Organic electric camera

• US 20070108890A1
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Inventors: Forrest, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,041,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/504
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/141 Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/02 Artificial eyes from organic plastic material implantable eye parts, artificial eyes A61F2/14
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/023 Implants for natural eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/146 Imager structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 39/32 Organic image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a an organic imaging device having organic detectors on a curved surface. The device may be used for imaging applications such as photography, lightweight camera systems, very high-resolution imaging, lightweight “night vision”, robotic vision, and others. A concave housing with a deformable lens is provided. The deformable lens allows for a range of fields of view and focal lengths. The invention may be configured to detect a range of electromagnetic radiation. It may then provide input to a computer, display, or other device for processing or display of the detected radiation as an image.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a lens having a curved focal plane;

a curved surface in the shape of the focal plane; and

a detector disposed on the curved surface, wherein the detector is in the shape of the focal plane.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the lens is a deformable lens having an adjustable focal length.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector further comprises a plurality of organic photosensitive devices.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of organic photosensitive devices are disposed in an array.

5. The device of claim 2, further comprising at least one polymer muscle attached to the deformable lens.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one polymer muscle is adjacent to the deformable lens.

7. The device of claim 5, further comprising a computer-controlled focusing mechanism to control motion of the at least one polymer muscle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector is an active matrix further comprising an array of organic transistors and an array of organic photosensitive devices.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector further comprises a passive matrix array of organic photosensitive devices.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector is a high-resolution detector array.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector detects light in the ultraviolet region.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector detects light in the infrared region.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector provides input to a computer for data processing.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the lens is capable of providing an f-number of at least about f/1.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector has a fill factor of at least about 70%.

16. The device of claim 7, wherein the focusing mechanism uses a stereo-computed range to determine the focusing distance.

17. A method of fabricating a device, comprising:

obtaining a housing having an opening therein and a non-developable concave interior surface;

depositing a plurality of organic photosensitive devices through the opening and onto the non-developable concave interior surface; and

inserting a deformable lens into the opening.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of organic photosensitive devices are deposited using organic vapor jet printing.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of organic photosensitive devices are deposited using ink jet printing.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of organic photosensitive devices are an active matrix further comprising a plurality of organic transistors and a plurality of photosensitive devices.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of organic photosensitive devices comprise a passive matrix array of organic devices.

22. A method of fabricating a device, comprising:

depositing a plurality of photosensitive devices onto a surface;

deforming the surface into a curved surface having an opening therein, such that the plurality of photosensitive devices is disposed on the concave surface of the curved surface; and

inserting a deformable lens into the opening.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of photosensitive devices is deposited using organic vapor jet printing.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of organic photosensitive devices is deposited using ink jet printing.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of organic photosensitive devices comprise an active matrix, further comprising a plurality of organic transistors and a plurality of organic photosensitive devices.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of organic photosensitive devices further comprise a passive matrix array.

27. A device, comprising:

a housing having an opening therein and a concave interior surface;

a deformable lens having an adjustable focal length disposed in the opening;

an organic detector disposed on the concave interior surface, the organic detector being in a position to detect optical signals transmitted through the deformable lens; and

a polymer muscle attached to the deformable lens.

28. The device of claim 27, further comprising a computer-controlled focusing mechanism to control motion of the polymer muscle.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the organic detector is deposited using organic vapor jet printing.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein the organic detector is deposited using ink jet printing.

31. The device of claim 27, wherein the organic detector is an active matrix further comprising an array of organic transistors and an array of organic photosensitive devices.

32. The device of claim 27, wherein the organic detector further comprises a passive matrix array of organic photosensitive devices.

33. The device of claim 27, wherein the organic detector is a high-resolution detector array.

34. The device of claim 27. wherein the organic detector comprises devices sensitive to light in the ultraviolet region.

35. The device of claim 27, wherein the organic detector comprises devices sensitive to light in the infrared region.

36. The device of claim 27, wherein the organic detector provides input to a computer to process the data.