Solid state electrically variable-focal length lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022308419-A9
Application number	US-202117190031-A
Country	US
Kind code	A9
Filing date	Mar 2, 2021
Priority date	May 20, 2020
Publication date	Sep 29, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A solid state electrically variable focal length lens includes a plurality of concentric rings of electro-optical material, wherein the electro-optical material comprises any material of a class of hydrogen-doped phase-change metal oxide and wherein each respective concentric ring further includes a transparent resistive sheet on a first face of the respective concentric ring, wherein the transparent resistive sheet extends along the first face, and a first voltage coupled between a first end and a second end of the transparent resistive sheet, wherein the first voltage may be varied to select an optical beam deflection angle.

First claim

1 . A solid state electrically variable focal length lens comprising:
a plurality of concentric rings of electro-optical material, wherein the electro-optical material comprises any material of a class of hydrogen-doped phase-change metal oxide and wherein each respective concentric ring further comprises: a transparent resistive sheet on a first face of the respective concentric ring, wherein the transparent resistive sheet extends along the first face; and a first voltage coupled between a first end and a second end of the transparent resistive sheet; wherein the first voltage may be varied to select an optical beam deflection angle.

2 . The solid state electrically variable focal length lens of claim 1 wherein:
the electro-optical material comprises NdNiO 3 , SmNiO 3 , PrNiO 3 , EuNiO 3 , or GdNiO 3 , or any combination of NdNiO 3 , SmNiO 3 , PrNiO 3 , EuNiO 3 , and GdNiO 3 .

3 . The solid state electrically variable focal length lens of claim 1 further comprising:
a transparent electrode on a second face of the respective concentric ring, wherein the transparent electrode extends along the second face, and wherein the second face is opposite the first face; and
a second voltage coupled between the first end of the transparent resistive sheet and the transparent electrode;
wherein the second voltage may be varied to apply a beam forming phase-shift.

4 . The solid state electrically variable focal length lens of claim 3 wherein:
the first voltage and the second voltage are direct current (DC) voltages.

5 . The solid state electrically variable focal length lens of claim 1 wherein:
the first voltage is set for each respective concentric ring so that the solid state electrically variable focal length lens has a desired focal length.

6 . The solid state electrically variable focal length lens of claim 1 wherein:
the first voltage is set for each respective concentric ring so that the solid state electrically variable focal length lens has a focal length at a far focal range; or
the first voltage is set for each respective concentric ring so that the solid state electrically variable focal length lens has a focal length at a close focal range; or
the first voltage is set for each respective concentric ring so that the solid state electrically variable focal length lens has a focal length between the far focal range and the close focal range.

7 . The solid state electrically variable focal length lens of claim 1 wherein:
a different radial voltage gradient is applied across each respective ring of the plurality of concentric rings so that a radial gradient in the index of refraction steers light toward an optical axis of the solid state electrically variable focal length lens.

8 . The solid state electrically variable focal length lens of claim 1 further comprising:
a Fresnel lens coupled to and adjacent to the solid state variable focal length lens;
wherein the Fresnel lens has a plurality of Fresnel rings and wherein each respective Fresnel ring of the plurality of Fresnel rings has a radius matching and aligned to a respective concentric ring of the plurality of concentric rings.

9 . The solid state electrically variable focal length lens of claim 8 wherein:
the Fresnel lens has a focal length between a farthest focal length or focus for the solid state variable length lens and a closest focal length or focus to reduce a steering angle for the solid state electrically variable focal length lens.

10 . The solid state electrically variable focal length lens of claim 1 :
wherein the solid state electrically variable focal length lens operates in transmission; or wherein the solid state electrically variable focal length lens further comprises: a mirror on the first face of the respective concentric ring; wherein the solid state electrically variable focal length lens operates in reflection.

11 . A solid state zoom lens comprising:
a first plurality of first concentric rings of first electro-optical material, wherein the first electro-optical material comprises any material of a class of hydrogen-doped phase-change metal oxide and wherein each respective first concentric ring further comprises: a first transparent resistive sheet on a first face of the respective first concentric ring, wherein the first transparent resistive sheet extends along the first face; and a first voltage coupled between a first end and a second end of the first transparent resistive sheet; and wherein the first voltage may be varied to select a beam deflection angle; and a second plurality of second concentric rings of second electro-optical material, wherein the second electro-optical material comprises any material of a class of hydrogen-doped phase-change metal oxide and wherein each respective second concentric ring further comprises: a second transparent resistive sheet on a first face of the respective second concentric ring, wherein the second transparent resistive sheet extends along the first face; and a second voltage coupled between a first end and a second end of the second transparent resistive sheet; wherein the second voltage may be varied to select a beam deflection angle; and wherein the first plurality of first concentric rings is optically coupled to the second plurality of second concentric rings.

12 . The solid state zoom lens of claim 11 further comprising:
a first transparent electrode on a second face of the respective first concentric ring, wherein the first transparent electrode extends along the second face, and wherein the second face is opposite the first face; and
a third voltage coupled between the first end of the first transparent resistive sheet and the first transparent electrode;
wherein the third voltage may be varied to apply a beam forming phase-shift.

13 . The solid state zoom lens of claim 11 further comprising:
a second transparent electrode on a second face of the respective second concentric ring, wherein the second transparent electrode extends along the second face, and wherein the second face is opposite the first face; and
a fourth voltage coupled between the first end of the second transparent resistive sheet and the second transparent electrode;
wherein the fourth voltage may be varied to apply a beam forming phase-shift.

14 . The solid state zoom lens of claim 11 wherein:
a distance between the first plurality of concentric rings and the second plurality of concentric rings is the sum of a far focal length for the first plurality of concentric rings and a near focal length for the second plurality of concentric rings; or
a distance between the first plurality of concentric rings and the second plurality of concentric rings is the sum of a near focal length for the first plurality of concentric rings and a far focal length for the second plurality of concentric rings.

15 . The solid state zoom lens of claim 11 further comprising:
a solid state optical tip-tilt-phased element optically coupled to the second plurality of concentric rings to provide a solid state pan-tilt-zoom “gimbal” with no moving parts.

16 . The solid state zoom lens of claim 15 wherein the solid state optical tip-tilt-phased element further comprises:
a body of electro-optical material, wherein the body of electro-optical material comprises any material of a class of hydrogen-doped phase-change metal oxide;
a third transparent resistive sheet on a first face of the body of electro-optical material, wherein the third transparent resistive sheet extends along the first face; and
a fourth transparent resistive sheet

Assignees

• Hrl Lab Llc

Inventors

• Kremer Richard
• Son Kyung-Ah
• Moon Jeong-Sun
• Quarfoth Ryan G

Classifications

• G02F1/294 Primary

  Variable focal length devices · CPC title

• G02B1/02

  made of crystals, e.g. rock-salt, semi-conductors (G02B1/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02F1/292 Primary

  by controlled diffraction or phased-array beam steering (controlled diffraction for optical switching G02F1/31) · CPC title

• G02F2203/24

  beam steering · CPC title

• G02F1/03

  based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels effect or Kerr effect (G02F1/061 takes precedence) · CPC title