Apparatus and method comprising deformable lens element

• US 9,207,367 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun P., Feng, Chen, Havens, William H., Li, Jianhua
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): TARDIF, DAVID P
• Application Number:
  US13/964,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20140168787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0081 having one or more elements with analytic function to create variable power variable magnification in general G02B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/36 using image sharpness techniques , e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a deformable lens element can be provided wherein a deformable lens element can be deformed to change an optical property thereof by the impartation of a force to the deformable lens element.

Claims

1. A focus apparatus comprising:

a deformable lens element having an imaging axis, wherein a major body of said deformable lens element comprises a resiliently deformable member having at least one normally convex lens surface; and

an actuator positioned between a cover and said deformable lens for deforming said deformable lens element, the actuator having a flexible member positioned between first and second electrodes such that said actuator is a modular assembly comprising a first electrode positioned between said flexible member and said cover and a second electrode positioned between said flexible member and said deformable lens;

wherein said actuator is adapted to substantially conform to a shape of said convex lens surface and having one of a coated area or an aperture disposed about said imaging, axis

wherein the focus apparatus is adapted so that by varying a voltage applied to said flexible member at a plurality of points spaced apart from and peripherally disposed about said imaging axis, a convexity of said normally convex lens surface changes.

2. The focus apparatus of claim 1, wherein said resiliently deformable member has a hardness of less then about Shore A 60.

3. The focus apparatus of claim 1, wherein said resiliently deformable member has a hardness of less than about Shore A 20.

4. The focus apparatus of claim 1, wherein said resiliently deformable member comprises silicon gel.

5. The focus apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deformable lens element is a one piece element consisting of said resiliently deformable member.

6. The focus apparatus of claim 5, wherein said resiliently deformable member has a hardness of less then about Shore A 60.

7. The focus apparatus of claim 5, wherein said resiliently deformable member has a hardness of less than about Shore A 20.

8. The focus apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexible member is a flexible member interposed between a first and second flexible electrodes.

9. A focus apparatus comprising:

a deformable lens element having a deformable light entry surface and an opposing deformable light exit surface, the deformable lens element having an axis intersecting respective centers of said deformable light entry surface and said opposing deformable light exit surface;

a first actuator for deforming said deformable light entry surface to change an optical property of said deformable lens element; and

a second actuator for deforming said deformable light exit surface to change an optical property of said deformable lens element, wherein said deformable lens is positioned directly between said first and second actuators;

wherein said deformable lens element, said first actuator, and said second actuator connect in a modular assembly surrounding said imaging axis.

10. The focus apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of said first and second actuators is an electro-active polymer actuator.

11. The focus apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of said first and second actuators has an aperture disposed about said axis.

12. The focus apparatus of claim 9, wherein said focus apparatus is adapted so that a force generated by at least one of said first and second actuators is transferred to said deformable lens element by a push ring.

13. The focus apparatus of claim 9, wherein said deformable lens element consists of a one piece resiliently deformable member.

14. The focus apparatus of claim 9, wherein said deformable lens element has a cavity and focus fluid disposed in said cavity.

15. The focus apparatus of said claim 9, wherein said focus apparatus includes a first deformable membrane defining said light entry surface and second deformable membrane defining said second light entry surface, a window, first cavity delimited by said first deformable membrane and said window, a second cavity delimited by said second deformable membrane and said window, and focus fluid disposed in each of said first and second cavities.

16. The focus apparatus of claim 9, wherein said focus apparatus is adapted so that a force generated by at least one of said first and second actuators is imparted to said deformable lens element at a plurality of points spaced apart from and peripherally disposed about said axis.

17. An optical imaging system comprising:

a deformable lens element having an imaging axis, wherein a major body of said deformable lens element is provided by a resiliently deformable member;

a flexible member positioned on one side of said deformable lens, said flexible member attached along a periphery to an insulating sleeve;

wherein said imaging system is configured so that a voltage can be applied to said flexible member at a plurality of points spaced apart from and peripherally disposed about said imaging axis, and wherein said flexible member exerts a force on an external surface of said deformable lens for varying an optical characteristic of said imaging system.

18. The optical imaging system of claim 17, wherein said flexible member actuator imparts said force, and substantially conforms to a shape of said deformable lens element.

19. The optical imaging system of claim 17, wherein said flexible member connects to a housing at conductive points between said insulating sleeve and said imaging axis to receive said voltage, wherein said voltage is applied to said housing.

20. The optical imaging system of claim 17, further comprising a second flexible member positioned on an opposite side of said deforming lens element.