Adjustable lens array with variable optical power
View Patent ↗An adjustable lens includes a first lens member having a first corrugated surface, a second lens member having a second corrugated surface, and blackout regions disposed between the first and second corrugated surfaces. The first corrugated surface includes a periodic structure of alternating ridge and groove sections. The second corrugated surface includes a periodic structure of alternating ridge and groove sections. The blackout regions are positioned to block image light passing through either the ridge sections of the first lens member, or alternatively, the groove sections of the first lens member.
1. A system, comprising:
an adjustable lens for focusing image light, the adjustable lens including:
a first lens member having a first corrugated surface, the first corrugated surface including a periodic structure of alternating ridge and groove sections;
a second lens member having a second corrugated surface, the second corrugated surface including a periodic structure of alternating ridge and groove sections; and
blackout regions disposed between the first and second corrugated surfaces and positioned to block the image light passing through either the ridge sections of the first lens member, or alternatively, the groove sections of the first lens member.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an aperture through which the image light passes, wherein the periodic structures of the first and second lens members each include a plurality of ridge sections and a plurality of groove sections to span the aperture.
3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
an electronic panel including a pixel array, wherein the periodic structures of the first and second lens members each include a plurality of ridge sections and a plurality of groove sections to span the aperture and the pixel array.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein each of the ridge sections of both the first and second corrugated surfaces subtends a plurality of image pixels of the pixel array along both a width dimension and a length dimension that is orthogonal to the width dimension, and wherein each of the groove sections of both the first and second corrugated surfaces subtends a plurality of the image pixels along both the width dimension and the length dimension.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the periodic structure of both the first and second corrugated surfaces comprise columns of the ridge sections that alternate with columns of the groove sections.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the blackout regions comprise a pattern of blackout columns.
7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the adjustable lens is included within a lens assembly, the lens assembly further comprising:
one or more additional lenses disposed between the adjustable lens and the electronic panel.
8. The system of claim 3 , wherein the electronic panel comprises one of a display panel with an array of display pixels or an image sensor with an array of image pixels.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the blackout regions are disposed on a flat surface that is part of either the first lens member or the second lens member.
10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator coupled to the adjustable lens to slide at least one of the first or second lens members relative to each other to adjust an optical power of the adjustable lens.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a controller; and
a piezo-electric crystal mechanically coupled to expand or contract under influence of the controller to move at least one of the first or second lens members along a translating path.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a controller; and
a micro-electro-mechanical-system (“MEMS”) mechanically coupled to translate at least one of the first or second lens members along a translating path under influence of the controller.
13. An adjustable lens, comprising:
a first lens member having a first corrugated surface, the first corrugated surface including a periodic structure of alternating ridge and groove sections;
a second lens member having a second corrugated surface, the second corrugated surface including a periodic structure of alternating ridge and groove sections; and
blackout regions disposed between the first and second corrugated surfaces and positioned to block image light passing through either the ridge sections of the first lens member, or alternatively, the groove sections of the first lens member.
14. The adjustable lens of claim 13 , further comprising:
an aperture through which the image light passes, wherein the periodic structures of the first and second lens members each include a plurality of ridge sections and a plurality of groove sections to span the aperture.
15. The adjustable lens of claim 13 , wherein the periodic structure of both the first and second corrugated surfaces comprise columns of the ridge sections that alternate with columns of the groove sections.
16. The adjustable lens of claim 15 , wherein the blackout regions comprise a pattern of blackout columns.
17. The adjustable lens of claim 13 , further comprising:
an actuator coupled to slide one of the first or second lens members relative to each other to adjust an optical power of the adjustable lens;
a track to guide one of the first or second lens member along a translating path; and
a fixed mount to hold the other one of the first or second lens member in a fixed position.
18. The adjustable lens of claim 17 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a controller; and
a piezo-electric crystal to expand or contract under influence of the controller to move the first or second lens member along the translating path.
19. The adjustable lens of claim 17 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a controller; and
a micro-electro-mechanical-system (“MEMS”) mechanically coupled to translate the first or second lens member along the translating path under influence of the controller.