Industry Patents
Patent: 5774273
Variable-Geometry Liquid-Filled Lens Apparatus and Method for Controlling the Energy Distribution of a Light Beam
(Click image for PDF of full patent)
| Patent Number: |
5774273 |
| Title: |
Variable-Geometry Liquid-Filled Lens Apparatus and Method for Controlling the Energy Distribution of a Light Beam |
| Abstract: |
A variable-geometry lens controlling the distribution of light in a beam,
having a deformable, transparent membrane supported by a liquid-filled,
transparent multi-cellular structure forming an array of variable-power
lenslets for controlling the divergence or convergence of a light beam. An
optically clear liquid is pumped into or out of the structure to deform
the membrane into an array of convex or concave lenslets having adjustable
optical power to control energy distribution. The index of refraction of
the structure matches the index of refraction of the liquid to render the
structure invisible so that it has no effect on the beam. The shape of the
cells and the curvature of the membrane covering the cell affects the
distribution of light refracted by the array of lenslets. The thickness of
the membrane may vary across each cell to further affect the curvature and
distribution of light refracted by the array of lenslets. The
variable-geometry lens may be formed of a single piece of flexible,
transparent material incorporating both the deformable membrane and the
multi-cellular supporting structure bonded to a flat or curved glass
plate. The variable-geometry lens may also be formed of two pieces of
flexible, transparent material each incorporating both the deformable
membrane and the multi-cellular supporting structure, and bonded together
such that lenslets are formed on both sides.
|
| Country of Issue: |
US |
| First Named Inventor: |
Bornhorst |
| Assignee: |
Vari-Lite |
| Continuation or Divisional of: |
|
| International Classification: |
G02B 1/06 |
| US Classification: |
359/665 |
| Issue Date: |
06-30-1998 |
| Filing Date: |
08-23-1996 |
| Application : |
702785 |
| Notes: |
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| Link to Patent at freepatentsonline.com: |
5774273 at Freepatentsonline |
| Link to World Patent Family1: |
World Patent Family at European Patent Office |
| Link to Google Patents1: |
5774273 at Google Patents |
1. The Google Patents and World Patent Family links will likely not work until a few weeks
after the patent has issued - they take a while to get new patents in their systems.
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