Nanovoided tunable optics

US11107972B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Facebook Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Kenneth Diest · Kirkland, US
• Andrew John Ouderkirk · Kirkland, US
• Robin Sharma · Redmond, US
• Tanya Malhotra · Redmond, US
• Barry D. Silverstein · Menlo Park, US
• Christopher Yuan Ting Liao · Seattle, US
• Erik Shipton · Kenmore, US
• Gregory Olegovic Andreev · Kirkland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 30, 2019
• Grant date: Aug 31, 2021
• Expiry date: Jun 5, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F2202/022
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical element includes a nanovoided polymer layer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Compression or expansion of the nanovoided polymer layer, for instance, can be used to reversibly control the size and shape of the nanovoids within the polymer layer and hence tune its refractive index over a range of values, e.g., during operation of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.