Apparatuses, systems, and methods for adjusting fluid lenses

US10754145B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Facebook Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Andrew John Ouderkirk · Kirkland, US
• Katherine Marie Smyth · Seattle, US
• John Cooke · Bothell, US
• Matthew Hancock · Newton, US
• Karol Constantine Hatzilias · Kenmore, US
• Lu Lu · Kirkland, US
• Nagi Hosni Elabbasi · Framingham, US
• Robin Sharma · Redmond, US
• Behnam Bastani · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 14, 2018
• Grant date: Aug 25, 2020
• Expiry date: Mar 5, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B2027/0187
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus may include an adjustable fluid lens that includes a deformable element and a fluid that is substantially transparent and that is contained at least in part by the deformable element. The apparatus may additionally include a sensor that detects a property of the fluid that indicates a viscosity of the fluid. The apparatus may further include a control element that regulates, based at least in part on the property of the fluid, a speed with which to apply a deforming force to the deformable element. Additionally, the apparatus may include an actuator that adjusts an optical property of the adjustable fluid lens by applying the deforming force to the deformable element at the regulated speed. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.