Flexible Substrate Circuit for Liquid Lens Array Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid lens technologies face challenges in efficiently manufacturing complex geometries and integrating flexible circuitry into liquid lens arrays, requiring cumbersome assembly processes and equipment.
Innovation Solution
A flexible-substrate circuit with longitudinal and wing portions is designed for a liquid lens system, where the wing portions extend into wells on a multi-well plate, featuring electrodes connected via the longitudinal portion to a controller, facilitating efficient integration and electrical control of the liquid lens elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional rigid circuit boards are used for liquid lens arrays, then structural stability is maintained, but assembly complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible substrate circuits instead of traditional rigid circuit boards. The flexible circuit can be conformally attached to the curved or complex geometry of the liquid lens array, enabling simpler integration without requiring complex rigid structure adaptation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural stability through proper mounting while dramatically simplifying the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible circuit is designed as separate modular components that can be independently manufactured and then assembled to the liquid lens array. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual parts and reduces the overall integration complexity, as each module can be prepared separately and then combined in a straightforward assembly process.
2Productivity
If complex geometries are manufactured using existing liquid lens technologies, then functional performance is achieved, but manufacturing efficiency and speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the flexibility parameter of the substrate circuit to adapt to complex geometries without requiring complex manufacturing processes. By changing from rigid to flexible material properties, the system can achieve precise conformal attachment to complex liquid lens geometries while maintaining high manufacturing speed through simpler fabrication and assembly methods.
3Loss of time
If flexible circuitry is integrated into liquid lens arrays using conventional methods, then electrical connection is established, but assembly time and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible circuit components are prepared and pre-assembled before being integrated with the liquid lens array. This preliminary preparation allows for optimization of the connection process, reducing actual assembly time when the components are combined. The flexible nature of the circuit enables pre-forming of connection pathways that simplify the final integration step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the electrical connection function with the structural support function into a single flexible circuit component. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets, fasteners, and wiring harnesses that would be required with rigid circuits, thereby dramatically reducing assembly time and improving ease of operation.
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
This solution enables faster and more efficient construction of liquid lens arrays by allowing flexible-substrate circuits to be manufactured separately and bonded onto plates, reducing the complexity of assembly and enhancing the flexibility and placement of circuitry.
Implementation Method 1
According to a process of electro wetting, a liquid lens element may have at least two immiscible fluids and a voltage applied to the liquid lens element. A surface tension of the liquid lens element may change as a result of the voltage being applied, bringing about a change in curvature of an interface between the fluids.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible-substrate circuit for a liquid lens, a liquid lens system, and a method of making a liquid lens system are provided. The system can include a plate having an array of wells and a flexible-substrate circuit. The flexible-substrate circuit can have a longitudinal portion disposed on ridges of the plate, between wells of the plate, and a wing portions transverse to the longitudinal portion that extend into the wells, bonded to walls of the corresponding wells. The wing portion have a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to a controller via the longitudinal portion.