Patents by Inventor Andreas Niederer

Andreas Niederer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240288688
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lens having an adjustable optical power comprising a container with a frame structure delimiting a lens volume and a reservoir volume, wherein the lens volume and the reservoir volume are fluidically connected and comprise a liquid, wherein both volumes have at least one opening that are laterally shifted to each other and wherein each opening is covered by two elastically deformable membrane portions, wherein in the space enclosed between the membrane portions for each opening another liquid enclosed in. The invention further teaches a piston structure that is arranged to adjust a pressure in the reservoir volume such as to control a focal strength of the lens volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: Optotune Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Stephan SMOLKA, David Andreas NIEDERER, Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Johannes HAASE, Andreas BRÄNDLE
  • Patent number: 11994669
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lens having an adjustable optical power comprising a container with a frame structure delimiting a lens volume and a reservoir volume, wherein the lens volume and the reservoir volume are fluidically connected and comprise a liquid, wherein both volumes have at least one opening that are laterally shifted to each other and wherein each opening is covered by two elastically deformable membrane portions, wherein in the space enclosed between the membrane portions for each opening another liquid enclosed in. The invention further teaches a piston structure that is arranged to adjust a pressure in the reservoir volume such as to control a focal strength of the lens volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, David Andreas Niederer, Manuel Aschwanden, Johannes Haase, Andreas Brändle
  • Publication number: 20240160027
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (1) for enhancing the resolution of an image or for reducing speckle noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Marcel SUTER, Stephan SMOLKA, Roman PATSCHEIDER, David Andreas NIEDERER
  • Publication number: 20240076453
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid for an optical tuneable device, wherein the optical tuneable device comprises a volume and a membrane and wherein the volume is filled with a liquid comprising at least one compound of formula (I), at least one additive, particularly wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group of a protecting agent, a stabiliser, a tracer, a buffer and/or a surface tension adjustment agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Optotune Switzerland AG
    Inventors: David Andreas Niederer, Andreas Brändle, Marta Vidiella del Blanco, Luis Madrigal
  • Patent number: 11880044
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (1) for enhancing the resolution of an image or for reducing speckle noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, Marcel Suter, Stephan Smolka, Roman Patscheider, David Andreas Niederer
  • Publication number: 20230375819
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tunable optical component (100) comprising a liquid chamber (101), a flexible membrane (1), a shaping element (3), and an actuator (2), wherein the liquid chamber (101) is filled with a liquid (102), the membrane (1) delimits the liquid chamber (101), the membrane (1) is attached to the shaping element (3), the shaping element (3) has a ring shape, wherein the shaping element (3) surrounds an optically active area (10) of the membrane (1), the actuator (2) comprises multiple piezo units (20), the piezo unit (20) is coupled to a counterpart (203) in a releasable force-fitting manner, the piezo unit (20) is arranged to move the counterpart (203), and wherein the relative movement of the counterpart (203) and the piezo unit (20) results in a movement of the liquid (102), which causes a change of an optical property of the optically active area (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Optotune Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Roman PATSCHEIDER, Christopher LANING, David Andreas NIEDERER, Manuel ASCHWANDEN
  • Publication number: 20230347604
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing at least one optical component (1), comprising the steps of: a) Providing at least one cavity (2), wherein the at least one cavity (2) is delimited on a first side by a surface (3a) of a first membrane portion (3), wherein a shape of the first membrane portion (3) is adjustable; b) Filling a material (4) into the at least one cavity (2) for forming at least one optical component (1), such that the material (4) contacts a surface (3a) of the first membrane portion (3); c) Adjusting the shape of the first membrane portion (3); d) Curing the material (4) filled into the at least one cavity (2) so that the material (4) forms a first interface (e.g. a first optical surface) (1a) of the at least one optical component (1), which first interface (1a) comprises a shape defined by a shape of the surface (3a) of the first membrane portion (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David Andreas NIEDERER, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Michael ZIHLMANN, Christopher LANING, Marta VIDIELLA DEL BLANCO
  • Publication number: 20230134656
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid lens (1) with an adjustable optical power comprising at least the following components: a lens volume (VL) with a first transparent liquid (L1) arranged between a first transparent membrane (21) and a second transparent membrane (22) opposite the first membrane (21), wherein the first membrane (21) has a first side (21-1) facing outwards the lens volume (VL) and a second side (21-2) facing in the opposite direction particularly toward the lens volume (VL), wherein the second membrane (22) has a first side (22-1) facing toward the lens volume (VL) and a second side (22-2) facing in the opposite direction particularly outward the lens volume (VL), a lens shaping element (3) arranged on the first membrane (21), the lens shaping element (3) having a circumferential aperture (3a) defining a lens area (21a) of the first membrane (21) having an adjustable curvature, a rigid transparent window element (5) connected to the second membrane (22) covering a window portion (22a) of the
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Optotune Consumer AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Manuel Aschwanden, David Andreas Niederer, Johannes Haase
  • Publication number: 20230054707
    Abstract: Optical element (1) comprising a sealed volume (15), a first window (11), a second window (12) and a membrane (13), wherein the membrane (13) encloses the sealed volume (15) in lateral directions and the membrane (13) encloses the sealed volume (15) in directions perpendicular to lateral directions, or the first window (11) and the second window (12) enclose the sealed volume (15) in directions perpendicular to lateral directions, wherein the sealed volume (15) is deformable by tilting the first window (11) with respect to the second window (12), wherein the first window (11) and the second window (12) being spaced apart by a solid structure (14), and the solid structure (14) is arranged to guide a motion of the first window (11) with respect to the second window (12), so that a pressure in the sealed volume (15) is constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Nextlens Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Johannes Haase, Stephan Smolka, David Andreas Niederer, Frank Bose
  • Publication number: 20230026802
    Abstract: Tunable optical device comprising an actuator, a transmission element, a mount and an optical component, wherein the optical component comprises a window member and a ring member, wherein an optical property of the optical component is adjustable by altering the position of the ring member with respect to the window member. The actuator is arranged to generate an actuation force along an axial direction, the transmission element is arranged to transmit the actuation force from the actuator to the optical component, the transmitted actuation force alters the position of the ring member with respect to the window member. The transmission element comprises a bridge portion and a meander portion, wherein the bridge portion couples the ring member to the actuator and the window member is attached to the mount, or the bridge portion couples the window member to the actuator and the ring member is attached to the mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Optotune Switzerland AG
    Inventors: David Andreas Niederer, Christopher Laning, Roman Patscheider
  • Publication number: 20220289978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical tuneable device comprising a volume and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane, wherein the membrane delimits the volume at least partially and the volume is filled with a silicone-based polymer of formula 1, with R1 being an alkyl moiety, —(CH2)-phenyl, phenyl, CF3 or alkyl-CN moiety, R2 to R8 being —H, an alkyl, (CH2)-phenyl or phenyl moiety. The polymer may optionally be substituted by —F. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of said polymer in an optical tuneable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: David Andreas Niederer, Andreas Brändle, Marta Vidiella del Blanco
  • Publication number: 20220252860
    Abstract: Tunable optical device comprising an optical element, an actuator and a transmission unit, wherein the transmission unit comprises a first fiber, the first fiber is arranged to transmit a tensile force from the actuator to the optical element, and the tensile force result in a change of an optical property of the optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, David Andreas Niederer, Roman Patscheider, Christopher Laning, Pit Gebbers
  • Publication number: 20220196887
    Abstract: Tunable lens (1) comprising a fluidic volume (2), a flexible membrane (3) and a shaping element (4), wherein the membrane (3) delimits the fluidic volume (2) on one side, the shaping element (4) is attached to the membrane (3), the shaping element (4) surrounds an optically active region of the membrane, the shaping element (4) is arranged to alter optical properties of the tunable lens (1) by deflection, in top view the shaping element (4) has a non-circular contour (40), wherein the contour (40) extends within an imaginary circumcircle (10), and the amount of deflection of the shaping element (4) is proportional to a lateral distance of the contour (40) to the circumcircle (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Roman Patscheider, Christopher Laning, Erik Hebestreit, Manuel Aschwanden, David Andreas Niederer, Stephan Smolka
  • Publication number: 20220066239
    Abstract: The present invention relates to An optical device (1), particularly for an ophthalmic device, comprising: a container (2) enclosing an internal space (3) of the container (2), wherein the internal space (3) is filled with a transparent liquid (L), and wherein the container (2) comprises a transparent bottom (21) and a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (22) opposing said bottom (21) such that the liquid (L) is arranged between the membrane (22) and the bottom (21), a deformable annular lens shaping element (4) connected to the membrane (22) so that a circumferential edge (41) of the lens shaping element (4) defines a central area (23) of the membrane (22) so that light can pass through the container (2) via the central area (23) and the bottom (21), wherein in a non-deformed state said edge (41) lies in a plane, and an adjustable spherical power and an adjustable cylindrical power, wherein for adapting the cylindrical power of the optical device (1), the lens shaping element (4) is configured to
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Roman PATSCHEIDER, Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David Andreas NIEDERER, Chris LANING, Aaron GERRATT
  • Publication number: 20220011473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lens (1) having an adjustable focal length, comprising: a container (2) enclosing an internal space (3) of the container (2), wherein the internal space (3) is filled with a transparent liquid (L), and wherein the container (2) comprises a circumferential lateral wall (20) surrounding said internal space (3), wherein the lateral wall (20) is connected to a transparent cover element (21) and to a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (22) such that the liquid (L) is arranged between the membrane (22) and the cover element (21), an annular lens shaper (4) connected to the membrane (22) so that an inner circumferential edge (40) of the lens shaper (4) defines a central area (23) of the membrane (22) and light passing said area (23) is refracted depending on a curvature of said area (23), and an actuator configured to move the lens shaper (4) towards or away from the cover element (21) to adjust said curvature of said area (23) of the lens (1) and therewith the focal length of
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Stephan SMOLKA, Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Chris LANING, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Johannes HAASE, David Andreas NIEDERER
  • Publication number: 20210389602
    Abstract: Described herein is a display unit (1) comprising a pixel-matrix (11) with multiple pixels (110) and at least one refractive optical element (12) having a refractive power, wherein the pixels (110) are arranged to emit light having a definable color and intensity, the light emitted by the pixel-matrix (11) passes through the refractive optical element (12), and the refractive power is tunable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David Andreas NIEDERER
  • Publication number: 20210386289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera comprising a sensor element, and an aperture, wherein the aperture comprises an opaque element having a plurality of through holes, a plurality of tunable lenses and an illumination device, wherein tunable lenses are assigned to the through holes respectively, and the illumination device is arranged on a side of the aperture, facing away from the sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David Andreas NIEDERER
  • Publication number: 20210364824
    Abstract: The corrective lens described herein comprises a carrier, a tuning element and an actuator. The corrective lens may be a contact lens which is arranged to be placed directly on the surface of the eyes. The corrective lens may be an intraocular lens, which is arranged to be implanted in the eye for example as part of a treatment for cataracts or myopia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, David Andreas Niederer
  • Publication number: 20210325575
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens (1), comprising: a first chamber (C1) filled with a first transparent liquid (L1) comprising a first mass density (?1) and a first refractive index (n1), a second chamber (C2) filled with a second transparent liquid (L2) comprising a second mass density (?2) and a second refractive index (n2), and a transparent and elastically deformable first membrane (12) that separates the two chambers (C1, C2) from one another and contacts the first liquid (L1) and the second liquid (L2), wherein said mass densities (?1, ?2) and said refractive indices (n1, n2) are selected such that a gravity-induced coma aberration of the lens (1) is reduced or prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: David Andreas NIEDERER, Stephan SMOLKA
  • Publication number: 20210318548
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (1) for enhancing the resolution of an image or for reducing speckle noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Marcel SUTER, Stephan SMOLKA, Roman PATSCHEIDER, David Andreas NIEDERER