Abstract: A variable focal length lens consists of many micromirrors with degrees of freedom rotation and/or degrees of freedom translation and actuating components. As operating methods for the lens, the actuating components control the positions of micromirrors electrostatically and/or electromagnetically. The optical efficiency of the variable focal length lens is increased by locating a mechanical structure upholding micromirrors and the actuating components under micromirrors. The lens can correct aberration by controlling each micromirror independently. The lens can also be of a desired arbitrary shape and/or size. The micromirrors are arranged in a flat plane or in a curved plane with a predetermined curvature. The electrodes determining the position of the micromirrors can be made of material with high electrical conductivity, preferably metal.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) display system using a variable focal length lens includes at least one two-dimensional (2-D) display device, configured to display at least one two-dimensional image. The display system also includes an array of micromirror array lenses optically coupled to the display device, each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses placed at a different location with respect to the display device, configured to focus the at least one two-dimensional image from each different location to provide a three-dimensional (3-D) image. The advantages of the present invention include increased viewing angles and wide depth range of three-dimensional images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional imaging system for robot vision, which is capable of three-dimensional positioning of objects, object identification, searching and tracking of an object of interest, and compensating the aberration of the system. The three-dimensional imaging system for robot vision comprises one or more camera systems, each of which has at least one variable focal length micromirror array lens, an imaging unit, and an image processing unit. The variable focal length micromirror array lens used in the three-dimensional imaging system for robot vision has unique features including a variable focal length, a variable focal axis, and a variable field of view with a fast response time.

Abstract: A multi-step microactuator is provided with the multiple supports in a stepper plate to give multi-step displacement to a controlled object. The microactuator has advantages such that multiple motion can be applied to the controlled object and that the object can be controlled in a low driving voltage and that simple motion control is applied by digital controlling and that the degrees of freedom in motion of the object can be chosen by the number of the stepper plate and that only single voltage is needed for driving the micromirror motion. With many advantages, the multi-step microactuator provides a solution to overcome the difficulties in controlling multi-step motion.

Abstract: A discretely controlled micromirror array lens (DCMAL) consists of many discretely controlled micromirrors (DCMs) and actuating components. The actuating components control the positions of DCMs electrostatically. The optical efficiency of the DCMAL is increased by locating a mechanical structure upholding DCMs and the actuating components under DCMs to increase an effective reflective area. The known microelectronics technologies can remove the loss in effective reflective area due to electrode pads and wires. The lens can correct aberrations by controlling DCMs independently. Independent control of each DCM is possible by known microelectronics technologies. The DCM array can also form a lens with arbitrary shape and/or size, or a lens array comprising the lenses with arbitrary shape and/or size.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fast optical shutter function by use of the fast movement of the micromirrors. In a micromirror array lens (MMAL), all the micromirrors reflect the incident light to form an image on the image plane. If the micromirrors reflect the incident light out of the optical sensor area, then the optical sensor can not have any optical signal just like the incident light blocked. By just changing the beam path by MMAL motion, the micromirror array lens has a function for optical shutter.

Abstract: A virtual keyboard input system using three-dimensional motion detecting by variable focal length MMAL is provided. The compactness of the virtual keyboard input system is accomplished by the variable focal length MMAL performing three-dimensional imaging function. Since the three-dimensional imaging process occurs in a very short time scale, the system can determine the motion of the input by the user and track the motion of the user in real-time based response. Image processor can determine which input is occurred at the moment and the time-dependent profile of the motion itself. The input system gives an output just like a conventional keyboard and a mouse system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a real-time three-dimensional pattern recognition imaging system having a variable focal length, a wide depth of field, a high depth resolution, a fast acquisition time, a variable magnification, a variable optical axis for tracking, and capability of compensating various optical distortions and aberrations, which enables pattern recognition systems to be more accurate as well as more robust to environmental variation. The imaging system for pattern recognition comprises one or more camera system, each of which has at least one micromirror array lens(MMAL), a two-dimensional image senor, and an image processing unit. A MMAL has unique features including a variable focal length, a variable optical axis, and a variable magnification.

Abstract: This invention provides the two types of Discretely Controlled Micromirror (DCM), which can overcome disadvantages of the conventional electrostatic micromirrors. The first type micromirror is a Variable Supporter Discretely Controlled Micromirror (VSDCM), which has a larger displacement range than the conventional electrostatic micromirror. The displacement accuracy of the VSDCM is better than that of the conventional electrostatic micromirror and the low driving voltage is compatible with IC components. The second type of DCM, the Segmented Electrode Discretely Controlled Micromirror (SEDCM) has same disadvantages with the conventional electrostatic micromirror. But the SEDCM is compatible with known microelectronics technologies.

Abstract: Automatic focusing system is provided which comprises a mirror or a plurality of mirrors with a translation device. Automatic focusing can be made by the translation of mirror because focal plane can be changed by the translation of mirror. The translation device makes its motion by the electrostatic, electromagnetic and/or electrothermal forces. The mirror is controlled by the electrical signal from the image processor to get an in-focus image. Also the mirror can be controlled discretely. The image shift by translation is compensated by tilt of mirror and/or image processing.

Abstract: This real-time three-dimensional imaging system for a cellular phone camera generates an all-in-focus image with depth information. The system comprises a micromirror array lens, an imaging unit for capturing images with different focal planes, which are changed by the micromirror array lens, an image processing unit for processing the images taken by the imaging unit and converting the processed images into three-dimensional displayable type, and three-dimensional display unit for displaying the processed three-dimensional images. “Depth from focus” method is used to get an all-in-focus image and depth information from multiple two-dimensional images with different focal planes. This system is compact because only one camera system is used for three-dimensional imaging. For the real-time three-dimensional imaging, micromirror array lens with high-speed variable focus and high speed image processing unit are used. This application has also real-time auto focusing and optical zooming function.

Abstract: A pocket-sized two-dimensional image projection device adapted to a portable device is invented. The pocket-sized two-dimensional image projection device projects two-dimensional image on a projection surface with arbitrary profile and arbitrary distance from the projection device, and arbitrary attitude about the projection device. The position, profile, and attitude of the projection surface about the projection device can be arbitrary because the projection surface is not embodied in the projection device to reduce size of the device. Each micromirror array lens has the ability of scanning and focusing on the projection surface. The focusing on the projection surface can be achieved by automatic focusing function of micromirror array lens. Therefore, an in-focused two-dimensional image can be displayed on arbitrary projection surface. Also, this invention makes a brighter and less power consuming display device, which give an advantage for the portable device application.

Abstract: A vibration correction device in an imaging device includes a micromirror array lens, configured to focus an object image onto an image sensor, and a vibration determination device, communicatively coupled to the micromirror array lens, configured to determine vibration of the imaging device and to generate a vibration correction signal. The micromirror array lens is adjusted to change its optical axis based at least in part on the vibration correction signal to correct for the vibration of the micromirror array lens. In one aspect, the micromirror array lens includes a plurality of micromirrors and the optical axis is changed by translation and/or rotation of the plurality of micromirrors. The advantages of the present invention include elimination of need for mechanical macromotions to adjust the optical axis, high sampling rate, simple structure, and flexibility to use any type of vibration determination device.

Abstract: An array of micromirror array lenses is invented. The micromirror array lens consists of many micromirrors and actuating components. Each micromirror array lens is variable focal length lens with high speed focal length change. The lens can have arbitrary type and/or size as desired and desired arbitrary optical axis and can correct aberration by controlling each micromirror independently. Independent control of each micromirror is possible by known microelectronics technologies. The actuating components control the positions of micromirrors electrostatically and/or electromagnetically. The optical efficiency of the micromirror array lens is increased by locating a mechanical structure upholding micromirrors and the actuating components under micromirrors. The known microelectronics technologies remove the loss in effective reflective area due to electrode pads and wires.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Micromirror Array Lens (MMAL) with fixed focal length to reproduce a designed surface having optical focusing power. The micro mechanical structures with surface profile shape memory are fabricated and released after fabrication. Each micromirror in the MMAL has its own motion by stiction force and/or electrostatic force while and/or after the releasing process. Once the designed surface is formed, the MMAL has an optical power as a lens.

Abstract: A three-dimensional display device includes a two-dimensional display displaying a depthwise image, and a variable focal length micromirror array lens receiving light from the two-dimensional display and forming a corresponding image in the required location in space. Each depthwise image represents a portion of an object or scene having the same image depth, and the two-dimensional display displays one depthwise image at a time. The focal length of the variable focal length micromirror array lens changes according to the depth of the depthwise image being displayed. The variable focal length micromirror array lens has enough speed and focusing depth range for the realistic three-dimensional display.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional camcorder comprising a three-dimensional imaging system acquiring the three-dimensional image information of an object and a three-dimensional viewfinder displaying three-dimensional image using at least one variable focal length micromirror array lens.

Abstract: A new three-dimensional imaging system has been needed to overcome the problems of the prior arts using conventional variable focal length lenses, which have slow response time, small focal length variation, and low focusing efficiency, and require a complex mechanism to control it. The three-dimensional imaging system of the present invention uses the variable focal length micromirror array lens. Since the micromirror array lens has many advantages such as very fast response time, large focal length variation, high optical focusing efficiency, large size aperture, low cost, simple mechanism, and so on, the three-dimensional imaging system can get a real-time three-dimensional image with large depth range and high depth resolution.

Abstract: A micromirror array lens includes a plurality of micromirrors, and reproduces a predetermined free surface by controlling rotation and/or translation of the micromirrors. The micromirror is controlled by control circuitry, upheld by a mechanical structure, and includes a reflective surface. The predetermined free surface of the lens is changed by controlling rotation and/or translation of the micromirrors. The micromirrors are arranged in one or more concentric circles to form the lens. The micromirror has a fan shape, a hexagonal shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape, or a triangle shape. The reflective surface of the micromirror is substantially flat. The control circuitry is constructed under the micromirrors by using semiconductor microelectronics technologies. The micromirrors are actuated by electrostatic and/or electromagnetic force. The reflective surface of the micromirror is made of materials with high reflectivity.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a high-speed, miniaturized, low-cost DVD recording and reproducing system. The present invention is particularly directed to a motorless optical pick-up device for recording and/or reading information on or from an optical disc (CD or DVD), which provides focusing, tracking, seamless layer jumping, tilt compensation, and CD/DVD compatibility.