# US 10,371,871 B2 · Optical device for stabilization of images

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- Number: US 10,371,871 B2
- Document ID: US10371871B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/877,261
- Filed: 2018-01-22
- Published: 2018-05-24
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-20
- Assignees: Webster Capital LLC
- Applicants: Webster Capital LLC
- Inventors: Sébastien Bolis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371871B2

## CPC

- G02B 3/14: of variable focal length
- G02B 26/004: {based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid}
- G02B 27/646: {compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake (movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An optical device for the stabilization of images, including a first deformable membrane and a second deformable membranes, a support to which a respective peripheral anchoring area of each of said membranes is connected, and a constant volume of fluid enclosed between the first and the second membrane, said fluid producing mechanical coupling of said first and second membranes. The optical device also includes: a first actuation device of a region of the first membrane located between the peripheral anchoring area and a central part of the first membrane; and a second actuation device of a region of the second membrane located between the peripheral anchoring area and a central part of the second membrane. A control means of the first and second actuation devices is configured, from a rest position where the first and second actuation devices are inactive, to have multiple operating modes to apply respective actuation voltage to the first actuation device or the second actuation device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical device, comprising:
a first deformable membrane;
a second deformable membrane;
a support to which a respective peripheral anchoring area of each of the first deformable membrane and the second deformable membrane is connected;
fluid enclosed between the first deformable membrane and the second deformable membrane;
a first actuation device and a second actuation device, each comprising:
a respective first actuator arranged in a first part of an actuation region of a respective one of the first deformable membrane or the second deformable membrane, wherein the actuation region is located between the respective peripheral anchoring area and a respective central part of the respective deformable membrane;
a respective second actuator arranged in a second part of the actuation region of the respective deformable membrane, wherein the second part is diametrically opposed to the first part;
wherein at least one of the first actuation device or the second actuation device is configured to deform, via at least one of the respective first actuator or the respective second actuator, the respective deformable membrane such that the respective central part of the respective deformable membrane is shaped to deviate a path of light incident on the central part to stabilize an image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, wherein the first deformable membrane has sufficiently low stiffness so that, in the absence of fluid pressure, activation of the first actuation device sets the central part of the first deformable membrane in motion without deforming the first deformable membrane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, wherein each actuator of the first actuation device is configured to bend in a single direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The optical device of claim 3, wherein at least one actuator of the first actuation device comprises a piezoelectric crown.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The optical device of claim 3, wherein the second actuation device comprises a first actuator configured to bend in a first direction and a second actuator configured to bend in a second direction opposite the first direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The optical device of claim 5, wherein the second actuation device comprises actuators formed as beams.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the central part of the second deformable membrane is less than a diameter of the central part of the first deformable membrane, or a width of the actuation region of the second deformable membrane is greater than a width of the actuation region of the first deformable membrane.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, wherein the first actuation device comprises a first actuator configured to bend in a first direction and a second actuator configured to bend in a second direction opposite the first direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, wherein the optical device is configured for inclusion in an imaging device.

### Claim 10

A method for deviation of an optical device having a first actuation device to deform a first deformable membrane and a second actuation device to deform a second deformable membrane, wherein the first actuation device comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, the method comprising:
activating the first actuator or the second actuator of the first actuation device to deform the first deformable membrane to deviate a path of light through the first deformable membrane to stabilize an image being captured from the light; and
activating the second actuation device to deform a second deformable membrane through which the light passes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the activating the first actuator or the second actuator of the first actuation device comprises bending at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator in a single direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein when activating the first actuator or the second actuator of the first actuation device, at least one actuator of the second actuation device is either not activated or is activated to bend in a direction opposite the direction of bending of the at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator of the first actuation device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the activating the first actuator or the second actuator of the first actuation device comprises bending the first actuator in a first direction and bending the second actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the activating the second actuation device comprises activating at least one actuator of the second actuation device to shape the second deformable membrane to deviate the path of the light to stabilize the image being captured from the light.

### Claim 15

An image-capture system, comprising:
a camera comprising:
an optical device comprising first and second deformable membranes; and
fluid enclosed between the first and second deformable membranes; and
first and second actuation devices each comprising respective first and second actuators configured to deform a respective central part of the respective deformable membranes to deviate a path of light incident on the central part to stabilize an image captured by the camera.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The image-capture system of claim 15, wherein the first deformable membrane of the optical device has sufficiently low stiffness so that, in the absence of fluid pressure, activation of the first actuation device sets the central part of the first deformable membrane in motion without deforming the first deformable membrane.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The image-capture system of claim 15, wherein each actuator of the first actuation device is configured to bend in a single direction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The image-capture system of claim 15, wherein at least one actuator of the first actuation device comprises a piezoelectric crown.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The image-capture system of claim 15, wherein the second actuation device comprises a first actuator configured to bend in a first direction and a second actuator configured to bend in a second direction opposite the first direction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The image-capture system of claim 15, wherein the second actuation device comprises actuators formed as beams.