Patents by Inventor Stephan SMOLKA

Stephan SMOLKA 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: 20240125984
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AG
    Inventors: Roman PATSCHEIDER, David NIEDERER, Pit GEBBERS, Daniel BORER, Christopher LANING, Stephan SMOLKA
  • Patent number: 11956540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tiltable mirror (1) for optical image stabilization in an optical imaging system (100), the tiltable mirror (1) comprising—a rigid mirror substrate (1S) with a planar reflective layer (1R) on a front side of the mirror substrate (1S) for reflecting incident light (500) in an optical imaging system (100), —a mirror frame (1F), wherein the mirror substrate (1S) is arranged tiltably in the mirror frame (1F), —an actuator (2) for tilting the mirror substrate (1S) around a primary (x) and a secondary (y) tilt axis with respect to the mirror frame (1F). The invention further relates to an optical imaging system comprising a tiltable mirror (1) according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Optotune Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Michael Büeler, Sanggyu Biern, Johannes Haase
  • Publication number: 20240111173
    Abstract: The invention relates Tunable prism (1) for optical image stabilization, comprising the components: A container (2) that comprises a membrane (6) comprising at least a transparent portion, the container (2) further comprising a transparent rigid bottom portion (5) facing the membrane (6), wherein the membrane (6) is connected to the bottom portion (5), and wherein the container (2) encloses a volume (7) that is filled with a transparent fluid (3); A transparent window (8) arranged on the membrane (6), wherein the membrane (6) comprises a deformable portion (6a) extending around an outer edge (8a) of the window (8), such that the window (8) can be tilted around a first and/or a second axis (201, 202) with respect to the bottom portion (5). The invention further relates to an imaging system (50) comprising the tunable prism (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Nextlens Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Mark VENTURA, David LEUENBERGER, Michael BÜELER, Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Stephan SMOLKA, Frank BOSE, David NIEDERER
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11852889
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventors: Roman Patscheider, David Niederer, Pit Gebbers, Daniel Borer, Christopher Laning, Stephan Smolka
  • Publication number: 20230282143
    Abstract: The present invention relates to Carrier device (1) for carrying an optical element (2), comprising: a platform (P) defining a plane (P1), a base (S), a spring structure (3) connecting the platform to the base so as to allow tilting of the platform with respect to the base about a least a first axis (A) extending parallel to said plane, a first magnet (M1) and a first coil (C1), wherein the first magnet is connected to the platform and the first coil (C1) is connected to the base, or wherein the first magnet is connected to the base and the first coil (C1) is connected to the platform (P), and wherein the first magnet (M1) is magnetized parallel to said plane (P1), wherein the first coil (C1) comprises a first coil section (10) opposing the first magnet (M1), such that an electrical current flowing through the first coil section (10) generates a Lorentz force in a direction extending at an angle in the range from 88° to 92° with respect to said plane (P1) such that a tilting of the platform (P) is caused, and
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Optotune Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Manuel Aschwanden, Wolfgang Zesch
  • Publication number: 20230185077
    Abstract: Optical element (1) comprising a first window (21) and a second window (22), wherein the first window (21) is connected to the second window (22) by an elastic membrane (41) such that the first window (21), the second window (22) and the membrane (41) enclose a deformable, sealed volume (42), which is filled with a fluid, wherein at least one first actuator (51) is arranged to tilt the first window (21) with respect to the second window (22) around a first tilting axis (81) in a first direction, wherein the first actuator (51) comprises a Shape Memory Alloy and has the shape of a wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Nextlens Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Stephan SMOLKA, Johannes HAASE
  • Publication number: 20230185002
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising: a tunable lens (2) having a tunable optical power, and a lens barrel (3) extending along a central axis (z), the lens barrel (3) comprising a circumferential lateral wall (30) surrounding an internal space (31) of the lens barrel (3) for accommodating the tunable lens (2), wherein the tunable lens (2) is carried by the lens barrel (3) and is at least partially arranged in the internal space (31) of the lens barrel (3) at a height (h) with respect to the central axis (z), wherein the lens barrel (2) comprises a first cross-sectional plane (A) and a second cross-sectional plane (B), said cross sectional planes (A, B) intersecting each other along the central axis (z), wherein the lens barrel (3) comprises at said height (h) of the tunable lens (2) a first diameter (D1) extending along the first cross-sectional plane (A) and a second diameter (D2) extending along the second cross-sectional plane (B), wherein the first diameter (D1) is smaller th
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Nextlens Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, Johannes HAASE, Frank BOSE, Stephan SMOLKA, Andreas BRANDLE, Sanggyu BIERN
  • 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: 20230066567
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising: a container (10) enclosing an internal space (11) of the container (10), the internal space (11) being filled with a transparent liquid (12), wherein the container (10) comprises a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (13) delimiting said internal space (11) at least partially, wherein the container (10) further comprises a transparent rigid optical element (2) being connected to said membrane (13), the rigid optical element (2) comprising an optical surface (20) facing the membrane (13), the rigid optical element (2) being configured to receive light (L) for passing the light (L) through the transparent liquid (12) residing in the internal space (11) of the container (10), wherein the optical device (1) further comprises a supporting structure (3) supporting the rigid optical element (2) so that the rigid optical element (2) is tiltable about at least a first tilting axis (X) extending along said optical surface (20) of the rigid
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Nextlens Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, 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: 20230046355
    Abstract: Objective comprising a lens barrel, an actuator and a tunable lens, wherein the tunable lens comprises a primary membrane and a secondary membrane delimiting a liquid volume on opposing sides along an axial direction, the tunable lens comprises a container delimiting the liquid volume in lateral directions, wherein the lateral directions extend perpendicularly with respect to the axial direction, and the primary membrane and the secondary membrane are attached to opposing sides of the container, the tunable lens comprises a window member which is attached to the secondary membrane, wherein the secondary membrane connects the window member and the container elastically, wherein relative motion of the window member and the container along the axial direction results in a change of an optical property of the tunable lens, the window member or the container is fixedly attached to the lens barrel, the actuator is arranged to provide an actuation force along the axial direction, wherein the actuation force acts bet
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Nextlens Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Frank Bose, Manuel Aschwanden
  • Publication number: 20220350110
    Abstract: Focus system (1) comprising an imaging objective (10) with an optical element (100), two emitters (20) for emitting a beam (200) respectively, wherein the imaging objective (10) is arranged to depict an object (3) located in an object plane (30) in an image plane (31), the optical element is arranged to adjust a distance (300) from the object plane (30) to the imaging objective (10), the beams (200) are transmitted through or reflected by the optical element (20), and the beams (200) intersect at the object plane (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Optotune AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, Stephan Smolka, Johannes Haase
  • Publication number: 20220317423
    Abstract: Optical zoom system comprising an image sensor, an objective having multiple refractive surfaces and a focus tunable lens which has a tunable optical power, an expansion unit which is arranged to alter a total track length, wherein in the total track length is measured from a first refractive surface of the objective to the image sensor along the optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Optotune Consumer AG
    Inventors: Stephan SMOLKA, Michael BUELER, Johannes HAASE, David NIEDERER, Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Frank BOSE
  • Publication number: 20220311918
    Abstract: Imaging optical system comprising an objective with a compensation plate and an imaging sensor, wherein the objective is arranged to image objects which are arranged in an object plane in an image plane, a distance from the object plane to the objective is adjustable, the image sensor is arranged to capture the image in the image plane, a thickness of the compensation plate along the optical axis of the objective is adjustable, and the thickness depends on the distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Optotune Consumer AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Johannes Haase
  • 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: 20220155552
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AG
    Inventors: Roman PATSCHEIDER, David NIEDERER, Pit GEBBERS, Daniel BORER, Christopher LANING, Stephan SMOLKA
  • Publication number: 20220099955
    Abstract: Tunable liquid lens (100) comprising a container (5) delimiting a volume (50), wherein the volume (50) comprises a first liquid (1) and a second liquid (2), a first interface (12) is formed between the first liquid (1) and the second liquid (2), wherein the first liquid (1) and the second liquid (2) are immediately adjacent, a second interface (23) is formed between the second liquid (2) and a third liquid (3), wherein the second liquid (2) and the third liquid (3) are immediately adjacent or the second liquid (2) and the third liquid (3) are adjacent to opposite sides of a membrane (30), the optical power of the lens (100) is adjustable by altering the curvature of the first interface (12) and/or the second interface (23), and the refractive indices and the mass densities of the first liquid (1), the second liquid (2) and the third liquid (3) and the stiffness of the membrane (30) are adjusted to compensate for coma induced by acceleration forces (99).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Optotune Consumer AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Frank Bose, Lucas Dreesen
  • Publication number: 20220099914
    Abstract: 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(T
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Stephan SMOLKA, Christopher LANING
  • Publication number: 20220066182
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system (1) comprising a solid lens barrel (2) for optical elements (3), wherein the lens barrel (2) extends along an optical axis (100) of the optical system (100), the lens barrel (2) holding a plurality of optical elements (3), the plurality comprising a lens system (5), comprising at least one solid lens (53), and a first lens (6) having an adjustable focal length, wherein the first lens (6) comprises a container (62) filled with a transparent fluid, wherein the container (62) comprises an elastically deformable and transparent membrane (61) facing a transparent bottom portion (67) of the container (62), wherein the lens barrel (2) has a first and a second opening (22, 22?) facing along the optical axis (100), wherein the first and/or the second opening (22, 22?) is configured to receive the lens system (5), wherein the lens barrel (2) has a first slot (24) extending perpendicular to the optical axis (100), wherein the first lens (6) is inserted through the first slot (2
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AG
    Inventors: Michael BÜELER, Stephan SMOLKA, Johannes HAASE, Matthieu VERLANGEN