Non-oscillating liquid lens with ferrofluid actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid lenses face challenges with slow focusing due to mechanical movement, limited aperture size, and short-term stability, making them unsuitable for fast and efficient optical applications.
Innovation Solution
A non-oscillating liquid lens system using a substrate with channels for a liquid lens drop and a surrounding second liquid, actuated by ferrofluid droplets to adjust focal distance without mechanical oscillation, achieving stable centimeter-scale apertures and long-term stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If mechanical movement is used to adjust focus, then the lens can change focal distance, but the focusing process becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical lens movement system with a liquid lens system that adjusts focus through changes in liquid droplet configuration. The liquid lens uses electrostatic or magnetic fields to control the shape and position of liquid droplets, eliminating mechanical moving parts and enabling rapid focal adjustments without the inertia and friction associated with mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the liquid lens by adjusting the voltage or magnetic field strength to control the liquid droplet's shape, size, and position. This allows continuous and rapid adjustment of focal distance through electrical or magnetic parameter changes rather than mechanical displacement, achieving fast focusing response.
2Speed
If liquid lenses are used to achieve fast response, then mechanical weight is reduced, but aperture size and stability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the natural spherical shape formed by liquid surface tension to create optically smooth lens interfaces. The liquid droplet's spherical cap geometry provides excellent optical quality while the enclosed structure with hydrophobic coating maintains stable droplet configuration, preventing oscillation and enhancing short-term stability for reliable imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydrophobic coating or enclosure structure that acts as a flexible boundary for the liquid lens droplet. This enclosure maintains the liquid's shape stability while allowing controlled deformation through external fields, providing both mechanical support and optical stability without restricting the liquid's ability to change focus rapidly.
3Weight of moving object
If liquid lenses are used to reduce weight, then mechanical complexity decreases, but aperture size remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional lens surfaces to three-dimensional liquid droplet structures with adjustable volume and shape. By controlling the droplet's radial and axial dimensions independently through field application, the system achieves larger effective aperture areas while maintaining lightweight construction, as the liquid can be distributed in three-dimensional space rather than being constrained to fixed mechanical geometries.
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 system enables rapid focal adjustments, increased light gathering, and energy efficiency with long-term stability, overcoming limitations of previous liquid lenses in aperture size and stability.
Implementation Method 1
The interface of a liquid lens has good optical qualities because of surface tension, which dominates gravity in the sub-milliliter scale, and provides interfaces that are nearly perfectly spherical and optically smooth
Implementation Method 2
a liquid lens drop comprising a first liquid. The liquid lens drop is held at least partially within one channel of the at least one channel extending through the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A non-oscillating liquid lens and imaging system and method employing the lens are provided. The liquid lens includes a substrate with a channel opening extending through the substrate. A liquid lens drop is held within the channel and is sized with a first droplet portion, including a first capillary surface, protruding away from a first substrate surface, and a second droplet portion, including a second capillary surface, protruding away from a second substrate surface. The liquid lens further includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding the substrate, and which includes a chamber. The liquid lens drop resides within the chamber, and the liquid lens includes a second liquid disposed within the chamber in direct or indirect contact with the liquid lens drop, and an actuator which facilitates adjusting configuration of the liquid lens drop within the channel, and thus, a focal distance of the liquid lens.