Controllable aperture with index-matched central region for a portable electronic device imaging system
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsErik J. Bjornard, Tingjun Xu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging system for a portable electronic device includes a variable aperture between a lens group and an image sensor. The variable aperture is defined by an electrochromic stack that defines a switching region and a central non-switching region. The non-switching region can be etched through the same material or set of materials defining the switching region and is backfilled with a dielectric transparent material having an index of refraction substantially equal to an average index of refraction of the layer(s) of the switching region of the electrochromic stack. This construction substantially reduces visible light absorption of the variable aperture.
Claims20
An imaging system for a portable electronic device, the imaging system comprising:
- a switchable aperture comprising:
- an optically transparent substrate;
- a first transparent conductive layer coupled to the optically transparent substrate and defining a first region within the first transparent conductive layer circumscribing a second region within the first transparent conductive layer, the first region and the second region conductively decoupled from one another by a channel, the first region and the second region formed from a common electrically conductive and optically transparent material;
- a second transparent conductive layer;
- a transparent optoelectric layer disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer;
- a first electrode conductively coupled to the first region of the first transparent conductive layer;
- and
- a second electrode conductively coupled to the second transparent conductive layer;
- and
- a controller conductively coupled to each of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to apply a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode to cause the transparent optoelectric layer to change opacity over the first region of the first transparent conductive layer.
An imaging system component for a portable electronic device, the imaging system component comprising:
- an electrochromic stack defining:
- a non-switching area comprising an optically clear dielectric material having a first index of refraction;
- and
- a switching area circumscribing the non-switching area and comprising:
- a first conductive layer comprising a first optically transparent conductive material having a second index of refraction;
- a second conductive layer comprising a second optically transparent conductive material having a third index of refraction;
- and
- a transparent optoelectric layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and comprising an electrochromic material having a fourth index of refraction, the first index of refraction substantially matching an average of the second, third, and fourth indexes of refraction.
An imaging system component for a portable electronic device, the imaging system component comprising:
- an electrochromic stack defining:
- a first conductive layer;
- a second conductive layer, the second conductive layer defining a first region and a second region conductively decoupled from the first region by a channel, the first region circumscribed by the second region and each of the first region and the second region comprising a common optically transparent and electrically conductive material;
- and
- a transparent optoelectric layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and comprising an electrochromic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.