Electronic device with a tunable lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12468146-B2
Application number	US-202318155372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2023
Priority date	Jul 24, 2020
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A lens module may include a transparent lens element, a lens shaping structure that is coupled to the transparent lens element, and a plurality of actuators that are configured to adjust a position of the lens shaping structure to adjust the transparent lens element. The lens shaping structure may include a plurality of extensions that are each coupled to a respective actuator. To ensure the lens shaping structure has desired curvature between the extensions, the lens shaping structure may have a portion in one or more segments between adjacent extensions that has a property with a different magnitude than an additional portion of the lens shaping structure. The portion between the adjacent extensions may have an increased or decreased rigidity relative to the additional portions. The portion between the adjacent extensions may have a different width, thickness, or Young's modulus compared to the additional portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a head-mounted support structure; a display that emits light; and a lens module supported by the head-mounted support structure, wherein the lens module receives the light from the display and wherein the lens module comprises:
a transparent lens element;
a lens shaping structure that is coupled to the transparent lens element; and
a plurality of actuators that are configured to adjust a position of the lens shaping structure to adjust the transparent lens element, wherein the lens shaping structure has at least first and second portions, wherein the first portion is interposed between first and second actuators of the plurality of actuators, and wherein the first portion has a property with a different magnitude than the second portion.

2 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the lens shaping structure has a plurality of extensions and wherein each extension of the plurality of extensions is coupled to a respective actuator of the plurality of actuators.

3 . The system defined in claim 2 , wherein the lens shaping structure includes a respective segment between each adjacent pair of extensions, wherein the first portion is formed in a first segment between first and second adjacent extensions, and wherein the first and second extensions are coupled to the first and second actuators, respectively.

4 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the lens shaping structure extends in a ring around a central opening and wherein the transparent lens element overlaps the central opening.

5 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the property is width, wherein the first portion has a first width, wherein the second portion has a second width, and wherein the first and second widths are different.

6 . The system defined in claim 5 , wherein the first portion includes a bend.

7 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the property is thickness, wherein the first portion has a first thickness, wherein the second portion has a second thickness, and wherein the first and second thicknesses are different.

8 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the property is Young's modulus, wherein the first portion has a first Young's modulus, wherein the second portion has a second Young's modulus, and wherein the first and second Young's moduli are different.

9 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a plurality of protrusions.

10 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a plurality of recesses.

11 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the property is rigidity and wherein the first portion has a higher rigidity than the second portion.

12 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the property is rigidity and wherein the first portion has a lower rigidity than the second portion.

13 . The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is coupled to a primary actuation point on the lens shaping structure and a secondary actuation point on the lens shaping structure.

14 . A lens module comprising:
a transparent lens element; a ring-shaped structure that is coupled to the transparent lens element; and a plurality of actuators that are configured to adjust the ring-shaped structure to adjust curvature of the transparent lens element, wherein the ring-shaped structure has first and second actuation points that are coupled to respective first and second actuators of the plurality of actuators, wherein the ring-shaped structure has a segment between the first and second actuation points, wherein a first portion of the segment has a first rigidity, and wherein a second portion of the segment has a second rigidity that is different than the first rigidity.

15 . The lens module defined in claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the segment has a first width, wherein the second portion of the segment has a second width, and wherein the first and second widths are different.

16 . The lens module defined in claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the segment has a first thickness, wherein the second portion of the segment has a second thickness, and wherein the first and second thicknesses are different.

17 . The lens module defined in claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the segment has a first Young's modulus, wherein the second portion of the segment has a second Young's modulus, and wherein the first and second Young's moduli are different.

18 . The lens module defined in claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the segment is interposed between the second portion of the segment and a third portion of the segment and wherein the third portion of the segment has the second rigidity.

19 . The lens module defined in claim 18 , wherein the first rigidity is greater than the second rigidity.

20 . The lens module defined in claim 18 , wherein the first rigidity is less than the second rigidity.

21 . A system, comprising:
a head-mounted support structure; a display that emits light; and a lens module supported by the head-mounted support structure, wherein the lens module receives the light from the display and wherein the lens module comprises:
a first transparent lens element;
a second transparent lens element;
a fluid-filled chamber between the first and second transparent lens elements;
an annular member that is coupled to the first transparent lens element; and
a plurality of actuators that are configured to selectively apply force to the annular member to adjust the first transparent lens element, wherein the annular member has a portion between adjacent actuators with a higher rigidity than an additional portion of the annular member.

22 . A lens module comprising:
a transparent lens element; a ring-shaped structure that is coupled to the transparent lens element; and a plurality of actuators that are configured to adjust the ring-shaped structure to adjust curvature of the transparent lens element, wherein a first actuator of the plurality of actuators is coupled to both a primary actuation point on the ring-shaped structure and a secondary actuation point on the ring-shaped structure.

23 . The lens module defined in claim 22 , further comprising:
a rigid coupler between the first actuator and the primary actuation point; and a compliant coupler between the first actuator and the secondary actuation point.

24 . The lens module defined in claim 23 , further comprising:
a bar that is coupled to the rigid coupler and the compliant coupler, wherein the first actuator is coupled to the bar.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Stamenov Igor
• Topliss Richard J
• He Ran
• Lv Peng
• Li Yuan
• Pedder James E
• Gregory Thomas M

Classifications

• G02B2027/0154

  with movable elements · CPC title

• G02B27/0176

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G02B2027/0185

  Displaying image at variable distance · CPC title

• G02B2027/0181

  Adaptation to the pilot/driver · CPC title

• G02B3/14

  of variable focal length · CPC title