Shape memory alloy apparatus and methods of formation and operation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016004032-A1
Application number	US-201314769778-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 21, 2013
Priority date	Feb 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical component is disclosed, as well as articles of manufacture, methods for forming, and methods of operating thereof. The optical component may include a plurality of patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions. Each patterned two-way shape memory alloy portion may include a reflective surface and a temperature adjustment element. Each patterned two-way shape memory alloy portion may be individually configured to flex to a first bend angle at a first temperature and a second bend angle at a second temperature.

First claim

1 . An optical component comprising:
a plurality of patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions, wherein each patterned two-way shape memory alloy portion comprises a reflective surface and a temperature adjustment element, wherein each patterned two-way shape memory alloy portion is individually configured to flex to a first bend angle at a first temperature and a second bend angle at a second temperature; and a plurality of nominal optical shape portions positioned between the plurality of patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions.

2 . (canceled)

3 . (canceled)

4 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions each comprise an alloy selected from nickel-copper-niobium, nickel-titanium, copper-aluminum-nickel, indium-titanium, copper-zinc-silicon, copper-zinc-tin, and copper-zinc-aluminum.

5 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface comprises at least one of chromium, silver, aluminum, and gold.

6 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a dielectric mirror having a plurality of dielectric material layers, wherein the dielectric mirror comprises at least one of magnesium fluoride, silicon dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, zinc sulfide, and titanium dioxide.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the temperature adjustment element comprises at least one of:
a Peltier module; a polymer thin film comprising one or more of polyimide, polyether ether ketone, polytetrafluoroethylene, and polyphenylene sulfide; and a semiconductor material comprising at least one of Bi 2 Te 3 , CeSb 2.85 Te 0.15 , Mg 2 Si, Bi 0.3 Sb 1.7 Te 3 , CoSb 3 , and MnSi 1.73 .

9 .- 12 . (canceled)

13 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein a first group of the patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions is layered over a second group of the patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions.

14 . The optical component of claim 1 , further comprising a bimetal structure.

15 . An article of manufacture comprising an optical component, wherein the optical component comprises:
a plurality of patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions, wherein:
each patterned two-way shape memory alloy portion comprises a reflective surface and a temperature adjustment element, and
each patterned two-way shape memory alloy portion is individually configured to flex to a first bend angle at a first temperature and a second bend angle at a second temperature; and
a plurality of nominal optical shape portions positioned between the plurality of patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions.

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions each comprise an alloy selected from nickel-copper-niobium, nickel-titanium, copper-aluminum-nickel, indium-titanium, copper-zinc-silicon, copper-zinc-tin and copper-zinc-aluminum.

19 . The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the reflective surface comprises at least one of chromium, silver, aluminum, and gold.

20 . The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a dielectric mirror having a plurality of dielectric material layers, wherein the dielectric mirror comprises at least one of magnesium fluoride, silicon dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, zinc sulfide, and titanium dioxide.

21 . (canceled)

22 . The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the temperature adjustment element comprises at least one of:
a Peltier module; a polymer thin film comprising one or more of polyimide, polyether ether ketone, polytetrafluoroethylene, and polyphenylene sulfide; and a semiconductor material comprising at least one of Bi 2 Te 3 , CeSb 2.85 Te 0.15 , Mg 2 Si, Bi 0.3 Sb 1.7 Te 3 , CoSb 3 , and MnSi 1.73 .

23 .- 26 . (canceled)

27 . The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein a first group of the patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions is layered over a second group of the patterned two-way shape memory alloy portions.

28 . The article of manufacture of claim 15 , further comprising a bimetal structure.

29 . The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the article of manufacture is an optical system, a head-mounted display, a camera, a camera lens, a barcode scanner, an optical scanner, a telescope, a microscope, a pair of binoculars, a thermal imaging device, a flashlight, a magnifying glass, aeronautical equipment, automotive equipment, a contact lens, an intracapsular implant device, eyeglasses, sunglasses, a lighthouse, a computer peripheral, a projector, and an optical disc drive.

30 . A method of forming an optical element, the method comprising:
forming a two-way shape memory alloy pattern on a substrate; forming a plurality of nominal shape portions within the two-way shape memory alloy pattern; applying a polymer solution to the two-way shape memory alloy pattern and the plurality of nominal shape portions to obtain a polymer film; removing the polymer film from the substrate to obtain a polymer compound comprising the polymer solution, the two-way shape memory alloy pattern and the plurality of nominal shape portions; molding the polymer compound; depositing a reflective layer upon a surface of the polymer compound; and affixing a temperature adjustment element to the polymer compound.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein forming the two-way shape memory alloy pattern comprises forming a pattern using at least one alloy selected from nickel-copper-niobium, nickel-titanium, copper-aluminum-nickel, indium-titanium, copper-zinc-silicon, copper-zinc-tin, and copper-zinc-aluminum.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein forming the two-way shape memory alloy pattern comprises forming the two-way shape memory alloy pattern by one or more of:
thin film deposition; photolithography; printing; transferring; and molding.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein forming the two-way shape memory alloy pattern by thin film deposition comprises forming the two-way shape memory alloy pattern by one or more of physical vapor deposition, evaporative deposition, ion beam-assisted deposition, chemical vapor deposition, ion beam deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, sputter deposition, and electrodeposition.

34 . The method of claim 30 , wherein molding the polymer compound comprises forming the polymer compound into a curved shape, wherein the polymer compound is configured to flex at a first bend angle at a first temperature and a second bend angle at a second temperature.

35 . The method of claim 30 , wherein depositing the reflective layer comprises depositing at least one of chromium, silver, aluminum, and gold.

36 . The method of claim 30 , wherein depositing the reflective layer comprises one or more of physical vapor deposition, evaporative deposition, ion beam-assisted deposition, chemical vapor deposition, ion beam deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, sputter deposition, and electroplating.

37 . The method of claim 30 , wherein depositing the reflective layer comprises depositing one or more layers of a dielectric mirror, wherein the one or more layers of the dielectric mirror comprise at least one of magnesium fluoride, silicon dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, zinc sulfide, and titanium diox

Assignees

• Empire Technology Dev Llc

Inventors

• Wiklof Christopher A
• Margalit Mordehai
• Kusuura Takahisa
• Roberts Bradley Kirk

Classifications

• H01L35/32

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G02B7/181 Primary

  with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation · CPC title

• G02B5/0833

  comprising inorganic materials only · CPC title

• G02B5/10

  with curved faces · CPC title

• G02B7/10 Primary

  by relative axial movement of several lenses, e.g. of varifocal objective lens · CPC title