ELECTROWETTING OPTICAL DEVICE WITH LOW POWER CONSUMPTION
A method for controlling an electrowetting optical device is disclosed. The method involves applying, in a dielectric enclosure of the electrowetting optical device, a direct current voltage or an alternative current voltage having a frequency f lower than 10 Hz to a liquid/liquid interface formed by a non-conductive liquid and a conductive liquid and movable by electrowetting under the application of the voltage. The conductive liquid comprises at least one multivalent salt, and the dielectric enclosure is coated with both a poly-para-xylylene linear polymer and a low surface energy coating.
1 .- 32 . (canceled)
33 . A method for controlling an electrowetting optical device comprising:
applying, in a dielectric enclosure of the electrowetting optical device, a direct current voltage or an alternative current voltage having a frequency f lower than 10 Hz to a liquid/liquid interface formed by a non-conductive liquid and a conductive liquid and movable by electrowetting under the application of the voltage,
wherein the conductive liquid comprises at least one multivalent salt; and
wherein the dielectric enclosure is coated with both a poly-para-xylylene linear polymer and a low surface energy coating.
34 . The method according to claim 33 , wherein the at least one multivalent salt is a di-cationic or a tri-cationic inorganic compound.
35 . The method according to claim 33 , wherein the at least one multivalent salt is an alkaline-earth metal, as well as mixtures thereof.
36 . The method according to claim 33 , wherein the at least one multivalent salt is calcium chloride.
37 . The method according to claim 33 , wherein a frequency offset is applied between a positive polarization and a negative polarization.
38 . The method according to claim 33 , wherein an offset in amplitude of the voltage is applied between a positive polarization and a negative polarization.
39 . An apparatus comprising:
an electrowetting optical device comprising:
a dielectric enclosure;
a non-conductive liquid; and
a conductive liquid,
wherein the non-conductive liquid and the conductive liquid form a liquid/liquid interface movable by electrowetting under the application of a voltage,
wherein the conductive liquid comprises at least one multivalent salt, and
wherein the dielectric enclosure is coated with both a poly-para-xylylene linear polymer and a low surface energy coating; and
electronic means for applying a direct current voltage or an alternative current voltage having a frequency f lower than 10 Hz to the liquid/liquid interface.
40 . The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the at least one multivalent salt is a di-cationic or a tri-cationic inorganic compound.
41 . The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the at least one multivalent salt is an alkaline-earth metal, as well as mixtures thereof.
42 . The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the at least one multivalent salt is calcium chloride.
43 . The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein a frequency offset is applied between a positive polarization and a negative polarization.
44 . The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein an offset in amplitude of the voltage is applied between a positive polarization and a negative polarization.
45 . The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the apparatus is an automatic focusing ophthalmic device, a camera, a cell phone, or a barcode reader.
46 . The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the apparatus is an intraocular lens implant, a contact lens, eyeglasses, or ophthalmology instruments.