# US 2014/0191107 A1 · Method and apparatus for adjusting an aperture in an optical system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191107 A1 - Document ID: US20140191107A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/149,234 - Filed: 2014-01-07 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Eun-sung LEE; Seung-wan LEE; Jong-hyeon CHANG; Kyu-dong JUNG; Min-seog CHOI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191107A1 ## CPC - G01J 1/0448: {Adjustable, e.g. focussing} - G01J 1/0437: {using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators, spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters} - G02B 5/005: {Diaphragms (for cameras G03B9/02)} - G02B 26/023: {comprising movable attenuating elements, e.g. neutral density filters} - H04N 23/75: by influencing optical camera components - G03B 7/095: for control of aperture - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract An aperture adjusting apparatus is provided. The aperture adjusting apparatus includes: a variable part of which an aperture size varies; an optical sensor configured to sense light incident to the variable device part and light output from the variable device part; an aperture calculator configured to calculate a size of an aperture formed in the variable part from light intensity sensed by the optical sensor; and a driving controller configured to control driving of the variable device part by receiving a calculation result fed back from the aperture calculator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aperture adjusting apparatus comprising: a variable device configured to provide a variable aperture size; an optical sensor configured to sense light incident to the variable device and light output from the variable device; an aperture calculator configured to calculate a size of an aperture formed in the variable device from light intensity sensed by the optical sensor; and a driving controller configured to control driving of the variable device by receiving a calculation result fed back from the aperture calculator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor comprises a photoelectric sensor configured to output an electrical signal from input light. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor comprises: a first optical sensor having a strip shape, disposed on a light-incident surface of the variable device; and a second optical sensor having a strip shape, disposed on a light-output surface of the variable device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second optical sensors are respectively disposed to cross the centers of the light-incident surface and the light-output surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the aperture of the variable device has a rotationally symmetric shape about a central axis thereof, and the first and second optical sensors are disposed at locations that are rotationally symmetric to each other about the central axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture size of the variable device is adjusted according to an electromechanical method. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture size of the variable device is adjusted according to a microelectrofluidic method. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the variable device comprises: a chamber forming a space in which a fluid flows, the chamber having a lower channel and an upper channel which are connected to each other; a photo-interceptive first fluid and a photo-transmissive second fluid having a property that the second fluid does not mix with the first fluid, which are prepared in the chamber; and an electrode in the lower channel, to which a voltage is applied in order to change an interface location between the first fluid and the second fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 8, wherein a height of the lower channel is lowest at a center thereof and is gradually higher towards a circumference thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 8, wherein a height of the lower channel is lowest at a center thereof and is gradually higher towards a circumference thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the chamber comprises: a first substrate; a second substrate, which is separated from the first substrate and has a plurality of through holes formed at a center and near a circumference thereof; a third substrate separated from the second substrate; a first spacer surrounding a space between the first substrate and the second substrate and forming the lower channel; and a second spacer surrounding a space between the second substrate and the third substrate and forming the upper channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture size of the variable part is adjusted according to a hydraulic method. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the variable device comprises: a chamber forming a space in which a fluid flows, the chamber having a lower channel and an upper channel connected to each other; a photo-interceptive first fluid disposed in a circumferential part of the lower channel and a photo-transmissive second fluid having a property that the second fluid does not mix with the first fluid, which are prepared in the chamber; and a pressure applier configured to apply a pressure to a surface of the first fluid in order to move the first fluid towards a center of the lower channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 12, wherein a height of the lower channel is lowest at a center thereof and gradually becomes higher towards a circumference thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the chamber comprises: a first substrate; a second substrate which is separated from the first substrate and has a plurality of through holes formed at a center and near a circumference thereof; a third substrate separated from the second substrate; a first spacer configured to surround a space between the first substrate and the second substrate and forming the lower channel; and a second spacer configured to surround a space between the second substrate and the third substrate and forming the upper channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pressure applier is a polymer actuator is implemented to cover through holes formed near the circumference of the second substrate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture size of the variable device is adjusted according to a pneumatic method. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the variable device comprises: a chamber configured to form a space in which a fluid flows, the chamber having a lower channel and an upper channel connected to each other ; a photo-interceptive first fluid disposed in a circumferential region of the lower channel and a photo-transmissive second fluid having a property that the second fluid does not mix with the first fluid, which are prepared in the chamber; and a pressure applier configured to apply an air pressure to the first fluid in order to move the first fluid towards a center of the lower channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The aperture adjusting apparatus of claim 17, wherein a height of the lower channel is lowest at a center thereof and gradually becomes higher towards a circumference thereof. ### Claim 19 A method of adjusting an aperture, the method comprising: calculating a size of an aperture formed in a variable device by comparing the intensity of light incident to the variable device t with the intensity of light output from the variable part; and adjusting a driving force of the variable device based on consideration of the calculated aperture size. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The aperture adjusting method of claim 19, wherein the calculating of the aperture size comprises respectively mounting first and second optical sensors having a strip shape at a light-incident surface and a light-output surface of the variable device, and comparing signals sensed by the first and second optical sensors in order to calculate the aperture size.