Liquid Lens With Stepped Plate For Thermal Expansion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera modules with liquid lenses face interference issues due to thermal expansion, which increases the size and complexity of the lens assembly, making it difficult to maintain design and process margins without increasing the overall thickness.
Innovation Solution
A liquid lens design featuring a first plate with a cavity containing conductive and non-conductive liquids, where the second plate has a thinner lens region and a thicker peripheral region, allowing for controlled swelling and reduced interference with adjacent lenses, and incorporating a stepped portion to expose electrodes to the conductive liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of lenses is increased to achieve autofocus and hand-tremor compensation functions, then the photographing functions are improved, but the size of the optical device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple lens functions into a single liquid lens by controlling the curvature of the liquid-liquid interface. This interface can dynamically change shape to achieve both autofocus (focal length adjustment) and hand-tremor compensation (optical image stabilization) functions, eliminating the need for multiple separate lenses and reducing overall device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid lens uses dynamically controllable liquid interfaces whose curvature can be changed in real-time through electrical signals. This allows a single lens structure to perform multiple functions (autofocus and OIS) by adjusting the interface shape, replacing static multiple-lens systems with a dynamic single-lens system.
2Device complexity
If a liquid lens is used to electrically adjust focal length, then the device complexity is reduced, but thermal expansion of the liquid causes deformation of the plate structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different thickness characteristics to different regions of the plate. The lens region has a first thickness while the peripheral region has a second thickness that is larger. This local variation in thickness compensates for thermal expansion effects, maintaining the lens region at a lower position than the peripheral region even when the liquid expands due to temperature changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent explicitly addresses thermal expansion by designing the plate with unequal thickness regions. The thicker peripheral region compensates for the expansion of the liquid in the lens region, preventing the lens region from rising and interfering with adjacent lenses. This design accounts for and mitigates the harmful effects of thermal expansion.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the plate structure is designed to accommodate liquid swelling, then interference with adjacent lenses is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is designed with local quality variations where the lens region and peripheral region have different thicknesses. This localized thickness differentiation allows the structure to accommodate liquid swelling in the lens region while maintaining overall stability, reducing interference with adjacent lenses. The manufacturing process focuses precision on the critical thickness differentiation rather than requiring extreme precision across the entire plate.
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 design reduces interference between the liquid lens and solid lenses during temperature changes, improving design and process margins without increasing the lens assembly's size, allowing for more compact and efficient optical devices.
Implementation Method 1
research has been conducted on a liquid lens configured to electrically adjust the curvature of an interface between two kinds of liquid
Implementation Method 2
thermal expansion of the liquid included in the liquid lens in response to a change in the temperature of a lens assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid lens of the present invention includes a first plate including a cavity in which a conductive liquid and a nonconductive liquid are disposed; a first electrode disposed on the first plate; a second electrode disposed under the first plate; a second plate disposed on the first electrode; and a third plate disposed under the second electrode, wherein the second plate includes a first region having a first thickness, the first region encompassing an optical axis, and a second region extended from the first region and having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and the location of the upper surface of the first region is lower than the location of the upper surface of the second region.