Variable focus lens having a plurality of protrusions at one end of fluid chamber

Abstract

The present invention relates to a variable focus lens including a fluid chamber containing first and second fluids which are non-miscible and have different refractive indices, the fluid chamber having a plurality of protrusions formed along a circumference of one open end thereof. The variable focus lens also includes a transparent plate attached to the open end of the chamber via a sealing with a predetermined interval from the protrusions. The variable focus lens further includes a first electrode disposed inside the chamber to act on the first fluid and a second electrode disposed inside the chamber and is insulated from the first fluid. The invention allows an easy manufacturing process without bubble formation, and eliminates entry and formation of bubbles due to external changes such as in temperature and pressure, thereby allowing good performance of the lens regardless of external environmental changes.

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:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are sectional views illustrating structure and operations of a variable focus lens according to the prior art;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the problems with the variable focus lens according to the prior art;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views illustrating the shape and effects of meniscus of the variable focus lens according to the prior art;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of a variable focus lens according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a fluid region of the variable focus lens shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of a variable focus lens according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a variable focus lens according to further another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11 to 13 are sectional views illustrating the shape and effects of meniscus of the variable focus lens shown in FIG. 10;

FIGS. 14 a to 15 are sectional views illustrating variations of a plurality of protrusions of the variable focus lens shown in FIG. 10; and

FIGS. 16 and 17 are sectional views illustrating two types of electrodes formed in the variable focus lens shown in FIG. 9.

Claims

1. A variable focus lens comprising: a fluid chamber containing first and second fluids which are non-miscible and have different refractive indices, the fluid chamber having a plurality of protrusions formed along a circumference of one open end thereof;a transparent plate attached to the open end of the chamber via a sealing with a predetermined interval from the protrusions;a first electrode disposed inside the chamber to act on the first fluid; anda second electrode disposed inside the chamber and is insulated from the first fluid.

2. The variable focus lens according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is made of a transparent material, and has a closed end with a predetermined thickness opposing to the open end.

3. The variable focus lens according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid is conductive and the second fluid is non-conductive.

4. The variable focus lens according to claim 1, wherein each of the protrusions has a sectional shape of one selected from a group consisting of a triangle, a rectangle and a trapezoid.

5. The variable focus lens according to claim 1, further comprising a second transparent plate attached to the other end of the chamber.

6. The variable focus lens according to claim 1, wherein an innermost one and a next one of the plurality of protrusions form a space with a dimension corresponding to 1% of a total volume of the first and second fluids.