Liquid lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12124103-B2
Application number	US-201917283303-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2019
Priority date	Oct 9, 2018
Publication date	Oct 22, 2024
Grant date	Oct 22, 2024

Abstract

A liquid lens system includes a liquid lens and a heating device disposed in, on, or near the liquid lens. The liquid lens system can include a temperature sensor. The heating device can be responsive to a temperature signal generated by the temperature sensor. A camera module can include the liquid lens system. A method of operating a liquid lens includes detecting a temperature of the liquid lens and heating the liquid lens in response to the detected temperature. Various embodiments disclosed herein can reduce, impede, or prevent crosstalk between components of the liquid lens, or the effects thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid lens comprising:
a chamber;
a first fluid contained in the chamber;
a second fluid contained in the chamber;
a fluid interface between the first fluid and the second fluid;
one or more first electrodes insulated from the first and second fluids;
a second electrode in electrical communication with the first fluid, wherein a position of the fluid interface is based at least in part on voltage applied between the first and second electrodes;
a temperature sensor;
a heater; and
a layer of conductive material that is segmented such that the heater, the temperature sensor, and the portion of the one or more first electrodes are disposed in the layer of conductive material with insulating barriers separating the heater, the temperature sensor, and the one or more first electrodes,
wherein the temperature sensor is coplanar with at least a portion of one of (a) the one or more first electrodes or (b) the second electrode; and
wherein the heater is coplanar with at least a portion of one of (a) the one or more first electrodes or (b) the second electrode.

2. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein:
the temperature sensor is coplanar with the heater; and
each of the temperature sensor and the heater is coplanar with at least a portion of the one or more first electrodes.

3. The liquid lens of claim 1 , comprising:
an intermediate layer comprising a tapered cavity having a wide end and a narrow end;
a first outer layer bonded to the intermediate layer at the wide end of the tapered cavity; and
a second outer layer bonded to the intermediate layer at the narrow end of the tapered cavity;
wherein each of the heater, the temperature sensor, and the portion of the one or more first electrodes is disposed between the intermediate layer and the second outer layer.

4. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is insulated from the one or more first electrodes by at least about 0.1 gigaohm.

5. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor or heater is insulated from the one or more first electrodes by a distance of at least about 30 microns.

6. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the temperature sensor or the heater is AC coupled to ground.

7. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein the liquid lens is configured to impede crosstalk between at least one of the temperature sensor or the heater and the one or more first electrodes.

8. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the temperature sensor or the heater is coupled to electrical circuitry comprising at least one capacitor between the respective temperature sensor or heater and ground; and
the at least one capacitor is configured to pass signals of the respective temperature sensor or heater to ground while impeding a crosstalk signal from the one or more first electrodes.

9. The liquid lens of claim 8 , wherein the at least one capacitor is integrated into the liquid lens.

10. The liquid lens of claim 8 , wherein the at least one capacitor comprises a first capacitor on a signal side of circuitry coupled to the respective temperature sensor or heater and a second capacitor on a reference side of the circuitry coupled to the respective temperature sensor or heater.

11. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein:
the liquid lens comprises driver circuitry configured to produce rectangle wave driving signals; and
the liquid lens comprises one or more snubbers.

12. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the temperature sensor or the heater is coupled to electrical circuitry; and
the respective temperature sensor or heater is configured to use a floating voltage that is not grounded.

13. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is a capacitive temperature sensor.

14. The liquid lens of claim 13 , wherein:
the capacitive temperature sensor comprises a first conductive pathway and a second conductive pathway spaced apart from the first conductive pathway; and
a fluid contained in a chamber between the first conductive pathway and the second conductive pathway;
wherein the fluid of the capacitive temperature sensor is the same as the first fluid of the liquid lens.

15. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is an inductive temperature sensor.

16. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is a resistive temperature sensor.

17. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein:
the heater comprises a continuous area of conductive material and three electrical contact pads;
a first electrical contact pad is coupled to a first heater driving signal;
a second electrical contact pad is coupled to ground;
a third electrical contact pad is coupled to a second heater driving signal;
the second electrical contact pad is positioned between the first electrical contact pad and the third electrical contact pad;
a first heating element of the heater extends from the first electrical contact pad to the second electrical contact pad; and
a second heating element of the heater extends from the third electrical contact pad to the second electrical contact pad.

18. The liquid lens of claim 1 , wherein:
the heater comprises a continuous area of conductive material and three electrical contact pads;
a first electrical contact pad is coupled to ground;
a second electrical contact pad is coupled to a heater driving signal;
a third electrical contact pad is coupled to ground;
the second electrical contact pad is positioned between the first electrical contact pad and the third electrical contact pad;
a first heating element of the heater extends from the first electrical contact pad to the second electrical contact pad; and
a second heating element of the heater extends from the third electrical contact pad to the second electrical contact pad.

19. A liquid lens comprising:
a chamber;
a first fluid contained in the chamber;
a second fluid contained in the chamber;
a fluid interface between the first fluid and the second fluid;
one or more first electrodes insulated from the first and second fluids;
a second electrode in electrical communication with the first fluid, wherein a position of the fluid interface is based at least in part on voltage applied between the first and second electrodes;
an intermediate layer comprising a tapered cavity having a wide end and a narrow end;
a first outer layer bonded to the intermediate layer at the wide end of the tapered cavity;
a second outer layer bonded to the intermediate layer at the narrow end of the tapered cavity, wherein each of the heater, the temperature sensor, and the portion of the one or more first electrodes is disposed between the intermediate layer and the second outer layer;
a temperature sensor; and
a heater;
wherein the temperature sensor is coplanar with at least a portion of one of (a) the one or more first electrodes or (b) the second electrode; and
wherein the heater is coplanar with at least a portion of one of (a) the one or more first electrodes or (b) the second electrode.

20. A liquid lens comprising:
a chamber;
a first fluid contained in the chamber;
a second fluid contained in the chamber;
a fluid interface between the first fluid and the second fluid;
one or more first electrodes insulated from the first and second fluids;
a second electrode in electrical communication with the first fluid, wherein a position of the fluid interface is based at least in part on voltage applied between the first and second ele

Assignees

• Corning Inc
• Lg Innotek Co Ltd

Inventors

• Karam Raymond Miller
• Ricketts Daniel Ohen
• Ying Ming

Classifications

• H05B2203/021

  Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids · CPC title

• H05B3/84

  Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields · CPC title

• H05B3/10

  Heating elements characterised by the composition or nature of the materials or by the arrangement of the conductor · CPC title

• G05D23/26

  the sensing element having a permeability varying with temperature · CPC title

• G05D23/24

  the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor · CPC title