Patents Assigned to Optotune AG
  • Publication number: 20180267294
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1, 2) for pivoting an optical element (10), comprising: an optical element (10), wherein the optical element is movably mounted so that the optical element can be tilted at least about a first axis (A), a magnet (20) extending in an extension direction (Z), wherein the magnet (20) comprises a magnetization (M) aligned with said extension direction (Z), and wherein the magnet (20) comprises a front side (20a), and wherein optical element (10) is rigidly coupled to the magnet (20) or to a first conductor section (30) that faces the front side (20a) of the magnet (20) in the extension direction (Z), wherein the first conductor section (30) extends along the first axis (A), and a current source means (50) electrically connected to the first conductor section (30), which current source means (50) is designed to apply an electrical current (I) to said first conductor section (30), so that a Lorentz force is generated that tilts the optical element (10) about said first axis (A) al
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David NIEDERER, Stephan SMOLKA, Chauncey GRATZEL, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Markus GEISSNER
  • Publication number: 20180217402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lens (1) for vision correction, wherein the lens (1) is particularly configured to be placed directly on the surface of an eye (2) of a person, wherein the lens (1) further comprises: a transparent base element (10) having a back side (12), and a front side (11) facing away from the back side (12), a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (20) connected to said base element (10), wherein said membrane (20) comprises a back side (22) that faces said front side (11) of the base element (10), a ring member (30) connected to said back side (22) of the membrane (20) so that the ring member (30) defines a curvature-adjustable area (23) of the membrane (20), and wherein the lens (1) comprises a lens volume (41) adjacent said curvature-adjustable area (23) of the membrane (20), which lens volume (41) is delimited by the ring member (30), and wherein the lens (1) comprises a reservoir volume (42) arranged in a boundary region (24) of the lens (1), wherein said two volumes (41, 42) a
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Alexandre LARMAGNAC, Matthias WALSER, Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Marcel SUTER, David NIEDERER, Anja STOBBE-KREEMERS, Stephan SMOLKA, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Jochen HOTZEL
  • Publication number: 20180129072
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lens (1) for vision correction, wherein the lens (1) is configured to be placed directly on the surface of an eye (2) of a person or to be implanted into an eye (2) of a person, and wherein the lens (1) further comprises: a transparent base element (10) having a back side (12) and a front side (11) facing away from the back side (12), a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (20) connected to said base element (10), wherein said membrane (20) comprises a back side (22) that faces said front side (11) of the base element (10), a ring member (30) connected to said back side (22) of the membrane (20) so that the ring member (30) defines a curvature-adjustable area (23) of the membrane (20), and wherein the lens (1) comprises a lens volume (41) adjacent said curvature-adjustable area (23) of the membrane (20), which lens volume (41) is delimited by the ring member (30), and wherein the lens (1) comprises a reservoir volume (42) adjacent a boundary area (24) of said membrane (20
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David NIEDERER, Stephan SMOLKA, Chauncey GRATZEL, David STADLER, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Matthias WALSER, Alexandre LARMAGNAC, Marcel SUTER, Thomas SCHMIDHAUSLER
  • Publication number: 20180100953
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens device (1), comprising: a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (10), an optical element (20) opposing the membrane (10), a wall member (300), wherein the optical element (10) and the membrane (10) are connected to the wall member (300) such that a volume (V) is formed, a fluid (F) residing in said volume (V), and a lens shaping member (11) attached to the membrane (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Pit GEBBERS
  • Publication number: 20180074233
    Abstract: The invention relates to a variable focus lens comprising an elastically deformable optical element (7) and a circumferential mechanism (10, 1, 5, 2, 3, 8, 21) to transfer a rotational movement to an axial movement, wherein by using a ball bearing system (9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17) the mechanism is optimized in a manner to reduce mechanical friction, friction variation and to improve force-direction dependent positioning insensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David NIEDERER, Philipp WAIBEL
  • Publication number: 20180011285
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (1) for enhancing the resolution of an image, comprising: a transparent plate member (10) configured for refracting a light beam (20) passing through the plate member (10), which light beam (20) projects an image comprised of rows and columns of pixels (40), a carrier (50) to which said transparent plate member (10) is rigidly mounted, wherein the carrier (50) is configured to be tilted between a first and a second position about a first axis (A), such that the plate member (10) is tilted between the first and the second position about the first axis (A), whereby said projected image (30) is shifted by a fraction (?P) of a pixel, particularly by a half of a pixel, along a first direction (x), and an actuator means (60) that is configured to tilt the carrier (50) and therewith the plate member (10) between the first and the second position about the first axis (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David NIEDERER, Mark VENTURA, Marcel SUTER, David STADLER, Stephan SMOLKA, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Markus GEISSNER
  • Patent number: 9841539
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens device (1), comprising: a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (10), an optical element (20) opposing the membrane (10), a wall member (300), wherein the optical element (10) and the membrane (10) are connected to the wall member (300) such that a volume (V) is formed, a fluid (F) residing in said volume (V), and a lens shaping member (11) attached to the membrane (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, Pit Gebbers
  • Publication number: 20170131569
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device, comprising: a lens (10) having an adjustable focal length (f).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David NIEDERER, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Daniel BORER, Christopher LANING, Michael BUEELER
  • Publication number: 20160259094
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens device (1), comprising: a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (10), an optical element (20) opposing the membrane (10), a wall member (300), wherein the optical element (10) and the membrane (10) are connected to the wall member (300) such that a volume (V) is formed, a fluid (F) residing in said volume (V), and a lens shaping member (11) attached to the membrane (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Pit GEBBERS
  • Publication number: 20160202455
    Abstract: Optical zoom system (1) for imaging an object plane (100) onto an imaging plane (200), e.g. for a smartphone camera, and comprising two liquid lenses (10, 20) followed by a fixed correction lens (30, 50, 60), the liquids having an Abbe number greater than 60.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicants: Optotune AG, KNOWLES GMBH
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Michael BUEELER, Martin SALT
  • Publication number: 20150277137
    Abstract: An optical projection system comprising an image generating laser projector, a diffusive structure and an observer is described. The system is designed such that the light of each image pixel maintains a non-disturbed wavefront through-out the optical system preventing the creation of speckles on the image sensor of the observer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, Christoph Stamm, Gabriel Speziga
  • Patent number: 8944647
    Abstract: The illumination source has a LED light source (2) generating a first divergent light field (6). The light from the LED light source (2) is processed by a first optical element (10), in particular a first lens element, to generate a second divergent light field (19). The first divergent light field (19) is processed by a second optical element (20) having a variable lens variable focus in order to generate a third light field (35) whose divergence can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Michael Bueeler, Manuel Aschwanden
  • Patent number: 8947784
    Abstract: A variable focus lens has a housing (1) and an actuator (8) which are mutually displaceable along an optical axis (A) of the lens. A primary membrane (15) is arranged between a first chamber (24, 26) and a second chamber (30, 32), with the first and second chambers being filled with liquids of similar density but different indices of refraction. First and second auxiliary membranes (19, 17) are provided for volume compensation. The first auxiliary membrane (19) forms a wall section of the first chamber (24, 26), and the second auxiliary membrane (17) forms a wall section of the second chamber (30, 32), at least one or both of the auxiliary membranes facing environmental air at its outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Optotune AG
    Inventor: Thomas Kern
  • Patent number: 8902520
    Abstract: An optical device includes a soft polymer film having a first and second surface. A first compliant electrode is connected to the first surface and a second compliant electrode is connected to the second surface. A rigid optical element is connected on the first and/or second surface or integrated into the polymer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Optotune AG
    Inventor: Manuel Aschwanden
  • Patent number: 8797654
    Abstract: An electroactive optical device, in particular an electroactive lens, comprising an optical element (1) as well as an electroactive element (2) is described. The optical element (1) is an elastic solid, such as a gel or a polymer. The electroactive element (2) comprises a plurality of compliant electrodes (3a-3e) stacked on top of each other with an electroactive material (5) between them. The electroactive element (2) is surrounded by a rigid wall (4a, 4b), which provides two common contacts for the electrodes (3a-3e). In the absence of an applied electric voltage, the optical element (1) is in a mechanically relaxed State, which reduces undesired ageing effects. Upon application of a voltage to the electrodes (3a-3e) the optical element (2) is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Optotune AG
    Inventor: Mark Blum
  • Publication number: 20140192427
    Abstract: An optical system includes a first deformable lens having a membrane with a deformable portion. A sensor is configured to receive the light focused by the first deformable lens. An optical path extends through the first deformable lens and to the sensor. The first deformable lens is tuned according to an applied electrical signal in order to directly focus light traversing the optical path onto the sensor. A first volume of a first optical media and a second volume of a second optical media are defined at least in part by the deformable portion of the membrane. The first volume and the second volume are completely enclosed by the housing. The first volume and the second volume remain substantially constant for all configurations of the first deformable lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Michael Büeler, Manuel Aschwanden, Chauncey Gratzel, David Niederer
  • Patent number: 8699141
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a first membrane, a second membrane and at least one electromagnetically displaceable component. The first membrane includes an optically active area. The first membrane and the second membrane are coupled by a filler material disposed in a reservoir. At least one electromagnetically displaceable component is coupled to the filler material via the second membrane, such that a displacement of the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component is operative to cause a deformation of the optically active area of the first membrane by movement of the filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Knowles Electronics, LLC, Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, David Niederer, Thomas Schmidhausler, Christoph Romer, Thomas Kern, Shu-Heng Yang, Charles King, Dennis Ray Kirchhoefer, Daniel Warren
  • Patent number: 8659835
    Abstract: An optical system includes a first deformable lens having a membrane with a deformable portion. A sensor is configured to receive the light focused by the first deformable lens. An optical path extends through the first deformable lens and to the sensor. The first deformable lens is tuned according to an applied electrical signal in order to directly focus light traversing the optical path onto the sensor. A first volume of a first optical media and a second volume of a second optical media are defined at least in part by the deformable portion of the membrane. The first volume and the second volume are completely enclosed by the housing. The first volume and the second volume remain substantially constant for all configurations of the first deformable lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Michael Büeler, Manuel Aschwanden, Chauncey Gratzel, David Niederer
  • Publication number: 20140002877
    Abstract: An optical device includes a soft polymer film having a first and second surface. A first compliant electrode is connected to the first surface and a second compliant electrode is connected to the second surface. A rigid optical element is connected on the first and/or second surface or integrated into the polymer film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventor: Manuel Aschwanden
  • Publication number: 20130265647
    Abstract: A variable focus lens has a housing (1) and an actuator (8) which are mutually displaceable along an optical axis (A) of the lens. A primary membrane (15) is arranged between a first chamber (24, 26) and a second chamber (30, 32), with the first and second chambers being filled with liquids of similar density but different indices of refraction. First and second auxiliary membranes (19, 17) are provided for volume compensation. The first auxiliary membrane (19) forms a wall section of the first chamber (24, 26), and the second auxiliary membrane (17) forms a wall section of the second chamber (30, 32), at least one or both of the auxiliary membranes facing environmental air at its outer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventor: Thomas Kern