Variable power endoscope based on liquid lens technology

US9795281B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Adlens Beacon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Amitava Gupta · Seattle, US
• Urban Schnell · Münchenbuchsee, CH
• William Egan · Jackson, US
• Lisa Nibauer · Short Hills, US
• Frank Stangota · Bound Brook, US
• Julien Sauvet · Lyss, CH
• Michel Saint-Ghislain · Köniz, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 1, 2011
• Grant date: Oct 24, 2017
• Expiry date: Dec 1, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02C7/085
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An endoscope realized as either a borescope or a fiberscope including one or more fluid filled lenses is described. In an embodiment, the optical power of the fluid filled lenses may be adjusted to adjust the focal length associated with the endoscope. Thus, variable working distances are allowable while maintaining focus on an object in front of the endoscope. The endoscope may include a distance sensor, which is used to determine a distance between the endoscope and a sample. A processor may compare the measured distance to the current optical power of the one or more sealed fluid filled lenses. The processor may transmit signals to one or more actuators coupled to one or more sealed fluid filed lenses to change the optical power of the one or more sealed fluid filled lenses based on the comparison.