IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,411,349
Granted Patent B2
US 12,411,349 · App. 18/418,384 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Optical device for enhancing resolution of an image or for reducing speckle noise

Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden (Allenwinden, CH); Marcel Suter (Zürich, CH); Stephan Smolka (Zürich, CH); Roman Patscheider (Winterthur, CH); David Andreas Niederer (Küttigen, CH)
Assignee: OPTOTUNE SWITZERLAND AG
G02B27/0933G02B27/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,411,349
App. No.
18/418,384
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an optical device ( 1 ) for enhancing the resolution of an image or for reducing speckle noise.

Claims (26)

1. An Optical device for speckle pattern reduction, comprising:

a diffusor configured to diffuse a light beam passing through said diffuser to reduce a speckle pattern,

a support frame configured to support the diffusor,

a spring structure connected to the support frame, wherein the spring structure comprises a frame to which the diffusor is connected, wherein the frame is moveable with respect to the support frame, and wherein the spring structure comprises a first holding member that is connected via a first spring element to the frame, and

an actuator configured to move the frame with respect to the support frame by means of a Lorentz force.

2. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the spring structure comprises a second holding member that is connected via a second spring element to the frame.

3. The optical device according to claim 2 , wherein the spring structure comprises a third holding member that is connected via a third spring element to the frame.

4. The optical device according to claim 3 , wherein the spring structure comprises a fourth holding member that is connected via a fourth spring element to the frame.

5. The optical device according to claim 4 , wherein the respective spring element comprises one of: a curved portion, an angled portion.

6. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the spring structure is monolithic.

7. The optical device according to one of the claim 1 , wherein the support frame is formed by or comprises a printed circuit board.

8. The optical device according to one of the claim 1 , wherein the support frame comprises a first arm that opposes a second arm of the support frame, and wherein the first and the second arm are connected by a third and a fourth arm of the support frame.

9. The optical device according to claim 8 , wherein the first and the third arm are joined at a first corner portion of the support frame, and wherein the third and the second arm are joined at a second corner portion of the support frame.

10. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a first coil, a second coil, a third coil and a fourth coil, wherein said coils are integrated into the support frame, and wherein the actuator comprises a first magnet facing the first coil, a second magnet facing the second coil, a third magnet facing the third coil, wherein the magnets are connected to the frame.

11. The optical device according to claim 10 , wherein the first coil is integrated into a first arm of the support frame, and wherein the second coil is integrated into a second arm of the support frame, and wherein the third coil is integrated into a third arm of the support frame.

12. An optical device for reducing speckle noise, comprising:

a movable diffusor for diffusing a light beam passing through said diffuser,

a support structure supporting the diffusor,

wherein the movable diffusor is supported on the support structure by at least one elastically deformable member such that the diffusor is movable along a first motion direction extending along the support structure and/or along a second motion direction extending along the support structure, and wherein the at least one elastically deformable member is an elastically deformable pillar protruding from the support structure and being configured to allow lateral movement of the diffusor parallel to the support structure.

13. The optical device according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one elastically deformable member comprises a metal or is formed out of a metal.

14. The optical device according to claim 12 , wherein the diffusor is supported on the support structure by three or four elastically deformable members, wherein each elastically deformable member comprises or is formed out of a metal.

15. The optical device according to claim 12 , wherein the pillars are bendable such that the diffusor can be moved parallel to the support structure.

16. The optical device according to claim 12 , wherein the support structure delimits at least one recess or delimits at least one through-opening extending from a front side of the support structure to a back side of the support structure.

17. The optical device according to claim 16 , wherein the diffusor is arranged in front of said at least one recess or through-opening such that light can pass through the diffusor and through the support structure via said recess or through-opening.

18. The optical device according to claim 12 , wherein the optical device comprises an actuator for moving the diffusor along the first motion direction and/or along the second motion direction, wherein the actuator comprises at least a first coil assembly connected to the support structure and at least a first magnet connected to the at least one elastically deformable member and/or to the movable diffuser such that the at least one first magnet faces the at least one first coil assembly.

19. The optical device according to claim 12 , wherein the support structure comprises a printed circuit board.

Assignments (2)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 17, 2024
From: OPTOTUNE AG; OPTOTUNE SWITZERLAND AG
To: OPTOTUNE SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 066802/0810 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2024
From: ASCHWANDEN, MANUEL; SUTER, MARCEL; SMOLKA, STEPHAN; PATSCHEIDER, ROMAN; NIEDERER, DAVID ANDREAS
To: OPTOTUNE AG
Reel/Frame 066221/0149 →
Priority Claims (2)
EP 18189834 · Aug 20, 2018 · regional
EP 19154900 · Jan 31, 2019 · regional
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17270021
Related Publication 20240160027A1 · May 16, 2024
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