US 12,216,295 B2
Compact liquid lens having an adjustable focal length
Stephan Smolka, Zürich (CH); Manuel Aschwanden, Allenwinden (CH); Chris Laning, Windisch (CH); Roman Patscheider, Winterthur (CH); Johannes Haase, Dietikon (CH); and David Andreas Niederer, Küttigen (CH)
Appl. No. 17/298,621
Filed by OPTOTUNE AG, Dietikon (CH)
PCT Filed Nov. 29, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/083183
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 31, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/109605, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 18209306 (EP), filed on Nov. 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0011473 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 1/06 (2006.01); G02B 3/12 (2006.01); G02B 3/14 (2006.01); G02B 7/04 (2021.01); G02B 26/00 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 3/14 (2013.01) [G02B 7/04 (2013.01); G02B 26/004 (2013.01); G03B 2205/0069 (2013.01); G03B 2205/0076 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lens having an adjustable focal length, comprising:
a container enclosing an internal space of the container, wherein the internal space is filled with a transparent liquid, and wherein the container comprises a circumferential lateral wall surrounding said internal space, wherein the lateral wall is connected to a transparent cover element and to a transparent and elastically deformable membrane such that the liquid is arranged between the membrane and the cover element,
an annular lens shaper connected to the membrane so that an inner circumferential edge of the lens shaper defines a central area of the lens and light passing said area is refracted depending on a curvature of said area, and
an actuator configured to move the lens shaper towards the cover element to adjust said curvature of said area of the membrane and therewith the focal length of the lens, wherein for moving the lens shaper, the actuator comprises at least one deformable member formed out of a shape-memory alloy, wherein said deformable member comprises a first state corresponding to an initial position of the lens shaper and a second state in which the lens shaper is moved towards the cover element to adjust the focal length of the lens, wherein the at least one deformable member comprises an elongated shape and forms a loop,
wherein the lens shaper comprises four protrusions extending in a radial direction of the lens shaper, and wherein the at least one deformable member comprises four portions, wherein each portion extends over one of the protrusions of the lens shaper.