Optical device, particularly camera, particularly comprising autofocus, image stabilization and super resolution

1. Optical device ( 1 ), comprising:

a transparent and elastically expandable membrane ( 10 ),

an optical element ( 20 ) facing the membrane ( 10 ),

a wall member ( 300 ), wherein the optical element ( 20 ) and the membrane ( 10 ) are connected to the wall member ( 300 ) such that a container ( 2 ) with a volume (V) is formed,

a fluid (F) residing in said volume (V), and

a lens shaping part ( 11 ) that is in contact with the membrane ( 10 ) for defining a curvature adjustable area ( 10 c ) of the membrane ( 10 ), which area ( 10 c ) faces said optical element ( 20 ), and

a circumferential lens barrel ( 50 ) that surrounds an opening ( 50 c ) in which at least one rigid lens ( 51 ) is arranged that is held by the lens barrel ( 50 ), and

an actuator means ( 40 ) that is designed to

move the optical element ( 20 ) in an axial direction (A) with respect to the lens shaping part ( 11 ), which axial direction (A) is oriented perpendicular to a plane along which the lens shaping part ( 11 ) extends, or

move the lens shaping part ( 11 ) in an axial direction (A) with respect to the optical element ( 20 ), which axial direction (A) is oriented perpendicular to a plane along which the rigid lens ( 51 ) extends,

so as to adjust the pressure of the fluid (F) residing inside the volume (V) and therewith a curvature of said area ( 10 c ), and wherein

the actuator means ( 40 ) comprises magnets ( 42 ) and a corresponding number of coils ( 41 ), wherein each of the magnets ( 42 ) is associated to exactly one of the coils ( 41 ) and each of the magnets faces the associated coil in the axial direction (A), and wherein the coils comprise a section ( 411 ) bellow the magnet ( 42 ) respectively, in which section ( 411 ) an electrical current (I) flows in a first direction and perpendicular to a magnetic field (B) of the magnet ( 42 ) respectively, and in a neighboring second section ( 412 ) the current flows in a direction, which is opposed to the first direction and which is perpendicular to the magnetic field (B) of the magnet ( 42 ) respectively, and wherein

the magnet ( 42 ) is centered with respect to the first and second sections ( 411 , 412 ) so that the magnetic field (B) extends perpendicular to the axial direction (A) so that a Lorentz Force (FL) generated when said current (I) is applied is oriented along the axial direction (A) and causes the magnet ( 42 ) and the coil ( 41 ) to attract each other or to repel each other depending on the direction of the current in the coil ( 41 ) respectively, wherein

a coil support ( 44 ) comprises a plurality of sheets ( 440 ) that are folded on one another so that the coil support ( 44 ) comprises a stack of said sheets ( 440 ), wherein each sheet comprises a plurality of planar coils ( 41 aa ) so that said stack of sheets ( 440 ) forms a plurality of electrically conducting coils ( 41 ).

2. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the optical device ( 1 ) is designed to at least one of:

tilt the optical element ( 20 ) with respect to said plane along which the lens shaping part ( 11 ) extends, particularly so as to form the volume (V) into a prism, particularly for providing optical image stabilization,

tilt the lens shaping part ( 11 ) with respect to said plane along which the rigid lens ( 51 ) extends, particularly so as to form the volume (V) into a prism, particularly for providing optical image stabilization,

move the container ( 2 ) parallel to said plane along which the lens shaping part ( 11 ) extends with respect to the lens barrel ( 50 ), particularly for providing optical image stabilization,

move the lens shaping part ( 11 ) parallel to said plane along which the rigid lens ( 51 ) extends with respect to the lens barrel ( 50 ) and/or with respect to said container ( 2 ), particularly for providing optical image stabilization,

move the lens barrel ( 50 ) together with said container ( 2 ), particularly for providing optical image stabilization, particularly parallel to an image sensor ( 52 ) of the optical device ( 1 ), wherein the lens barrel ( 50 ) is arranged in front of the image sensor ( 52 ),

tilt the lens barrel ( 50 ) together with the container ( 2 ), particularly for providing optical image stabilization, particularly with respect to an image sensor ( 52 ) of the optical device ( 1 ), wherein the lens barrel ( 50 ) is arranged in front of the image sensor ( 52 ).

3. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the actuator means ( 40 ) is designed to tilt the lens shaping part ( 11 ) with respect to said plane along which the rigid lens ( 51 ) extends, particularly so as to form the volume (V) into a prism for deflecting light passing through the volume (V).

4. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the actuator means ( 40 ) is designed to move the lens shaping part ( 11 ) parallel to said plane along which the rigid lens ( 51 ) extends with respect to the lens barrel ( 50 ) and/or with respect to said container ( 2 ), particularly for deflecting light passing through the volume (V).

5. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lens shaping part ( 11 ) is plasma bonded to the membrane ( 10 ).

6. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the container ( 2 ) is completely arranged in said opening ( 50 c ) of the lens barrel ( 50 ).

7. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the optical device ( 1 ) comprises a housing ( 60 ) that surrounds the lens barrel ( 50 ).

8. Optical device according to claim 7 , characterized in that the housing ( 60 ) comprises a recess ( 66 ) configured for receiving the lens barrel ( 50 ) in a form-fitting manner, wherein particularly said recess ( 66 ) is further configured to guide the lens barrel ( 50 ) upon mounting of the lens barrel ( 50 ) into the housing ( 60 ).

9. Optical device according to claim 8 , characterized in that the recess ( 66 ) comprises a circumferential step ( 66 a ) that forms a stop for positioning the lens barrel ( 50 ) with respect to an image sensor ( 52 ) of the optical device ( 1 ).

10. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lens shaping part ( 11 ) is connected to a lens shaping part carrier ( 310 ), wherein the lens shaping part carrier ( 310 ) comprises legs ( 311 ) connected to the lens shaping part ( 11 ), wherein the respective leg ( 311 ) extends from the lens shaping part ( 11 ) outward through an associated slot ( 53 ) formed in the lens barrel ( 50 ), and wherein the respective leg ( 311 ) is connected to an associated holding member ( 312 ) for holding a magnet ( 42 ) or a coil or other parts of the actuator means ( 40 ), wherein the respective holding member ( 312 ) is arranged outside the lens barrel ( 50 ).

11. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the actuator means ( 40 ) comprises one or a plurality of electrically conducting coils ( 41 ), particularly three or four coils ( 41 ), and at least one magnet ( 42 ), wherein each coil ( 41 ) faces the at least one magnet ( 42 ) and wherein each coil ( 41 ) is configured to interact with the at least one magnet ( 42 ) such that when a current is applied to a coil ( 41 ) the respective coil ( 41 ) and the at least one magnet ( 42 ) move with respect to each other depending on the direction of the current in the respective coil ( 41 ).

12. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the actuator means ( 40 ) comprises one or a plurality of electrically conducting coils ( 41 ), particularly three or four coils ( 41 ), and a corresponding number of magnets ( 42 ), wherein each magnet ( 42 ) is associated to exactly one of the coils ( 41 ), wherein each coil ( 41 ) faces its associated magnet ( 42 ) and wherein each coil ( 41 ) is configured to interact with its associated magnet ( 42 ) such that when a current is applied to a coil ( 41 ) the respective coil ( 41 ) and its associated magnet ( 42 ) move with respect to each other depending on the direction of the current in the respective coil ( 41 ).

13. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the actuator means ( 40 ) comprises one or a plurality of electrically conducting coils ( 41 ), particularly three or four coils ( 41 ), wherein each coil ( 41 ) surrounds an associated magnet ( 42 ), and wherein each coil ( 41 ) is configured to interact with the associated magnet ( 42 ) such that when a current is applied to a coil ( 41 ) the respective coil ( 41 ) and the associated magnet ( 42 ) attract each other or repel each other depending on the direction of the current in the respective coil ( 41 ).

14. Optical device according to claim 11 , characterized in that that the respective coil ( 41 ) comprises a conductor ( 410 ) that is wound around a coil axis (A″) running perpendicular to said plane or to said optical element ( 20 ).

15. Optical device according to claim 7 , characterized in that the actuator means ( 40 ) comprises one or a plurality of electropermanent magnets ( 41 c ) arranged on the housing ( 60 ), particularly, two, three or four electropermanent magnets ( 41 c ), and a corresponding number of soft magnetic members ( 42 ) connected to the container ( 2 ), wherein each soft magnetic member ( 42 ) is associated to exactly one of the electropermanent magnets ( 41 c ), and wherein each soft magnetic member ( 42 ) is arranged adjacent its associated electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ) such that a gap (G) is formed between the respective soft magnetic member ( 42 ) and its associated electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ), wherein for moving the optical element ( 20 ) in said axial direction (A) and/or for tilting the optical element ( 20 ) the respective electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ) is configured to attract its associated soft magnetic member ( 42 ) when a corresponding voltage pulse is applied to the respective electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ) that generates an external magnetic field of the respective electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ) that causes said attraction.

16. Optical device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said optical element ( 20 ) forms a transparent and elastically expandable membrane ( 20 ).

17. A method for calibrating an optical image stabilization function of an optical device ( 1 ), the optical device comprising a transparent and elastically expandable membrane ( 10 ), an optical element ( 20 ) facing the membrane ( 10 ), a wall member ( 300 ), wherein the optical element ( 20 ) and the membrane ( 10 ) are connected to the wall member ( 300 ) such that a container ( 2 ) with a volume (V) is formed, a fluid (F) residing in said volume (V), and a lens shaping part ( 11 ) that is in contact with the membrane ( 10 ) for defining a curvature adjustable area ( 10 c ) of the membrane ( 10 ), which area ( 10 c ) faces said optical element ( 20 ), and a circumferential lens barrel ( 50 ) that surrounds an opening ( 50 c ) in which at least one rigid lens ( 51 ) is arranged that is held by the lens barrel ( 50 ), and an actuator means ( 40 ) that is designed to

move the optical element ( 20 ) in an axial direction (A) with respect to the lens shaping part ( 11 ), which axial direction (A) is oriented perpendicular to a plane along which the lens shaping part ( 11 ) extends, or

move the lens shaping part ( 11 ) in an axial direction (A) with respect to the optical element ( 20 ), which axial direction (A) is oriented perpendicular to a plane along which the rigid lens ( 51 ) extends,

so as to adjust the pressure of the fluid (F) residing inside the volume (V) and therewith a curvature of said area ( 10 c ), and wherein the optical device ( 1 ) comprises an image sensor ( 52 ) and forms a camera, and wherein the method comprises the steps: measuring a movement of the optical device ( 1 ) during an image preview modus of the optical device ( 1 ), which movement leads to a shift of an image projected onto the image sensor ( 52 ) by the optical device ( 1 ),

applying a signal to the actuator means ( 40 , 400 ) of the optical device ( 1 ), which signal prompts the actuator means ( 40 , 400 ) to at least partially compensate said shift of said image on the image sensor ( 52 ) for providing optical image stabilization,

automatically determining the sharpness of the image generated by the image sensor ( 52 ),

increasing or decreasing an amplitude of the signal applied to said actuator means ( 40 , 400 ) by a proportionality factor,

determining the one signal among said signals that results in an image having the best sharpness; and

storing the proportionality factor as calibration data in the optical device ( 1 ).

18. Optical device ( 1 ), comprising:

a transparent and elastically expandable membrane ( 10 ),

an optical element ( 20 ) facing the membrane ( 10 ),

a wall member ( 300 ), wherein the optical element ( 20 ) and the membrane ( 10 ) are connected to the wall member ( 300 ) such that a container ( 2 ) with a volume (V) is formed,

a fluid (F) residing in said volume (V), and

a lens shaping part ( 11 ) that is in contact with the membrane ( 10 ) for defining a curvature adjustable area ( 10 c ) of the membrane ( 10 ), which area ( 10 c ) faces said optical element ( 20 ), and

a circumferential lens barrel ( 50 ) that surrounds an opening ( 50 c ) in which at least one rigid lens ( 51 ) is arranged that is held by the lens barrel ( 50 ), and

an actuator means ( 40 ) that is designed to

move the optical element ( 20 ) in an axial direction (A) with respect to the lens shaping part ( 11 ), which axial direction (A) is oriented perpendicular to a plane along which the lens shaping part ( 11 ) extends, or

move the lens shaping part ( 11 ) in an axial direction (A) with respect to the optical element ( 20 ), which axial direction (A) is oriented perpendicular to a plane along which the rigid lens ( 51 ) extends,

so as to adjust the pressure of the fluid (F) residing inside the volume (V) and therewith a curvature of said area ( 10 c ), and

the lens shaping part ( 11 ) is connected to a lens shaping part carrier ( 310 ), wherein the lens shaping part carrier ( 310 ) comprises legs ( 311 ) connected to the lens shaping part ( 11 ), wherein the respective leg ( 311 ) extends from the lens shaping part ( 11 ) outward through an associated slot ( 53 ) formed in the lens barrel ( 50 ), and wherein the respective leg ( 311 ) is connected to an associated holding member ( 312 ) for holding a magnet ( 42 ) or a coil or other parts of the actuator means ( 40 ), wherein the respective holding member ( 312 ) is arranged outside the lens barrel ( 50 ).

19. Optical device ( 1 ), comprising:

a transparent and elastically expandable membrane ( 10 ),

an optical element ( 20 ) facing the membrane ( 10 ),

a wall member ( 300 ), wherein the optical element ( 20 ) and the membrane ( 10 ) are connected to the wall member ( 300 ) such that a container ( 2 ) with a volume (V) is formed,

a fluid (F) residing in said volume (V), and

a lens shaping part ( 11 ) that is in contact with the membrane ( 10 ) for defining a curvature adjustable area ( 10 c ) of the membrane ( 10 ), which area ( 10 c ) faces said optical element ( 20 ), and

a circumferential lens barrel ( 50 ) that surrounds an opening ( 50 c ) in which at least one rigid lens ( 51 ) is arranged that is held by the lens barrel ( 50 ), and

an actuator means ( 40 ) that is designed to

move the optical element ( 20 ) in an axial direction (A) with respect to the lens shaping part ( 11 ), which axial direction (A) is oriented perpendicular to a plane along which the lens shaping part ( 11 ) extends, or

move the lens shaping part ( 11 ) in an axial direction (A) with respect to the optical element ( 20 ), which axial direction (A) is oriented perpendicular to a plane along which the rigid lens ( 51 ) extends,

so as to adjust the pressure of the fluid (F) residing inside the volume (V) and therewith a curvature of said area ( 10 c ), and wherein

the actuator means ( 40 ) comprises magnets ( 42 ) and a corresponding number of coils ( 41 ), wherein each of the magnets ( 42 ) is associated to exactly one of the coils ( 41 ) and each of the magnets faces the associated coil in the axial direction (A), and wherein

the coils comprise a section ( 411 ) bellow the magnet ( 42 ) respectively, in which section ( 411 ) an electrical current (I) flows in a first direction and perpendicular to a magnetic field (B) of the magnet ( 42 ) respectively, and in a neighboring second section ( 412 ) the current flows in a direction, which is opposed to the first direction and which is perpendicular to the magnetic field (B) of the magnet ( 42 ) respectively, and wherein

the magnet ( 42 ) is centered with respect to the first and second sections ( 411 , 412 ) so that the magnetic field (B) extends perpendicular to the axial direction (A) so that a Lorentz Force (FL) generated when said current (I) is applied is oriented along the axial direction (A) and causes the magnet ( 42 ) and the coil ( 41 ) to attract each other or to repel each other depending on the direction of the current in the coil ( 41 ) respectively, wherein

the optical device ( 1 ) comprises a housing ( 60 ) that surrounds the lens barrel ( 50 ),

the actuator means ( 40 ) comprises one or a plurality of electropermanent magnets ( 41 c ) arranged on the housing ( 60 ), particularly, two, three or four electropermanent magnets ( 41 c ), and a corresponding number of soft magnetic members ( 42 ) connected to the container ( 2 ), wherein each soft magnetic member ( 42 ) is associated to exactly one of the electropermanent magnets ( 41 c ), and wherein each soft magnetic member ( 42 ) is arranged adjacent its associated electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ) such that a gap (G) is formed between the respective soft magnetic member ( 42 ) and its associated electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ), wherein for moving the optical element ( 20 ) in said axial direction (A) and/or for tilting the optical element ( 20 ) the respective electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ) is configured to attract its associated soft magnetic member ( 42 ) when a corresponding voltage pulse is applied to the respective electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ) that generates an external magnetic field of the respective electropermanent magnet ( 41 c ) that causes said attraction.