Fluid Patents (Class 359/665)
  • Patent number: 9335539
    Abstract: A pixel device using optically active fluid contained within elastomeric materials and actuated through dielectric elastomer membrane is disclosed. The underlying mechanism of optical contrast in this display pixel is the spread and contraction of the fluid contained within a pre-stretched elastomer membrane and a substrate. The actuation mechanism for the fluid flow is a dielectric elastomer membrane coated with compliant electrodes on both sides. When both electrodes are connected to a voltage source, the oppositely charged electrodes attract each other, compressing the sandwiched elastomer membrane in the thickness direction but increasing its lateral dimension. Due to geometrical constraint, the change in the membrane lateral dimension results in the net volume change of the fluid reservoir, causing optically active fluid to move from the display cavity into the fluid reservoir or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Samuel Shian, David Clarke, Roger Diebold
  • Patent number: 9329456
    Abstract: Disclosed is an underwater camera, including: a casing having an accommodation space for a camera module; a connector coupled to a first side of the casing and transferring a signal output from the camera module to a controller; a lens connected to the lens and coupled to a second side of the casing in a manner that a periphery portion of the lens is embedded in the second side of the casing; a sealing means coupled to the second side of the casing and preventing water from entering into the casing and from reaching the lens; and a valve coupled to the first side of the casing and having a hose connected to a sealed space provided between the sealing means and a surface of the second side of the casing, thereby discharging air from the sealed space and supplying an inert gas into the sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: GREEN TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seuk Kyung Sung
  • Patent number: 9207449
    Abstract: An electrowetting display device includes first and second substrates facing each other and separated from each other, a cell region between the first and second substrates, the cell region including a pixel region and a reservoir region, a first fluid and a second fluid in the cell region, the first fluid being conductive and flowing according to an electrowetting principle and the second fluid being non-conductive and not mixed with the first fluid, and an electrode unit turning on and off the pixel region, the electrode unit including a pixel electrode coated with an insulating material and at least one reservoir electrode coated with the insulating material to promote flow of one of the first fluid and the second fluid into the reservoir region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Deuk-seok Chung
  • Patent number: 9201220
    Abstract: An all-refractive optical system that images a scene at two different fields of view or FOVs, with switching between FOVs enabled by switchable lens elements is disclosed. The two fields of view vary in focal length by a factor of three. The wide FOV images broad-band Short Wave InfraRed SWIR radiation at an f/number of 1.7, while the narrow FOV images narrow-band illuminated SWIR at f/4.9. A voltage change across the switchable lens elements generates an optical power change between finite focus and infinite focus. Situated among static optical elements, the switching elements enable FOV changes with no mechanical movement. The given f/numbers at each FOV are a result of a fixed aperture in the system. The smaller throughput in the narrow FOV mode is augmented by narrow-band illumination of the scene to maintain equivalent sensor response between the two FOVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Bruce M. Pixton, Jay N. Vizgaitis, Russell S. Draper
  • Patent number: 9188774
    Abstract: A microelectrofluidic device includes: a chamber; a first fluid and a second fluid which are contained in the chamber and are not mixable with each other; and a first electrode group including a plurality of electrodes that are disposed on an inner side of the chamber, and to which a voltage is applied to change an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the plurality of electrodes are connected to form a first electrode unit, a second electrode unit, and a third electrode unit that are independently turned on or off, and the plurality of electrodes are annular and coated with an insulating material, and adjacent electrodes are connected to different electrode units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyu-dong Jung, Jong-hyeon Chang, Min-seog Choi
  • Patent number: 9182521
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an arcuate liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall. Some specific embodiments include a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall essentially in the shape of a conical frustum with multiple voltage zones that may have variable voltages applied across the zones. Embodiments may also include a lens of suitable size and shape for inclusion in a contact lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Pugh, Daniel B. Otts, Adam Toner, Edward R. Kernick, James Daniel Riall, Sharika Snook
  • Patent number: 9182590
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electrowetting element, in which a first liquid material and a second liquid material having a surface energy which is lower than that of the first liquid material, which are not mixed together, are provided in a cell formed between a first substrate and a second substrate placed as facing; at least one of the first liquid material and the second liquid material is gelated or altered to have high viscosity; and the shape of the interface between the first liquid material and the second liquid material is changed by applying voltage in the cell. The method includes a step of stimulating at least one of the first liquid material and the second liquid material which is gelated or altered to have high viscosity, to alter one of the first liquid material and the second liquid material to have low viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKSUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeki Nomura
  • Patent number: 9182645
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided, including a housing, a display module, an optical element and a switchable layer. The housing has a first surface and an opaque layer disposed under the first surface, the opaque layer having a first aperture and a second aperture. The display module is disposed under the first surface and overlapped with the first aperture. The optical element is disposed under the opaque layer. The switchable layer is disposed between the optical element and the second aperture and overlapping the second aperture, wherein the switchable layer is capable of being switched between a substantially opaque state and a substantially transparent state. The substantially opaque state prevents viewing of the optical element through the switchable layer and the substantially transparent state allows viewing of the optical element through the switchable layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: HTC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ming-Tien Lin, Chun-Ta Lin, Chih-Jen Hu
  • Patent number: 9158127
    Abstract: This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing an ophthalmic lens with diffractive/refractive variable optic structures. An energy source is capable of powering the variable optic included within the ophthalmic lens as it may be predetermined. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast molded from a silicone hydrogel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Pugh, Daniel B. Otts, James Daniel Riall, C. Benjamin Wooley, Edward R. Kernick, Frederick A. Flitsch, Andres F. Arrubla
  • Patent number: 9145293
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system based focusing device and manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The system includes: a deformable lens, multiple groups of conductive deformable crossbeams and conductive structs; and one or more fixed parts. In each group, each conductive deformable crossbeam corresponds to a conductive struct. The conductive deformable crossbeams and the conductive structs are arranged around the deformable lens and spaced from each other. The conductive deformable crossbeams are suspended in the air, their inner edges are connected with an external edge of the deformable lens and their external edges are connected with the fixed parts. The conductive structs are fixedly connected with the fixed parts and remain stationary. Electrostatic force between the conductive deformable crossbeam and the conductive struct causes the deformable lens to be stretched and rotate, thus, surface curvature and focal length are changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: LEXVU OPTO MICROELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) LTD
    Inventors: Jianhong Mao, Fengqin Han, Deming Tang, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9104119
    Abstract: The present invention provides an exposure apparatus comprising a projection optical system configured to project a pattern of a reticle onto a substrate, a driving unit configured to drive a plurality of optical elements which form the projection optical system so as to adjust an imaging state of light which passes through the projection optical system, a detecting unit configured to detect a driving error when the driving unit drives a first optical element of the plurality of optical elements, and a control unit configured to control the driving unit to drive a second optical element different from the first optical element of the plurality of optical elements so as to reduce a change in the imaging state of the light which passes through the projection optical system due to the driving error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Bunsuke Takeshita
  • Patent number: 9074168
    Abstract: A multi-phase liquid composition comprising a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid, said liquids being non miscible, wherein the conductive liquid comprises more than 90% up to 99.9% by weight of a first component having a surface tension above 45 mN/m and comprising water, salt and at least one freezing point lowering agent, and from 0.01% to less than 10% by weight of a second component having a surface tension below 30 mN/m and comprising at least one first compound, wherein said at least one first compound is a non ionic surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: VARIOPTIC S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Maillard, Liana Moreau, Christopher J. Tucker, Caroline Woelfle-Gupta, Daniel Lawrence Dermody
  • Patent number: 9063273
    Abstract: A changeable liquid prism array and a method of manufacturing the changeable liquid prism array are provided. The changeable liquid prism array includes a substrate, a wiring layer formed on the substrate, and including conducting wire portions and non-conducting wire portions where the conducting wire portions are not formed, and barrier walls disposed on the wiring layer. The changeable liquid prism array further includes cells defined by the barrier walls, a first liquid included in the cells, and a second liquid located on the first liquid. The changeable liquid prism array further includes side electrodes disposed on side surfaces of the barrier walls, and separated from each other by spaces corresponding to the non-conducting wire portions, and an upper electrode arranged above the barrier walls, and separated from the side electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eok-su Kim, Jung-mok Bae, Hoon Song, Kang-hee Won, Deuk-seok Chung, Kyu-hwan Choi, Yoon-sun Choi
  • Patent number: 9059240
    Abstract: A fixture for shaping a laminate substrate includes a trap ring, a base plate and a center button. The base plate includes a recess adapted to receive the laminate substrate. The center button is disposed in an opening in the base plate. The center button may be adjusted to shape the laminate substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edmund D. Blackshear, Thomas E. Lombardi, Donald A. Merte, Steven P. Ostrander, Thomas Weiss, Jiantao Zheng
  • Patent number: 9052451
    Abstract: A liquid lens package structure includes a first light-transmitting element, a second light-transmitting element, a first elastic surrounding body, a second elastic surrounding body and a package unit. The first elastic surrounding body is disposed between the first and the second light-transmitting elements to form an enclosed space among the first light-transmitting element, the second light-transmitting element and the first elastic surrounding body for receiving and enclosing two unmingled predetermined liquids. The second elastic surrounding body is disposed on the second light-transmitting element. The package unit includes a first retaining seat and a second retaining seat mated with each other. The first retaining seat has a first opening, and the second retaining seat has a second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Lustrous Electro-Optic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Tsai, Jun-Yu Chung
  • Patent number: 9042028
    Abstract: Provided are an electrowetting prism device which has increased an aperture ratio by simplifying an electrode and wiring structure, and a 3D image display apparatus capable of providing a super multi-view 3D image using the electrowetting prism device. The electrowetting prism device includes lower and upper transparent substrates disposed against each other, a vertical wall mounted on the lower transparent substrate so as to form a diamond-shaped space, a first electrode arranged along two adjacent sidewalls of the vertical wall, a second electrode arranged along the other remaining two adjacent sidewalls of the vertical wall to be disposed against the first electrode, and a non-polarized liquid and a polarized liquid arranged within a space surrounded by the vertical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyu-hwan Choi, Jung-mok Bae, Yong-joo Kwon, Yun-hee Kim, Yoon-sun Choi
  • Patent number: 9036264
    Abstract: A fluid lens assembly including a front rigid lens, a semi-flexible membrane that is adapted to be expanded from a minimum inflation level to a maximum inflation level, and a fluid layer therebetween. The front lens of the fluid lens assembly is configured to have a negative optical power. In an embodiment, the fluid lens assembly may be configured to have an overall negative optical power when the membrane is expanded to the maximum inflation level. In an embodiment, the fluid lens assembly can be configured to have an overall negative optical power when the membrane is expanded between the minimum inflation level and the maximum inflation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Adlens Beacon, Inc.
    Inventors: Amitava Gupta, William Egan, Lisa Nibauer, Frank Stangota, Bruce Decker, Thomas M. McGuire, Urban Schnell, Karim Haroud, Hans Jaeger, Matthew Wallace Peterson, Daniel Senatore
  • Patent number: 9030381
    Abstract: A parallax barrier panel includes a first and second substrate and a fluidic layer disposed therebetween. The first substrate includes first electrode parts, a water-repellent layer and a partition wall. Each of the first electrode parts includes a main electrode and a first notch electrode and a second notch electrode. The main electrode extends in a first direction on a first base substrate. The first and second notch electrodes are adjacent to respective ends of the main electrode. The first and second notch electrodes extend along the main electrode in the first direction. The second substrate includes a second electrode part and a second base substrate, the second electrode part being disposed on the second base substrate. The second base substrate is disposed opposite to the first base substrate. The fluidic layer controls a light transmittance according to a voltage difference between the first and second electrode parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Hyun Cho, Moon-Jung Baek, Seong-Mo Hwang, Moon-Gyu Lee, Sang-Il Kim
  • Patent number: 9030751
    Abstract: A vari-focal fluidic lens is provided. The fluidic lens includes a frame, an first membrane, a second membrane, and an optical fluid. The frame defines an inner space of the fluidic lens including a driving portion and a lens portion that are connected to each other. The elastic membrane is attached to one side of the frame to cover at least the lens portion. The second membrane is attached to an opposite side of the frame to cover at least the driving portion and is deformable in response to temperature change to vary a volume of the inner space. Optical fluid is contained in the inner space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Tae Choi, Min-Seog Choi, Eun-Sung Lee, Kyu-Dong Jung
  • Patent number: 9018299
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a colored liquid with superior separability from polar solvents for use with an electrowetting or electrofluidic device that uses a coloring agent added as a colorant to a nonpolar solvent. A colored liquid according to the present invention contains a nonpolar solvent and a colorant, and the colorant is a modified pigment containing a pigment (A) and a polymer (P) formed on a surface thereof by polymerizing a polymer (B) soluble in a nonaqueous solvent and at least one polymerizable unsaturated monomer (C) that is soluble in the nonaqueous solvent and that becomes insoluble or poorly soluble in the nonaqueous solvent after polymerization. A multi-phase liquid colored composition according to the present invention contains the colored liquid and a polar solvent immiscible with the colored liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: DIC Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Hosaka, Yukie Uemura
  • Patent number: 8988781
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a focus-adjustable device and a system thereof, wherein the focus-adjustable device is fabricated by forming a single closed flow channel in the internal of a transparent substrate, so as to make the substrate and the single closed flow channel together form a specific lens structure similar to the Fresnel lens. In the present invention, when a light illuminates on one side of the substrate, the light would be concentrated at a specific focus point distancing from the other side of the substrate after being deflected by the specific lens structure. Moreover, a fluid having a specific refractive index can be filled into the single closed flow channel by a flow channel opening, so as to carry out the purpose of adjusting the focus of the specific lens structure; or to make the light parallelly pass through the specific lens structure without any deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Cheng-Huan Chen, Sheng-Rong Lin
  • Patent number: 8980075
    Abstract: A digital microfluidic platform utilizes dual active matrix circuitry to actuate and heat liquid droplets on a biochip. Liquid droplets are introduced into a droplet handling area of the biochip where they can be actuated by electrodes residing in pixels of an actuating active matrix array according to the electrowetting on dielectric phenomenon and heated by heating elements residing in pixels of a heating active matrix array. Pixels of the actuating active matrix array and the heating active matrix array are independently addressable such that droplets in the droplet handling area can be selectively heated and actuated according to their location. The actuating active matrix array and heating active matrix array can be formed on the same or different substrates with the droplet handling area disposed above or between the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Texas A & M University System
    Inventors: Xing Cheng, Kamran Entesari
  • Patent number: 8980141
    Abstract: A dye for a fluid of an electrowetting element, the dye having a general formula selected from the group consisting of: wherein Q has the general formula: -Het1R1 or -Het1R1R2; V has the general formula: -Het2R3 or -Het2R3R4; Het1 and Het2 are heteroatoms; R1 and R3 are H; R2 and R4 are any functional group; T and U are any functional group; W, X, Y and Z are H or an alkyl group; and F, G, L and M are H or an alkyl group, and with the proviso that the dye does not have the general formula: The present invention further relates to a fluid comprising a dye of the present invention, an electrowetting element and an optical display device comprising the fluid, and a use of the dye to reduce photo-bleaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Melanie Maria Hubertina Van De Weijer-Wagemans, Romaric Massard, Robert A. Hayes
  • Patent number: 8982444
    Abstract: The present inventive concept relates to an electrowetting display device including a lyophobic colloid material and a polymer resin such as an organic layer or a polyimide (PI), and a lyophobic layer including a supporting layer supporting the lyophobic colloid material and using a photoreactive fluorine-based surfactant for a fluorine-based material to be positioned above and for a hardened photoreactive material layer to be positioned below through exposure in a single step without separately performing a hydrophilic treatment and then a water-repellent treatment, thereby reducing the number of processes, the manufacturing time, and the cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Ram Lee, Taimei Kodaira, Dae Jin Park, Joo-Han Bae, Seung-Jin Baek, Da Hye Yoon, Hyeon Gu Cho
  • Publication number: 20150070779
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid lens array creates an array of through holes of axisymmetric cross-section through a central plate, forms conductive traces on the side walls of each of the through holes and on a portion of the top and bottom surfaces of the central plate contiguous with each through hole, and bonds the bottom surface of the central plate around each through hole to the top surface of a transparent base plate, forming an array of cavities. The method applies an insulating layer to the side walls of each cavity, portions of the top surface of the base plate lying within each cavity, and portions of the top surface of the transparent central plate surrounding each cavity, introduces a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid into each cavity; and bonds the top surface of the central plate to the bottom surface of a transparent top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: INVENIOS
    Inventors: Raymond Miller Karam, Georges Roussos
  • Patent number: 8976456
    Abstract: A detachable lens for variable focus spectacles, the lens including a plurality of magnets in a groove on its rear surface for holding the lens to the spectacles. An interlocking boss keeps the lens from sliding off the spectacles, and a locating tab provides a means for assuring that the lens is installed on the correct side of the spectacles and with the proper orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen Kurtin, Steven Hecker
  • Patent number: 8970965
    Abstract: A display element (10) includes an upper substrate (first substrate) (2), a lower substrate (second substrate) (3), and a polar liquid (16) that is sealed in a display space (S) formed between the upper substrate (2) and the lower substrate (3) so as to be moved toward an effective display region (P1) or a non-effective display region (P2). A rib (14) hermetically divides the inside of the display space (S) in accordance with each of a plurality of pixel regions (P). A movement space (K) in which an oil (insulating fluid) (17) is moved is provided for each of the pixel regions (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuma Tomotoshi, Shun Ueki, Toshiki Matsuoka, Kohzoh Nakamura, Tomoko Teranishi
  • Patent number: 8947784
    Abstract: A variable focus lens has a housing (1) and an actuator (8) which are mutually displaceable along an optical axis (A) of the lens. A primary membrane (15) is arranged between a first chamber (24, 26) and a second chamber (30, 32), with the first and second chambers being filled with liquids of similar density but different indices of refraction. First and second auxiliary membranes (19, 17) are provided for volume compensation. The first auxiliary membrane (19) forms a wall section of the first chamber (24, 26), and the second auxiliary membrane (17) forms a wall section of the second chamber (30, 32), at least one or both of the auxiliary membranes facing environmental air at its outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Optotune AG
    Inventor: Thomas Kern
  • Publication number: 20150028195
    Abstract: A deformable optical lens with a lens membrane having an optically active portion that is configured to be shaped over an air-membrane interface according to a spherical cap and Zernike polynomials is provided. The spherical cap and the Zernike polynomials comprise a Zernike[4,0], (Noll[11]) polynomial and are sufficient to model the deformable optical lens to within approximately 2 micrometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Charles King, Chauncey Graetzel, Laurent Davoine, Christopher Monti, Thomas Schmidhaeusler, MIchael Bueeler, Martin Salt, Natalia Kukaleva, Peter Liebetraut
  • Patent number: 8922901
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid lens array creates an array of through holes of axisymmetric cross-section through a central plate, forms conductive traces on the side walls of each of the through holes and on a portion of the top and bottom surfaces of the central plate contiguous with each through hole, and bonds the bottom surface of the central plate around each through hole to the top surface of a transparent base plate, forming an array of cavities. The method applies an insulating layer to the side walls of each cavity, portions of the top surface of the base plate lying within each cavity, and portions of the top surface of the transparent central plate surrounding each cavity, introduces a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid into each cavity; and bonds the top surface of the central plate to the bottom surface of a transparent top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Invenios Inc
    Inventors: Raymond Miller Karam, Georges Roussos
  • Patent number: 8922869
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrowetting display device and a manufacturing method for the same, using a UV light reactive fluorosurfactant layer. The UV light reactive fluorosurfactant layer can include a UV-cured fluorine based material positioned above a cured UV reactive material. In an embodiment, the electrowetting display device can also include a substrate with a layer of pixel electrodes formed over the substrate, and partition walls formed over at least a portion of the layer of pixel electrodes. In one embodiment, the UV light reactive fluorosurfactant layer can be formed between the partition walls and above an inter-layer insulation film. In another embodiment, the UV light reactive fluorosurfactant layer can be formed between the partition walls and above the layer of pixel electrodes. The electrowetting display can also include a water repellent layer formed over the UV light reactive fluorosurfactant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Taimei Kodaira
  • Patent number: 8908254
    Abstract: Optical apparatus for a display device. The optical apparatus comprises a cavity, and a first fluid (14) and a second fluid (16), held within the cavity, which are immiscible with each other. The first and second fluids are separated from each other by a meniscus (28) having a peripheral edge (30). The optical apparatus further comprises a fluid motion control system arranged to control movement of the first and second fluids within the cavity using electrostatic forces, and a first surface (26) and a second surface (21). The first surface has a different wettability for the first fluid than for the second surface. The first and second surfaces are arranged in the cavity to determine, upon activation of the fluid motion control system, a motion of the fluids within the cavity which has a preferential initiation at a first part (32) of the peripheral edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bokke Johannes Feenstra, Roy Van Dijk, Robert A. Hayes
  • Publication number: 20140347741
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid lens array creates an array of through holes of axisymmetric cross-section through a central plate, forms conductive traces on the side walls of each of the through holes and on a portion of the top and bottom surfaces of the central plate contiguous with each through hole, and bonds the bottom surface of the central plate around each through hole to the top surface of a transparent base plate, forming an array of cavities. The method applies an insulating layer to the side walls of each cavity, portions of the top surface of the base plate lying within each cavity, and portions of the top surface of the transparent central plate surrounding each cavity, introduces a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid into each cavity; and bonds the top surface of the central plate to the bottom surface of a transparent top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Raymond Miller Karam, Georges Roussos
  • Patent number: 8896928
    Abstract: Provided is an electrowetting device capable of performing bright and high-contrast color display. In addition, provided is an electrowetting device capable of performing high-quality display without unevenness. The electrowetting device is an electrowetting display in which each of a pair of substrate constituting one cell has a driving unit. A first substrate that stores a first hydrophobic liquid material in regions surrounded by a first pixel wall, and a second substrate that stores a second hydrophobic liquid material in regions surrounded by a second pixel wall are adhered to each other through a hydrophilic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nakasuga, Takao Unate, Takeshi Wakiya, Shigeki Nomura
  • Patent number: 8885261
    Abstract: An optical element array includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a plurality of first walls which is provided upright on an inner surface facing the second substrate of the first substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode which are respectively provided on facing wall surfaces of the adjacent first walls, a third electrode which is provided on an inner surface facing the first substrate of the second substrate, a second wall which partially covers the inner surface of the first substrate and the first walls to partially or entirely surround at least a part of a space which is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a polar liquid and a nonpolar liquid which are sealed in the space surrounded by the first substrate, the second substrate and the second wall and have different refractive indices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporaton
    Inventors: Yuichi Takai, Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8879161
    Abstract: Liquid lens cells are used in a variable power optical system. In one embodiment, a stop is located between a first lens group comprising at least a first liquid lens cell and a second lens group comprising at least a second liquid lens cell. In one embodiment, a liquid lens cell controls an incident angle of light rays on an image surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Blackeye Optics, LLC
    Inventors: James H. Jannard, Iain A. Neil
  • Publication number: 20140313590
    Abstract: A fluidic lens may have a reservoir at least partially bounded by a first optical surface and a second optical surface. A fluid fills a volume of the reservoir. A piston is configured to contact a portion of the first or second optical surface from outside the reservoir. One or more of the first optical surface or second optical surface is configured to deform as a result of a change in a pressure applied to the fluid or a change in contact between the piston and the first or second optical surface. A rim is configured to contact a portion of the first or second optical surface from outside the reservoir. One or more of the first optical surface or second optical surface is configured to deform as a result of a change in a pressure applied to the fluid or a change in contact between the rim and the first or second optical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Holochip Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Batchko, Andrei Szilagyi
  • Patent number: 8867141
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall. The meniscus lens may include an arcuate front curve and back curve lens. Some specific embodiments include a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall essentially in the shape of multiple segments of a torus concave from the optical axis. Embodiments may also include a lens of suitable size and shape for inclusion in a contact lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Pugh, Daniel B. Otts, Adam Toner, Edward R. Kernick, James Daniel Riall, Sharika Snook
  • Publication number: 20140307330
    Abstract: A liquid lenses driving method to control the focus of a liquid lens by inputting voltages to specific electrodes. The liquid lens includes a first liquid, a second liquid having a lower refractive index than and immiscible with the first liquid, a plurality of driving electrodes (M), an container, and a transparent cover. M is greater than or equal to 2. The first liquid is positioned above the plurality of electrodes. The electrodes are concentrically configured and annular in shape. The outermost electrode is a first electrode and the innermost electrode is an Mth electrode. Adjacent electrodes have opposite polarities. When a driving voltage is provided throughout the first electrode to the Nth electrode, a base circumference of the first liquid is displaced to an inner circumference of the Nth electrode. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and smaller than M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: LUSTROUS ELECTRO-OPTIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHIH-WEI TSAI
  • Patent number: 8861092
    Abstract: A curvature control device includes: a first fluid having a light transmitting property and a polarity; a second fluid that has a light transmitting property and is not mixed with the first fluid; a chamber forming an inner space for containing the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 and including a lens area in which an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid forms an optical interface, and a plurality of channel areas in which another interface between the first fluid and the second fluid functions as a driving interface for inducing a variation in curvature of the optical interface; and an electrode portion generating an electric field for varying a position of the driving interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-sung Lee, Min-seog Choi, Jong-hyeon Chang
  • Patent number: 8854714
    Abstract: Colored conductive fluids for electrowetting or electrofluidic devices, and the devices themselves, are disclosed. The colored conductive fluid includes a polar solvent and a colorant selected from a pigment and/or a dye. The polar solvent has (a) a dynamic viscosity of 0.1 cP to 1000 cP at 25° C., (b) a surface tension of 25 dynes/cm to 90 dynes/cm at 25° C., and (c) an electrowetting relative response of 20% to 80%. The colored conductive fluid itself can have an electrical conductivity from 0.1 ?S/cm to 3,000 ?S/cm and can have no greater than 500 total ppm of monatomic ions with ionic radii smaller than 2.0 ? and polyatomic ions with ionic radii smaller than 1.45 ?. The colored conductive fluid should not cause electrical breakdown of a dielectric in the device in which it is employed. An agent for controlling electrical conductivity can optionally be added to the colored conductive fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa Clapp, Jason Heikenfeld, April Milarcik, Russell J. Schwartz, Stanislav G. Vilner, Manjeet Dhindsa, Stephanie Chevalliot
  • Patent number: 8854739
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrowetting-on-dielectric device (200). This is an electro wetting device comprising one or more cells, wherein each cell comprises an electrowetting composition of first and second immiscible fluids, the first fluid being an electrolytic solution (240), a first electrode (230), separated from the electrowetting composition by a dielectric (231), and a voltage source (260) for applying an operating voltage difference between the first electrode (230) and the electrolytic solution to operate the electrowetting device. According to the invention, the first electrode (230) of the electrowetting-on-dielectric device (200) comprises a valve metal, and the electrolytic solution (240) is capable of anodizing the valve metal to form a metal oxide at the operating voltage difference. This provides the electrowetting-on-dielectric device (200) with self-repairing properties thereby preventing breakdown of the dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Stein Kuiper, Johannes Wilhelmus Weekamp
  • Publication number: 20140268361
    Abstract: This invention provides a removably mountable lens assembly for a vision system camera that includes an integral auto-focusing liquid lens unit, in which the lens unit compensates for focus variations by employing a feedback control circuit that is integrated into the body of the lens assembly. The feedback control circuit receives motion information related to the bobbin of the lens from a position sensor (e.g. a Hall sensor) and uses this information internally to correct for motion variations that deviate from the lens setting position at a desired lens focal distance setting. Illustratively, the feedback circuit can be interconnected with one or more temperature sensors that adjust the lens setting position for a particular temperature value. In addition, the feedback circuit can communicate with an accelerometer that reads a direction of gravity and thereby corrects for potential sag in the lens membrane based upon the spatial orientation of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: COGNEX CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8817381
    Abstract: An optical and mechanical design of a sealed, non-round fluid-filled lens capable of providing variation of optical power. The fluid lens includes at least three optical components: at least one mostly rigid optical disc, at least one mostly flexible optical membrane and a layer of a transparent fluid that is in communication via a fluid channel with a reservoir of excess fluid contained in a reservoir that can be accessed to augment the fluid volume inside the fluid lens to change the power of the fluid lens. The fluid lens is capable of providing correction of spherical and astigmatic errors, and utilizes contoured membranes to provide for a substantially constant desired spherical power over a substantially full field of view of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Adlens Beacon, Inc.
    Inventors: Amitava Gupta, Urban Schnell, Karim Haroud, Hans Jaeger, Lisa Nibauer, William Egan, Stefan Troller, Julien Sauvet, Christian Oggenfuss
  • Patent number: 8804248
    Abstract: An optical element includes a container including first and second end face walls, a side face wall, and an accommodating chamber inside the walls; first and second liquids enclosed in the chamber; a first electrode provided on a surface of the first end face wall; a second electrode provided on a surface of the second end face wall; an insulating film provided on a surface of the second electrode; and a unit configured to apply a voltage. The shape of an interface between the liquids is changed by a voltage application, and a light transmission path, the center of which is a virtual axis passing through the end face walls in the thickness direction of the container, is formed in a portion of the second liquid. An opening having a diameter the same as or larger than the maximum diameter of the transmission path is provided in the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Tanaka, Keita Kaifu, Yukihiro Sano, Yukihiro Mitsuda
  • Patent number: 8797653
    Abstract: A curvature control device includes a first fluid that has a light transmitting property and a polar property; a second fluid that has a light transmitting property; a chamber that the first fluid and the second fluid are accommodated without being mixed with each other, wherein a boundary surface between the first fluid and the second fluid comprises a first surface that is a lens surface and a second surface that induces a change in a curvature of the first surface; a first intermediate plate that is disposed in the chamber, and includes a first through-hole that forms a diameter of a lens corresponding to the first surface and a second through-hole that forms a path of the second fluid; and an electrode portion configured to generate an electric field that changes a position of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-hyeon Chang, Seung-wan Lee, Woon-bae Kim, Min-seog Choi, Eun-sung Lee, Kyu-dong Jung
  • Patent number: 8792173
    Abstract: A changeable liquid lens array and a method of manufacturing the same. The changeable liquid lens array includes a substrate, a plurality of partition walls arrayed on the substrate and having a fluid travel path, cells defined by the plurality of partition walls, a first fluid comprised in the cells, a second fluid arranged on the first fluid, a first electrode arranged on at least one side surface of each of the partition walls, and a second electrode disposed to be separate from the partition walls. A shape of shape of an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid changes based on a voltage that is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Jung-mok Bae, Hong-seok Lee, Hoon Song, Yong-joo Kwon, Jung-hoon Lee, Seung-yul Choi
  • Publication number: 20140204468
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lens and a projector having the same lens. The lens comprises: a lower substrate, an upper substrate opposite to the lower substrate, and a common electrode located at a lower side of the upper substrate, wherein the lower substrate is formed thereon with at least two electrode groups; moreover, between the common electrode and the electrode groups, there is provided with lens liquid, and the lens liquid is composed of hydrophilic liquid and oleophilic liquid. With the use of such lens, a small portable projector with an adjustable projection range can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Juan Chen, Jaegeon You
  • Publication number: 20140197304
    Abstract: A focus module contains a boundary element and a focus element. The focus element includes a fluid and a deformable membrane, with the fluid being entrapped between the boundary element and the deformable membrane. The focus module also includes a pressure element, which is capable of deforming the focus element by pressing on the deformable membrane in the direction of the boundary element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen Feng, Ynjiun P. Wang, William H. Havens, Jianhua Li
  • Patent number: 8780450
    Abstract: Provided is a lens apparatus in which a plurality of lenses are formed, including: a housing filled with a first liquid and a second liquid that do not mix with each other; a partition to divide the inside of the housing into a plurality of regions, each of the regions being filled with one of the first liquid and the second liquid; and a pressure control section that controls the internal pressure of the region filled with the first liquid, where the partition is provided with a plurality of openings, in which a plurality of lenses having different characteristics from each other are formed by the interface between the first liquid and the second liquid, and the regions inside the housing filled with the first liquid are linked to each other so that the first liquid can move therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Ono