Optically transparent actuator
AssigneeFacebook Technologies, LLC
InventorsSpencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electroactive ceramic may be incorporated into a transparent optical element and may characterized by an average grain size of less than 200 nm, a relative density of at least 99%, and a transmissivity within the visible spectrum of at least 50%, while maintaining a d33 value of at least 20 pC/N. Optical properties of the electroactive ceramic, including transmissivity, haze, and clarity may be substantially unchanged during actuation of the optical element and the attendant application of a voltage to a layer of the electroactive ceramic.
Claims20
An electroactive ceramic lacking a crystallographic center of inversion in its unit cell, and further comprising:
- an average grain size of less than approximately 200 nm;
- a relative density of at least 99%;
- and
- a transmissivity within the visible spectrum for a thickness ranging from approximately 10 nanometers to approximately 300 micrometers of at least 50%.
An optical element, comprising:
- a primary electrode;
- a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode;
- and
- an electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, wherein the electroactive layer comprises:
- an average grain size of less than 200 nm;
- a relative density of at least 99%;
- and
- a transmissivity within the visible spectrum of at least 50%.
A method comprising:
- forming a powder mixture;
- and
- sintering the powder mixture to form an electroactive ceramic, wherein the electroactive ceramic comprises:
- an average grain size of less than 200 nm,
- a relative density of at least 99%, and
- a transmissivity within the visible spectrum for a thickness ranging from approximately 10 nanometers to approximately 300 micrometers of at least 50%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.