FLUIDIC LENS WITH MANUALLY-ADJUSTABLE FOCUS

• US 20110267703A1
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Holochip Corporation
• Original Assignee: Holochip Corporation
• Inventors: Szilagyi, Andrei, Batchko, Robert G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,665,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/665
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/004 based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/12 Fluid-filled or evacuated lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length

Abstract

A fluidic lens may have a reservoir at least partially bounded by a first optical surface and a second optical surface. A fluid fills a volume of the reservoir. A piston is configured to contact a portion of the first or second optical surface from outside the reservoir. One or more of the first optical surface or second optical surface is configured to deform as a result of a change in a pressure applied to the fluid or a change in contact between the piston and the first or second optical surface. A rim may be disposed outside the reservoir and configured to contact and provide additional deformation to one or more of the first or second optical surface.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A fluidic lens, comprising:

a reservoir at least partially bounded by a first optical surface and a second optical surface;

a fluid;

wherein the fluid fills a volume of the reservoir;

a rim configured to contact a portion of the first or second optical surface from outside the reservoir

wherein one or more of the first optical surface or second optical surface is configured to deform as a result of a change in a pressure applied to the fluid or a change in contact between the rim and the first or second optical surface.

22. The fluidic lens of claim 21 further comprising a retainer configured to retain one or more of the reservoir or fluidic lens;

23. The fluidic lens of claim 22 wherein the rim protrudes from said retainer.

24. The fluidic lens of claim 22 wherein retainer is passive.

25. The fluidic lens of claim 21 wherein the rim is circular.

26. The fluidic lens of claim 21 wherein the rim divides the fluid-filled volume of the reservoir into an aperture portion and a reservoir portion.

27. The fluidic lens of claim 21 wherein the rim is bonded to an optical surface.

28. The fluidic lens of claim 21 wherein the reservoir is configured to be brought into said contact with the rim and/or the rim is configured to be brought into said contact with the reservoir.

29. The fluidic lens of claim 21 wherein the reservoir is configured to be translated with respect to the rim and/or the rim is configured to be translated with respect to the reservoir;

wherein said translation results in said change in a pressure and said deformation of an optical surface.

30. The fluidic lens of claim 21 wherein an optical surface is pre-tensioned.

31. The fluidic lens of claim 21 further comprising an actuator;

wherein said actuator is configured to provide said change in a pressure.

32. The fluidic lens of claim 31, wherein the actuator is selected from the group of shape memory alloy actuators, electroactive polymer actuators, electrostatic actuators, piezoelectric actuators, stepper motors, voice coils, motor actuators and electromagnetic actuators.

33. The fluidic lens of claim 21 further comprising a rotatable member;

wherein said rotatable member is configured to provide said change in a pressure.

34. The fluidic lens of claim 21 further comprising a rotatable member;

wherein said rotatable member is configured to translate the reservoir with respect to the rim and/or the rim with respect to the reservoir.

35. The fluidic lens of claim 21 wherein one or more of the first or second optical surface includes one or more of a silicone-based polymer, polyester material, glass, plastic, polymer, or polycarbonate.

36. The fluidic lens of claim 21 wherein one or more of the first or second optical surface is made of glass between about 0.7 mm and about 0.2 mm in thickness.

37. A fluidic lens, comprising:

a reservoir at least partially bounded by a first optical surface and a second optical surface;

a fluid;

wherein the fluid fills a volume of the reservoir;

wherein one or more of the first or second optical surface is configured to deform as a result of a change in a pressure applied to the fluid;

a piston member disposed for contacting the first or second optical surface; and

a rim member disposed for contacting the first or second optical surface;

wherein the rim is configured to divide a fluid-filled volume of the reservoir into an aperture portion and a reservoir portion.

wherein the reservoir and piston are configured for translational motion relative to each other;

wherein one or more of said translational motion, said contact between piston and first or second optical surface or said contact between rim and first or second optical surface result in said change in pressure and deformation of the first or second optical surface.

38. The fluidic lens of claim 37 wherein the piston and rim are disposed concentrically to each other.

39. The fluidic lens of claim 37 wherein the deformation includes a first deformation of the first or second optical surface proximal to the reservoir portion of the reservoir;

and a second deformation of the first or second optical surface proximal to the aperture portion of the reservoir.

40. The fluidic lens of claim 39 wherein the first deformation of the optical surface is disposed between the piston and rim.

41. The fluidic lens of claim 37 wherein a portion of the rim is bonded to a portion of the first or second optical surface.

42. The fluidic lens of claim 37 wherein a portion of the piston is bonded to a portion of the first or second optical surface.

43. The fluidic lens of claim 37 wherein the first or second optical surface is pre-tensioned.

44. The fluidic lens of claim 37 further comprising an actuator;

wherein said actuator is configured to provide one or more of said translational motion or said change in a pressure.

45. The fluidic lens of claim 44, wherein the actuator is selected from the group of shape memory alloy actuators, electroactive polymer actuators, electrostatic actuators, piezoelectric actuators, stepper motors, voice coils, motor actuators and electromagnetic actuators.

46. The fluidic lens of claim 37 further comprising a rotatable member;

wherein said rotatable member is configured to provide one or more of said translational motion or said change in a pressure.

47. The fluidic lens of claim 37 wherein one or more of the first or second optical surface includes one or more of a silicone-based polymer, polyester material, glass, plastic, polymer, or polycarbonate.

48. The fluidic lens of claim 37 wherein one or more of the first or second optical surface is made of glass between about 0.7 mm and about 0.2 mm in thickness.

49. A fluidic lens, comprising:

a reservoir at least partially bounded by a first optical surface and a second optical surface;

a fluid;

wherein the fluid fills a volume of the reservoir;

wherein one or more of the first optical surface or second optical surface is configured to deform as a result of a change in a pressure of the fluid;

a piston member disposed for contacting an optical surface

wherein the reservoir is configured for translational motion relative to the piston, or the piston is configured for translational motion relative to the reservoir;

wherein said translational motion and said contact between the piston and an optical surface results in said change in pressure and said deformation of the first or second optical surface;

50. The fluidic lens of claim 49 further including a rim disposed for contacting an optical surface;

wherein one or more of said translational motion or deformation of the first or second optical surface results in a second deformation of an optical surface disposed proximal to the rim.

51. The fluidic lens of claim 49 wherein the rim divides the fluid-filled volume of the reservoir into an aperture portion and a reservoir portion.

52. The fluidic lens of claim 49 wherein a portion of the rim is bonded to a portion of the first or second optical surface.

53. The fluidic lens of claim 49 wherein a portion of the piston is bonded to a portion of the first or second optical surface.

54. The fluidic lens of claim 49 wherein an optical surface is pre-tensioned.

55. The fluidic lens of claim 49 further comprising an actuator;

wherein said actuator is configured to provide one or more of said translational motion or said change in a pressure.

56. The fluidic lens of claim 55, wherein the actuator is selected from the group of shape memory alloy actuators, electroactive polymer actuators, electrostatic actuators, piezoelectric actuators, stepper motors, voice coils, motor actuators and electromagnetic actuators.

57. The fluidic lens of claim 49 further comprising a rotatable member;

wherein said rotatable member is configured to provide one or more of said translational motion or said change in a pressure.

58. The fluidic lens of claim 49 wherein one or more of the first or second optical surface includes one or more of a silicone-based polymer, polyester material, glass, plastic, polymer, or polycarbonate.

59. The fluidic lens of claim 49 wherein one or more of the first or second optical surface is made of glass between about 0.7 mm and about 0.2 mm in thickness.