Method of fabricating liquid lens using electrowetting and liquid lens fabricated thereby

Abstract

A method of fabricating a liquid lens which can prevent unstable movement of liquids while sealing a hole containing the liquids by applying voltage to a chamber containing the liquids to induce electrowetting, and a liquid lens fabricated thereby. The method includes providing a chamber with a hole formed therein for containing liquid and injecting two non-miscible liquids with different refractive indices. The method also includes placing a conductive transparent plate to be in contact with the liquid on the top and applying voltage to the conductive transparent plate and the chamber to induce electrowetting, thereby changing the shape of meniscus between the two liquids. The method further includes covering an upper surface of the chamber with the conductive transparent plate to seal the hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional method of fabricating a liquid lens, in which liquids are filled in a hole of a chamber;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the conventional method of fabricating a liquid lens, in which an upper transparent plate is attached to contact electrolyte;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the conventional method of fabricating a liquid lens, in which the upper transparent plate is attached to an upper surface of the chamber to seal the hole of the chamber;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the exemplary method of fabricating a liquid, in which an upper transparent plate is attached to contact electrolyte;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the exemplary method of fabricating a liquid lens, in which voltage is applied to the upper transparent plate and a chamber to induce electrowetting; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the exemplary method of fabricating a liquid lens, in which the upper transparent plate is attached to an upper surface of the chamber to seal the hole of the chamber.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a liquid lens comprising steps of: providing a chamber with a hole formed therein for containing liquid;injecting two liquids in a stacked structure, the two liquids being non-miscible and having different refractive indices;placing a conductive transparent plate to be in contact with the liquid on the top;applying voltage to the conductive transparent plate and the chamber to induce electrowetting, thereby changing the shape of meniscus between the two liquids;covering an upper surface of the chamber with the conductive transparent plate to seal the hole.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying voltage causes the meniscus of the two liquids to be horizontally flat or upwardly convexed with a lower peripheral portion.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising additionally injecting at least one of the liquids in the hole after inducing electrowetting.

4. A liquid lens comprising: a chamber having an inner wall to provide a hole for containing liquid;two liquids in a stacked structure, which are non-miscible and have different refractive indices; anda conductive transparent plate for covering the upper surface of the chamber to seal the hole.