Fluidic Lens Thermal Stability via Deformable Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluidic lenses in imaging devices face stability issues due to large changes in curvature caused by temperature variations, affecting their ability to maintain a consistent focal distance within the operating temperature range of mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
An optical apparatus with a spacer frame, elastic membrane, and a thermally deformable plate that compensates for volume changes in optical fluid due to temperature variations, maintaining the focal distance and optical performance by deforming to adjust the internal space volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a fluidic lens is used to reduce device size and eliminate motors, then device compactness and manufacturing cost are improved, but the lens surface curvature changes significantly with temperature, causing focal distance instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the lens system by introducing a thermally deformable plate that modifies the internal volume of the optical chamber in response to temperature changes. This volume adjustment compensates for the thermal expansion of the optical fluid, maintaining constant pressure on the elastic membrane and thus stabilizing the lens surface curvature and focal distance throughout the operating temperature range.
2Device complexity
If optical fluid is used to vary focal distance by changing lens surface curvature, then device complexity is reduced, but the large coefficient of thermal expansion of optical fluid causes significant curvature changes with temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes thermal expansion principles in reverse by employing a thermally deformable plate that expands or contracts with temperature changes to adjust the internal chamber volume. This volume adjustment compensates for the thermal expansion of the optical fluid, preventing pressure changes that would otherwise alter the lens surface curvature and maintain optical stability.
3Reliability
If the internal space volume is adjusted to compensate for optical fluid volume changes, then focal distance stability is improved, but the device requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The thermally deformable plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the optical chamber, provides a mounting surface for the elastic membrane, and acts as a thermal actuator that adjusts internal volume in response to temperature changes. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent compensates for thermal effects without significantly increasing device complexity.
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
The solution ensures stable operation of the fluidic lens across a wide temperature range, minimizing deformation of the lens surface and maintaining optical performance within the predetermined temperature range, thus enabling compact and cost-effective imaging devices.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally deformable plate, i.e., a thermally deformable member, formed with a single transparent material deforms to increase or decrease the volume of the internal space according to changes in temperature
Implementation Method 2
optical fluid used in a fluidic lens has a relatively large coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and accordingly, has relatively large changes in volume with respect to changes in temperature
Implementation Method 3
A fluidic lens is a kind of optical apparatus having a structure where optical fluid is sealed up by an optical membrane. In the fluidic lens, curvature of the lens surface varies by adjusting pressure that is applied to the lens surface of the optical membrane
Data Source
AI summary
An optical apparatus such as a varifocal fluidic lens is provided. Optical apparatus includes a spacer frame, optical fluid, an elastic membrane, an actuator, an actuator frame, and a thermally deformable frame. Spacer frame defines an internal space including a lens portion and a driving portion that connect to each other, and the driving portion is disposed to surround the lens portion disposed in the center area of the internal space. Optical fluid is filled in the internal space defined by the spacer frame. The elastic membrane is attached on a surface of the spacer frame, to cover a side of the internal space, and the thermally deformable plate is attached on the other surface of the spacer frame, to cover the other side of the internal space. The thermally deformable plate deforms to increase or decrease a volume of the internal space according to a change in temperature.