Abstract: An electrowetting module (20) comprises a fluid chamber (8) which contains a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), which are separated by an interface (14), and means to (16,17) exert a force on at least one of the fluids to change the position and/or shape of the interface. By providing at least one of the fluids with a compound having at least one aromatic, non-fused, residue, the performance of the module can be enhanced. For example the optical power of an electrowetting lens (30) can be increased.

Abstract: A variable focus lens for an eye comprising a transparent rear wall, a transparent front wall, a cavity formed between the transparent front wall and the transparent rear wall, first and second immiscible fluids of differing refractive index contained within said cavity, and electrodes to which a voltage is able to be applied to change the curvature of a fluid meniscus between the two fluids. At least the rear wall of the lens includes a biocompatible material, which material provides for biocompatibility of the lens with the eye.

Abstract: A switchable diaphragm (9) and a device for beam deflection (10) are placed in the servo branch of an optical drive, in a path of light beams of different diffraction orders. This permits redirection of light beam orders towards a detection means (8) on an individual basis and selection of light orders at a detection means (8) depending on requirements. The number of detectors in the device detection means (8) can thus be reduced, thereby also reducing additional components associated with those detectors and saving on cost and complexity. With such device functionality, new methods for measuring beam landing and spherical aberration are developed.

Abstract: A beam-shaping element includes a cavity, a first fluid and a second fluid having different indices of refraction. An optical axis extends through the cavity. The cavity has at least one curved surface extending transverse the optical axis. At least one pump is arranged to pump the fluids between a first configuration in which the first fluid occupies the cavity, and a second configuration in which the second fluid occupies the cavity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical device comprising a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and an electrically susceptible liquid (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B) being immiscible and being in contact with each other via an interface (14), at least one of the liquids (A; B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The optical device further comprises heating means (2, 12, 20) that preferably are responsive to a temperature sensor (30) for heating the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B). Consequently, an optical device is obtained in which the influence of the temperature dependence of the physical properties of the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B) on the behaviour of the optical device is reduced, thus yielding an optical device with improved optical characteristics at low temperatures.

Abstract: A controllable optical lens system comprises a chamber housing first and second fluids, the interface between the fluids defining a lens surface. An electrode controls the shape of the lens surface and has first and second electrodes. The current supplied by a power source to the electrode arrangement is monitored, and the charge supplied is derived. The voltage on one of the electrodes of the electrode arrangement is also monitored. A desired lens power is used to derive a control value for controlling the total charge to be supplied to the electrode arrangement. The drive scheme is independent of some of the lens characteristics, and is more easily implemented than a feedback control system using capacitive sensing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system comprising a fluid chamber 1 and a birefringent part. The fluid chamber comprises first and second fluids 10, 12 having different indices of refraction, the interface between the fluids forming a meniscus 14. The birefringent part is capable of varying characteristics of a first radiation beam 3b and a second radiation beam 3c, the first and second radiation beams having different polarisations. Variation in the configuration of the meniscus causes variation in the characteristics of the first radiation beam and the second radiation beam. Variation in the configuration of the meniscus may be controlled by electrowetting.

Abstract: A variable lens includes a chamber defined by at least one side wall and has an optical axis extending longitudinally through the chamber. The chamber contains a first fluid and a second fluid contact over a meniscus extending transverse the optical axis. The perimeter of the meniscus is constrained by the side walls. The fluids are substantially immiscible, and have different indices of refraction. At least one pump is arranged to controllably alter the position of the meniscus along the optical axis by altering the relative volume of each of the fluids contained within the chamber.

Abstract: A variable focus lens of the type including a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), the fluids being immiscible and having different indices of refraction wherein the lens function of the variable focus lens can be selectively controlled. The refractive indices of the two respective fluids (A) and (B) are different, and it is highly advantageous if the difference between these refractive indices is relatively high, in order to obtain a good zoom factor. Many oils with a high refractive index (approximately above 1.7) are not colourless, but instead tend to be yellow. However, this causes colour changes in the image of an object compared with the object itself. This problem is solved by correcting or compensating for the resultant change of colour of an image of an object, compared with the object itself, caused by the use of a non-colourless fluid as the first and/or second fluid in a variable focus lens of the above-mentioned type.

Abstract: In an image sensor incorporating a variable focus lens of the electrowetting type, means are provided for reducing or substantially eliminating the occurrence of ghost images. A variable focus lens of the above-mentioned type comprises a housing (5) provided with a first fluid (A) and an axially displaced second fluid (B), the two fluids being non-miscible, in contact over a meniscus (14) and having different indices of refraction. First and second electrodes (2,12) are provided and the shape of the meniscus (14) is controllable in dependence on the application of a voltage between the first and second electrodes (2,12).

Abstract: A variable focus lens comprises a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and a conducting liquid (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the conducting liquid (B) being immiscible, having different refractive indices and being in contact with each other via an interface (14), the liquids (A, B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The variable focus lens further comprises an electrode arrangement (2, 12) for controlling the shape of the interface (14) by means of an applied voltage. The container further comprises a transparent end portion (4) in the light path, a part (4) the transparent end portion (4) defining the shape of a part of the interface (14) at a predefined value of the voltage. Consequently, a variable focus lens with a reduced building height (H) is achieved that suffers less from the gradual formation of is small droplets of the conducting liquid (B) on the inner surface of the end portion (4).

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical device comprising a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and a liquid responsive to an electric field (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the liquid responsive to an electric field (B) being immiscible and being in contact with each other via an interface (14), at least one of the liquids (A; B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The optical device further comprises an electrode arrangement (2; 12) for controlling the shape of the interface (14) by means of a voltage; and means (100) for preventing the interface from an exposure to an external electric field. Consequently, the build-up of electrostatic charge on a surface of the optical device is avoided, which prevents the unwanted distortion of the interface (14) caused by the interaction of the liquid responsive to an electric field (B) and the electrostatic charge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a discretely adjustable lens (300) that is controllable by means of electrostatic or electrowetting forces. The lens provides two accurately reproducible and freely designable lens states that are defined by interfaces between one out of two fluids (120,121) and at least one lens face (155). Changing place of the fluids by means of electrostatic or electrowetting forces provides for switching between the lens states. The lens may, for example, provide a macro lens option in a camera lens arrangement.

Abstract: A switchable element is described, which comprises a fluid chamber (111) containing a polar (101) and a non-polar (102) liquid, which are immiscible. The element is further provided with two electrodes (103,104), which are arranged to control the spatial distribution of the liquids, by means of an applied voltage across two the two electrodes. By the addition of surfactant to one or both of the liquids, the actuation voltage of the element is lowered. The element can work for example as an optical device or a motor.

Abstract: An optical input and/or control de and/or actuating variable functions of, for examp device, the optical input and/or control device ha radiation from a diode laser (3) is converged. As across the window (12), part of the scattered radi due to the movement of the finger (15), re-enters measured using the self-mixing effect of the lase radiation emitted by the laser (3) and re-entering of the laser and thus in the radiation emitted by photo-diode (4) which converts the radiation vari circuitry is provided which processes this signal. ice for manually selectively controlling e, an image capture device or a computer mg a transparent window (12) on which an object, e.g. a user's finger (15), moves tion, whose frequency is Doppler-shifted the laser cavity. Relative movement is diode (3), which is the phenomenon that e laser cavity induces a variation in gain e laser (3).

Abstract: A variable lens having an optical axis is described. The lens comprises a plurality of annuli located around the optical axis. Each annulus has respective side walls defining a chamber containing a first fluid and a second fluid in contact over a meniscus. The fluids are substantially immiscible and have different refractive indices. At least one of the annuli comprises at least one electrode for altering the configuration of the meniscus.

Abstract: An electrowetting module (20) comprises a fluid chamber (8) which contains a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), which are separated by an interface (14) , and means (16, 17) to exert a force on at least one of the fluids to change the position and/or shape of the interface. By providing the second fluid body with a dissolved or mixed compound, being insoluble in or immiscible with the first fluid body, and/or the first fluid body comprises a dissolved or mixed compound being insoluble in or immiscible with the second fluid body, in amounts sufficient for lowering the freezing point of the respective fluids to below ?20° C., the performance of the module can be improved so that the module can be used at low temperatures.

Abstract: A zoom optical system is provided which has a lens system which comprises a first lens which is arranged to provide a continuously variable focus for a beam of radiation. The lens system further comprises a switchable optical element including a first fluid, a second fluid and a wavefront modifier having a part through which said radiation beam is arranged to pass. In a first mode the switchable optical element has a first fluid configuration with said part being substantially covered by the first fluid, and in a second mode the switchable optical element has a second, different, fluid configuration with said part being substantially covered by the second fluid.

Abstract: A variable focus lens for an eye comprising a transparent rear wall, a transparent front wall, a cavity formed between the transparent front wall and the transparent rear wall, first and second immiscible fluids of differing refractive index contained within said cavity, and electrodes to which a voltage is able to be applied to change the curvature of a fluid meniscus between the two fluids. At least the rear wall of the lens includes a biocompatible material, which material provides for biocompatibility of the lens with the eye.

Abstract: An achromatic electrowetting lens is provided. This is achieved by a particular choice of the parameters n, n2, V, and V2, wherein n is the refractive index and V is the Abbe number. By fulfilling the relations: Formula (I) an achromatization of the electrowetting lens is achieved.