Variable focus lens, and preparing method of the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9726861-B2
Application number	US-201414219529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2014
Priority date	Apr 19, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a variable focus lens containing graphene, a preparing method of the variable focus lens, a focus controlling method of the variable focus lens, and a display device including the variable focus lens.

First claim

We claim:

1. A variable focus lens comprising:
a transparent dielectric elastomer layer;
a first transparent electrode layer containing graphene formed on at least a part of a first side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer in an absence of external force on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer; and
a second transparent electrode layer containing graphene formed on at least a part of a second side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer in an absence of external force on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer;
wherein the first transparent electrode layer on the first side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer overlaps the second transparent electrode layer on the second side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer when viewed in a direction perpendicularly to the transparent dielectric elastomer layer and forms a focus area in the overlap comprising the first transparent electrode layer in the overlap, the second transparent electrode layer in the overlap, and the transparent dielectric elastomer layer in the overlap; and
wherein the variable focus lens is configured such that a focus through the transparent dielectric elastomer layer, the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer in only the focus area is varied by controlling a voltage applied to the first and the second transparent electrode layers to exert a compression force on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer.

2. The variable focus lens of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second transparent electrode layers independently includes the graphene having about 20 layers or less.

3. The variable focus lens of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second transparent electrode layers has a visible light transmittance of about 50% or more.

4. The variable focus lens of claim 1 , wherein the transparent dielectric elastomer layer includes a member selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), acryl, and combinations thereof.

5. The variable focus lens of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer is about 1 cm or less.

6. The variable focus lens of claim 1 , wherein a dielectric constant of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer is in a range of from about 1 to about 50.

7. The variable focus lens of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer includes wholly or partially, a flat shape, a concave shape on both the first and second sides, a convex shape on both the first and second sides, a concave shape on any one of the first and second sides, or a convex shape on any one of the first and second sides.

8. The variable focus lens of claim 1 , wherein a refraction index of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer is varied by changing the voltage applied to the first and second transparent electrode layers.

9. A preparing method of a variable focus lens comprising:
forming a first transparent electrode layer containing graphene on at least a part of a first side of a transparent dielectric elastomer layer in absence of external force on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer; and
forming a second transparent electrode layer containing graphene on at least a part of a second side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer in absence of external force on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer;
wherein the first transparent electrode layer on the first side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer overlaps the second transparent electrode layer on the second side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer when viewed in a direction perpendicularly to the transparent dielectric elastomer layer and forms a focus area in the overlap comprising the first transparent electrode layer in the overlap, the second transparent electrode layer in the overlap, and the transparent dielectric elastomer layer in the overlap; and
wherein the variable focus lens is configured such that a focus through the transparent dielectric elastomer layer, the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer in only the focus area is varied by controlling a voltage applied to the first and the second transparent electrode layers to exert a compression force on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer.

10. The preparing method of a variable focus lens of claim 9 , wherein the forming of the first and second transparent electrode layers containing graphene on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer includes transferring graphene to the at least the part of the first side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer and to the at least the part of the second side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer.

11. The preparing method of a variable focus lens of claim 10 , wherein the transferring of graphene is carried out by a method selected from the group consisting of wet transfer, dry transfer, roll-to-roll transfer, and combinations thereof.

12. A display device comprising:
the variable focus lens of claim 1 .

13. A variable focus lens comprising:
a transparent dielectric elastomer layer;
a first transparent electrode layer containing at least one first graphene layer formed on at least a part of a first side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer in an absence of external force on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer; and
a second transparent electrode layer containing at least one second graphene layer formed on at least a part of a second side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer in an absence of external force on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer;
wherein the first transparent electrode layer on the first side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer overlaps the second transparent electrode layer on the second side of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer when viewed in a direction perpendicularly to the transparent dielectric elastomer layer and forms a focus area in the overlap comprising the first transparent electrode layer in the overlap, the second transparent electrode layer in the overlap, and the transparent dielectric elastomer layer in the overlap;
wherein the variable focus lens is configured such that a displacement of transparent dielectric elastomer layer and a focus through the transparent dielectric elastomer layer, the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer in only the focus area is varied by controlling a voltage applied to the first and second transparent electrode layers to exert a compression force on the transparent dielectric elastomer layer, and
wherein the displacement of the transparent dielectric elastomer layer changes depending on a number of the at least one graphene layer contained in the first transparent electrode layer and/or the second transparent electrode layer.

Assignees

• Graphene Square Inc
• Snu R & Db Found
• Graphene Square Inc
• Snu R&Db Foundation

Inventors

• Hong Byung Hee
• Kang Jun Mo

Classifications

• G03F7/001

  Phase modulating patterns, e.g. refractive index patterns · CPC title

• G02B3/14 Primary

  of variable focal length · CPC title

• G02B3/00 Primary

  Simple or compound lenses · CPC title

• G02C7/083

  Electrooptic lenses · CPC title

• G02B7/04

  with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification · CPC title