18077478. BI-CYLINDRICAL PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATED OPTICAL LENS simplified abstract (Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC)

BI-CYLINDRICAL PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATED OPTICAL LENS

Organization Name

Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC

Inventor(s)

Nagi Elabbasi of Southborough MA (US)

Christopher Yuan Ting Liao of Seattle WA (US)

Jonathan Robert Peterson of Woodinville WA (US)

Sheng Ye of Redmond WA (US)

Eugene Cho of Seattle WA (US)

Spencer Allan Wells of Seattle WA (US)

Andrew John Ouderkirk of Kirkland WA (US)

Emma Mullen of Seattle WA (US)

BI-CYLINDRICAL PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATED OPTICAL LENS - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18077478 titled 'BI-CYLINDRICAL PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATED OPTICAL LENS

Simplified Explanation

The liquid lens described in the patent application consists of flexible transparent active layers on both sides of a fluid, which can be deformed along two distinct axes using piezoelectric materials that respond to applied voltage(s). The arrangement of the piezoelectric properties and actuation mechanism allows for cylindrical deformation along different axes, resulting in a net spherical deformation or a combination of spherical and cylindrical deformation with minimal distortion compared to traditional methods.

• The liquid lens includes flexible transparent active layers with piezoelectric materials.
• The active layers can deform the lens cylindrically along different axes.
• The deformation results in a net spherical deformation or a combination of spherical and cylindrical deformation with reduced distortion.
• The active layers may be polymer or ceramic with isotropic or anisotropic mechanical stiffness.
• Alternatively, a pair of transparent internal layers can be positioned between the front and rear surfaces.

Potential Applications

The technology can be used in various optical devices such as cameras, microscopes, and medical imaging equipment.

Problems Solved

The technology solves the problem of distortion in liquid lenses, providing a more accurate and reliable spherical deformation.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved image quality, enhanced optical performance, and increased flexibility in lens design.

Potential Commercial Applications

The technology can be applied in the manufacturing of high-quality camera lenses, medical imaging devices, and other optical instruments.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art is the use of piezoelectric materials in deformable lenses, but the specific arrangement and control of deformation axes described in this patent application may be novel.

Unanswered Questions

How does the performance of the liquid lens compare to traditional lenses in terms of image quality and distortion?

The article does not provide a direct comparison between the performance of the liquid lens and traditional lenses in terms of image quality and distortion.

Are there any limitations or constraints in the implementation of this technology in practical applications?

The article does not address any potential limitations or constraints that may arise in the practical implementation of this technology in various optical devices.

Original Abstract Submitted

A liquid lens with flexible transparent active layers on both sides of a fluid is transformed along two distinct deformation axes. The flexible transparent active layers include piezoelectric materials that actuate the lens in response to applied voltage(s). The piezoelectric properties and actuation mechanism of the transparent layers are arranged to deform the lens cylindrically along different axes resulting in a net spherical deformation or a combination of spherical and cylindrical deformation with substantially less distortion than spherically deforming layers. The piezoelectric active layers may be polymer or ceramic with isotropic or anisotropic mechanical stiffness. Alternatively, a pair of transparent, internal layers are positioned between the front and rear surfaces. The active layers, front and/or rear, are dual layers affixed together with an adhesive or single layers.