External form-variable prism

Abstract

The invention provides a prism with a variable profile, which comprises a container, a first electrode and a plurality of second electrodes. The container is filled with a first fluid and a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is conductive, while the second fluid is insulated; the first fluid and the second fluid have different refractive indexes, and can not be mixed with each other, so that a liquid level exists between the first fluid and the second fluid; the first electrode is contacted with the first fluid; the plurality of second electrodes are annularly distributed around the first fluid and the second fluid; each second electrode is coated by an insulating layer to prevent the second electrode from contacting the first fluid and the second fluid; the second electrodes and the first electrode form a plurality of electrode groups respectively; and surface tension of the second fluid can be changed through applying different voltages on the electrode groups, so as to change the shape of the liquid level.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a variable shape prism, in particular to a variable shape prism manufactured by the electrowetting principle. Background technique [0002] The main principle of electro-wetting is: apply a voltage to the liquid, and control the wettability between the liquid and the contact layer by reducing the surface tension of the liquid and changing the contact angle between the liquid and a contact layer. [0003] see figure 1 , which is a cross-sectional view of a variable focus lens (Variable Focus Lens) disclosed in US Patent (US 7,126,903) and manufactured using the principle of electrowetting. The variable focus lens mainly includes: a cylindrical liquid container 5 (Cylindrical Fluid Chamber), which contains two kinds of immiscible liquid A and liquid B; a first electrode 2 (Electrode); a second electrode 12 a first transparent layer 4 (Transparent Layer); a second transparent layer 6; an insulating layer 8 (Insulator); a contact...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0010] However, since the above-mentioned variable focus lens adopts a single electrode group (the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 12), the deformation generated by the liquid surface 14 between the two immiscible liquids A and B can only be Circular symmetry, therefore, the variable focus lens can only form the effect of a convex lens or a concave lens, and does not have the function of changing the direction of the light beam

However, in the known technologies related to changing the traveling direction of the light beam (such as U.S. Patents 4118109 and 7217002), external movable mechanism components are used to drive optical components (such as mirrors or prisms) to cause changes in the traveling direction of the light beam. However, this method needs to increase the cost of additional institutions and the space for additional accommodation institutions

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