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).

  • Patent number: 12282176
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: OPTOTUNE SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Frank Bose, Manuel Aschwanden
  • Patent number: 12216295
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Manuel Aschwanden, Chris Laning, Roman Patscheider, Johannes Haase, David Andreas Niederer
  • Patent number: 12204090
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: OPTOTUNE SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Johannes Haase
  • Patent number: 12189084
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Optotune Consumer AG
    Inventors: Stephan Smolka, Manuel Aschwanden, David Andreas Niederer, Johannes Haase
  • 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: 12013548
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: NEXTLENS SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Mark Ventura, David Leuenberger, Michael Büeler, Manuel Aschwanden, Stephan Smolka, Frank Bose, David Niederer
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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