Piezoelectric Actuator Crown Anchoring for Compact Optical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices with deformable membranes and piezoelectric actuation suffer from bulkiness, high energy consumption, and suboptimal optical performance, limiting their efficiency and flexibility in applications such as compact camera modules and adaptive optics.
Innovation Solution
The optical device features piezoelectric actuators arranged in a crown configuration, anchored only to the membrane's intermediate zone, allowing for independent control of main and additional actuation means to achieve precise deformation of the membrane, enabling rapid switching between image stabilization and autofocus functions while maintaining constant focal length across temperature variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piezoelectric actuation means are anchored to the support, then the device structure is stable, but the device becomes bulky and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the anchoring function from the support structure and relocates it to the membrane itself. The piezoelectric actuators are anchored only to the membrane in the intermediate zone, eliminating the need for support anchoring. This extraction reduces device bulk while maintaining structural stability through the membrane's own anchoring zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the anchoring dimension from the support plane to the membrane surface. By anchoring actuators to the membrane in the intermediate zone rather than to the support, the structure achieves stability in a different spatial configuration, reducing overall device bulk while maintaining actuation effectiveness.
2Measurement precision
If piezoelectric actuators are arranged in multiple layers, then actuation precision is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the actuation function into two independent groups: main actuators for primary deformation control and additional actuators for fine-tuning. Both groups are arranged in the same crown plane rather than stacked in multiple layers, achieving precise actuation control while maintaining minimal device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of stacking actuators in the vertical dimension (multiple layers), the invention places both main and additional actuators in the same horizontal plane (single crown). This dimensional reorganization achieves actuation precision through spatial arrangement rather than layering, minimizing device thickness.
3Force
If actuation means press on the membrane from the support side, then membrane deformation is effective, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional actuation approach by having actuators press on the membrane from the same side (the side not in contact with trapped fluid) rather than from the support side. This inversion simplifies the structure by eliminating the need for through-support actuation paths while maintaining effective membrane deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the actuation function from the support structure and places it directly on the membrane's intermediate zone. This extraction eliminates complex support-actuator-membrane assemblies, reducing structural complexity while maintaining effective force transmission to the membrane.
4Device complexity
If the same actuators are used for both autofocus and aberration correction, then device complexity is reduced, but functional versatility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the actuator population into two functionally independent groups: main actuators dedicated to autofocus (focal length variation) and additional actuators dedicated to aberration correction. This segmentation enables independent control of different optical functions while maintaining a relatively simple overall actuator configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Both main and additional actuators work on the same membrane structure, providing multi-functionality within a unified platform. The system can perform autofocus, aberration correction, or combinations thereof by selectively activating different actuator groups, achieving functional versatility without proportionally 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
This configuration reduces bulk, minimizes energy consumption, and enhances optical performance by allowing fine-tuned membrane deformation, enabling efficient operation in compact camera modules and adaptive optics applications.
Implementation Method 1
piezoelectric actuation means for moving the liquid to the level of the central zone of the membrane in order to deform the central zone of the membrane
Implementation Method 2
these piezoelectric main actuation means, these piezoelectric additional actuation means and the membrane to which they are anchored forming at least one piezoelectric bimorph, the piezoelectric main actuation means and the piezoelectric additional actuation means risks contracting or extending radially during an actuation so as to generate a displacement of said fluid from the intermediate zone towards the central zone of the membrane
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2D~2E
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical device having a deformable membrane (2) comprising an anchoring area (2.3) on a substrate (1) contributing to trapping the fluid, a central area (2.1) reversibly deforming from a rest position, and piezoelectric actuation means for moving the fluid (4), urging the membrane (2) into an intermediate area between the anchoring area (2.3) and the central area (2.1). The actuation means comprise main (5) and additional (5') actuation means, each arranged into at least one ring (C) mounted around the central area (2.1), each ring (C) comprising one or more piezoelectric actuators (5.1), said main and additional actuation means being anchored onto the intermediate area (2.2), wherein only the additional actuation means (5') can be anchored onto the substrate (1), said actuation means and the membrane to which the means are anchored forming at least one piezoelectric bimorph, such that the actuation means and membrane radially contract or expand upon an actuation such that the moving fluid (4) deforms the central area (2.1).