Patents Assigned to Varioptic S.A.
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Patent number: 9074168Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: VARIOPTIC S.A.Inventors: Mathieu Maillard, Liana Moreau, Christopher J. Tucker, Caroline Woelfle-Gupta, Daniel Lawrence Dermody
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Patent number: 8400558Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.Inventors: Bruno Berge, Mathieu Maillard, Nicolas Verplanck
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Patent number: 8366001Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 12, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Varioptic S.A.Inventors: Pierre Craen, Olivier Jacques-Sermet, Bruno Berge
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Patent number: 8260129Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.Inventors: Pierre Craen, Yves-Sebastien Boulin, Paul Fuller
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Publication number: 20120026596Abstract: 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 fiType: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2009Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: VARIOPTIC S.A.Inventors: Bruno Berge, Nicolas Verplanck, Mathieu Maillard, Julien Legrand
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Patent number: 8100592Abstract: 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), saiType: GrantFiled: May 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.Inventors: Pierre Craen, Nicolas Tallaron, David Perennez
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Publication number: 20110211262Abstract: 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 timType: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2007Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: VARIOPTIC S.A.Inventors: Pierre Craen, Gwenael Morichaud
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Publication number: 20110158634Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: VARIOPTIC, S.A.Inventors: Pierre Craen, Yves-Sebastien Boulin, Paul Fuller
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Patent number: 7940467Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.Inventors: Bruno Berge, Frederic Laune, Julien Legrand, Mathieu Maillard, Yves-Sebastien Boulin
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Patent number: 7864440Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 23, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Varioptic, S.A.Inventor: Bruno Berge
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Publication number: 20100295987Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2008Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: VARIOPTIC, S.A.Inventor: Bruno Berge
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Publication number: 20100247086Abstract: 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), saiType: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2008Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: VARIOPTIC S.A.Inventors: Nicolas Tallaron, Pierre Craen, David Perennez
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Patent number: 7791815Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 27, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Varioptic S.A.Inventors: Christopher M. Weikart, Steven J. Martin, Mathieu Maillard, Julien Legrand
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Publication number: 20100177386Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2008Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: VARIOPTIC, S.A.Inventors: Bruno Berge, Frederic Laune, Julien Legrand, Mathieu Maillard, Yves-Sebastien Boulin
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Patent number: 7729057Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Varioptic S.A.Inventors: Mathieu Maillard, Geraldine Malet, Franck Amiot
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Publication number: 20100040355Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2009Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: Varioptic S.A.Inventors: Pierre Craen, Olivier Jacques-Sermet, Bruno Berge
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Publication number: 20100020285Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2007Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: VARIOPTIC, S.A.Inventor: Bruno Berge
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Patent number: 7649692Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Varioptic S.A.Inventor: Bruno Berge
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Patent number: 7619830Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 26, 2004Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Varioptic S.A.Inventors: Hyo-Chung Lee, Sang-Hyun Han
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Patent number: 7602557Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 26, 2005Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Varioptic S.A.Inventors: Bruno Berge, Jérôme Peseux