Image system and miniature deformable mirror thereof

• US 7,679,811 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chen-Wei Chiu
• Original Assignee: Chen-Wei Chiu
• Inventors: Chiu, Chen-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins; Darryl J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas; Brandi N
• Application Number:
  US11/423,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 359/290, 359/291, 359/292, 359/298, 359/242, 359/267, 359/699, 359/811
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0816 off-axis or unobscured systems in which not all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry, e.g. at least one of the mirrors is warped, tilted or decentered with respect to the other elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0896 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• 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

Abstract

A miniature deformable mirror includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a spacer. The upper portion includes a frame, an organic thin film, and a reflecting layer. The organic thin film is used as a deformed element and is supported by the frame. The reflecting layer is disposed on the organic thin film used for reflecting incident light. The lower portion includes a conductive substrate. The conductive layer is disposed on the substrate and is used for conducting the driving voltage. The spacer is sandwiched between the upper portion and the lower portion. While voltages are applied, electrostatic forces are generated to deform the organic thin film and reflecting layer. Therefore, a miniature deformable mirror with continuously variable focuses is realized.

Claims

1. An image system comprising:

a camera module comprising a lens set, an image-sensing element obtaining a image from the lens set, and a control circuitry electronically connected to the image-sensing element;

a miniature deformable mirror comprising;

an upper portion comprising an organic thin film and a reflecting layer disposed on a lower surface or on an upper surface of the organic thin film;

a lower portion comprising a conductive substrate; and

a spacer disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the spacer of the miniature deformable mirror comprises a spacer opening for defining a deflecting area and the spacer further comprises at least one air channel extending from the spacer opening, with the spacer having an outer periphery, with the spacer opening spaced from the outer periphery, with the at least one air channel extending from the spacer opening to the outer periphery; and

a power supply control unit electronically connected to the control circuitry of the camera module and the miniature deformable mirror.

2. The image system of claim 1, wherein the organic thin film of the miniature deformable mirror is transparent.

3. The image system of claim 1, wherein the conductive substrate of the miniature deformable mirror is transparent.

4. The image system of claim 1, wherein the reflecting layer and The conductive substrate are a first electrode and a second electrode, respectively.

5. The image system of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the miniature deformable mirror further comprises a frame having a mirror opening, with the frame disposed on the organic thin film and the reflecting layer to support the organic thin film and the reflecting layer to be disposed between the frame and the spacer.

6. The image system of claim 1, wherein the conductive substrate comprises a substrate and a conductive layer disposed on the substrate.

7. The image system of claim 6, wherein the organic thin film is transparent.

8. The image system of claim 6, wherein the conductive substrate is transparent.