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US 7,453,646 B2Granted
Fluidic adaptive lens systems and methods
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorYu-Hwa Lo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fluidic adaptive lens devices, and systems employing such lens devices, along with methods of fabricating and operating such lens devices, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a lens material is optimally selected to provide one or more desired characteristics for a variety of applications related to adaptive lens devices. In another embodiment, a fluidic medium is optimally chosen to provide one or more desired characteristics for a variety of applications related to adaptive lens devices.
Claims23
A lens device, comprising:
- a lens chamber including a plurality of surfaces, wherein at least one surface of the plurality of surfaces is optically transparent;
- a lens membrane coupled to the lens chamber, wherein at least a portion of the lens membrane is flexible and optically transparent, and wherein the lens membrane and the lens chamber define a first cavity;
- a fluidic medium positioned within the first cavity, the fluidic medium also being optically transparent;
- and
- a control device capable of controlling a parameter of the fluidic medium,
- wherein the fluidic medium is selected so as to transmit at least 20% of an optical signal over a wavelength spectrum that spans at least 200 nm.
3 more elements
A method of fabricating a fluidic adaptive lens device, comprising:
- providing a lens chamber including a plurality of surfaces, wherein at least one surface of the plurality of surfaces is optically transparent;
- affixing a lens membrane to the lens chamber, wherein at least a portion of the lens membrane is flexible and optically transparent and wherein the lens membrane and the lens chamber define a first cavity;
- positioning a fluidic medium within the first cavity, wherein the fluidic medium is optically transparent;
- and
- providing a control device capable of controlling a parameter of the fluidic medium,
- wherein the fluidic medium is characterized by a property selected from the group consisting of:
- a transmission level of at least 20% of an optical signal over a wavelength spectrum that spans at least 200 nm, a range of operable temperature that spans at least 30 degrees, and a nearly zero vapor pressure.
4 more elements
A lens system comprising:
- first and second lens structures, wherein each of the first and second lens structures includes
- a respective lens chamber including a respective plurality of surfaces, wherein at least one surface of the respective plurality of surfaces of each respective lens chamber is optically transparent, and
- a respective lens membrane coupled to the respective lens chamber of each respective lens structure, wherein at least a portion of each respective lens membrane is flexible and optically transparent, and wherein the respective lens membrane and the respective lens chamber of each respective lens structure together define a respective cavity;
- at least one fluidic medium positioned within the cavities of the first and second lens structures, the at least one fluidic medium also being optically transparent;
- and
- means for controlling at least one parameter of the at least one fluidic medium,
- wherein the at least one fluidic medium is characterized by a property selected from the group consisting of:
- a transmission level of at least 20% of an optical signal over a wavelength spectrum that spans at least 200 nm, a range of operable temperature that spans at least 30 degrees, and a nearly zero vapor pressure.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.