Deformable Liquid Lens for Compact Ophthalmic Testing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmological test equipment requires adjustable spherical, cylindrical, and prismatic power within specific measurement ranges, but existing devices struggle to integrate these in a single optical element with a small installation space.
Innovation Solution
An optical device with a transparent liquid-filled container and an elastically deformable membrane, featuring a deformable annular lens shaping element that can be bent or tilted to adjust power, using actuators to control the lens shaping element's position and curvature to achieve adjustable spherical, cylindrical, and prismatic powers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate optical elements are used to achieve adjustable spherical, cylindrical, and prismatic powers, then the required optical functionality is achieved, but the device size and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical functions (spherical power adjustment, cylindrical power adjustment, and prismatic power adjustment) into a single deformable lens element. This is achieved by integrating multiple actuators that can independently control different aspects of the lens deformation, allowing one optical component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate lenses or optical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The single deformable lens element is designed to perform multiple optical functions simultaneously. By controlling the deformation of this one lens through multiple actuators, the system can achieve spherical power adjustment, cylindrical power adjustment, and prismatic power adjustment, making the lens a universal optical element that replaces multiple specialized components.
2Volume of moving object
If a single optical element is used to integrate multiple power adjustments, then the installation space is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent actuators, each responsible for controlling a specific aspect of the lens deformation. This segmentation allows for modular control architecture where each actuator can be independently designed, controlled, and adjusted, managing the overall system complexity through division of labor rather than requiring a single complex control mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise adjustment of optical powers within the required ranges, allowing for compact integration of multiple power adjustments in a single optical element, enhancing the functionality of ophthalmic testing devices.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent and elastically deformable membrane opposing said bottom
Implementation Method 2
the internal space is filled with a transparent liquid, and wherein the container comprises a transparent bottom and a transparent and elastically deformable membrane opposing said bottom such that the liquid is arranged between the membrane and the bottom
Implementation Method 3
for adapting the cylindrical power of the optical device, the lens shaping element is configured to be bent out of said plane, particularly so that the edge lies on a curved surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to An optical device (1), particularly for an ophthalmic device, comprising: a container (2) enclosing an internal space (3) of the container (2), wherein the internal space (3) is filled with a transparent liquid (L), and wherein the container (2) comprises a transparent bottom (21) and a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (22) opposing said bottom (21) such that the liquid (L) is arranged between the membrane (22) and the bottom (21), a deformable annular lens shaping element (4) connected to the membrane (22) so that a circumferential edge (41) of the lens shaping element (4) defines a central area (23) of the membrane (22) so that light can pass through the container (2) via the central area (23) and the bottom (21), wherein in a non-deformed state said edge (41) lies in a plane, and an adjustable spherical power and an adjustable cylindrical power, wherein for adapting the cylindrical power of the optical device (1), the lens shaping element (4) is configured to be bent out of said plane (P).