Liquid lens apparatus and liquid lens control method

The liquid lens apparatus uses a traveling wave of deflection vibration to control focal position without mechanical parts, addressing bulkiness and slow response issues, enhancing compactness and response speed.

JP2026101133APending Publication Date: 2026-06-22DOSHISHA UNIVERSITY
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
DOSHISHA UNIVERSITY
Filing Date
2024-12-10
Publication Date
2026-06-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing camera modules with mechanical movable parts for focal control are bulky, have reduced product life and seismic resistance, and suffer from slow response speeds and difficulty in adjusting tension and thickness in liquid lenses.

Method used

A liquid lens apparatus using a cylindrical case with an annular ultrasonic transducer and drive control unit that generates a traveling wave of deflection vibration, creating a swirling flow in the liquid to control focal position without mechanical parts, achieved by applying voltage signals with different phases to transducer sections.

Benefits of technology

Enables focal position control without mechanical movable parts, enhancing product compactness, seismic resistance, and improving response speed by changing the liquid surface shape and refractive index distribution.

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Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid lens device capable of controlling the focal position without the need for mechanically moving parts. [Solution] A liquid lens device 1A comprising a case 2 having a cylindrical side wall portion 2a, a liquid lens 3 having liquid contained inside the side wall portion 2a, an annular ultrasonic transducer 4 positioned on the upper end side of the side wall portion 2a, and a drive control unit 5 that applies a voltage signal to the ultrasonic transducer 4, wherein visible light is transmitted through the case 2 and the liquid lens 3, the ultrasonic transducer 4 includes a plurality of transducer portions 4-1 to 4-8 divided in the circumferential direction, the drive control unit 5 applies voltage signals with different phases to the plurality of transducer portions 4-1 to 4-8, generates a traveling wave of flexural vibration propagating in the circumferential direction on the side wall portion 2a, propagates ultrasonic waves from the traveling wave into the liquid, and generates a swirling flow that flows in the circumferential direction in the liquid.
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Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • WO2022163240A1