comprises a magnet.

36. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component is constructed from a magnetically soft material.

37. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component is attached to the second membrane section by an attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanical adhesion, chemical adhesion, dispersive adhesion, electrostatic adhesion and diffusive adhesion.

38. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein, the electromagnetically displaceable component delimits at least one of the first membrane section and the second membrane section.

39. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein the lens shaper comprises a circular opening which defines the shape of the optically active area of the first membrane section.

40. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component at least partially surrounds the first membrane section.

41. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first membrane section and the second membrane section is arranged in a pre-stretched manner.

42. The optical apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first or second membrane section is at least partially constructed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

gels, elastomers, thermoplast, and duroplast.

43. The optical apparatus of claim 26 wherein the electromagnetically displaceable component is part of a motor system.

44. The optical apparatus of claim 43 wherein a periphery of the motor system is substantially rectangular in shape.

45. The optical apparatus of claim 26 wherein the apparatus is at least part of one of an optical focusing, zoom system, and illumination system.

46. A motor comprising:

a first magnet;

a first coil placed proximate to the first magnet;

a second magnet;

a second coil placed proximate to the second magnet;

a first flux which is generated by the first magnet, a second flux generated by the second magnet, and a third flux which is generated by both the first and second magnet;

wherein a current excitation of the first coil is operative with the first and third flux to create a sufficient force to displace the first coil with respect to the first magnet and excitation of the second coil is operative with the second and third flux to create a sufficient force to displace the second coil with respect to the second magnet;

wherein at least some of the first flux, the second flux, or the third flux passes through a deformable optical element;

wherein the first coil and first magnet are effective to cause a deformation of a first deformable membrane and wherein a first lens shaper delimits portions of the first membrane, the first lens shaper being fixed with respect to a first container, the first lens shaper being separate and distinct from the motor;

wherein the first lens shaper is adjacent to an optically active area of the first membrane and is fixed in space longitudinally and radially with respect to an optical axis, the optical axis extending through a center of the first membrane;

wherein the second coil and second magnet are effective to cause a deformation of a second deformable membrane and wherein a second lens shaper delimits portions of the second membrane, the second lens shaper being fixed with respect to a second container, the second lens shaper being separate and distinct from the motor;

wherein the second lens shaper is adjacent to an optically active area of the second membrane and is fixed in space longitudinally and radially with respect to an optical axis, the optical axis extending through a center of the second membrane.

47. The motor of claim 46 wherein a flux guiding structure is arranged such that the flux guiding structure increases the flux density at the first coil and the second coil and wherein the flux guiding structure optimizes the force.

48. The motor of claim 46 wherein the third flux is a significant portion of the total flux and increases the flux density at the coils.

49. The motor of claim 46 wherein the first coil is mechanically coupled to an optical element.

50. The motor of claim 46 further comprising at least one additional magnet configured to increase the flux density at the coils.

51. An optical apparatus comprising:

a deformable membrane;

a first reservoir that communicates with the deformable lens;

an optical sensor which receives light which passes through the deformable membrane; and

a motor comprising;

a first magnet;

a first coil placed proximate to the first magnet; and

a first flux which is generated by the first magnet wherein the first flux flows through said first coil and interacts with current in the first coil to create a force;

wherein a portion of the motor is positioned between the first reservoir and the optical sensor;

wherein the motor is effective to cause a deformation of the deformable membrane and wherein a lens shaper delimits portions of the membrane, the lens shaper being fixed with respect to a container, the lens shaper being separate and distinct from the motor;

wherein the lens shaper is adjacent to an optically active area of the membrane and is fixed in space longitudinally and radially with respect to a fixed lens and an optical axis, the optical axis extending through a center of the fixed lens and a center of the membrane.

52. The optical apparatus of claim 51 further comprising:

a second reservoir wherein a portion of the motor is positioned between the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

53. An optical apparatus comprising:

a first deformable lens;

a first reservoir in communication with the first deformable lens by means of a first filler material;

a first container at least partially enclosing the filler material within the first deformable lens and the first reservoir;

a second deformable lens;

a second reservoir in communication with the second deformable lens by means of a second filler material;

a second container at least partially enclosing the filler material within the second deformable lens and the second reservoir;

an electromechanical actuation device operative in a plurality of directions wherein at least one direction of the electromechanical actuation device is operative to change one optical property of the first deformable lens;

and wherein a second direction of the electromechanical actuation device is operative to change one optical property of the second deformable lens;

wherein the electromechanical actuation device is effective to cause a deformation of the first deformable lens or the second deformable lens and wherein a lens shaper delimits portions of the first deformable lens or the second deformable lens, the lens shaper being fixed with respect to a container, the lens shaper being separate and distinct from the electromechanical actuation device

wherein the lens shaper is adjacent to a first optically active area of the first deformable lens and a second optically active area of the second deformable lens and is fixed in space longitudinally and radially with respect to a fixed lens and an optical axis, the optical axis extending through a center of the fixed lens and a center of the first deformable lens and the second deformable lens.