US 11,852,905 B2
Photowetting optical element
Jasmine Soria Sears, Kirkland, WA (US); Christopher Andrew Galea, Palisades Park, NJ (US); Junren Wang, Redmond, WA (US); and Stephen John Holmes, Redmond, WA (US)
Assigned to Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/130,208.
Prior Publication US 2022/0197061 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. G02C 7/10 (2006.01); G02B 3/12 (2006.01); G02B 26/00 (2006.01)
CPC G02C 7/10 (2013.01) [G02B 3/12 (2013.01); G02B 26/004 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical element comprising:
a first layer having a first surface configured to change hydrophobicity in response to incoming activation light incident onto the first surface, wherein the incoming activation light is within an activation wavelength band;
a second layer; and
a fluid disposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the fluid is configured to change shape or position in response to the first surface changing hydrophobicity, wherein the fluid includes absorbing molecules configured to absorb light, wherein the change in hydrophobicity of the first surface is unassisted by electrical charge being applied to the first surface; and
cell boundaries that confine the fluid to individual cells in a plurality of cells disposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the first surface is configured to repel the absorbing molecules so that the absorbing molecules concentrate along the cell boundaries in the absence of incoming activation light incident on the first surface.