Patents by Inventor Christopher LANING
Christopher LANING 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).
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Publication number: 20240125984Abstract: The invention relates to a lens, comprising a container (100) defining a volume (V) which is filled with a transparent liquid (2), wherein the container (10) comprises a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (20) and a rigid member (30), wherein the membrane (20) and the rigid member (30) delimit said volume (V), and a lens shaping element (200) that contacts the membrane (20) and defines an area (21) of said membrane (20), which area (21) has an adjustable curvature for adjusting the focal length of the lens (1). According to the invention, the lens (1) is configured to compensate a thermal expansion of the liquid (2) and/or a change of the refractive index of the liquid (2) due to an increased temperature of the liquid (2) in order to reduce an unwanted thermally induced change of the focal length of the lens (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AGInventors: Roman PATSCHEIDER, David NIEDERER, Pit GEBBERS, Daniel BORER, Christopher LANING, Stephan SMOLKA
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Patent number: 11852889Abstract: The invention relates to a lens, comprising a container (100) defining a volume (V) which is filled with a transparent liquid (2), wherein the container (10) comprises a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (20) and a rigid member (30), wherein the membrane (20) and the rigid member (30) delimit said volume (V), and a lens shaping element (200) that contacts the membrane (20) and defines an area (21) of said membrane (20), which area (21) has an adjustable curvature for adjusting the focal length of the lens (1). According to the invention, the lens (1) is configured to compensate a thermal expansion of the liquid (2) and/or a change of the refractive index of the liquid (2) due to an increased temperature of the liquid (2) in order to reduce an unwanted thermally induced change of the focal length of the lens (1).Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Inventors: Roman Patscheider, David Niederer, Pit Gebbers, Daniel Borer, Christopher Laning, Stephan Smolka
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Publication number: 20230375819Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2021Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: Optotune Switzerland AGInventors: Roman PATSCHEIDER, Christopher LANING, David Andreas NIEDERER, Manuel ASCHWANDEN
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Patent number: 11815742Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising: at least a first lens (100) having an adjustable focal length, wherein the first lens (100) comprises a container (2) comprising at least one reservoir volume (90) and a lens volume (91) which are in flow communication via a channel (92) and filled with a transparent fluid (F), and wherein the container (2) comprises a stretchable transparent membrane (21) and a transparent lens shaper (22) that is immersed in the fluid (F) and connected to the membrane (21), so that the lens shaper (22) defines a curvature-adjustable area (23) of the membrane (21), and wherein the container (2) comprises a transparent back wall (30) facing the membrane (21), wherein the fluid (F) is arranged between the membrane (20) and the back wall (30). According to the present invention, the at least one reservoir volume (90) is covered by a wall (21), wherein a plunger (94) for interacting with an actuator part (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2018Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: OPTOTUNE AGInventors: David Leuenberger, Michael Büeler, Roman Patscheider, Pit Gebbers, Christopher Laning, Manuel Aschwanden
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Publication number: 20230347604Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2021Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: OPTOTUNE SWITZERLAND AGInventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David Andreas NIEDERER, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Michael ZIHLMANN, Christopher LANING, Marta VIDIELLA DEL BLANCO
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Publication number: 20230026802Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: Optotune Switzerland AGInventors: David Andreas Niederer, Christopher Laning, Roman Patscheider
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Publication number: 20220252860Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Optotune AGInventors: Manuel Aschwanden, David Andreas Niederer, Roman Patscheider, Christopher Laning, Pit Gebbers
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Publication number: 20220196887Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Optotune AGInventors: Roman Patscheider, Christopher Laning, Erik Hebestreit, Manuel Aschwanden, David Andreas Niederer, Stephan Smolka
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Publication number: 20220155552Abstract: The invention relates to a lens, comprising a container (100) defining a volume (V) which is filled with a transparent liquid (2), wherein the container (10) comprises a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (20) and a rigid member (30), wherein the membrane (20) and the rigid member (30) delimit said volume (V), and a lens shaping element (200) that contacts the membrane (20) and defines an area (21) of said membrane (20), which area (21) has an adjustable curvature for adjusting the focal length of the lens (1). According to the invention, the lens (1) is configured to compensate a thermal expansion of the liquid (2) and/or a change of the refractive index of the liquid (2) due to an increased temperature of the liquid (2) in order to reduce an unwanted thermally induced change of the focal length of the lens (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AGInventors: Roman PATSCHEIDER, David NIEDERER, Pit GEBBERS, Daniel BORER, Christopher LANING, Stephan SMOLKA
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Publication number: 20220099914Abstract: An optical device (1), comprising: a first refractive element (10) configured to refract incoming light (L), wherein the first refractive element (10) comprises a first refractive index (n1(T)) and a first surface S1(T) for receiving a wavefront (W) of said incoming light, a second refractive element (11) configured to refract light coming from the first refractive element (10), wherein the second refractive element (11) is arranged adjacent the first refractive element (10) such that a second surface (S2(T)) is formed between the first refractive element (10) and the second refractive element (11), via which second surface (S2(T)) light can pass from the first refractive element (10) to the second refractive element (11), and wherein the second refractive element (11) comprises a second refractive index (n2(T)) and a third surface (S3(T)) for transmitting light coming from the first refractive element (10) and passing through the second refractive element (11), and wherein the refractive indices (n1(T), n2(TType: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: OPTOTUNE AGInventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Stephan SMOLKA, Christopher LANING
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Patent number: 11209576Abstract: The invention relates to a lens, comprising a container (100) defining a volume (V) which is filled with a transparent liquid (2), wherein the container (10) comprises a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (20) and a rigid member (30), wherein the membrane (20) and the rigid member (30) delimit said volume (V), and a lens shaping element (200) that contacts the membrane (20) and defines an area (21) of said membrane (20), which area (21) has an adjustable curvature for adjusting the focal length of the lens (1). According to the invention, the lens (1) is configured to compensate a thermal expansion of the liquid (2) and/or a change of the refractive index of the liquid (2) due to an increased temperature of the liquid (2) in order to reduce an unwanted thermally induced change of the focal length of the lens (1).Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: OPTOTUNE AGInventors: Roman Patscheider, David Niederer, Pit Gebbers, Daniel Borer, Christopher Laning, Stephan Smolka
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Publication number: 20210263199Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device comprising an optical element (10), a motor (5), and a cam (4), wherein the motor (5) is configured to rotate the cam (4) so that the cam (4) interacts with the optical element (10) to adjust a parameter of the optical element (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2019Publication date: August 26, 2021Applicant: OPTOTUNE AGInventors: Christopher LANING, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Markus GEISSNER
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Publication number: 20210124095Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising a lens (10) having an adjustable focal length, the lens (10) comprising a container (11) that encloses a lens volume (V) and a reservoir volume (R) that is connected to the lens volume (V), wherein the two volumes (R, V) are filled with a transparent liquid (L), wherein the container (11) further comprises a flat lateral wall structure (12) having a front side (12a) and a back side (12b), an elastically deformable and transparent membrane (20), a transparent cover element (30), and an elastically deformable wall portion (22), wherein the membrane (20) is connected to the back side (12b) of the lateral wall structure (12), wherein the cover element (30) is connected to the front side (12a) of the lateral wall structure (12) such that the lens volume (V) is arranged between the cover element (30) and the membrane (20), and wherein the wall portion (22) is arranged adjacent the reservoir volume (R), and wherein the wall portion (R) comprises an iType: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Applicant: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AGInventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Stephan SMOLKA, Johannes HAASE, Frank BOSE, Christopher LANING, David Andreas NIEDERER
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Publication number: 20200379275Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device, comprising: a lens having an adjustable focal length. According to the invention, a light source which is configured to emit light that is affected by said lens and impinges on at least a first photosensitive element, which is designed to generate a first output signal corresponding to the intensity of light impinging on it, wherein the first photosensitive element is configured to measure only a portion of the intensity distribution of said emitted light, and wherein the light source, the lens and the first photosensitive element are configured such that a change of the focal length of said lens changes the intensity distribution of the emitted light that impinges on the first photosensitive element, so that each focal length of the lens is associated to a specific first output signal generated by the first photosensitive element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicant: Optotune AGInventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David NIEDERER, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Daniel BORER, Christopher LANING, Michael BUEELER
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Publication number: 20200285077Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising: at least a first lens (100) having an adjustable focal length, wherein the first lens (100) comprises a container (2) comprising at least one reservoir volume (90) and a lens volume (91) which are in flow communication via a channel (92) and filled with a transparent fluid (F), and wherein the container (2) comprises a stretchable transparent membrane (21) and a transparent lens shaper (22) that is immersed in the fluid (F) and connected to the membrane (21), so that the lens shaper (22) defines a curvature-adjustable area (23) of the membrane (21), and wherein the container (2) comprises a transparent back wall (30) facing the membrane (21), wherein the fluid (F) is arranged between the membrane (20) and the back wall (30). According to the present invention, the at least one reservoir volume (90) is covered by a wall (21), wherein a plunger (94) for interacting with an actuator part (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2018Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: OPTOTUNE AGInventors: David LEUENBERGER, Michael BÜELER, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Pit GEBBERS, Christopher LANING, Manuel ASCHWANDEN
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Patent number: 10684495Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device, comprising: a lens having an adjustable focal length. According to the invention, a light source which is configured to emit light that is affected by said lens and impinges on at least a first photosensitive element, which is designed to generate a first output signal corresponding to the intensity of light impinging on it, wherein the first photosensitive element is configured to measure only a portion of the intensity distribution of said emitted light, and wherein the light source, the lens and the first photosensitive element are configured such that a change of the focal length of said lens changes the intensity distribution of the emitted light that impinges on the first photosensitive element, so that each focal length of the lens is associated to a specific first output signal generated by the first photosensitive element.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: OPTOTUNE AGInventors: Manuel Aschwanden, David Niederer, Roman Patscheider, Daniel Borer, Christopher Laning, Michael Bueeler
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Publication number: 20180136372Abstract: The invention relates to a lens, comprising a container (100) defining a volume (V) which is filled with a transparent liquid (2), wherein the container (10) comprises a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (20) and a rigid member (30), wherein the membrane (20) and the rigid member(30) delimit said volume (V), and a lens shaping element (200) that contacts the membrane (20) and defines an area (21) of said membrane (20), which area (21) has an adjustable curvature for adjusting the focal length of the lens (1). According to the invention, the lens (1) is configured to compensate a thermal expansion of the liquid (2) and/or a change of the refractive index of the liquid (2) due to an increased temperature of the liquid (2) in order to reduce an unwanted thermally induced change of the focal length of the lens (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Applicant: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AGInventors: Roman PATSCHEIDER, David NIEDERER, Pit GEBBERS, Daniel BORER, Christopher LANING, Stephan SMOLKA
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Publication number: 20170131569Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device, comprising: a lens (10) having an adjustable focal length (f).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: OPTOTUNE AGInventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David NIEDERER, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Daniel BORER, Christopher LANING, Michael BUEELER