Variable illumination apparatus
US8408754B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 2010 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF21Y2103/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A variable illumination apparatus includes: a first substrate; a second substrate opposed to the first substrate with a predetermined gap therebetween; a surrounding wall that is disposed between the first and second substrates, has a first opening and a second opening opposed to each other, and has an inner side surface that is tapered toward the second opening from the first opening; a partition wall to partition a liquid chamber formed by the first substrate, the second substrate, and the surrounding wall into regions, the partition wall being vertical to the first substrate and the second substrate; a liquid lens having a lens surface that is formed at an interface between two liquids and is electrically deformable, the two liquids being accommodated in each of the regions and each having a different refractive index; and a light source to irradiate light to the liquid lens from the first opening side.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.