Fluidic lens with electrostatic actuation
AssigneeHolochip Corporation
InventorsRobert G. Batchko, Justin Mansell, Andrei Szilagyi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrostatically actuated fluidic device capable of providing a variable focal length lens is disclosed. The device includes an elastic capacitor section, an elastic lens section in fluid communication with the capacitor section, the elastic lens section being characterized by a focal length and a fluid capable of fluid motion disposed at least partially in the capacitor and lens sections. A voltage may be applied to the capacitor section causing it to deform, which causes a portion of the fluid to flow into or out of the lens section. As a result, a change in volume of fluid in the lens section causes it to deform resulting in a variation in the focal length of the lens section.
Claims72
An electrostatically actuated fluidic device, that is capable of providing a variable-focal length lens, comprising:
- an elastic capacitor section;
- an elastic lens section in fluid communication with the capacitor section, the elastic lens section being characterized by a focal length;
- a fluid capable of fluid motion disposed at least partially in the capacitor and lens sections;
- wherein a voltage may be applied to the capacitor section causing it to deform;
- wherein the deformation of the capacitor section causes a portion of the fluid to flow into or out of the lens section;
- wherein a change in volume of fluid in the lens section causes the lens section to deform resulting in a variation in the focal length of the lens section.
A compact optical system having a variable focal length lens and a fixed focal length optic wherein a position of the variable focal length lens is substantially fixed with respect to the fixed focal length optic and wherein the a variable focal length lens is a fluidic lens having a refracting surface with a variable curvature.
An electro-fluidic optical system, comprising:
- a mid-plane spacer having a central opening;
- first and second transparent membranes disposed over the central opening;
- a transparent fluid filling a space within the central opening bordered by the first and second membranes;
- first and second electrodes, wherein the first and second electrodes have a degree of freedom of movement in an axial direction, wherein the mid-plane spacer and membranes are disposed between the first and second electrodes and wherein the first and second electrodes are supported from the mid-plane spacer by first and second flexible seals respectively, wherein the first and second flexible seals are configured to flex in an axial direction.
The device of claim I further comprising a projector, wherein the fluidic optical device is a variable lens coupled to the projector, wherein the lens is configured to project images at focal planes, wherein the focal planes are disposed at one or more distances from the projector.
The device of claim I further including a three-dimensional display system, wherein the fluidic optical device is a variable lens coupled to the three-dimensional display system, wherein the variable lens is configured to project a three-dimensional image by projecting images from the three-dimensional display system at one or more distances from the variable lens.
The device of claim l further including a free-space three-dimensional display system, wherein the fluidic optical device is a variable lens coupled to the three-dimensional display system, wherein the variable lens is configured to project a three-dimensional image in free space by projecting images from the three-dimensional display system at one or more distances from the variable lens.
The device of claim I further including a three-dimensional display system, wherein the fluidic optical device is a variable lens coupled to the three-dimensional display system, wherein the variable lens is configured to project a three-dimensional image by projecting images from the three-dimensional display system at one or more distances from the variable lens, wherein the three-dimensional display system further comprises one or more lenses, prisms, mirrors, gratings, optical fiber or holographic optical elements.
The device of claim I further including a three-dimensional display system, wherein the fluidic optical device is a variable lens coupled to the three-dimensional display system, wherein the variable lens is configured to project a three-dimensional image by projecting images from the three-dimensional display system at one or more distances from the variable lens, wherein the three-dimensional display system further comprises one or more imaging medium or imaging chamber employed near or coinciding with at least a portion of three- dimensional image.
The device of claim I further including a three-dimensional display system, wherein the fluidic optical device is a variable lens coupled to the three-dimensional display system, wherein the variable lens is configured to project a three-dimensional image by projecting images from the three-dimensional display system at one or more distances from the variable lens, wherein the three-dimensional display system further comprises one or more at least partially reflective pointers, wherein the one or more at least partially reflective pointers include one or more physical objects, human fingers, pointing devices, pens or wands.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.