Patent Application
20080247019
The invention relates to a switchable optical unit capable of controlling a beam of radiation passing through an optically active portion of the unit, which unit comprises a chamber and an electrically conducting liquid contained in the chamber and having an index of refraction different from that of its surroundings, the chamber being provided with an electrode configuration, wherein application of a voltage, from a voltage control system, to electrodes, causes movement of the said liquid.
The invention also relates to a camera system and to an optical head for scanning an optical record carrier comprising such a switchable optical unit.
International patent application WO 03/069380 describes a lens element and a lens system which focal distance can be varied comprising such an optical unit. The variable focus lens system comprises a cylindrical fluid chamber having a cylinder wall, the fluid chamber including a first fluid and a second fluid, which fluids are non-miscible. The first and second fluid have different indices of refraction, so that the interface between the fluids, which interface has the form of a meniscus, forms a refractive surface, i.e. a surface that changes the vergence (convergence or divergence) of a radiation beam passing through the surface. A first electrode is arranged on the inside of the cylinder wall and the inside of this electrode is coated with a fluid contact layer. A second electrode is arranged at an end face of the cylinder and this electrode is in contact with the second fluid. Since the fluid contact layer has a wettability by the second fluid, which varies in dependency of the voltage applied between the first and the second electrode, varying this voltage can change the shape of the interface meniscus. In this way a lens element is obtained, the focal length of which can be varied over a large range, for example the meniscus shape can be varied between concave and convex, provided that the voltage between the electrodes is sufficient large, for example of the order of 100 Volts. A concave meniscus means that the lens element has negative optical power and a convex meniscus means that the lens element has positive optical power.
To achieve that the lens element or lens system functions independently of orientation, i.e. without dependence on gravitational effects between the two liquids, the liquids should have equal density. The difference between the indices of refraction of such liquids is limited. Since this difference and the curvature of the meniscus determine the refractive power of the meniscus a relative large voltage should be applied between the electrodes to achieve that the lens element has sufficient power or a sufficient power range. Such large voltage results in a too large electrical field strength in an insulating layer between the cylindrical electrode and the fluid contact layer and in charging of the fluid contact layer, and hence degradation of this layer.
Moreover, since the two liquids fill up the liquid chamber, an expansion chamber is needed to accommodate volume changes due to thermal expansion of the fluids. Such an expansion chamber requires additional space in the lens system or apparatus wherein the lens element is to be used.
In a number of applications of the optical device it is not necessary to vary the focal length over a certain range, but it suffices to switch the focal length between two values, for example between a Tele configuration or mode and a Macro mode. For such an application a device could be used that comprises a liquid chamber filled with two liquids having different indices of refraction and wherein the liquids are switched in and out the optically active portion of the device, i.e. the portion through which a radiation beam passes, by electrowetting. This requires a liquid circulation system to convey one of the liquids from one end of the liquid chamber to the other end of the chamber so that the other liquid can be moved in the chamber. Such a circulation system is a relative complex system and requires additional space and an optical system comprising such a circulation system is not suitable for small and consumer apparatuses.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a switchable optical unit as defined in the opening paragraph that has a simple and compact construction, can be driven by a relative low voltage and opens the way to new applications. This unit is characterized in that the electrode configuration comprises at least one first electrode fixed to the inner walls of the chamber at the position of the optically active portion, second electrode means fixed to the inner walls of the chamber at positions outside the optically active portion and a third electrode in contact with the liquid and continuously connected to a first output of a voltage source, a second output of which is connected in a first mode to said at least one first electrode and in a second mode to the second electrode means.
If the second output of the voltage source is connected to the at least one first electrode, the conductive liquid is attracted by the at least one first electrode so that the liquid is positioned in the optically active portion of the device. In case the liquid chamber is arranged between refractive surfaces of a lens system, the unit then has a first optical power, which is determined by the refractive index of the conductive liquid and the curvature of the lens surfaces. When the second output of the voltage source is connected to the second electrode means, the conductive liquid is attracted by the second electrode means so that the liquid is positioned outside the optically active portion. The device then has a second optical power, which is determined by the refractive index of a medium that has replaced the polar liquid. As will be explained later, this medium may be of different natures.
The construction of the unit and the amount of conductive liquid should be such that the liquid always overlaps end portions of the at least one electrode and of the second electrode means. In this way it is ensured that the conductive liquid always experiences the electrowetting force generated by the electrode that is activated, i.e. to which a voltage is supplied.
A lens system the optical power of which can be switched between two values by means of alternately moving a first liquid and a second liquid in the optically active zone is known per se from U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,158. However, in this system the liquids are moved by tilting the lens system, which may form part of spectacle lenses or contact lenses and a complicated construction of liquid channels, amongst others in the earpiece of the spectacle, is needed to realise such movement.
The at least one first electrode may comprise a pair of first, central, electrodes and the second electrode means may comprise two flat ring-shaped electrodes arranged in the same planes as the first electrode pair.
However, in a preferred embodiment of the switchable optical unit the second electrode means includes one annular electrode having a U-shaped cross-section.
This electrode is composed of two flat ring-shaped portions and a cylindrical portion connecting the ring-shaped portions and allows exerting more force on the conductive liquid.
In a different preferred embodiment the at least one first electrode comprises one first central electrode and the second electrode means comprises one flat annular electrode arranged in the same plane as the first central electrode.
Preferably, the chamber of the unit is exposed to the conductive liquid is coated with an insulating hydrophobic layer.
This measure prevents that liquid sticks to the inner wall at positions where it should be removed.
Furthermore, the chamber of the switchable optical unit comprises a medium, which has an index of refraction different from that of the conductive liquid.
This medium may be of different nature. In a first embodiment of the unit the medium is a liquid.
In a second embodiment of the unit the medium is a gas.
In a third embodiment of the unit the liquid-less portions of the chamber are at vacuum.
In practice these portions will contain vapour of the conductive liquid. In case the unit forms part of a lens system, this allows increasing the difference between the optical powers in the first mode and in the second mode respectively of the system. This is due to the fact that the difference between the refractive index of the conductive liquid and a gas may be much larger than such difference between the first conductive liquid and another liquid.
The walls of the liquid chamber situated in the optically active portion of the device may show different shapes or configurations, depending on the specific applications of the switchable optical unit. In a first class of embodiments of the unit, which comprises at least one lens element, at least one chamber wall situated in the optically active portion includes a refractive lens surface.
In a second embodiment of the first class each of two opposite chamber walls situated in the optically active portion includes a refractive lens surface.
The optical unit of the first class of embodiments is fixed to a conventional lens element or embedded in a conventional lens system and used for switching the optical power of the lens element or lens system between two values.
In a third, and preferred, embodiment of the first class at least one of the refractive lens surfaces is an aspherical surface.
An aspherical surface is understood to mean a surface, which basic shape is spherical or another regular shape, but which real shape shows small deviations, which allow to correct for spherical aberrations introduced by the basic surface shape. Using aspherical surfaces in optical systems allows minimising the number of lens elements in such lens systems, because additional lens elements for correcting aberrations of other lens elements are no longer needed. In the present optical unit one or both chamber walls and/or one or more other lens surfaces may have an aspherical shape.
In a second class of embodiments of the switchable optical unit at least one chamber wall situated in the optical active portion is provided with a phase structure.
A phase structure is understood to mean a surface structure composed of surface portions at different levels, which structure introduces phase shifts in beam portions passing through different surface portions. Such a phase structure can be used for several functions.
In a first embodiment of the second class the phase structure is a non-periodical structure, which renders the unit to a wavefront-modifying unit.
Such a unit may, for example be used in an optical head for scanning optical record carriers of different formats to adapt the objective system for scanning beams having different wavelength.
In a second embodiment of the second class the phase structure is a periodical structure.
In a third class of embodiments of the switchable optical unit at least one chamber wall situated in the optically active portion includes a planar surface.
Such a planar surface of at least one chamber wall is understood to mean a substantially flat surface which is exposed to the liquid held within the chamber.
In a preferred embodiment of the switchable optical unit, each of two opposite chamber walls situated in the optically active portion includes a planar surface.
The planar surfaces of the chamber walls allow different fluids, having different refractive indices, to be individually switched into the optically active portion of the unit in a relatively simple and efficient manner. As will be described in embodiments of the invention, this allows information layers lying at different depths within a record carrier to be scanned.
Also this unit may be used in the optical head for several purposes.
The switchable optical unit may further be characterized in that the voltage control system is arranged to supply a voltage to the at least one first electrode individually.
In a preferred embodiment the at least one first electrode comprises two first electrodes. By activating firstly one of the first electrodes and thereafter activating the other first electrode, the flow of the first fluid and the second medium to and from the central portion can be improved. In case each of the two main walls of the chamber is provided with an optical function, for example a grating- or lens function, these functions can be switched independently of each other. This increases the freedom of design of the optical system of which the switchable unit forms part.
The switchable unit may be further characterized in that the index of refraction of the first liquid is equal to that of the optically relevant material of the chamber wall.
The optically relevant material is the lens material, in case the chamber is included in a lens system, or the material wherein a phase structure is configured. The electrodes and the insulating layer are such thin that they have no effect on the radiation. If in this unit the first liquid is positioned in the optically active portion there is no difference between the refractive index of the liquid and that of said material thus no optical discontinuity and the optical function, for example a grating function, is no longer active. It becomes active when the second medium is positioned to the chamber wall. In this way the grating function or other optical function can be switched off and on.
The switchable optical unit may be used in a miniature camera to provide such a camera with a Tele and Macro mode. The camera can be built-in in a hand held apparatus, like a mobile phone.
Another main application of the switchable optical unit is an optical head for scanning an information layer and comprising a radiation source unit for supplying a scanning beam, an objective system for focusing the scanning beam to a scanning spot in the information layer and a radiation-sensitive detection unit for converting scanning beam radiation from the information layer in electrical signals. The invention may be implemented in such an optical head as a switchable grating that can threaten radiation beams of different wavelength in the same way. These beams may be a write beam and a read beam from a same laser that can be switched between write level and read level. These beams may also be two or three beams having substantially different wavelengths, which beams are used in an optical head for scanning information layers in record carriers of two or three different types.
In the two- or three-beams optical head the switchable optical unit may also be used as a wavefront modifier to render the objective lens system suitable for correct focusing each of the beams to a scanning spot in the information layer of the associated type of record carrier.
In a further application, the invention is implemented in such an optical head for scanning a record carrier having a plurality of information layers, each information layer being located in a different information plane lying at a different depth within the record carrier. The optical head focuses a radiation beam of a certain wavelength to a scanning spot which is used to scan one information layer. The optical head includes a switchable optical unit in accordance with the present invention for switching the scanning spot between different information planes so as to scan the plurality of information layers. The radiation beam may be a write beam or a read beam.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and will be elucidated, by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
In the drawings:
a and 1b show a cross-section of a switchable lens system unit according to the invention in a first mode and in a second mode, respectively;
a and 2b show a cross-section of a switchable binary grating unit according to the invention in a first mode and in a second mode, respectively;
a and 3b show a cross-section of a small portion of a switchable non-periodic-phase-structure unit according to the invention in a first mode and in second mode respectively;
a and 7b show a cross-section of a switchable optical unit according to the invention in a first discrete state and in a second discrete state respectively.
a and 1b show a cross-section of an embodiment wherein the device according to the invention is integrated in a lens system 1. The lens system is composed of two solid lens elements 2 and 4, which are cemented together at their border portion 6. The lens elements may be made of glass or transparent plastics. Between the lens elements a liquid chamber 10 is present, which is closed by the inner walls of the lens elements, so by the refractive surface 12 of lens element 2, the refractive surface 14 of lens element 4 and the common inner wall 16 of the lens elements. The chamber is partially filled with an electrically conductive or polar liquid 18, for example salted water, hereinafter also called first liquid. The remaining space in the chamber is filled with a second medium 19 which may be another, non-conducting liquid, for example an oil. The second medium may also be a gas. The remaining space of the chamber may also be at vacuum, which in practice will mean that it comprises vapour of the first liquid. The second medium has an index of refraction different from the index of refraction of the polar liquid.
On the central portion of the refractive surfaces 12 and 14 circular first electrodes 20 and 22 are arranged. These electrodes define the optically active portion 8 of the lens system; i.e. the portion that passes an incident radiation beam, which wave front is to be changed by the lens system. These electrodes, i.e. the pair of first electrodes, are made of an electrically conductive transparent material, for example ITO (indium tin oxide). Second electrode means 24 are arranged at the side portion 9 of the chamber, i.e. the portion outside the optically active portion 8. The ends of these electrode means are separated from the ends of the first electrodes by a gap 26. The electrode means 24 need not to be transparent and can be made of a metallic material. A third electrode 28 is in direct contact with the polar liquid. This electrode is permanently connected to a first output 32 of a voltage source 30. The second output 34 of this source can be connected to either the pair of first electrodes, via the switch 40 and the conductor 42, or the second electrode means, via the switch 36 and the conductor 38.
The inner side of the electrodes, i.e. the side facing the liquid chamber is covered with a transparent electrically insulating layer formed for example of parylene. The inner side of this layer and the openings 26 between the ends of the first electrodes and the ends of the second electrode means is coated with a hydrophobic layer, which is transparent and formed for example of Teflon™ AF 1600 produced by DuPont™. This layer prevents that liquid sticks anywhere to the chamber wall. As shown in
The pair of first electrodes 20,22, the second electrode means 24 and the third electrode 28 form a configuration of electrowetting electrodes which together with the voltage control system 30, 36, 38, 40, 42 form a fluid system switch. This fluid system acts upon the described fluid system comprising the polar fluid 18 and the second medium in order to switch between first and second discrete states of the switchable unit. The first discrete state may alternatively be referred to as a first mode of the switchable unit and the second discrete state may alternatively be referred to as a second mode of the switchable unit.
In the first discrete state of the unit, shown in
In order to switch from the first discrete state to the second discrete state, switch 36 is moved to the second output 34 of the voltage source and switch 40 is moved to the ground electrode 41 so that a voltage of an appropriate value, for example V, is applied across the second electrode means 24 and the common, third electrode 28, whilst no voltage is applied to the first electrodes 20, 22.
The switchable optical unit is now in the second discrete state, in which the first liquid 18 fills the chamber space between the second electrode means 24 as a result of electrowetting forces provided by the voltage applied to this electrode means. Due to the applied voltage the hydrophobic layer 42 at the position of the electrode means 24 is now at least relatively hydrophilic and tends to attract the first liquid 18. This liquid moves to fill the chamber space enclosed by the second electrode means 24 and displaces the second medium 19 towards the chamber space between the first electrodes 20 and 22, i.e. towards the optically active portion of the unit. Since no voltage is applied to these electrodes, the layer 42 at the position of these electrodes remains highly hydrophobic.
Movement of the polar liquid in and out the optically active portion of the lens system 1 means that the refractive index in the space between the two refractive surfaces 12 and 14 is switched between two values. Since this refractive index, together with the curvatures of the refractive surfaces determine the optical power of the lens sub-system formed by the refractive surfaces 12 and 14 and the chamber, the optical power of this lens sub-system, and thus of the whole lens system can be switched between two values by switching the voltage from the first electrode pair to the second electrode means and vice versa.
The difference between the two power values depends on the difference between the refractive indices of the first liquid 18 and the other medium 19 and is not influenced by gravitational forces, as is the case in known electrowetting lenses. The density of the polar liquid and the medium 19 thus need not to be matched. This provides the advantage that the difference between the refractive indices of the two media can be freely chosen and adapted to the envisaged application. The second medium may be also a liquid; for example an oil based electrically insulating liquid, such as silicone oil. The second medium may also be a gas, having in general a considerable lower refractive index than a liquid. In principle the space in the chamber that is not occupied by the polar liquid may also be at vacuum. In practice this space will be filled with vapour of the polar liquid, which vapour has a refractive index close to 1. For example, if the polar liquid is water with a tungsten salt dissolved in it, its refractive index may be larger than 1.5. The difference between the refractive index of this polar liquid and that of its vapour thus may be larger than 0.5, which is considerably larger that the difference that can be achieved with the liquids in known electrowetting lenses.
The focal length of a lens system provided with such embodiment of the present switchable optical unit may be switched between two largely different values, which allows using the unit to switch a lens system between a Tele mode having a small focal length and a Wide, or Macro-, mode having a large focal length.
For sake of clarity, in
As shown in
The movement of the polar liquid and the second medium towards and from the first and second electrodes and the mutual displacement of the liquid and the medium can be improved by activating the first electrodes 20 and 22 not simultaneously, as is the case in
The second electrode means may include two flat ring-shaped electrodes. Preferably the side of the chamber's inner wall is also covered with electrode material, which connects these electrodes, such that one ring-shaped electrode having a U-shaped cross-section is obtained. In this way the surface of the second electrode means can be enlarged and thus its functionality increased.
a and 1b show a lens system having two solid lens elements for converging a radiation beam b, which is represented as a parallel beam, but may also be a beam that is already convergent and should be made more convergent. The switchable optical device may also be used in a lens system that has only one lens element or in a system having more than two lens elements. The switchable optical device may also be combined with a divergent lens system having one or by more lens elements.
One or more refractive surfaces of a lens system comprising the switchable optical device may be aspherical. An aspherical surface allows correction of spherical aberrations introduced by a lens surface having spherical surfaces so that no additional lens elements are needed for such correction. In the lens system of
The principle of the present invention can not only be used to switch the refractive power of a lens element between two values, but may be used also to switch the function of other optical elements, such as a diffraction grating, which has a periodic phase structure, or an element that has a non-periodic phase structure. An element having a phase structure comprises surface portions at two or more levels and such element introduces a corresponding number of different phase shifts in an incident radiation beam.
a and 2b show a cross-sectional view of a binary grating, i.e. a grating having its surface portions arranged at two levels, which grating can be switched according to the invention. The grating unit 50 comprises a transparent substrate 52 having two main surfaces 54 and 56. Surface 56 is provided with grating strips 58 in the form of groves, by means of well-known techniques. The groves 58 alternate with intermediate grating strips 60 at the surface. The grooved surface forms one wall of a central portion 108, i.e. the optically active portion, of a liquid chamber 110, which comprises also a side chamber portion 109. A transparent layer 76 having an upper surface 78 and a lower surface 80 forms the other central wall of the chamber. The chamber 110 comprises a polar liquid 118 and a second medium 119, which may be a second fluid, a gas or vapour of the polar liquid.
With exception of the grating structure and the curvatures of the main chamber walls, the embodiment shown in
In the first discrete state of the switchable grating unit, shown in
In the second discrete state of the switchable grating unit, shown in
Since in the first and second state of the switchable grating unit the grating grooves are filled with media having different refractive indices, the optical depth of the grooves, i.e. the product of the geometrical depth and the refractive index, is different in the two states. This allows, for example, using the grating to perform the same grating function for two radiation beams having different wavelengths, whereby for a first wavelength the grating unit is in the first state and for a second wavelength the grating is in a second state. Such a grating can be used, for example, in an optical head wherein two laser beams are used to scan different types of record carriers and wherein both beams should be split into three beams.
As an alternative to the liquid chamber geometry shown in
It may be difficult to fill a phase grating structure with a liquid or to empty it, because it comprises vertical walls, i.e. walls extending in a direction perpendicular to flow direction of the liquid and its dimensions, i.e. depth and width of the groves are small. The present switchable unit solves this problem, because the electrowetting force used for displacing the liquid is present all over the surface, thus also at the vertical walls, of the grating structure. This is a great advantage of the unit over liquid switching systems wherein liquids are moved by means of pumping.
The switchable optical unit may also comprise a non-periodic phase structure. The paper: “Application of non periodic phase structures in optical systems” in Applied Optics/Vol. 40, No. 35/2001 describes non-periodic stepped phase structures to correct various parameter-dependent wave front aberrations in optical systems, for example optical heads for scanning optical record carriers. In general such a phase structure is a stepped structure that differs from a binary grating in that it shows more than two steps (levels), is non-periodic and has relatively wide zones. The difference in optical paths between two subsequent steps may be any value and many vary in any way throughout the structure. This class of phase structures allows a great degree of freedom in design. Moreover, the annular areas forming this non-periodic pattern can be relatively wide which improves the manufacturability.
The previously filed PCT patent application WO 2004/027490, discloses the combination of a non-periodic phase structure with a switchable fluid system using electrowetting forces, which allows effectively switching the phase structure between two different discrete states in order to provide different wave front modifications in a beam passing through it. This switchable fluid system uses a fluid guide, which is arranged outside the liquid chamber and connected to the chamber via two opposite openings in the chamber wall, to move a first and second liquid in and out the liquid chamber. According to the present invention this fluid system can advantageously be replaced by the fluid system which does not have a fluid guide, but only a fluid chamber and an appropriate electrode configuration as described herein above with respect to
a and 3b show a cross-section of a small, central, portion of a switchable device 200 according to the invention having a non-periodic phase structure. Since the phase structure is shown in a very enlarged scale, only one of its zones 204 can be shown. The phase structure is configured in a transparent substrate 206 and comprises a number of such zones, which together form a configuration that can be arranged at the position of the binary grating in
As shown in
The switchable unit with the non-periodical phase structure of
A non-periodical phase structure is even more difficult to fill with a liquid or to empty than a binary grating structure so that using the switchable optical unit, described herein, for switching a non-periodical phase structure provides even more advantages than using it for switching a diffraction grating.
As shown in
The first liquid and the material of the substrate wherein a phase structure, grating structure or a non-periodical structure, is configured may be chosen such that they have the same refractive index. In the discrete state of the unit wherein the first liquid is positioned in optically active portion of the unit and fills the phase structure, this structure does no longer introduce phase shifts in an incident beam. In the second discrete state of the unit wherein the second medium fills the phase structure, this structure introduces phase shift in the incident beam. In this way the function of the phase structure can be switched off and on by moving the polar liquid in and out the central portion of a unit comprising such a phase structure. This embodiment of the switchable optical unit can be used, for example, in an optical head for scanning an optical record carrier wherein a read beam should be split into three beams, whilst a writing beam, which may have the same wavelength as the reading beam, should not be split.
A phase structure shown in
The nature of the present switchable optical unit allows incorporating in this unit two different phase structures, grating structures or non-periodical structures, whereby each of these structure is switched by its own, first electrode. For
A lens system wherein the invention is implemented such as the lens system of
The mobile phone 320 is provided with a miniature camera 332 comprising a lens system as described herein before with respect to
Usually, lens systems in miniature camera's for mobile phones have a fixed focus and are of the Tele type, which means that these systems form a sharp image on the sensor of an object or scene, which is at a large distance from the camera. By including a lens system provided with a liquid switching system according the invention, the camera can be switched between Tele mode and Macro mode so that also an object or scene at a short distance from the camera can be sharply imaged on the sensor.
Other hand-held apparatus wherein the invention may be implemented is a personal digital assistant PDA, a pocket computer and an electronic toy, wherein miniature cameras are built-in.
The invention may also be used in non-built-in cameras, like cameras for desktop computers, cameras for intercom systems and pocket-sized and other-size cameras, for example digital cameras. The camera may be a still-picture (photo) camera or a video camera. For the invention it is irrelevant whether the camera uses a film or an electronic sensor.
The optical record carrier comprises a transparent layer 352, on one side of which at least one information layer 354 is arranged. The record carrier may comprise a number of information layers arranged at different depths within the record carrier as will be described later using
Information may be stored in the information layer 354, or information layers of the optical record carrier in the form of optically detectable marks arranged in substantially parallel, concentric or spiral tracks, not indicated in
The optical head 360 includes a radiation source unit 362, preferably a semiconductor laser unit, which in its most simple form emits one radiation beam 364 of a given wavelength, corresponding to a given type of record carrier. The radiation beam is divergent and emitted towards a lens system. This lens system includes a collimator lens 366 and an objective lens 370 arranged along an optical axis 372. The objective lens is represented as a single lens element, but may comprise two or more lens elements depending on amongst others the size of the spot to be formed in the information layer 354. The collimator lens transforms the divergent beam 364 into a substantially collimated beam 374. The objective lens 370 transform the incident radiation beam 382 into a converging beam 376 having a selected numerical aperture (NA), which beam comes to a focal spot 380 in the information layer 354.
By rotating the record carrier around an axis (not shown) parallel to the plane of drawing of
For reading of the information plane use is made of beam radiation that is reflected by the record carrier. This radiation, which is denoted by reference numeral 390 travels along the same path back and part of it is reflected to a beam splitter 388 towards a radiation-sensitive detection unit 384. This radiation is converged by a second collimator lens 386. The detection unit converts the incident, information carrying radiation into electrical signals, from which data signals and control signals including focus error signals and tracking error signals can be derived. The error signals are used to adjust the axial position and the radial of the spot 380.
To keep the spot on the track to be scanned, usually a track servo system is used, which comprises a so-called three spots grating 392, i.e. a grating that splits the beam 364 from the laser unit 362 into a main beam, which is used for scanning, and two auxiliary beams. The auxiliary beams are focused in the information layer to satellite spots, which, in the radial direction, are positioned at different sides of the main spot formed by the main beam. By comparing the signals obtained from the satellite spots it can be determined whether there is a deviation between the centre of the main spot and the centre line of the track to be scanned and measures can be taken to correct this.
Since for writing data substantially more radiation energy is needed than for reading date, it may be required for an optical head for writing and reading to have a three-spot grating in the radiation path only during reading. There is thus a need for a three-spot grating that can be switched on and off. To meet this need a switchable grating unit as shown in
Another aspect of a write and read optical head is that if the laser energy is switched from read level to write level and vice versa, the wavelength of the laser beam changes. Since a diffraction element present in an optical head, for example a three spot grating is sensitive for a shift of the wavelength of the beam, this result of such switching is that path of the write beam is different from that of the read beam. This problem can be solved by replacing the conventional diffraction grating by a switchable grating unit 392 having two discrete “on” states. This grating unit comprises a switchable liquid system described with respect to
Currently data can be stored in information layers of optical record carriers having different formats, such as compact discs (CDs), which are available, inter alia, as CD-A (CD-audio), CD-ROM (CD-read only memory), CD-R (CD recordable) and CD-RW (CD re-writable), and digital versatile discs (DVDs) in the same types as CDs, and so-called Small Form Factor Optical (SFFO) discs. To avoid customers having to purchase different devices for reading or writing date from or to CD types or DVD types record carriers; it is desirable for a single optical head to be capable of scanning optical record carriers of different formats. The apparatus (player) comprising such an optical head is known as combi-player.
However this aim is not easy to accomplish as the different record carrier formats and the associated optical heads have different characteristics. For example, CDs are designed to be scanned with a laser beam having a wavelength of about 785 nm and a numerical aperture of 0.45. DVDs, on the other hand, are designed to be scanned with a laser beam having a wavelength in the region of 650 nm and a numerical aperture of 0.6 (for reading) and 0.65 (for writing).
The radiation source unit of the optical head for a combi player should emit a laser beam with a wavelength of 785 nm, which beam may be called a LD (low density) beam, and a laser beam having a wavelength of 650 nm, which beam may be called a HD (high density) beam, which beams should follow the same optical path through the optical head. In case both beams should be diffracted by, for example a three-spot, diffraction grating, for this purpose the diffraction grating described with respect to
For generating laser beams having different wavelengths, for example 785 nm and 650 nm two separate diode lasers could be used. Currently duo lasers, which comprise two laser radiation-generating slits in one encapsulation are available, which are suitable for use in a combi head. Even if such a duo laser is used, the laser emitting slits are shifted with respect to each other and consequently the two laser beams would travel along different path through the combi head. This problem can be solved by arranging a diffraction element, which acts as a deflection element, close to the radiation source unit 362, which elements deflects one of the laser beams so that its axis coincides with that of the other laser beam. Such a deflection element should act only on one of the laser beams and should be switched off if the other laser beam is used. Depending on the design of the detection system 384, different detector elements are provided for the two beams or not, such a diffractive beam deflector may also be used at the side of the detection system. The switchable grating described with reference to
Another and important aspect of a combi head is that the same objective system should focus the laser beams of substantially different wavelength to scanning spots having different sizes. Moreover, optical record carriers having different formats differ in the thickness of the transparent substrate 352, which typically acts as a protective layer of the disc and as a result the depth of the information layer from the entrance face of the record carrier varies with the record carrier format. For example, the information layer depth for DVDs is about 0.6 mm, whereas the information layer depth for CDs is about 1.2 mm. The spherical aberration incurred by the radiation beam traversing the protective layer is generally compensated in an objective lens of the optical head.
As a result of the different characteristics for different format record carriers, problems may result if it is attempted to read data, for example, from a record carrier with an optical head that has been optimised for another, different format record carrier. For example, large amount of spherical aberration and a non-negligible amount of spherochromatism can be caused if a record carrier of one format is read with an objective lens that has been optimised for a record carrier of another format.
The said problems become more manifest with the advent of the Blu-Ray™ record carrier, which has recently been announced following the advent of the blue diode laser that emit radiation at a significantly shorter wavelength, for example 405 nm, than the red diode laser used to read or write data from or to conventional DVDs. Because of its shorter wavelength, a blue laser beam can form a smaller scanning spot in the information layer of the record carrier, and hence the information marks and tracks of A Blu-Ray™ record carriers can be more closely spaced than those of conventional DVDs. This means that Blu-Ray™ record carriers have a greater storage capacity than conventional DVDs. An optical head capable of scanning CD-, DVD- and Blu-Ray™ record carriers should comprise a 785 nm laser, a 650 nm laser and a 405 nm laser.
For scanning different format record carriers with a single objective lens system, it has been proposed to use a lens system that comprises in addition to refractive surfaces also a phase structure. International patent application WO 02/082437 describes such an objective lens, which phase structure comprises a plurality of phase elements of different heights which when viewed in profile are arranged as a series of steps. The different heights of the phase elements are related and arranged so as to produce a desired wavefront modification of the radiation beam of a specific wavelength for reading an information layer of a specific format. The phase structures involved are of a complex nature, the phase elements having a large range of different heights. Such phase structures are difficult to design and manufacture to a level at which high optical efficiency for each wavelength is achieved. Moreover they are expensive to manufacture, which renders an objective lens system with such a phase structure too expensive for a consumer product.
According to the present invention a wavefront modifier 368 in the form of the switchable phase structure described with reference to
Dependent on its purpose the phase structure of the wavefront modifier may be a periodic or a non-periodic structure. For different embodiments of the phase structure itself and the capabilities of a switchable phase structure, reference is made to the previously filed PCT patent application WO 2004/027490 which, with respects to these aspects, is incorporated herewith by reference. The switchable grating unit of the previous patent application differs from the present one in that a fluid switching system is used wherein the fluid chamber forms the optically active portion of the unit and for moving fluids to and from the chamber an external guide is used. In the fluid switching system of the present invention the optically active portion of the unit forms only a portion of the fluid chamber and the fluids always remain in this chamber, which makes the switchable phase structure unit considerably simpler and enlarges its practical applications.
Instead of in a separate wavefront modifier (368) the switchable phase structure may also be incorporated in the refractive lens system, which means that one or more phase structures are integrated with one or more of the refractive surfaces of the lens system.
a and 7b show a cross-sectional view of a switchable optical unit 501 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
With an exception of features which will be described below, the embodiment shown using
The switchable optical unit 501 is formed of a first and a second solid element 502, 504 formed, in this example of glass. A first chamber wall 506 and a second chamber wall 508 are opposite each other and an entire surface of each wall is planar. The planar surface of both the first and second chamber walls 506 and 508 is exposed to the first liquid 418 and to the second medium 419. Part of the first and second chamber walls 506, 508 is situated within the optically active portion 408 of the liquid chamber 410. In this embodiment the first liquid 418 is, for example, salted water which is polar and which has a refractive index of 1.33 and the second medium 419 is, for example, air.
In accordance with this embodiment, the electrode configuration is different to that described for earlier embodiments. It is envisaged that this different electrode configuration can be used as an alternative to the electrode configuration of earlier described embodiments
The electrode configuration comprises a first electrode 509 which is planar, circular and which is arranged on a central portion of the first chamber wall 506. This first electrode 508 defines the optically active portion 408, which a radiation beam incident on the unit 501 passes through. A second electrode 510 is flat and annular and surrounds the first electrode 509. The second electrode 510 is also arranged on the first chamber wall 506. An insulating gap 512, formed of an insulating material such as Teflon™AF 1600 produced by DuPont™ separates the first electrode 509 and the second electrode 510. A third electrode 514 is planar, circular and is arranged on the second chamber wall 508 to occupy both the optically active portion 408 and at least some of an area surrounding the optically active portion 408. The first electrode 509 and the third electrode 514 are for example formed of the transparent and electrically conductive material ITO. The second electrode 510 is formed of, for example, a metallic material.
The third electrode 514 is permanently connected to the first output 432 of the voltage source 430. The second output 434 of this source can be connected to either the first electrode 509, via the switch 440 and the conductor 442, or the second electrode 510, via the switch 436 and the conductor 438.
An inner surface, which is exposed to the chamber 410, of the third electrode 514 has a hydrophobic layer 515 which is formed of a hydrophobic material, for example Teflon™AF 1600 produced by DuPont™. This material is electrically insulating, however, the layer 515 is of a sufficiently small thickness such that when a voltage is applied to the third electrode 514, electricity conducts across the layer 515 from the third electrode 514 to the first liquid 418 so that the first liquid 418 is in electrical contact with the third electrode 514. Additionally, an inner surface, which is exposed to the chamber 410, of an insulating layer 511 which lies between both the first and second electrodes 509, 510 and the chamber 410, is coated with a hydrophobic coating 513 formed of a hydrophobic material such as Teflon™ AF 1600 produced by DuPont™.
This electrode configuration, together with the voltage control system 430, 436, 438, 440, 442 form a fluid system switch. This fluid system acts upon the described fluid system comprising the first liquid 418 and the second medium 419 in order to switch between first and second discrete states of the switchable unit 501
With a similar arrangement to earlier embodiments, in a first discrete state of the unit 501, shown in
In order to switch from the first discrete state to the second discrete state, switch 436 is moved to the second output 434 of the voltage source and switch 440 is moved to the ground electrode 441 so that a voltage of an appropriate value, for example V, is applied across the second electrode 510 and the third electrode 514, whilst no voltage is applied to the first electrode 509.
The switchable optical unit 501 is now in the second discrete state, in which the first liquid 418 fills the chamber space between the second electrode 510 and the third electrode 514 as a result of electrowetting forces provided by the applied voltage. Due to the applied voltage, part of the hydrophobic coating 513 at the position of the second electrode 510 is now at least relatively hydrophilic and tends to attract the first liquid 418. This liquid moves to fill the chamber space between the second electrode 510 and the part of the third electrode 514 outside the optically active portion 408 and displaces the second medium 419 towards the chamber space of the optically active portion of the unit 501. Since no voltage is applied to the first electrode 509, part of the hydrophobic coating 513 between the first electrode 509 and the chamber 410 remains highly hydrophobic.
Movement of the polar liquid in and out the optically active portion 408 of the unit 501 allows the refractive index of the optically active portion 408 to be switched between two values.
The manufacture of the switchable optical unit described in this embodiment is relatively simple and efficient due to, in part, the chamber walls and the electrodes of the configuration of electrodes being flat.
In a further embodiment, it is anticipated that the unit 501, as just described, includes chamber side portions 419, as described in previous embodiments. Additionally, the switchable optical unit 501 is not limited to having an electrode configuration in accordance with those of described embodiments. Further embodiments are envisaged having different electrode configurations which may include electrodes having different shapes and/or different numbers of electrodes.
In another envisaged embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the first and the second chamber wall 506, 508 is not limited to being entirely planar. In one alternative, only a portion of the surface of each chamber wall which lies within the optically active region is planar.
When the switchable optical unit described using
In this embodiment, features and elements of the optical head, of the scanning of the optical record carrier 516, and of the switchable optical unit, described with reference to
Referring to
In this embodiment the record carrier is a disc of a Small Form Factor Optical (SFFO) format which has a diameter of, for example, 3 cm. In this example, a thickness of the first transparent layer 518 is 75 μm and a thickness of the second transparent layer 520 is 25 μm. Each thickness is taken along a direction parallel the optical axis 1372.
The optical head according to this embodiment includes an objective system 525 which includes an objective lens 526 and a switchable optical unit 1501 which is similar to that described using
With the switchable optical unit 1501 of the objective system 525 being in the first discrete state, as shown in
Referring now to
When scanning the first information layer 522, the first transparent layer 518 introduces an amount of spherical aberration into the focused radiation beam. In order for the radiation beam to be accurately focused to the scanning spot 1380, the objective system 525 including the switchable optical unit 1501 in the first discrete state introduces an amount of spherical aberration into the incident radiation beam 1382. The amount of this spherical aberration is of approximately the same amount as the spherical aberration introduced by the first transparent layer 518, but of an opposite sign, so that the spherical aberration introduced by the first transparent layer 518 is corrected.
When scanning the second information layer 524, an amount of spherical aberration is introduced into the focused radiation beam by both the first and second transparent layers 518 and 520. This amount of spherical aberration is different to that introduced into the radiation beam whilst scanning the first information layer 522. With the switchable optical unit 1501 being in the second discrete state and in a similar manner to that described for scanning of the first information layer 522, an amount of spherical aberration is introduced into the incident radiation beam 1382 by the objective system 525 including the switchable optical unit 1501 in the second discrete state. The amount of this spherical aberration is of approximately the same amount as the spherical aberration introduced by the layers of the optical record carrier 518, but is of an opposite sign, so that the spherical aberration is corrected.
In this example, the first information layer 522 and the second information layer 524 lie within the record carrier 516 at a depth from the entrance surface 1358, in a direction parallel the optical axis OA, of approximately 75 μm and 100 μm, respectively. The amount of spherical aberration introduced into the beam by the switchable optical unit 1501 is a function of a thickness of the chamber 1410, in a direction parallel the optical axis 1372, and of the refractive index of the first liquid 1418 or the second medium 1419, depending whether the unit 1501 is in the first or the second discrete state, respectively. The unit 1501 needs to be constructed in accordance with these parameters to ensure that the necessary amount of spherical aberration is introduced into the radiation beam 1382. In this example the thickness of the chamber 1410 is 25 μm, the first liquid 1418 is salted water having a refractive index of 1.33 and the second medium 1419 is air.
The optical head described with reference to
In the embodiment described previously using
Furthermore, in the embodiment described using
In addition to the applications described herein above, the invention may be used, generally, in all optical systems, being refractive or diffractive or a combination of these, wherein switching of optical behaviour, for example optical power, is required to enlarge the capabilities of such systems. In general, the invention may also be used in optical systems, which can be designed and manufactured if elements of these can be switched into two or more discrete states.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0407233.6 | Mar 2004 | GB | national |
| 04105392.7 | Oct 2004 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2005/050957 | 3/21/2005 | WO | 00 | 9/26/2006 |
