Patent · US Active

Liquid lens and apparatus incorporating the same

US8373931B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by

0References

16Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha · JP

Inventors

Shoichi Yamazaki · Yokohama, JP
Shintetsu Go · Yokohama, JP
Ryo Ogawa · Kuki, JP

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 10, 2011
Grant date	Feb 12, 2013
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Aug 10, 2031

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG02B26/005
WIPO fieldOptics
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A liquid lens includes a vessel having an inner wall and configured to contain liquid, an electrolyte liquid and a non-electrolyte liquid forming an interface therebetween and being contained in the vessel, and a voltage applying unit which applies a voltage to the electrolyte liquid. A shape of the interface between the electrolyte liquid and the non-electrolyte liquid is changed by application of the voltage. The inner wall of the vessel has varying affinity with the non-electrolyte liquid depending on a position on the inner wall where an end of the interface contacts the inner wall; and the affinity on the side of the inner wall where the non-electrolyte liquid is situated is lower than the affinity on the side of the inner wall where the electrolyte liquid is situated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.