Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to systems and methods for separating an emulsion in a cavity of a device such as a liquid lens device. In one embodiment, the method comprises at least one of: applying a bias voltage to electrodes in the device, causing at least one of droplet migration, flattening of large droplets, and reduced droplet surface tension; applying an oscillating actuation voltage waveform comprising an actuation frequency to the electrodes, such that fluid pumping and turbulence is created within the device cavity; and applying an oscillating excitation voltage waveform comprising an excitation frequency to the electrodes, such that the varying electric field created by the oscillating voltage causes small droplets of the first liquid to coalesce.

Abstract: A liquid lens can include a chamber and a first fluid and a second fluid contained in the chamber. The first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible, forming a fluid interface between the two fluids. The liquid lens may also include a first electrode insulated from the two fluids. The liquid lens may include a second electrode in electrical communication with the first fluid. The liquid lens may be configured such that a position of the fluid interface is based at least in part on voltages applied to the electrodes. The lens may further include a window configured to transmit light therethrough along an optical axis. Further, a flexible member may be configured to cause the window to displace axially along the optical axis to change the volume of the chamber.

Abstract: A fluid lens includes a refractive interface positioned between two transparent plates where at least one surface of one of the plates has a fixed radius of curvature configured to compensate for aberration produced by the fluid lens. The refracting interface can be formed by a meniscus formed between two immiscible liquids or by a membrane positioned between two fluids. A method of reducing aberration of a fluid lens includes determining a fixed radius of curvature for at least one surface of one of the plates that is sufficient to compensate for aberration produced by the fluid lens.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to systems and methods for separating an emulsion in a cavity of a device such as a liquid lens device. In one embodiment, the method comprises at least one of: applying a bias voltage to electrodes in the device, causing at least one of droplet migration, flattening of large droplets, and reduced droplet surface tension; applying an oscillating actuation voltage waveform comprising an actuation frequency to the electrodes, such that fluid pumping and turbulence is created within the device cavity; and applying an oscillating excitation voltage waveform comprising an excitation frequency to the electrodes, such that the varying electric field created by the oscillating voltage causes small droplets of the first liquid to coalesce.

Abstract: A liquid lens can include two or more liquids enclosed in a chamber. The liquid lens can be configured to reduce the chromatic aberration produced when the meniscus formed at the interface of two of the liquids is tilted. This can be accomplished in a number of ways including selecting the liquids to maximize the refractive index difference and minimize the Abbe number difference.

Abstract: A process for room temperature substrate bonding employs a first substrate substantially transparent to a laser wavelength is selected. A second substrate for mating at an interface with the first substrate is then selected. A transmissivity change at the interface is created and the first and second substrates are mated at the interface. The first substrate is then irradiated with a laser of the transparency wavelength substantially focused at the interface and a localized high temperature at the interface from energy supplied by the laser is created. The first and second substrates immediately adjacent the interface are softened with diffusion across the interface to fuse the substrates.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated glazing can be manufactured using a variety of methods. In one embodiment, a glass substrate is patterned and etched to form recesses in the surface of the glass substrate. The recesses or etched areas form a chamber when the glass substrate is bonded to another glass substrate. In another embodiment, nanoparticles and/or microparticles that absorb laser light are positioned between two glass substrates and heated to bond the glass substrates together. In another embodiment, a tempered glass substrate is bonded to another glass substrate to form a chamber between the substrates. The curved edges of the tempered glass are removed to produce a flat vacuum insulated glazing.

Abstract: A process for room temperature substrate bonding employs a first substrate substantially transparent to a laser wavelength is selected. A second substrate for mating at an interface with the first substrate is then selected. A transmissivity change at the interface is created and the first and second substrates are mated at the interface. The first substrate is then irradiated with a laser of the transparency wavelength substantially focused at the interface and a localized high temperature at the interface from energy supplied by the laser is created. The first and second substrates immediately adjacent the interface are softened with diffusion across the interface to fuse the substrates.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods for preventing the formation of an emulsion in a liquid lens. In one embodiment, the method comprises fabricating a top substrate, a bottom s substrate, and a central substrate including a cavity configured to be filled by first and second liquids. The liquid lens comprising the top substrate, the bottom substrate and the central substrate is assembled, with at least one of the top substrate and the bottom substrate in the assembled liquid lens being characterized by a stabilizing feature determining that in response to an impact load on the assembled liquid lens that would cause localized pressure drops of 10 maximum magnitude X in the absence of the stabilizing feature, the maximum magnitude of localized pressure drops within the liquid lens is smaller than X.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to systems and methods for in-vehicle optical image stabilization. In one embodiment, the system includes a first motion sensor rigidly attached to a video capture device mounted in a vehicle; a second motion sensor rigidly attached to an object in the vehicle, the object being within the field of view of the video capture device; and a controller. The controller is operatively connected to the first motion sensor, to the second motion sensor, and to a movable optical element in the video capture device. In one aspect, the first sensor provides a first output signal to the controller, the second sensor provides a second output signal to the controller; and the controller provides a compensation signal to the movable element determined by the first and second output signals.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to chips containing one or more hermetically sealed chambers that may be dismantled under controlled conditions using a release technique. In one embodiment a chip comprises a first hermetic seal bonding first and second elements to create a first chamber and a second hermetic seal bonding third and fourth elements to create a second chamber encompassing the first chamber. The first hermetic seal may be broken open independently of the second hermetic seal by the application of a mechanical or thermal technique.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods for preventing the formation of an emulsion in a liquid lens. In one embodiment, the method comprises fabricating a top substrate, a bottom substrate, and a central substrate including a cavity configured to be filled by first and second liquids. The liquid lens comprising the top substrate, the bottom substrate and the central substrate is assembled, with at least one of the top substrate and the bottom substrate in the assembled liquid lens being characterized by a stabilizing feature determining that in response to an impact load on the assembled liquid lens that would cause localized pressure drops of maximum magnitude X in the absence of the stabilizing feature, the maximum magnitude of localized pressure drops within the liquid lens is smaller than X.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to apparatus and methods for dismantling a hermetically sealed chamber. In one embodiment, an apparatus facilitating the opening of a hermetically sealed chamber in a device comprises a fixture configured to hold the device, and a system configured to create sufficient tensile or shear stress at a bond interface of the seal to open the seal under controlled conditions. In one embodiment, a method for opening a hermetic seal between first and second elements forming a chamber in a microfluidic chip comprises using a release technique creating sufficient tensile or shear stress at a bond interface of the seal to open the seal under controlled conditions. The release technique comprises introducing a tool to the vicinity of the interface without any contact between the tool and any material within the chamber. The breaking of the seal results in the complete separation of the first and second elements.

Abstract: A process for room temperature substrate bonding employs a first substrate substantially transparent to a laser wavelength is selected. A second substrate for mating at an interface with the first substrate is then selected. A transmissivity change at the interface is created and the first and second substrates are mated at the interface. The first substrate is then irradiated with a laser of the transparency wavelength substantially focused at the interface and a localized high temperature at the interface from energy supplied by the laser is created. The first and second substrates immediately adjacent the interface are softened with diffusion across the interface to fuse the substrates.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to apparatus and methods for dismantling a hermetically sealed chamber. In one embodiment, an apparatus facilitating the opening of a hermetically sealed chamber in a device comprises a fixture configured to hold the device, and a system configured to create sufficient tensile or shear stress at a bond interface of the seal to open the seal under controlled conditions. In one embodiment, a method for opening a hermetic seal between first and second elements forming a chamber in a microfluidic chip comprises using a release technique creating sufficient tensile or shear stress at a bond interface of the seal to open the seal under controlled conditions. The release technique comprises introducing a tool to the vicinity of the interface without any contact between the tool and any material within the chamber. The breaking of the seal results in the complete separation of the first and second elements.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to chips containing one or more hermetically sealed chambers that may be dismantled under controlled conditions using a release technique. In one embodiment a chip comprises a first hermetic seal bonding first and second elements to create a first chamber and a second hermetic seal bonding third and fourth elements to create a second chamber encompassing the first chamber. The first hermetic seal may be broken open independently of the second hermetic seal by the application of a mechanical or thermal technique.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods for preventing the formation of an emulsion in a liquid lens. In one embodiment, the method comprises fabricating a top substrate, a bottom substrate, and a central substrate including a cavity configured to be filled by first and second liquids. The liquid lens comprising the top substrate, the bottom substrate and the central substrate is assembled, with at least one of the top substrate and the bottom substrate in the assembled liquid lens being characterized by a stabilizing feature determining that in response to an impact load on the assembled liquid lens that would cause localized pressure drops of maximum magnitude X in the absence of the stabilizing feature, the maximum magnitude of localized pressure drops within the liquid lens is smaller than X.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods for forming and dismantling a hermetically sealed chamber. In one embodiment, the method comprises using room temperature laser bonding to create a hermetic seal between a first element and a second element to form a chamber. A bond interface of the hermetic seal is configured to allow the hermetic seal to be opened under controlled conditions using a release technique. In one embodiment, the chamber is formed within a microfluidic chip and the chamber is configured to hold a fluid. In one embodiment a chip comprises a first hermetic seal bonding first and second elements to create a first chamber and a second hermetic seal bonding third and fourth elements to create a second chamber encompassing the first chamber. The first hermetic seal may be broken open independently of the second hermetic seal by the application of a mechanical or thermal technique.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to systems and methods for separating an emulsion in a cavity of a device such as a liquid lens device. In one embodiment, the method comprises at least one of: applying a bias voltage to electrodes in the device, causing at least one of droplet migration, flattening of large droplets, and reduced droplet surface tension; applying an oscillating actuation voltage waveform comprising an actuation frequency to the electrodes, such that fluid pumping and turbulence is created within the device cavity; and applying an oscillating excitation voltage waveform comprising an excitation frequency to the electrodes, such that the varying electric field created by the oscillating voltage causes small droplets of the first liquid to coalesce.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to systems and methods for in-vehicle optical image stabilization. In one embodiment, the system includes a first motion sensor rigidly attached to a video capture device mounted in a vehicle; a second motion sensor rigidly attached to an object in the vehicle, the object being within the field of view of the video capture device; and a controller. The controller is operatively connected to the first motion sensor, to the second motion sensor, and to a movable optical element in the video capture device. In one aspect, the first sensor provides a first output signal to the controller, the second sensor provides a second output signal to the controller; and the controller provides a compensation signal to the movable element determined by the first and second output signals.