Liquid lens

Abstract

The invention discloses a liquid lens which comprises a coil, a first light-transmitting conductive layer, a second light-transmitting conductive layer, a tubular cylinder, a first magnetic ring and a second magnetic ring. The coil is wound into a tube shape; the first light-transmitting conducting layer and the second light-transmitting conducting layer are connected to the two shaft ends of the coil in a sealed mode respectively, the second light-transmitting conducting layer, the first light-transmitting conducting layer and the coil form an outer cavity, the first light-transmitting conducting layer comprises a first light-transmitting layer and a first conducting layer, and the second light-transmitting conducting layer comprises a second light-transmitting layer and a second conducting layer; the tubular cylinder is located in the outer cavity, one shaft end of the tubular cylinder is connected to the first conductive layer, the tubular cylinder and the first light-transmitting conductive layer form an inner cavity, and the inner cavity is communicated with the outer cavity; the first magnetic ring is annularly arranged outside the tubular cylinder; the second magnetic ring is connected to the first light-transmitting conductive layer; magnetic poles of the second magnetic ring and the first magnetic ring are opposite. The whole lens structure is more stable; the first conductive layer is directly communicated with an external power supply, and circuit connection is simple and convenient; and stepless zooming can be realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of optical technology, and in particular to a liquid lens. Background Art

[0002] Optical imaging systems have become an important tool for people to understand the world and are widely used in various fields of our lives. However, traditional optical systems are complex in structure, bulky in size, and slow in response. With the continuous advancement of science and technology, existing optical systems cannot meet the needs of miniaturization and high-speed response. Although liquid lens structures that can achieve zoom and magnification have appeared, they still have the following defects: (1) The structural stability is poor, the liquid interface will move, the lens structure is unstable, and the imaging is affected; (2) Alternating current needs to be applied, so it is necessary to connect to the outside of the entire liquid lens through leads, which brings great difficulty to the sealing of the liquid lens; (3) By stacking multiple coils and leading out multiple pins, the coils at different positions are energized to attract the magnetic ring to different heights. However, this can only achieve limited step-by-step magnification, and the magnification is limited. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid lens.

[0004] In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical solution provided by an embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[0005] A liquid lens, comprising:

[0006] A coil, wherein the coil is wound into a tubular shape;

[0007] A first light-transmitting conductive layer, sealed and connected to one axial end of the coil, the first light-transmitting conductive layer comprising a first light-transmitting layer and a first conductive layer disposed on an outer surface of the first light-transmitting layer;

[0008] A second light-transmitting conductive layer is sealed and connected to the other axial end of the coil, the second light-transmitting conductive layer, the first light-transmitting conductive layer and the coil form an outer cavity, and the second light-transmitting conductive layer includes a second light-transmitting layer and a second conductive layer arranged on the outer surface of the second light-transmitting layer;

[0009] A tubular tube is located in the outer cavity, one axial end of the tubular tube is connected to the first conductive layer, the tubular tube and the first light-transmitting conductive layer form an inner cavity, the inner cavity is connected to the outer cavity, and the inner cavity and the outer cavity are both filled with polar liquid and non-polar liquid;

[0010] A first magnetic ring, which is arranged outside the tubular tube and located in the outer cavity;

[0011] The second magnetic ring is connected to the first light-transmitting conductive layer and is located outside the outer cavity. The magnetic pole of the second magnetic ring is opposite to that of the first magnetic ring.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, a first hydrophobic layer is provided on the inner surface of the coil.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the coil is bonded to the first light-transmitting conductive layer and the second light-transmitting conductive layer respectively by using UV glue.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, both the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are ITO coatings.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, the inner cavity includes a first cylindrical cavity, an inverted conical cavity and a second cylindrical cavity which are connected in sequence, and the diameter of the first cylindrical cavity is greater than the diameter of the second cylindrical cavity.

[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, the two axial ends of the tubular tube are respectively provided with a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second grooves along the circumferential direction, the first grooves are connected to the inner cavity and the outer cavity, and the second grooves are connected to the inner cavity and the outer cavity.

[0017] As a further improvement of the present invention, one axial end of the tubular tube is connected to the first conductive layer via a conductive adhesive.

[0018] As a further improvement of the present invention, the tubular tube is made of conductive metal, and the surface of the tubular tube is sequentially provided with a second insulating layer and a second hydrophobic layer.

[0019] As a further improvement of the present invention, a third hydrophobic layer is provided on the outer surface of the first magnetic ring.

[0020] As a further improvement of the present invention, the coil, the tubular tube, the first magnetic ring and the second magnetic ring are all coaxially arranged.

[0021] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0022] (1) The tubular tube of the present invention is firmly connected to the first light-transmitting conductive layer, and the inner surface of the inner cavity of the tubular tube in contact with the liquid interface does not move, so the overall lens structure is more stable, thereby improving the imaging quality.

[0023] (2) The tubular tube of the present invention is electrically connected to the first conductive layer, and the first conductive layer is directly connected to an external power source to energize the tubular tube, so the circuit connection is simple and convenient.

[0024] (3) The present invention can adjust the electromagnetic force generated by the coil by steplessly adjusting the current passing through the coil, thereby attracting the first magnetic ring to stop at different heights, achieving stepless magnification change and having a wide range of applications.

[0025] (4) The present invention realizes zooming and magnification by means of electrical signal drive, which effectively reduces the complexity of the optical system structure, improves the response speed, and increases the focusing speed and magnification speed of the lens. The structure is compact and easy to integrate, and has broad application prospects in the fields of optoelectronic reconnaissance, microscopic imaging, digital lens imaging, endoscopes, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0028] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of a tubular tube of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a tubular barrel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram before zooming of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram after zooming in on a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention before zooming;

[0034] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention after zooming;

[0035] In the figure: 1, coil, 11, outer cavity, 12, first hydrophobic layer, 2, first light-transmitting conductive layer, 21, first light-transmitting layer, 22, first conductive layer, 3, second light-transmitting conductive layer, 31, second light-transmitting layer, 32, second conductive layer, 4, tubular tube, 41, inner cavity, 411, first cylindrical cavity, 412, inverted cone cavity, 413, second cylindrical cavity, 42, first groove, 43, second groove, 44, second insulating layer, 45, second hydrophobic layer, 5, first magnetic ring, 51, third hydrophobic layer, 6, second magnetic ring, 71, polar liquid, 72, non-polar liquid, 73, arc interface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] See also Figure 1 , Figure 3 , the embodiment of the present application discloses a liquid lens, including a coil 1, a first light-transmitting conductive layer 2, a second light-transmitting conductive layer 3, a tubular tube 4, a first magnetic ring 5 and a second magnetic ring 6. The coil 1 is wound into a tubular shape. The first light-transmitting conductive layer 2 is sealed and connected to one axial end of the coil 1, and the first light-transmitting conductive layer 2 includes a first light-transmitting layer 21 and a first conductive layer 22 arranged on the outer surface of the first light-transmitting layer 21. The second light-transmitting conductive layer 3 is sealed and connected to the other axial end of the coil 1, and the second light-transmitting conductive layer 3, the first light-transmitting conductive layer 2 and the coil 1 form an outer cavity 11, and the second light-transmitting conductive layer 3 includes a second light-transmitting layer 31 and a second conductive layer 32 arranged on the outer surface of the second light-transmitting layer 31. The tubular tube 4 is located in the outer cavity 11, one axial end of the tubular tube 4 is connected to the first conductive layer 22, the tubular tube 4 and the first light-transmitting conductive layer 2 form an inner cavity 41, the inner cavity 41 is connected to the outer cavity 11, and the inner cavity 41 and the outer cavity 11 are both filled with polar liquid 71 and non-polar liquid 72. The first magnetic ring 5 is arranged outside the tubular tube 4 and located in the outer cavity 11. The second magnetic ring 6 is connected to the first light-transmitting conductive layer 2 and located outside the outer cavity 11, and the magnetic pole of the second magnetic ring 6 is opposite to the magnetic pole of the first magnetic ring 5.

[0038] The polar liquid 71 is arranged in the outer cavity 11 and the inner cavity 41 and is in contact with the second light-transmitting conductive layer 3, and the non-polar liquid 72 is arranged in the outer cavity 11 and the inner cavity 41 and is in contact with the first light-transmitting conductive layer 2. The polar liquid 71 and the non-polar liquid 72 have different refractive indices and are mutually insoluble. In this embodiment, the polar liquid 71 uses a saline solution. The saline solution can be sodium chloride, potassium chloride, etc. The non-polar liquid 72 uses a silicone oil with a relatively high density. The silicone oil can be benzyl silicone oil. The magnetic poles of the second magnetic ring 6 and the first magnetic ring 5 are opposite, and the second magnetic ring 6 generates an axial repulsive force on the first magnetic ring 5, and the repulsive force increases as the distance between the first magnetic ring 5 and the second magnetic ring 6 decreases.

[0039] The coil 1 is wound by a single coil. The coil 1 can be wound by enameled wire. The sealing degree of the coil 1 is improved by applying a layer of sealant on the outer surface of the coil 1. In some embodiments, the inner surface of the coil 1 is provided with a first hydrophobic layer 12. The first hydrophobic layer 12 can be made of Teflon. The inner surface of the coil 1 is coated by dip coating, but it is not limited to Teflon, and other hydrophobic materials can also be used.

[0040] In order to improve the stability and sealing of the connection between the coil 1 and the first light-transmitting conductive layer 2 and the second light-transmitting conductive layer 3, the coil 1 is preferably bonded to the first light-transmitting conductive layer 2 and the second light-transmitting conductive layer 3 respectively using UV glue. The UV glue is cured by ultraviolet irradiation.

[0041] Preferably, the first light-transmitting layer 21 and the second light-transmitting layer 31 are both made of organic glass. Preferably, the first conductive layer 21 and the second conductive layer 31 are both ITO coatings.

[0042] See also Figure 2 , Figure 3 Preferably, the inner cavity 41 includes a first cylindrical cavity 411, an inverted conical cavity 412, and a second cylindrical cavity 413 which are connected in sequence, and the diameter of the first cylindrical cavity 411 is greater than the diameter of the second cylindrical cavity 413. The first cylindrical cavity 411 is far away from the second light-transmitting conductive layer 3, and the second cylindrical cavity 413 is close to the second light-transmitting conductive layer 3. The conical inner surface of the inner cavity 41 can make the arc interface 73 formed by the polar liquid 71 and the non-polar liquid 72 in the inner cavity 41 more stable, which is conducive to improving the performance of the lens.

[0043] See also Figure 3 , Figure 4In this embodiment, the two axial ends of the tubular tube 4 are respectively provided with a plurality of first grooves 42 and a plurality of second grooves 43 along the circumferential direction, the first grooves 42 are connected to the inner cavity 41 and the outer cavity 11, and the second grooves 43 are connected to the inner cavity 41 and the outer cavity 11. In this way, the first grooves 42 and the second grooves 43 are respectively used for drainage, so that the non-polar liquid 72 in the inner cavity 41 is connected to the non-polar liquid 72 in the outer cavity 11 through the first grooves 42, and the polar liquid 71 in the inner cavity 41 is connected to the polar liquid 71 in the outer cavity 11 through the second grooves 43, so that the flow of the polar liquid 71 and the non-polar liquid 72 is facilitated.

[0044] Preferably, one axial end of the tubular tube 4 is connected to the first conductive layer 21 through conductive glue, so that the circuit between the tubular tube 4 and the first conductive layer 21 is connected and the tubular tube 4 and the first conductive layer 21 are firmly connected. The conductive glue can be conductive silver glue.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the tubular tube 4 is made of conductive metal, and the surface of the tubular tube 4 is sequentially provided with a second insulating layer 44 and a second hydrophobic layer 45. Preferably, the conductive metal is copper, but is not limited to copper, and can also be aluminum or the like. Specifically, the outer surface of the tubular tube 4, the other axial end surface, the inner surface of the inner cavity 41, and the groove surface of the first groove 42 and the groove surface of the second groove 43 are sequentially provided with a second insulating layer 44 and a second hydrophobic layer 45. The second insulating layer 44 is a thin film. Specifically, the second insulating layer 44 can be a Parylene film deposited by chemical vapor deposition. Preferably, the second hydrophobic layer 45 is made of Teflon.

[0046] Preferably, a third hydrophobic layer 51 is disposed on the outer surface of the first magnetic ring 5. Preferably, the third hydrophobic layer 51 is made of Teflon material.

[0047] Preferably, the coil 1, the tubular tube 4, the first magnetic ring 5, and the second magnetic ring 6 are all coaxially arranged. Ensuring coaxiality is beneficial to the coaxiality of the assembly, helps the arc interface 73 to be stable at the center of the optical axis, and reduces the optical distortion.

[0048] Implementation of zoom function: Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, by applying an AC voltage between the first conductive layer 22 and the second conductive layer 32, the voltage of the AC voltage changes from U AC1 Enlarge to U AC2 According to the dielectric wetting effect, the hydrophobicity of the polar liquid 71 on the surface of the inner cavity 41 will decrease, resulting in a decrease in the contact angle of the polar liquid 71 on the surface of the inner cavity 41. Therefore, the curvature of the arc interface 73 formed by the tension between the polar liquid 71 and the non-polar liquid 72 will change. Since the refractive index of the polar liquid 71 and the non-polar liquid 72 is different, the change in curvature changes the refraction angle of the light, thereby achieving zooming.

[0049] Implementation of zoom function: Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , when the coil 1 is supplied with direct current, an upward attraction is generated on the first magnetic ring 5, and the attraction increases as the current of the coil 1 increases. The second magnetic ring 6 always has a downward repulsive force on the first magnetic ring 5, and the repulsive force increases as the distance between the first magnetic ring 5 and the second magnetic ring 6 decreases. DC1 Enlarge to U DC2 As the current of coil 1 increases, the first magnetic ring 5 is attracted by the increasing magnetic field force and moves toward the second magnetic ring 6. The repulsive force of the second magnetic ring 6 on the first magnetic ring 5 increases as the distance decreases, so that the first magnetic ring 5 reaches a new force balance. Since the volume of the polar liquid 71 remains unchanged, when the first magnetic ring 5 moves upward, the volume of the first magnetic ring 5 in the polar liquid 71 decreases, thereby causing the volume of the liquid column of the polar liquid 71 in the inner cavity 41 to decrease, thereby causing the arc interface 73 to drop, thereby achieving a change in the lens magnification.

[0050] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential features of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims be included in the invention. Any reference numeral in a claim should not be considered as limiting the claim to which it relates.

[0051] In addition, it should be understood that although the present specification is described according to implementation modes, not every implementation mode contains only one independent technical solution. This description of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment may also be appropriately combined to form other implementation modes that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A liquid lens, characterized in that: include: A coil, wherein the coil is wound into a tubular shape; A first light-transmitting conductive layer, sealed and connected to one axial end of the coil, the first light-transmitting conductive layer comprising a first light-transmitting layer and a first conductive layer disposed on an outer surface of the first light-transmitting layer; A second light-transmitting conductive layer is sealed and connected to the other axial end of the coil, the second light-transmitting conductive layer, the first light-transmitting conductive layer and the coil form an outer cavity, and the second light-transmitting conductive layer includes a second light-transmitting layer and a second conductive layer arranged on the outer surface of the second light-transmitting layer; A tubular tube is located in the outer cavity, one axial end of the tubular tube is connected to the first conductive layer, the tubular tube and the first light-transmitting conductive layer form an inner cavity, the inner cavity is connected to the outer cavity, and the inner cavity and the outer cavity are both filled with polar liquid and non-polar liquid; A first magnetic ring, which is arranged outside the tubular tube and located in the outer cavity; The second magnetic ring is connected to the first light-transmitting conductive layer and is located outside the outer cavity. The magnetic pole of the second magnetic ring is opposite to that of the first magnetic ring.

2. A liquid lens according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner surface of the coil is provided with a first hydrophobic layer.

3. The liquid lens according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coil is respectively bonded to the first light-transmitting conductive layer and the second light-transmitting conductive layer by using UV adhesive.

4. The liquid lens according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are both ITO coatings.

5. The liquid lens according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner cavity comprises a first cylindrical cavity, an inverted conical cavity and a second cylindrical cavity which are connected in sequence, and the diameter of the first cylindrical cavity is greater than the diameter of the second cylindrical cavity.

6. The liquid lens according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two axial ends of the tubular tube are respectively provided with a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second grooves along the circumferential direction, the first grooves are connected to the inner cavity and the outer cavity, and the second grooves are connected to the inner cavity and the outer cavity.

7. The liquid lens according to claim 1, characterized in that: One axial end of the tubular tube is connected to the first conductive layer via conductive adhesive.

8. The liquid lens according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tubular tube is made of conductive metal, and the surface of the tubular tube is sequentially provided with a second insulating layer and a second hydrophobic layer.

9. The liquid lens according to claim 1, characterized in that: A third hydrophobic layer is provided on the outer surface of the first magnetic ring.

10. The liquid lens according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coil, the tubular tube, the first magnetic ring and the second magnetic ring are all coaxially arranged.

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