The present invention relates to the use of a bromine anion in the conductive fluid of an optical electrowetting device, especially a variable focus optical lens driven by electrowetting. The invention also pertains to a multi-phase liquid composition comprising a bromine anion, as well as an optical lens driven by electrowetting comprising the same.
Description
FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-section view of a variable-focus liquid lens according to the invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates the effect on the turbidity of the non-conducting fluid, depending on the types of salts used in the conducting fluid.
Claims
1. A method of making an optical electrowetting device, comprising incorporating into an electrowetting structure a conductive fluid comprising a bromine anion.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrowetting device comprises an optical lens driven by electrowetting.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bromine anion comprises an organic or inorganic bromine salt.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the bromine salt is selected from the group consisting of an alkali bromide an alkaline-earth bromide zinc bromide, mixtures thereof.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the bromine salt is lithium bromide or sodium bromide.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive fluid has substantially no turbidity upon and after thermal stress.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the bromine anion is added in an amount sufficient to provide a freezing-point lowering effect.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the bromine anion is added in an amount sufficient to provide a non-corrosive effect.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical electrowetting device comprises a conductive fluid and a non-conductive fluid that is immiscible in the conductive fluid, and wherein the bromine anion is added in an amount sufficient to provide a density-adjusting effect in the conductive fluid with respect to the density of the non conductive fluid.
10. A composition comprising water, a bromine anion and a freezing-point lowering agent.
11. A composition of claim 10, wherein the bromine anion is an organic or inorganic bromine salt.
12. A composition of claim 10 further comprising a viscosity-adjusting agent.
13. A composition of claim 10 further comprising a biocide agent.
14. A composition of claim 10 comprising:
0.5 weight % to 25 weight % of a bromine salt;5 weight % to 60 weight % of a freezing-point lowering agent;0 weight % to 50 weight % of a viscosity-adjusting agent;0 weight % to 1 weight % of a biocide agent; andwater in a quantity sufficient to 100 weight %.
15. A composition of claim 10 comprising:
1.0 weight % to 20 weight % of a bromine salt;10 weight % to 50 weight % of a freezing-point lowering agent;0 weight % to 40 weight % of a viscosity-adjusting agent;0 weight % to 0.5 weight % of a biocide agent; andwater in a quantity sufficient to 100 weight %.
16. A multi-phase liquid composition comprising a conductive fluid and a non-conductive fluid that is immiscible in the conductive fluid, wherein the conductive fluid comprises a bromine salt.
17. A multi-phase composition of claim 16, wherein the conductive fluid further comprises water and a freezing-point lowering agent.
18. A multi-phase composition of claim 16, wherein the non-conductive fluid being immiscible in the conductive fluid, the multi-phase composition has a cinematic viscosity of between 1.5 cSt and 40 cSt, within the temperature range of −20° C. to +70° C.
19. The multi-phase composition of claim 18, having a cinematic viscosity of between 1.5 cSt and 20 cSt, within the temperature range of −20° C. to +70° C.
20. The multi-phase composition of claim 16, wherein the difference of viscosity between the conductive fluid and the non-conductive fluid is comprised between 0 cSt and ±10 cSt, within the temperature range of −20° C. to +70° C.
21. An optical electrowetting device comprising a conductive fluid and a non-conductive fluid that is immiscible in the conductive fluid, wherein the conductive fluid comprises a bromine anion.
22. The optical electrowetting device of claim 21, wherein the conductive fluid further comprises water and a freezing-point lowering agent.
23. The optical electrowetting device of claim 21 that is variable focus liquid lens, or an optical diaphragm, an optical zoom.
24. The optical electrowetting device of claim 21 which is a lens driven by electrowetting.
25. An apparatus comprising an optical electrowetting device of claim 21 and a driver or electronic means for controlling the interface.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, which is a camera, a cell phone, an endoscope, a telemeter or a dental video camera.
Patent Application
20070179201
