Electro-active focus and zoom systems
Aspects of the present invention provide dynamic focusing systems and dynamic zoom systems having no moving parts. The dynamic focusing systems can include an electro-active lens, a fixed focus lens in optical communication with the electro-active lens and a focal plane. The dynamic zoom systems can include a first electro-active lens, a second electro-active lens, a fixed focus lens, and a focal plane. The electro-active lenses of the present invention can have an adjustable optical power to provide variable focusing capability. The dynamic focusing systems and dynamic zoom systems can include a controller for altering the adjustable optical powers of the electro-active lenses. The dynamic focusing systems can focus on objects at various distances based on the controlled optical power of the included electro-active lenses. The dynamic zoom systems can provide magnification and de-magnification based on the controlled optical power of the included electro-active lenses.
1. A system, comprising:
a first lens;
a second lens in optical communication with the first lens; and
a focal plane positioned to receive light focused by a combination of the first lens and the second lens;
wherein:
the first lens, the second lens, and the focal plane are immobile with respect to each other along an optical axis;
the first lens is physically spaced apart from the second lens by a first predetermined distance;
the first lens is physically spaced apart from the focal plane by a second predetermined distance;
the first lens is electro-active, and comprises at least two substrates;
a substantially transparent conductive electrode layer is operatively connected so each substrate;
at least one of the electrode layers is patterned and includes a plurality of ring electrodes;
at least one ring electrode of the plurality of ring electrodes is electrically connected to an adjacent ring electrode of the plurality of ring electrodes by a resistive bridge that electrically bridges a substantially annular insulating gap;
the at least one ring electrode is electrically connected to an input connection; and
the adjacent ring electrode is electrically connected to the input connection through the resistive bridge and the at least one ring electrode.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first lens has an adjustable optical power adapted to provide variable focusing capability.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
an adjustable optical power of the first lens is adapted to be varied within a predetermined range of optical powers.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
an adjustable optical power of the first lens is adapted to be continuously varied within a range of optical powers.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
an adjustable optical power of the first lens is adapted to be discretely varied within a range of optical powers.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first lens is adapted to be tuned between a positive optical power and a negative optical power.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the substrates comprises an etched-pattern.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the electrode layers is lithographically-patterned.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
tuning a voltage profile across the first lens provides multiple spherical lens powers.
10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller adapted for altering an adjustable optical power of the first lens.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second lens has a fixed power.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second lens is electro-active.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first lens has a first adjustable optical power adapted to provide a first variable focusing capability and the second lens is electro-active and has a second adjustable optical power adapted to provide a second variable focusing capability.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the system is adapted to provide magnification or demagnification when the first lens is controlled to provide a negative optical power and the second lens is electro-active and is controlled to provide a positive optical power.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the system is adapted to provide magnification or de-magnification when the first lens is controlled to provide a positive optical power and the second lens is electro-active and is controlled to provide a negative optical power.
16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller adapted for altering an adjustable optical power of the second lens, wherein the second lens is electro-active.
17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third lens, wherein the third lens:
has a fixed optical power;
is physically spaced apart from the first lens by a third predetermined distance;
is immobile with respect to the first lens and the second lens along the optical axis; and
is in optical communication with the first lens, the second lens, and the focal plane.
18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third lens, wherein the third lens:
is electro-active;
is physically spaced apart from the first lens by a third predetermined distance;
is immobile with respect to the first lens and the second lens along the optical axis; and
is in optical communication with the first lens, the second lens, and the focal plane.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the focal plane comprises a charge-coupled device (CCD).
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the focal plane comprises a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device.