IP Library Granted Patent US 10,935,701
Granted Patent B2
US 10,935,701 · App. 16/257,805 · Granted Mar 2, 2021

Optical system and assembly method of the same

Inventors: Kuo-Chun Kao (Taoyuan, TW); Meng-Ting Lin (Taoyuan, TW); I-Mei Huang (Taoyuan, TW); Sin-Jhong Song (Taoyuan, TW)
Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
G02B3/12F03G7/065G02B3/14G02B6/0025G02B6/0066G02B7/023G02B7/08G02B7/09G02B7/102G02B7/182G02B7/1805G02B7/1821G02B13/009G02B13/0065G02B13/0075G02B26/004G02B26/0816G02B26/0883G02B27/0068G02B27/0955G02B27/0972G02B27/0977G02B27/646G03B5/00G03B9/06G03B9/14G03B13/36G03B17/17G06F1/1686G06T7/521G06T7/97G06T15/08G09G5/003H02K41/0356H04N5/2252H04N5/2253H04N5/2254H04N5/2256H04N5/2257H04N5/2258H04N5/2353G02B5/003G02B13/004G03B5/04G03B2205/0007G03B2205/0015G03B2205/0069G06T2207/10028G06T2207/10048G09G2354/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,935,701
App. No.
16/257,805
Granted
Mar 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical system is provided, including a liquid optical module and a first optical module. The liquid optical module includes a liquid lens driving mechanism and a liquid lens assembly. The liquid lens driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion and a first driving assembly configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The liquid lens assembly includes a liquid lens element, a fixing member and a deforming member. The first optical module is disposed in a receiving space of the fixed portion and includes: a first optical element and a first optical driving mechanism. When the movable portion is driven by the driving assembly to move relative to the fixed portion, the liquid lens element is deformed via the deforming member, causing the optical properties of the liquid lens element to change.

Claims (96)

1. An optical system, comprising:

a liquid optical module, including:

a liquid lens driving mechanism, including:

a fixed portion;

a movable portion, movably connecting the fixed portion; and

a first driving assembly, configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion; and

 a liquid lens assembly, having an optical axis, including:

a liquid lens element;

a fixing member, disposed on a first fixed portion surface of the fixed portion; and

a deforming member, disposed on a movable portion surface of the movable portion; and

 a first optical module, disposed on a receiving space of the fixed portion, including:

a first optical element;

a first optical driving mechanism, configured to drive the first optical element, and the first optical element, the liquid lens driving mechanism and the liquid lens element are arranged along the optical axis;

wherein the first optical element at least partially overlaps the first driving assembly when viewed in the optical axis, and when the movable portion is driven by the driving assembly to move relative to the fixed portion, the liquid lens element is deformed via the deforming member, causing the optical properties of the liquid lens element to change;

wherein the first optical element at least partially overlaps the movable portion when viewed in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis.

2. The optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid lens element does not overlap the first driving element when viewed in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis.

3. The optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movable portion is not directly connected to the first optical element, and the movable portion and the first optical element are movable relative to each other.

4. The optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fixed portion further includes an outer casing, wherein the outer casing has:

an upper surface, which is not parallel with the optical axis and which has an opening; and

a side casing member, extending along an edge of the upper surface in the direction of the optical axis;

wherein the opening corresponds to the liquid lens element and the movable portion at least partially protrudes from the opening.

5. The optical system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the movable portion at least partially overlaps the upper surface when viewed in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis.

6. The optical system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the fixed portion further includes a frame protruding partially from the opening, and the first fixed portion surface is disposed on the frame.

7. The optical system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the frame at least partially overlaps the upper surface when viewed in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis.

8. The optical system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the outer casing further has a protective wall extending from the edge of the opening in the optical axis, and the protective wall at least partially overlaps the liquid lens element when viewed in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis.

9. The optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first optical module further includes:

an unmovable portion;

a mobile portion, movably connected to the unmovable portion, and the first optical element is fixedly disposed on the mobile portion; and

a second driving assembly, configured to drive the mobile portion to move relative to the unmovable portion;

wherein the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly at least partially overlap when viewed along the optical axis.

10. The optical system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an optical path adjustment module adjacent to the liquid optical module configured to change a light from a first direction to the optical axis, and the first direction is different from the direction of the optical axis.

11. The optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid lens element and the first optical element constitute a first optical member having a first focal length which can be changed within a predetermined interval via the first driving module and the second module.

12. The optical system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the predetermined interval has continuity.

13. The optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first optical module further includes:

an unmovable portion;

a mobile portion, movably connected to the unmovable portion, and the first optical element is fixedly disposed on the mobile portion; and

a second driving assembly, configured to drive the mobile portion to move relative to the unmovable portion;

wherein the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly at least partially overlap when viewed along a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis.

14. The optical system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an image sensor module disposed under the liquid optical module and the first optical module.

15. An optical system, comprising:

a liquid optical module, including:

a liquid lens driving mechanism, including:

a fixed portion;

a movable portion, movably connecting the fixed portion; and

a first driving assembly, configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion; and

 a liquid lens assembly, having an optical axis, including:

a liquid lens element;

a fixing member, disposed on a first fixed portion surface of the fixed portion; and

a deforming member, disposed on a movable portion surface of the movable portion; and

 a first optical module, disposed on a receiving space of the fixed portion, including:

a first optical element;

a first optical driving mechanism, configured to drive the first optical element, and the first optical element, the liquid lens driving mechanism and the liquid lens element are arranged along the optical axis;

wherein the first optical element at least partially overlaps the first driving assembly when viewed in the optical axis, and when the movable portion is driven by the driving assembly to move relative to the fixed portion, the liquid lens element is deformed via the deforming member, causing the optical properties of the liquid lens element to change;

wherein the optical system further comprises an optical path adjustment module adjacent to the liquid optical module configured to change a light from a first direction to the optical axis, and the first direction is different from the direction of the optical axis;

wherein the optical path adjustment module, the first optical module, and the liquid lens assembly are arranged along the optical axis.

16. The optical system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the liquid lens assembly is located between the optical path adjustment module and the first optical module.

17. An optical system, comprising:

a liquid optical module, including:

a liquid lens driving mechanism, including:

a fixed portion;

a movable portion, movably connecting the fixed portion; and

a first driving assembly, configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion; and

 a liquid lens assembly, having an optical axis, including:

a liquid lens element;

a fixing member, disposed on a first fixed portion surface of the fixed portion; and

a deforming member, disposed on a movable portion surface of the movable portion; and

 a first optical module, disposed on a receiving space of the fixed portion, including:

a first optical element

a first optical driving mechanism, configured to drive the first optical element, and the first optical element, the liquid lens driving mechanism and the liquid lens element are arranged along the optical axis;

wherein the first optical element at least partially overlaps the first driving assembly when viewed in the optical axis, and when the movable portion is driven by the driving assembly to move relative to the fixed portion, the liquid lens element is deformed via the deforming member, causing the optical properties of the liquid lens element to change;

wherein the liquid lens element and the first optical element constitute a first optical member having a first focal length which can be changed within a predetermined interval via the first driving module and the second module;

wherein the predetermined interval has continuity;

wherein the optical system further comprises a second optical module having a second optical element, and the second optical element has a second focal length.

18. The optical system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first focal length includes the second focal length.

19. The optical system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first focal length does not include the second focal length.

20. The optical system as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising a main housing having a first light entrance and a second light entrance, the first light entrance corresponds to the first optical module, the second light incident portion corresponds to the second optical module, and the light received via the first light entrance and the light received via the second light entrance are parallel to each other.

21. A method for assembling an optical system, comprising:

providing an optical system, comprising:

a liquid optical module, including:

a liquid lens driving mechanism, including:

a fixed portion;

a movable portion, movably connecting the fixed portion; and

a first driving assembly, configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion; and

 a liquid lens assembly, having an optical axis, including:

a liquid lens element

a fixing member, disposed on a first fixed portion surface of the fixed portion; and

a deforming member, disposed on a movable portion surface of the movable portion; and

 a first optical module, disposed on a receiving space of the fixed portion, including:

a first optical element

a first optical driving mechanism, configured to drive the first optical element, and the first optical element, the liquid lens driving mechanism and the liquid lens element are arranged along the optical axis;

wherein the first optical element at least partially overlaps the first driving assembly when viewed in the optical axis, and when the movable portion is driven by the driving assembly to move relative to the fixed portion, the liquid lens element is deformed via the deforming member, causing the optical properties of the liquid lens element to change;

the optical system further comprises an image sensor module disposed under the liquid optical module and the first optical module;

providing the first optical driving mechanism of the first optical module and the first optical element to be aligned with and affixed to the image sensor module;

providing the liquid lens driving mechanism disposed and affixed on the first optical module or the image sensor module;

positioning the liquid lens assembly on the liquid lens driving mechanism, and providing an adhesive assembly between the liquid lens assembly and the liquid lens driving mechanism, wherein the adhesive assembly has not yet cured; and

curing adhesive assembly after the liquid lens assembly is aligned with the first optical element or the image sensor module.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
To: ACTUTEK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 074858/0498 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2019
From: KAO, KUO-CHUN; LIN, MENG-TING; HUANG, I-MEI; SONG, SIN-JHONG
To: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
Reel/Frame 048321/0576 →
Continuity (12)
Provisional Application 62621967 · Jan 25, 2018
Provisional Application 62625600 · Feb 2, 2018
Provisional Application 62682671 · Jun 8, 2018
Provisional Application 62688694 · Jun 22, 2018
Provisional Application 62703147 · Jul 25, 2018
Provisional Application 62711036 · Jul 27, 2018
Provisional Application 62753716 · Oct 31, 2018
Provisional Application 62760320 · Nov 13, 2018
Provisional Application 62780077 · Dec 14, 2018
Provisional Application 62782664 · Dec 20, 2018
Provisional Application 62785593 · Dec 27, 2018
Related Publication 20190227200A1 · Jul 25, 2019