Patents Assigned to Varioptic S.A.
  • Patent number: 9074168
    Abstract: A multi-phase liquid composition comprising a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid, said liquids being non miscible, wherein the conductive liquid comprises more than 90% up to 99.9% by weight of a first component having a surface tension above 45 mN/m and comprising water, salt and at least one freezing point lowering agent, and from 0.01% to less than 10% by weight of a second component having a surface tension below 30 mN/m and comprising at least one first compound, wherein said at least one first compound is a non ionic surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: VARIOPTIC S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Maillard, Liana Moreau, Christopher J. Tucker, Caroline Woelfle-Gupta, Daniel Lawrence Dermody
  • Patent number: 8400558
    Abstract: A method of controlling a liquid lens in an imaging device, the liquid lens including a liquid-liquid interface between first and second immiscible liquids deformable by electrowetting; a chamber containing the first and second liquids, the first liquid being an insulating liquid and the second liquid being a conducting liquid; and a first electrode in contact with the second liquid and at least one second electrode insulated from the second liquid by an insulating layer, the first and second electrodes being arranged to allow a plurality of voltages levels to be applied between the first and second electrodes to control the curvature of the liquid-liquid interface, the method including: determining motion data representative of a movement of the imaging device; determining focusing data representative of a desired focus of the imaging device; determining the plurality of voltage levels to be applied between the first and second electrodes, wherein each of the voltage levels is a function of the motion data,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Berge, Mathieu Maillard, Nicolas Verplanck
  • Patent number: 8366001
    Abstract: A method for calibration in the field of imaging systems and imaging systems using the method for calibration. In particular, the method involves calibration in the field of open loop variable focus imaging systems and methods for calibration in the field of imaging system having a variable optical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Varioptic S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Craen, Olivier Jacques-Sermet, Bruno Berge
  • Patent number: 8260129
    Abstract: An optical device for a lens assembly of a camera module is disclosed. The optical device includes a liquid lens having at least one fixed lens and a transparent window, facing each other and delimiting, at least in part, an internal volume containing two immiscible liquids having different optical indices, and a first and a second electrode. The liquids form an interface moveable by application of a voltage between said electrodes. The optical device also includes a liquid lens holder, wherein the liquid lens holder has at least one electrical contact for contacting one electrode of the liquid lens, and at least one Z reference datum for aligning the fixed lens of the liquid lens with other optical elements of the lens assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Craen, Yves-Sebastien Boulin, Paul Fuller
  • Publication number: 20120026596
    Abstract: The invention concerns an optical electrowetting device a body comprising at least a first external surface and a second internal surface with a conical shape; a liquid-liquid interface between a first and a second immiscible liquids, the first liquid being a conducting liquid and the second liquid being an insulating liquid, wherein the liquid-liquid interface is able to move on the second internal surface by electrowetting effect; a first electrode in contact with the first liquid; a second electrode insulated from the first liquid by an insulating layer, the second electrode comprising at least a first electrical conductive track to be connected to a voltage source and extending from the first external surface of the body to the second internal surface; and a first layer covering the second internal surface of said body and being covered by the insulating layer, wherein the shape of the liquid-liquid interface is controllable by application of at least a first voltage between the first electrode and the fi
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: VARIOPTIC S.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Berge, Nicolas Verplanck, Mathieu Maillard, Julien Legrand
  • Patent number: 8100592
    Abstract: The invention concerns A housing for a variable focus liquid lens (204) containing first and second immiscible liquids defining a liquid-liquid interface moveable by electrowetting by application of a voltage between first and second electrodes (206, 208) of the liquid lens, the housing comprising: a first portion (202) comprising a contact surface for contact with a circuit board (203); a second portion (211) for receiving the liquid lens, the second portion arranged to be moveable with respect to said first portion in a first direction parallel to an optical axis (?) of the liquid lens when said liquid lens is positioned in said housing; and first and second contacts (213, 216) for electrically coupling the circuit board to the first and second electrodes respectively of the liquid lens when said liquid lens is positioned in said housing, wherein each of the first and second contacts comprises a first conductive surface (215a, 218a) arranged to make contact with a second conductive surface (215b, 218b), sai
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Craen, Nicolas Tallaron, David Perennez
  • Publication number: 20110211262
    Abstract: The invention concerns drive circuitry for generating a plurality of independent drive voltage signals for a plurality of electrodes of at least one liquid lens, the liquid lens comprising first and second miscible liquids, an interface between the first and second liquids being movable by electro wetting by application of a drive voltage signal to at least one electrode of the liquid lens, the drive circuitry including generating circuitry (406, 408, 410, 412) arranged to generate a fixed drive voltage (Vdc); a duty cycle controller (418) arranged to receive data values indicating a duty cycle to be applied to each of the plurality of electrodes, and to generate a control timing signal for each of the plurality of electrodes, each control timing signal having the duty cycle indicated by the controller; and driving means (426, 428, 430, 432) arranged to generate an independent drive voltage signal for each of the plurality of electrodes by selectively applying the fixed drive voltage, based on the control tim
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: VARIOPTIC S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Craen, Gwenael Morichaud
  • Publication number: 20110158634
    Abstract: An optical device for a lens assembly of a camera module is disclosed. The optical device includes a liquid lens having at least one fixed lens and a transparent window, facing each other and delimiting, at least in part, an internal volume containing two immiscible liquids having different optical indices, and a first and a second electrode. The liquids form an interface moveable by application of a voltage between said electrodes. The optical device also includes a liquid lens holder, wherein the liquid lens holder has at least one electrical contact for contacting one electrode of the liquid lens, and at least one Z reference datum for aligning the fixed lens of the liquid lens with other optical elements of the lens assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: VARIOPTIC, S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Craen, Yves-Sebastien Boulin, Paul Fuller
  • Patent number: 7940467
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electrowetting optical device comprising a chamber (15) comprising first and second immiscible liquids (16, 18) contacting each other at a liquid-liquid interface (19), the first liquid being an insulating liquid and the second liquid being a conducting liquid; a first electrode (20) in the contact with the second liquid; and a second electrode (202) insulated from the first and second liquids by an insulating layer, wherein the second electrode is formed of a conductive molded polymer material, wherein the curvature of said liquid-liquid interface is controllable by application of a voltage between said first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Berge, Frederic Laune, Julien Legrand, Mathieu Maillard, Yves-Sebastien Boulin
  • Patent number: 7864440
    Abstract: The invention concerns an optical lens comprising a cavity formed by two transparent windows and a peripheral frame positioned in between, said cavity containing first and second liquids, non miscible, forming an interface, said interface being movable by electrowetting on a wall of said peripheral frame by application of a voltage between first and second electrodes, wherein said wall has a non symmetrical revolution surface, the geometrical shape of which is calculated such that said interface is of a predetermined shape, for example substantially spherical, for at least one value of said voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Berge
  • Publication number: 20100295987
    Abstract: A method of controlling a liquid lens in an imaging device, the liquid lens including a liquid-liquid interface between first and second immiscible liquids deformable by electrowetting; a chamber containing the first and second liquids, the first liquid being an insulating liquid and the second liquid being a conducting liquid; and a first electrode in contact with the second liquid and at least one second electrode insulated from the second liquid by an insulating layer, the first and second electrodes being arranged to allow a plurality of voltages levels to be applied between the first and second electrodes to control the curvature of the liquid-liquid interface, the method including: determining motion data representative of a movement of the imaging device; determining focusing data representative of a desired focus of the imaging device; determining the plurality of voltage levels to be applied between the first and second electrodes, wherein each of the voltage levels is a function of the motion data,
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: VARIOPTIC, S.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Berge
  • Publication number: 20100247086
    Abstract: The invention concerns A housing for a variable focus liquid lens (204) containing first and second immiscible liquids defining a liquid-liquid interface moveable by electrowetting by application of a voltage between first and second electrodes (206, 208) of the liquid lens, the housing comprising: a first portion (202) comprising a contact surface for contact with a circuit board (203); a second portion (211) for receiving the liquid lens, the second portion arranged to be moveable with respect to said first portion in a first direction parallel to an optical axis (?) of the liquid lens when said liquid lens is positioned in said housing; and first and second contacts (213, 216) for electrically coupling the circuit board to the first and second electrodes respectively of the liquid lens when said liquid lens is positioned in said housing, wherein each of the first and second contacts comprises a first conductive surface (215a, 218a) arranged to make contact with a second conductive surface (215b, 218b), sai
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: VARIOPTIC S.A.
    Inventors: Nicolas Tallaron, Pierre Craen, David Perennez
  • Patent number: 7791815
    Abstract: A dielectric coating is provided which has both a dielectric constant greater than 2.5 and a hydrophobic surface. The dielectric coating may be provided by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of organosilane, organosiloxane, organosilazane, organometallic, and/or hydrocarbon precursors. Methods are also provided for altering the contact angle of a liquid in contact with the dielectric coating, e.g., for electrowetting applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Varioptic S.A.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Weikart, Steven J. Martin, Mathieu Maillard, Julien Legrand
  • Publication number: 20100177386
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electrowetting optical device comprising a chamber (15) comprising first and second immiscible liquids (16, 18) contacting each other at a liquid-liquid interface (19), the first liquid being an insulating liquid and the second liquid being a conducting liquid; a first electrode (20) in the contact with the second liquid; and a second electrode (202) insulated from the first and second liquids by an insulating layer, wherein the second electrode is formed of a conductive molded polymer material, wherein the curvature of said liquid-liquid interface is controllable by application of a voltage between said first and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: VARIOPTIC, S.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Berge, Frederic Laune, Julien Legrand, Mathieu Maillard, Yves-Sebastien Boulin
  • Patent number: 7729057
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a bromine anion in the conductive fluid of an optical electrowetting device, especially a variable focus optical lens driven by electrowetting. The invention also pertains to a multi-phase liquid composition comprising a bromine anion, as well as an optical lens driven by electrowetting comprising the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Varioptic S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Maillard, Geraldine Malet, Franck Amiot
  • Publication number: 20100040355
    Abstract: A method for calibration in the field of imaging systems and imaging systems using the method for calibration. In particular, the method involves calibration in the field of open loop variable focus imaging systems and methods for calibration in the field of imaging system having a variable optical parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Varioptic S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Craen, Olivier Jacques-Sermet, Bruno Berge
  • Publication number: 20100020285
    Abstract: The invention concerns an optical lens comprising a cavity formed by two transparent windows and a peripheral frame positioned in between, said cavity containing first and second liquids, non miscible, forming an interface, said interface being movable by electrowetting on a wall of said peripheral frame by application of a voltage between first and second electrodes, wherein said wall has a non symmetrical revolution surface, the geometrical shape of which is calculated such that said interface is of a predetermined shape, for example substantially spherical, for at least one value of said voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: VARIOPTIC, S.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Berge
  • Patent number: 7649692
    Abstract: A variable-focus lens that includes a wall made of an insulating material, a drop of an insulating liquid arranged on an area of a first surface of the wall, a conductive liquid covering the first surface and the drop, and an electrode arranged on a second surface of said wall. The insulating and conductive liquids are non-miscible, having different optical indexes and substantially the same density. The drop of the variable-focus lens is centered in a truncated cone centered on an axis perpendicular to the first surface, the bottom of which is pierced with a centered hole, and the insulating material wall is transparent and covers the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Varioptic S.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Berge
  • Patent number: 7619830
    Abstract: A liquid-filled lens driver is disclosed. The liquid-filled lens includes an input/output interface unit, a system clock generation unit, a high voltage generation unit, a reference/bias voltage generation unit, a drive signal generation unit and a control unit. The input/output interface unit exchanges the lens driver control signal and the status information of the liquid-filled lens with the image signal processor. The high voltage generation unit generates high voltage using low voltage of a battery of a mobile information terminal. The voltage generation unit provides reference voltage and bias voltage for operating the liquid-filled lens driver. The drive signal generation unit generates a final drive signal for the liquid-filled lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Varioptic S.A.
    Inventors: Hyo-Chung Lee, Sang-Hyun Han
  • Patent number: 7602557
    Abstract: The invention relates to a variable-focus lens comprising two opposing walls (21, 22) which are orthogonal to the axis of the lens and which define a space containing an isolating liquid (31) on the first wall (22) and a conductive liquid (32) which covers the isolating liquid and which comes into contact with the second wall (21). The surface (24) of the first wall (22) has high wettability for the isolating liquid and low wettability for the conductive liquid, while the surface (23) of the second wall (21) has high wettability for the conductive liquid and low wettability for the isolating liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Varioptic S.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Berge, Jérôme Peseux