Sag compensation for deformable lens

An optics system, comprising:

• a sag compensation structure, comprising:
• a sag compensation membrane;
• and
• a one or more side walls for coupling the sag compensation structure with a lens assembly, wherein the lens assembly includes:
• a first lens comprising a deformable lens membrane that defines an optical axis;
• and
• a second lens positioned along the optical axis, wherein the second lens has a fixed shape, wherein a first surface of the second lens is convex toward the first lens along the optical axis, and wherein a second surface of the second lens is concave toward the first lens along the optical axis;
• and
• wherein the first surface of the second lens is placed against the sag compensation structure such that the first surface of the second lens abuts a surface of the sag compensation membrane causing the sag compensation membrane to deform in a shape towards the first lens conforming with a curvature of the first surface of the second lens;
• and
• the deformed sag compensation membrane is positioned, along an optical axis of the lens assembly, between the first lens and the second lens, and wherein the one or more side walls comprises one or more bellows that allow relative movement between the first lens, the second lens, and the sag compensation structure;
• a coupling structure attached to the deformable lens membrane, and wherein the coupling structure extends around a periphery of the first lens;
• a plurality of actuators attached at different points around the periphery of the coupling structure, wherein the plurality of actuators are individually controllable at the different points to cause movement of the coupling structure at the different points with respect to the second lens and the deformable sag compensation membrane, wherein the movement of the coupling structure at least along the optical axis causes the first lens to move at least along the optical axis changing an optical power of the first lens;
• wherein the deformed sag compensation membrane is to deformably interface with:
• a first fluid contained between the deformable lens membrane, the deformed sag compensation membrane, and the one or more side walls;
• and
• a second fluid is between the deformed sag compensation membrane, the second lens, and the one or more side walls, wherein the second fluid is different than the first fluid;
• and
• wherein the sag compensation structure is to compensate, based at least in part on further deformation of the sag compensation membrane, for gravity sag of the deformable lens membrane, wherein the compensation is caused by displacements of the second fluid caused by gravity and affected by the deformed shape of the sag compensation membrane, further deforming the shape of the sag compensation membrane, wherein the further deformation of the shape of the sag compensation membrane interfaces with the first fluid and affects displacements of the first fluid, wherein the affected displacements of the first fluid interface with the deformable lens membrane causing the compensation of gravity sag of the deformable lens membrane, and wherein relative movement of the one or more side walls allows for the respective displacements of the first fluid and the second fluid.

A method of assembling an optics system, the method comprising:

• coupling a sag compensation structure with a lens assembly that includes:
• a first lens comprising a deformable lens membrane that defines an optical axis;
• and a second lens having a fixed shape, wherein a first surface of the second lens is convex toward the first lens along the optical axis, and wherein a second surface of the second lens is concave toward the first lens along the optical axis;
• and
• wherein the sag compensation structure comprises a sag compensation membrane;
• a coupling structure attached to the deformable lens membrane, and wherein the coupling structure extends around a periphery of the first lens;
• a plurality of actuators attached at different points around the periphery of the coupling structure, wherein the plurality of actuators are individually controllable at the different points to cause movement of the coupling structure at the different points with respect to the second lens and the sag compensation structure, wherein the movement of the coupling structure at least along the optical axis causes the first lens to move at least along the optical axis changing an optical power of the first lens;
• the coupling comprises:
• a flexible structure comprising one or more bellows allowing relative movement of the flexible structure;
• and
• attaching the sag compensation structure to the flexible structure along an optical axis of the lens assembly, such that a first surface of the second lens is placed against the sag compensation structure such that the first surface of the second lens abuts a surface of the sag compensation membrane causing the sag compensation membrane to deform in a shape towards the first lens conforming with a curvature of the first surface of the second lens, and wherein the sag compensation membrane is positioned to deformably interface with:
• a first fluid contained between the deformable lens membrane, the deformed sag compensation membrane, and the flexible structure;
• and
• a second fluid contained between the deformed sag compensation membrane, the second lens, and the flexible structure, wherein the second fluid is different than the first fluid;
• wherein the sag compensation structure is to compensate, based at least in part on further deformation of the sag compensation membrane, for gravity sag of the deformable lens membrane, wherein the compensation is caused by displacements of the second fluid caused by gravity and affected by the deformed shape of the sag compensation membrane, further deforming the shape of the sag compensation membrane, wherein the further deformation of the shape of the sag compensation membrane interfaces with the first fluid and affects displacements of the first fluid, wherein the affected displacements of the first fluid interface with the deformable lens membrane causing the compensation of gravity sag of the deformable lens membrane, and wherein the relative movement of the flexible structure allows for the respective displacements of the first fluid and the second fluid.