With Variable Magnification Patents (Class 359/666)
  • Patent number: 12216266
    Abstract: Fluidic glasses for correcting refractive errors of a human or animal are disclosed herein. The fluidic glasses includes at least one flexible fluidic lens having an outer housing and a flexible membrane supported within the outer housing, the flexible membrane at least partially defining a chamber that receives a fluid therein; and a fluid control system operatively coupled to the at least one flexible fluidic lens, the fluid control system configured to insert an amount of the fluid into the chamber of the at least one flexible fluidic lens, or remove an amount of the fluid from the chamber of the at least one flexible fluidic lens, in order to change the shape of the at least one flexible fluidic lens in accordance with the amount of fluid therein, thereby correcting the refractive errors of an eye of a human or animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventor: Gholam A. Peyman
  • Patent number: 12196982
    Abstract: The invention relates to cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses. The cylindrical optical power of the lenses may be continuously tuned within at least ±10 diopters, without inducing any significant spherical aberration, or any other significant aberrations. The lenses feature a geometry that produces minimal or no spherical defocus. These cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses could be used to induce and/or correct cylindrical optical aberrations in adaptive optical systems, particularly in ophthalmologic applications related to objective and automatic assessment of the refractive error of the eye, without the need of receiving feedback from the subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignees: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, ICRX, INC.
    Inventors: Erol Ozgur, Daniel Reetz, Farhad Akhoundi, Gholam Peyman
  • 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
  • Patent number: 12153206
    Abstract: The formation of compensation elements (7) on an at least partially transparent membrane (2) that provides the actuator elements (5) to compensate or neutralize unwanted deformations of the compartment (3), e.g. induced by gravity effects, and/or to generate positive (convex) deflections of a limiting membrane (14), where the plurality of actuator elements (5) and the at least one compensation element (7) are provided at a common electrode membrane (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
    Inventors: Caglar Ataman, Kaustubh Banerjee, Pouya Rajaeipour, Hans Zappe
  • Patent number: 12144724
    Abstract: An accommodative intraocular lens is for insertion in the capsular bag of an eye. The accommodative intraocular lens has a first lens part, including a first membrane and an optical axis, and a second lens part which can be detachably coupled to the first lens part, whereby the intraocular lens can be transferred to a coupled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Schreiber, Uwe Wolf, André Wolfstein, Jan Buchheister, Hristina Srbinoska, Francesca Nicoli
  • Patent number: 12124055
    Abstract: The embodiment relates to a camera actuator and a camera module including the same. The camera actuator according to the embodiment includes a housing, a lens unit disposed on the housing, a shaper unit disposed on the lens unit, a first driving part coupled to the shaper unit, and a prism unit including a fixed prism, coupled to the housing. The housing may include a housing body in which an opening is formed and a housing side portion extending from the housing body. The housing body may include a first guide part and a second guide part protruding from a first region and formed with a groove, and a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from a second region. The fixed prism includes a first-first prism protrusion, a first-second prism protrusion respectively corresponding to the grooves of the first guide part and the second guide part of the housing body, and a second-first prism protrusion, a second-second prism protrusion corresponding to the first and second protrusions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung Hyeon Jeong
  • Patent number: 12117739
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermo-mechanical actuator (100) comprising a piezo¬electric module (110), the piezo-electric module comprising at least one piezo-electric element (120), wherein the thermo-mechanical actuator is configured to: •o receive a thermal actuation signal (132) for controlling a thermal behaviour of the piezo-electric module, or •o provide a thermal sensing signal (132) representative of a thermal state of the piezo-electric module, and, wherein the thermo-mechanical actuator is configured to: •o receive a mechanical actuation (134) signal for controlling a mechanical behaviour of the piezo-electric module, or •o provide a mechanical sensing signal (134) representative of a mechanical state of the piezo-electric module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Bas Jansen, Koen Martin Willem Jan Bos, Johannes Petrus Martinus Bernardus Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 12105259
    Abstract: Lens assemblies comprising, from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens element L1 with a first optical axis and a first lens width W1, a light folding element, a negative second lens element L2 and a plurality of additional lens elements L3-LN with a common second optical axis, and an image sensor having a sensor diagonal length (SDL), wherein the light folding element is configured to fold light from the first optical axis to the second optical axis, wherein the folded lens has an optical height OH, wherein SDL/OH>0.7 and wherein OH/W1<1.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Michael Dror, Roy Rudnick, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 12108155
    Abstract: A zoom lens assembly for periscope use which is effectively soundless in operation includes a lens barrel defined with a through hole, a plurality of optical lenses disposed within the through hole, and a focusing member disposed between any two of the plurality of optical lenses. The focusing member in a camera module includes a bottom plate, a cover plate, a piezoelectric element, and a variable transparent body. The variable transparent body is between the bottom plate and the cover plate, the piezoelectric element is disposed on a surface of the cover plate that faces away from the variable transparent body. Electricity fed to the piezoelectric element causes movement of the element which deforms the variable transparent body and changes the focal length of the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO.LTD.
    Inventors: Jian-Chao Song, Ding-Nan Huang, Shin-Wen Chen, Kun Li
  • Patent number: 12085775
    Abstract: A liquid lens control apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a liquid lens containing a first liquid and a second liquid that form an interface with a first electrode and a second electrode; a lens driver applying a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode to control the interface, and including a plurality of switching elements; a temperature sensing unit sensing a temperature of the liquid lens; and a control unit controlling the lens driver so that the interface forms a target interface, wherein the control unit controls switching states of the plurality of switching elements of the lens driver to be maintained during a temperature sensing period in which the temperature sensing unit operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignees: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD., CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sung Ki Jung, Young Seop Moon
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11988851
    Abstract: Compact lens systems that may be used in small form factor cameras. The lens system may include a master lens with two or more lens elements arranged along an optical axis and having refractive power, and an optical actuator located on the object side of the master lens that may provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality for the camera. An aperture stop for the camera may be included in the optical actuator, for example between a substrate and a flexible optical element of the optical actuator. Including the aperture stop in the optical actuator rather than in the lens stack may allow the optical actuator to be smaller in the X-Y dimensions (perpendicular to the optical (Z) axis) than it would be in a similar camera with the aperture stop located in the lens stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Christian Thomas Fuller, Iain A. McAllister, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11977231
    Abstract: The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable optical element including a substantially transparent transducer configured to deform, and thus change at least one optical property of, the deformable optical element. At least a portion of the substantially transparent transducer may be positioned within a substantially transparent optical aperture of the optical lens assembly. Various head-mounted displays incorporating such an optical lens assembly, and methods of fabricating the same, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Katherine Marie Smyth, John Cooke, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Karol Constantine Hatzilias
  • Patent number: 11944381
    Abstract: A process, phoropter, and an optometry system, the process being for correction of the shift of the optical power of an active lens in a phoropter due to a temperature change over time, the active lens including a container filled with a liquid and having a deformable curvature membrane under the action of an actuator controlled by an optical power control command, the shift being that the active lens provides an actual optical power that is different from the expected optical power corresponding to the optical power control command. A temperature sensor is arranged in and/or on the phoropter to measure the temperature in the phoropter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Didier Grand-Clement, Philippe Pinault, Yones Sidiq de Labrusse
  • Patent number: 11927774
    Abstract: An adaptive lens (200) may feature two flexible films (202), (204) secured within a rim (210) and defining a space therebetween which is filled with an appropriate fluid (206). A piston (220), driven by at least one actuator (214a-c), may be attached to one of the films (204) to displace it with respect to the remainder of the assembly. Such action of the piston (220) distorts both films (202), (204) to change the shape of the lens and may be driven by bimorph actuators (214a-c). Distance of displacement may be calculated by measuring a magnetic field created by at least one magnet (222a-c) attached to the piston (220). Feedback control may be used to stabilize the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: NewEyes, Inc.
    Inventors: Tridib Ghosh, Apratim Majumder
  • Patent number: 11927772
    Abstract: A liquid lens system can include a liquid lens and a controller. The liquid lens can include a chamber, first and second fluids contained in the chamber and substantially immiscible to form a fluid interface therebetween, a plurality of insulated electrodes that are insulated from the first and second fluids, and one or more electrodes in electrical communication with the first fluid. A position of the fluid interface can be based at least in part on voltages applied between the plurality of insulated electrodes and the one or more electrodes in electrical communication with the first fluid. The controller can provide voltages to the plurality of insulated electrodes to tilt the fluid interface along a tilt direction, wherein a second average radius of curvature along a direction orthogonal to the tilt direction differs from a first average radius of curvature along the tilt direction by no more than about 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Raymond Miller Karam
  • Patent number: 11906767
    Abstract: A tunable optic includes a hexagonal-shaped housing, a polar liquid, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a fourth electrode, a fifth electrode, a sixth electrode, and a grounding electrode. The hexagonal-shaped housing includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth side walls and first and second light transmissive end walls, and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth side walls and the first and second light transmissive end walls define a hexagonal-shaped inner cavity. The polar liquid is disposed within the hexagonal-shaped inner cavity. The polar liquid has a surface, and the surface has a curvature and a two-dimensional tilt angle that is variable in response to voltages supplied to each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth electrodes, whereby lens characteristics and light deflection characteristics of the tunable optic are varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Wei Li
  • Patent number: 11885983
    Abstract: A liquid lens includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer polyurethane-based membrane overlying the transparent substrate, and a liquid layer disposed between and abutting the transparent substrate and the multilayer polyurethane-based membrane. The multilayer polyurethane-based membrane, which may include thermoplastic and/or thermoset polymer layers, may be formed by slot die coating or gravure coating one or more constituent layers and may exhibit a reversible elastic response to imposed strains of up to approximately 5% while limiting the transpiration of fluid therethrough to less than approximately 10?2 g/m2/day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Christopher Stipe, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Hayden Erik Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11889763
    Abstract: An actuator may be integrated into an optical element such as a liquid lens and configured to create spherical curvature as well as a variable cylinder radius and axis in a surface of the optical element. An example actuator may include a stack of electromechanical layers, and electrodes configured to apply an electric field independently across each of the electromechanical layers. Within the stack, an orientation of neighboring electromechanical layers may differ, e.g., stepwise, by at least approximately 10°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Spencer Allan Wells, Christopher Stipe, Kenneth Alexander Diest, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Nagi Hosni Elabbasi, James Howard Thomas Ransley, Taha Masood, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Laura Cressman
  • Patent number: 11867928
    Abstract: Methods of filling an envelope (16) of a compression-type adjustable optical device (10), such as a liquid lens or mirror, which is formed in part by a distensible membrane (11) having an exterior optical surface, with a substantially incompressible fluid (15) to a predetermined optical power or radius of curvature; the methods comprising pumping fluid into the envelope (16) under vacuum through a fluid supply conduit (23) in fluid communication with an interior of the envelope (16) while allowing air to escape from the envelope through a fluid overflow conduit (26) in fluid communication with the interior of the envelope (16); continuing to pump fluid (15) into the envelope (16) to cause the membrane (11) to distend to an optical power of the optical device (10) that is greater than the predetermined optical power while allowing excess fluid (15) to escape from the envelope through the overflow device (26); slowing or stopping the supply of fluid to the envelope (16), thereby to allow the membrane (11) progr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ADLENS LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Norman Llyn Jacoby, Robert Edward Stevens, Tom Worsley
  • Patent number: 11813607
    Abstract: Exemplary liquid lenses generally include two liquids disposed within a microfluidic cavity disposed between a first window and a second window. Applying varying electric fields to these liquid lenses can vary the wettability of one of the liquids with respect to this microfluidic cavity, thereby varying the shape and/or the curvature of the meniscuses formed between the two liquids and, thus, changing the optical focal length or the optical power of the liquid lenses. These liquids can expand and/or contract as result of varying temperatures. The exemplary liquid lenses include one or more thermal compensation chambers to allow these liquids to expand and/or contract without impacting the integrity of the microfluidic cavity, for example, without bowing or deflecting the first window and/or the second window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: CORNING INCORPORATED, LG INNOTEK CO. LTD
    Inventor: Christian Daniel Gutleben
  • Patent number: 11815742
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising: at least a first lens (100) having an adjustable focal length, wherein the first lens (100) comprises a container (2) comprising at least one reservoir volume (90) and a lens volume (91) which are in flow communication via a channel (92) and filled with a transparent fluid (F), and wherein the container (2) comprises a stretchable transparent membrane (21) and a transparent lens shaper (22) that is immersed in the fluid (F) and connected to the membrane (21), so that the lens shaper (22) defines a curvature-adjustable area (23) of the membrane (21), and wherein the container (2) comprises a transparent back wall (30) facing the membrane (21), wherein the fluid (F) is arranged between the membrane (20) and the back wall (30). According to the present invention, the at least one reservoir volume (90) is covered by a wall (21), wherein a plunger (94) for interacting with an actuator part (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: David Leuenberger, Michael Büeler, Roman Patscheider, Pit Gebbers, Christopher Laning, Manuel Aschwanden
  • Patent number: 11815794
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan N. Ruzicka, Yasushi Sakamoto, Mark A. Miller
  • Patent number: 11768387
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a tuneable ophthalmic lens 200. The tuneable ophthalmic lens comprises an activated state and a deactivated state. The ophthalmic lens further comprises a central chamber 206b. The ophthalmic lens also comprises a fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir being in fluid communication with the central chamber. The fluid reservoir comprises a pump for pumping fluid between the fluid reservoir and the central chamber. In the deactivated state the central chamber is substantially empty of fluid 208a. In the activated state the central chamber is not substantially empty of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: COOPERVISION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Oag, Ian Bruce, Robin Frith, Percy Lazon de la Jara, Rachel Marullo
  • Patent number: 11767300
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed relating to a lens system that allows for simultaneous focus of near and far-away images with one pair of glasses, heads-up-displays (HUDs), and the like, without the need to move the user's eyes. This lens system may be used in a HUD application, for example, where the user may focus on a display lens that may be approximately one inch from the eye to view computer-generated information such as altitude, temperature, directions, and the like, and simultaneously view the individual's surroundings. The lens system may include a liquid lens that when modulated may vary from a near-focus state to a far-focus state rapidly by using an electrowetting or piezoelectric hydraulic actuator. This variable rate lens may be multiplexed at a rate that allows both near and far-away images to appear in focus simultaneously through the advantageous use of a user's persistence of vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin David Krasnow
  • Patent number: 11762131
    Abstract: A variable focus optical device (100) can include first optically transparent membrane (102) and a second membrane (104) that at least partially define a chamber (106) retaining an optically transparent liquid. A transparent piston (110) is attached to the second membrane (104). At least one actuator (112a-c) is operatively coupled to the transparent piston (110) and configured to move to change a focal length of the variable focus optical device (100) via actuation of the transparent piston (110). Three curved bimorph actuators (112a-c) can surround and be coupled to the piston (110) for actuation of the piston (110) to generate a plano-convex or plano-concave lens via the membranes (102, 104). A smart eyeglasses system includes a pair of variable focus optical devices (100), an object distance sensor, a battery, optional eye-tracking camera(s), and a microcontroller, collectively used for purposes of sensing distance of objects and adjusting said focal length via the variable focus optical devices (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Carlos Mastrangelo, Nazmul Hasan, Kim Hanseup
  • Patent number: 11747608
    Abstract: A MEMS optical device including: a semiconductor body; a main cavity, which extends within the semiconductor body; a membrane suspended over the main cavity; a piezoelectric actuator, which is mechanically coupled to the membrane and can be electronically controlled so as to deform the membrane; a micro-lens, mechanically coupled to the membrane so as to undergo deformation following the deformation of the membrane; and a rigid optical element, which contacts the micro-lens and is arranged so that the micro-lens is interposed between the rigid optical element and the membrane. The micro-lens and the main cavity are arranged on opposite sides of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Enri Duqi, Dario Paci, Lorenzo Baldo, Domenico Giusti
  • Patent number: 11740392
    Abstract: The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a structural support element, a deformable element coupled to the structural support element, and a deformable medium positioned between the deformable element and the structural support element. The deformable element may include a base element that, when deformed, alters an optical property of the optical lens assembly. The deformable element may have a non-uniform stiffness. Related methods of fabricating an optical lens assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth
  • Patent number: 11719960
    Abstract: Examples include a device including a fluid lens having a membrane, a substrate, and a fluid at least partially enclosed between the membrane and the substrate. The membrane may have a spatial variation in at least one membrane parameter along a particular direction, that may compensate for gravity sag in the membrane of the fluid lens when the device is worn by a user. Examples also include related methods and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Alexander Herbert, Thomas Norman Llyn Jacoby, Hayden Erik Hernández, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11709379
    Abstract: A method of assembling an adjustable fluid-filled lens assembly comprising biaxially tensioning an elastomeric membrane to a surface tension of greater than 180 N/m, typically greater than 1000 N/m; thermally conditioning the tensioned membrane, e.g., for one hour at a temperature of about 80° C., to accelerate relaxation of the membrane; mounting the membrane to a peripheral support structure whilst maintaining the tension in the membrane; assembling the mounted membrane with one or more other components to form an enclosure with the membrane forming one wall of the enclosure; and thereafter filling the enclosure with a fluid. The membrane may be formed from an aromatic polyurethane, and the fluid may be a phenylated siloxane. In some embodiments, the membrane is able to hold a substantially constant surface tension of at least 180 N/m for a period of at least 12 months.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ADLENS LTD
    Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Thomas Jacoby, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, William Guest, Jon Nisper, Tom Worsley, Ashutosh Kumar, Richard Wilhelm Janse Van Rensburg, Peter Lee Crossley, Rita Stella
  • Patent number: 11703617
    Abstract: The invention relates to cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses. The cylindrical optical power of the lenses may be continuously tuned within at least ±10 diopters, without inducing any significant spherical aberration, or any other significant aberrations. The lenses feature a geometry that produces minimal or no spherical defocus. These cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses could be used to induce and/or correct cylindrical optical aberrations in adaptive optical systems, particularly in ophthalmologic applications related to objective and automatic assessment of the refractive error of the eye, without the need of receiving feedback from the subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Erol Ozgur, Daniel Reetz, Farhad Akhoundi, Gholam Peyman
  • Patent number: 11693159
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tunable lens where the optical power can be adjusted. The lens consists of a deformable, non-fluid lens body sandwiched between a thin, flexible membrane and transparent back window, and an actuator system serving to change the overall shape of the membrane and lens body. The membrane is pre-shaped to have a Sag or Sagittal of at least 10 ?m so that the lens has a non-zero optical power when the actuator system is not activated. In order to achieve a large optical power range for the lens, the membrane should preferably be made of a material having a Young's modulus in the range 2-1.000 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: poLight ASA
    Inventors: Pierre Craen, Vladimir Kartashov, Nicolas Tallaron
  • Patent number: 11672649
    Abstract: Ophthalmic devices having elastic electrodes are disclosed herein. An example ophthalmic device may be an intraocular lens that includes a support structure, two optical windows, two immiscible fluids, and an elastic electrode. The support structure may have an inner surface defining an aperture with first and second optical windows disposed on opposite sides of the support structure and spanning the aperture. The two immiscible liquids may be disposed in a cavity formed by the aperture and the first and second optical windows, and the elastic electrode may be disposed on the inner surface. The elastic electrode may be formed from an elastic metal alloy having a minimum yield strain of 0.25%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Daniel B. Otts, Stein Kuiper
  • Patent number: 11668946
    Abstract: An interactive display includes a display capable of generating displayed images, and first and second eyepiece assemblies each including one or more variable-focus lenses. The eyepiece assemblies, variable-focus lenses and display allow the user to perceive a virtual 3D image while providing visual depth cues that cause the eyes to accommodate at a specified fixation distance. The fixation distance can be adjusted by changing the focal power of the variable-focus lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Holochip Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel T. Robinson, Robert G. Batchko, David Antonio Perez
  • Patent number: 11669046
    Abstract: A display device includes a light source, a waveguide element, a liquid crystal coupler, a first holographic optical element and a second holographic optical element. The light source is configured to emit light. The waveguide element is located above the light source. The liquid crystal coupler is located between the waveguide element and the light source. The first holographic optical element is located on a top surface of the waveguide element, in which the liquid crystal coupler is configured to change an incident angle that the light emits to the first holographic optical element. The second holographic optical element is located on the top surface of the waveguide element, and there is a first distance in a horizontal direction between the first holographic optical element and the second holographic optical element, in which the second holographic optical element is configured to diffract the light to the waveguide element below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: Interface Technology (ChengDu) Co., Ltd., Interface Optoelectronics (SingZhen) Co., Ltd., Interface Optoelectronics (Wuxi) Co., Ltd., General Interface Solution Limited
    Inventors: Shih-Yu Wang, Chun-Ta Chen, Shiuan-Huei Lin, Zih-Fan Chen, Wan-Lin Li, Yi-Hsin Lin, Yu-Jen Wang, Wei-Cheng Cheng, Chang-Nien Mao
  • Patent number: 11662568
    Abstract: A liquid lens system includes first and second liquids disposed within a cavity. An interface between the first and second liquids defines a variable lens. A common electrode is in electrical communication with the first liquid. A driving electrode is disposed on a sidewall of the cavity and insulated from the first and second liquids. A controller supplies a common voltage to the common electrode and a driving voltage to the driving electrode. A voltage differential between the common voltage and the driving voltage is based at least in part on at least one of: (a) a first reference capacitance of a first reference electrode pair disposed within the first portion of the cavity and insulated from the first liquid or (b) a second reference capacitance of a second reference electrode pair disposed within the second portion of the cavity and insulated from the first liquid and the second liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Jann Paul Kaminski, Raymond Miller Karam, Ian Armour McKay, Dragan Pikula, Thomas M Wynne
  • Patent number: 11640016
    Abstract: A liquid lens can include a cavity disposed between a first window and a second window, first and second liquids disposed in the cavity, and a variable interface disposed between the first and second liquids, thereby forming a variable lens. At least one of the first window or the second window can have a multi-layer structure with interior and exterior plies and a deformable spacer disposed between the interior and exterior plies. A refractive index of the interior ply can be substantially the same as a refractive index of the deformable spacer, whereby an index-matched boundary is formed between the interior ply and the deformable spacer. A structural axis of the liquid lens can pass through each of the index-matched boundary and the variable interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Justin Thomas Iveland
  • Patent number: 11635637
    Abstract: Examples include a device including a fluid lens having a membrane (that may be in elastic tension), a substrate, a fluid at least partially enclosed between the membrane and the substrate, and a support structure configured to provide a guide path for an edge portion of the membrane, such as a membrane attachment at a periphery of the membrane. The guide path may be configured to greatly reduce (or substantially eliminate) changes in the elastic energy of the membrane as the membrane profile is adjusted. The guide path may be configured so that the elastic force exerted by the membrane is generally normal to the guide path for each location on the guide path. Adjustment of the membrane profile may include applying an actuation force that is normal to the elastic force exerted by the membrane. Various other methods and apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Alexander Herbert, Robert Edward Stevens, Thomas Norman Llyn Jacoby, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11628576
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting pose and force against an object are provided. A method includes receiving a signal from a deformable sensor comprising data from a deformation region in a deformable membrane resulting from contact with the object utilizing an internal sensor disposed within an enclosure and having a field of view directed through a medium and toward a bottom surface of the deformable membrane. The method also determines a pose of the object based on the deformation region of the deformable membrane. The method also determines an amount of force applied between the deformable membrane and the object is determined based on the deformation region of the deformable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Alspach, Russell L. Tedrake, Kunimatsu Hashimoto, Erik C. Sobel
  • Patent number: 11619768
    Abstract: A liquid lens module includes a first plate comprising a cavity accommodating a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid; second and third plates disposed above and below the first plate, respectively; and first and second electrodes disposed on one side and another side of the first plate, respectively, wherein a ratio of a thickness of the first plate to a width of an incidence opening formed below the second plate in the cavity is greater than 0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD., CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Ji Young Jung
  • Patent number: 11586006
    Abstract: A reflective element driving module includes a first reflective element, a second reflective element, and a driving assembly. The first reflective element has a first reflective surface, disposed to correspond to the incident light, wherein the light has an optical axis. The second reflective element has a second reflective surface, disposed to correspond to the light reflected by the first reflective element, and is movable relative to the first reflective element. The driving assembly is configured to drive the second reflective element to move relative to the first reflective element, wherein the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface face different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Che-Wei Chang, Chih-Wen Chiang, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11579342
    Abstract: A liquid lens according to one embodiment includes a first plate including a cavity in which liquids are disposed, the cavity having an inclined surface, a first electrode disposed on the inclined surface, a second electrode disposed on the first plate, and an insulation layer disposed on the first electrode, wherein the liquids include a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid, wherein an interface is formed between the conductive liquid and the non-conductive liquid, wherein the insulation layer includes a base disposed on the first electrode and a plurality of protrusions disposed on the base, and wherein the plurality of protrusions contacts the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ba Ro Lee, Jae Wook Jung
  • Patent number: 11567313
    Abstract: An annular optical component includes a plastic element and a metal element disposed on the plastic element. The plastic element includes a plastic part, and the metal element includes a metal part. The plastic part surrounds a central axis of the annular optical component so as to form a central opening. An outer annular surface and an inner annular surface of the annular optical component are opposite to each other. An object-side surface of the annular optical component faces an image-side direction of the annular optical component and is connected to the outer annular surface and the inner annular surface. An image-side surface of the annular optical component faces an image-side direction of the annular optical component and is connected to the outer annular surface and the inner annular surface. The image-side surface and the object-side surface are opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Shun Chang, Yu-Jen Chiu, Ming-Ta Chou
  • Patent number: 11561415
    Abstract: An example device may include a fluid lens having a membrane assembly including a membrane and one or more membrane attachments, a substrate, a fluid located within an enclosure formed at least in part by the membrane and the substrate, and a support structure, attached to the substrate, including an actuation guide. The device may include an actuator mechanically coupled to the actuation guide and configured to change an orientation of the actuation guide relative to another device component, such as a substrate or frame. An example actuation guide may engage with the membrane attachment, and the movement of the membrane attachment along the actuation guide in response to the change in the orientation of the actuation guide may adjust an optical property, such as a focal length, of the fluid lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Norman Llyn Jacoby, Andrew Alexander Herbert, Robert Edward Stevens
  • Patent number: 11543566
    Abstract: An image display apparatus including a first waveguide, a second waveguide, a focus tunable lens positioned between the first waveguide and the second waveguide, and a display engine configured to control a focal length of the focus tunable lens and control the display engine to output first light forming the first virtual image and second light forming the second virtual image, wherein at least a portion of the first light is diffracted from the first waveguide and at least a portion of the second light diffracted from the second waveguide is incident on the first waveguide through the focus tunable lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyusub Kwak, Kyookeun Lee, Wonjun Lee, Myongjo Choi
  • Patent number: 11528405
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal comprising a liquid lens including: a side wall part; a first and a second glass layer which cover one surface and the other surface of the side wall part, respectively, to form a receiving part; a plurality of electrode modules, each of which is positioned on the side wall part and includes a first and a second electrode; an insulation layer covering the first electrode; a nonpolar liquid filled in the receiving part; and a polar liquid which is separated from the polar liquid in layers, is filled in the receiving part, and is in contact with the second electrode, wherein a boundary surface between the nonpolar liquid and the polar liquid changes into a shape protruding toward the polar liquid as a voltage applied to the electrode modules increases, and a control part differently controls at least a part of the voltage applied to the plurality of electrode modules to adjust a position of a protrusion of the boundary surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jongpil Kim, Sungmin Woo, Dongjin Lee
  • Patent number: 11506680
    Abstract: A speed sensor, a device for measuring a speed, and a method for measuring a speed are provided. The speed sensor includes: an imaging device; a liquid crystal lens on a side of the imaging device; and a controller configured to: apply different voltages to the liquid crystal lens, obtain, via the imaging device, images of a reference object formed through the liquid crystal lens under the different voltages, control, based on information of the images, the liquid crystal lens to realize focus for multiple times for the reference object, obtain a voltage that is correspondingly applied to the liquid crystal lens when each of the multiple times of focus is realized, and calculate a speed based on the voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhonglin Cao, Yuanjie Xu, Jing He, Huanchun Wang
  • Patent number: 11500132
    Abstract: An actuator including an electrically conducting coil arranged on or integrated into a wall member, wherein the electrically conducting coil is arranged adjacent to a magnetic flux return structure. A magnet connected to a carrier, wherein the magnet interacts with the electrically conducting coil such that when a current is applied to the coil the coil is either moved towards the carrier along an axial direction or away from the carrier along the axial direction depending on a direction of the current within the coil. A magnetic flux guiding structure connected to the carrier, wherein magnetic flux is guided through the flux return structure and the flux guiding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, Pit Gebbers
  • Patent number: 11500192
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens curvature variation apparatus. The lens curvature variation apparatus according to an embodiment is a lens curvature variation apparatus for varying a curvature of a liquid lens which is variable based on an applied electrical signal. The lens curvature variation apparatus includes a lens driver to apply the electrical signal to the liquid lens, a sensor unit to sense the curvature of the liquid lens formed based on the electrical signal, and a controller to control the lens driver to form a target curvature of the liquid lens based on the sensed curvature, wherein the lens driver supplies the electrical signal to the liquid lens according to a switching operation of a switching element, and includes a detection element connected to one end of the switching element, wherein the sensor unit senses an electrical signal detected by the detection element. Thereby, the curvature of the lens can be sensed quickly and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seungheun Song, Sungoh Yang
  • Patent number: 11479328
    Abstract: An inflation-based antifouling system and method that include an inflatable film configured to be disposed on a target clean surface; and an inflation device that inflates the inflatable film such that bio-fouling is removed from the target clean surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Michael Hunter Brown, Nicholas Ray Caruso