KR20140146566A - The control of light path using an electrowetting principle and its apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for photographing a 3D image using an electrowetting principle. The apparatus for controlling a light path using an electrowetting principle includes: a first electrode and a second electrode; a first hydrophobic layer provided on the first electrode and the second electrode to transform, into hydrophile property, a property of a part corresponding to a location of an electrode to which power is supplied when the power is supplied to the first electrode and the second electrode; a second hydrophobic layer provided parallel to the first hydrophobic layer; an obscure non-polar fluid provided between the first hydrophobic layer and the second hydrophobic layer; and a transparent polar liquid provided in the obscure non-polar fluid. According to the present invention, a structure is simpler than a device including a lens and a comb-drive and productivity and operation reliability may be ensured by providing an optical input/output device using an electrowetting principle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical path control method and apparatus,

The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting an optical path and an optical input / output apparatus having the same.

In order to recognize the stereoscopic image, the human uses the actual distance between the angle θ between the two eyes and the actual object 1a as shown in FIG. The stereoscopic display outputs two images that can be recognized on the left and right eyes respectively on the displayed plane P1 so that a viewer can recognize a virtual angle between the stereoscopic display and the stereoscopic image.

Stereoscopic photograph refers to a technique of shooting an image used to construct a stereoscopic image. Generally, two images are shot simultaneously by two cameras to create a virtual angle of view, and then they are combined into one image through various techniques.

On the other hand, devices such as a surgical endoscope that give information to the physician about the distance to the surgical site should provide distance information. Several research institutes are trying to implement stereoscopic imaging technology for these devices. Since equipment such as surgical endoscopes enter the human body, the development of techniques to reduce the size of devices implementing stereoscopic images and to simplify the structure is becoming the most important issue.

In order to overcome the problem of this size, a method of securing the angle of view of an image by transferring one optical device to the left and right has been studied. UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) and IOS (Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc.) have developed a stereoscopic imaging device using a lens and a light path control device that are driven by the drive of a comb-drive. However, such a conventional apparatus has a short maximum transfer distance (about 10 [mu] m), the efficiency of image implementation is very low, and high voltage is required for realizing stereoscopic image. Therefore, in order to achieve the desired efficiency, it is necessary to have a complicated structure, so that the efficiency and simplification of the structure are two-sided.

On the other hand, electrowetting is a technique capable of artificially changing the contact angle by generating a potential difference between the electrolyte solution and the solid surface as shown in FIG. 2 to control the surface tension of the electrolyte solution. As shown in FIG. 2A, when electricity is not supplied to the electrode, the hydrophobic layer pushes out the electrolyte, thereby reducing the contact area between the hydrophobic layer and the electrolyte, and the contact angle at which the electrolytic solution contacts the hydrophobic layer small. When electricity is supplied to the electrode, as shown in FIG. 2B, a part of the hydrophobic layer corresponding to the electrode is converted into hydrophilic. In this case, the contact area and the contact angle between the electrolytic solution and the portion having hydrophilic property are increased. Fluid lens technology using this principle has been proposed. A fluid lens is a lens made by using a fluid, and can change the focus by changing the interface between the fluid and the oil, which is the curved surface of the lens, by using the electro wetting phenomenon. Electric wetting technology has low power consumption, low driving voltage, simple structure and no mechanical movement, so semi-permanent use is possible.

The present invention provides an apparatus for photographing stereoscopic images using electro-wetting phenomenon.

In addition, the present invention provides an optical input / output device having a simple structure with low power consumption so as to improve the disadvantages of the technology using a comb-drive.

An optical input / output device using electrowetting phenomenon according to the present invention includes a transparent base layer; A first electrode and a second electrode provided on one surface of the base layer; A first hydrophobic layer provided on the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein a property of a corresponding position is converted into hydrophilicity when electric power is supplied to the first electrode and the second electrode; A second hydrophobic layer provided in parallel with the first hydrophobic layer; A fluid iris comprising an opaque non-polar fluid disposed between the first hydrophobic layer and the second hydrophobic layer and a transparent polar liquid contained in the opaque non-polar liquid; A third electrode and a fourth electrode provided on the other side of the base layer; Wherein when a power is supplied to the third electrode and the fourth electrode, a characteristic of a portion corresponding to a position of the third electrode and the fourth electrode is converted into a hydrophilic property, 3 hydrophobic layer; And a fluid lens provided on the other side of the third hydrophobic layer and including a transparent non-polar liquid and a transparent polar liquid provided in the transparent non-polar liquid.

And controlling power to be supplied to only one of the first electrode, the third electrode pair, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode pair so that the transparent polar liquids of the fluid diaphragm and the fluid lens are energized And a power control unit for moving the electrode pair to the supplied electrode pair side.

A fifth electrode corresponding to the position of the first electrode and a sixth electrode corresponding to the position of the second electrode may be provided outside the second hydrophobic layer.

The electrode group consisting of the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode, and the electrode group consisting of the second electrode, the fourth electrode and the sixth electrode, And a power controller for controlling the fluid iris and the transparent lens liquid of the fluid lens to move toward the electrode group to which the power is supplied.

Further, the outer surface of the second hydrophobic layer may further include a ground layer made of a glass material.

The first electrode and the second electrode may be formed of a plurality of electrode arrays, respectively.

An optical input / output device using electrowetting according to the present invention includes a first electrode and a second electrode; A first hydrophobic layer provided on the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein a property of a corresponding position is converted into hydrophilicity when electric power is supplied to the first electrode and the second electrode; A second hydrophobic layer provided in parallel with the first hydrophobic layer; A fluid iris comprising an opaque non-polar fluid disposed between the first hydrophobic layer and the second hydrophobic layer and a transparent polar liquid contained in the opaque non-polar liquid; Wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are provided on the other side of the first hydrophobic layer with respect to the first electrode and the second electrode, and when power is supplied to the first electrode and the second electrode, A third hydrophobic layer in which characteristics of a corresponding portion are converted to hydrophilicity; And a fluid lens provided on the other side of the third hydrophobic layer and including a transparent non-polar liquid and a transparent polar liquid provided in the transparent non-polar liquid.

And a power control unit for controlling power supplied to only one of the first electrode and the second electrode so as to move the transparent diaphragm and the transparent lens liquid of the fluid lens toward the electrode to which power is supplied .

A third electrode corresponding to the position of the first electrode and a fourth electrode corresponding to the position of the second electrode may be provided outside the second hydrophobic layer.

And controlling power to be supplied to only one of the first electrode, the third electrode pair, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode pair so that the transparent polar liquids of the fluid diaphragm and the fluid lens are energized And a power control unit for moving the electrode pair to the supplied electrode pair side.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of a stereoscopic image.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining electrowetting phenomenon. Fig.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the optical path adjusting device according to the first embodiment.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing an operation of the optical path adjusting device according to the first embodiment.
5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the optical path adjusting apparatus according to the second embodiment.
6 is a sectional view showing an operation of the optical path adjusting device according to the second embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the principle of image formation.
8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a change in the position of an image due to the movement of the lens and the light path adjusting device.
9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the optical input / output device according to the third embodiment.
10 is a sectional view showing an operation of the optical input / output device according to the third embodiment.
11 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a change in the position of an image by the optical input / output device according to the third embodiment.
12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the optical input / output device according to the fourth embodiment.
13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the optical input / output device according to the fifth embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the absence of special definitions or references, the terms used in this description are based on the conditions indicated in the drawings. The same reference numerals denote the same members throughout the embodiments. For the sake of convenience, the thicknesses and dimensions of the structures shown in the drawings may be exaggerated, and they do not mean that the dimensions and the proportions of the structures should be actually set.

≪ Example 1 >

The optical path adjusting apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the optical path adjusting apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the operation of the optical path adjusting apparatus according to the first embodiment.

The optical path adjusting device 10 is provided with a pair of electrodes 15. The electrode 15 is used as an electrode for electric wetting phenomenon. The electrode 15 is formed of a transparent material for passing light therethrough. A pair of electrodes 15 are provided on the base layer 30. The base layer 30 may be formed of a transparent material such as a glass wafer. On the other hand, the pair of electrodes 15 are for adjusting the moving direction of the polar transparent liquid to be described later, and the electrodes 15 may be divided into a plurality of electrodes as long as the directions coincide with each other. That is, one electrode arranged in a direction opposite to each other may be provided as an array of a plurality of electrodes.

The first hydrophobic layer 14 is formed in such a manner that when the electric power is supplied to any one of the pair of electrodes 15, the property of the portion corresponding to the corresponding electrode to which electric power is supplied is changed in the direction of decreasing the hydrophobicity and increasing the hydrophilicity do. It is preferable that the first hydrophobic layer 14 and the pair of electrodes 15 are spaced apart or interposed therebetween with an insulating material or a dielectric interposed therebetween.

Between the first hydrophobic layer 14 and the second hydrophobic layer 11, an opaque non-polar fluid 13 and a transparent polar liquid 12 are provided. The opaque non-polar fluid 13 is provided between the first hydrophobic layer 14 and the second hydrophobic layer 11 and the transparent polar liquid 12 comprises the first hydrophobic layer 14 and the second hydrophobic layer 11 ) And in opaque non-polar fluid (13). The opaque non-polar liquid 13 (liquid or gas) absorbs light to prevent the transmission of light, and the transparent polar liquid 12 exists in a state of not being mixed with the opaque non-polar liquid 13, And transmits light of a predetermined wavelength. In addition, as described above, when the portion of the first hydrophobic layer 15 is converted into hydrophilic by the electrode 15 to which power is supplied, the transparent polar liquid 12 moves in a direction to increase the contact area with the hydrophilic layer 15 do. The opaque non-polar liquid 13 and the transparent polar liquid 12 function as diaphragms. By supplying electric power to any one of the pair of electrodes 15 through a separate power control unit (not shown) The effect of moving the center of the iris by moving the transparent polar liquid 12 in the direction of the electrode side can be obtained as shown in Fig.

The ground layer 31 is supplied with electric power together with the pair of electrodes 15 to form an electric field. The ground layer 31 may be replaced with a ground electrode 31a provided between the pair of electrodes 15. [ Hereinafter, it is assumed that an electric field is formed by providing a ground layer 31 or a ground electrode 31a in accordance with each situation.

The optical path adjusting device according to the present embodiment can be used as a part of a video input / output device such as a diaphragm image photographing device or as an apparatus for adjusting an optical condensation.

≪ Example 2 >

The optical path adjusting apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state of an optical path adjusting apparatus according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an operation of an optical path adjusting apparatus according to a second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the optical path adjusting device according to the second embodiment differs from the optical path adjusting device according to the first embodiment in that a pair of electrodes are provided at upper and lower portions. That is, the diaphragm 10a according to the second embodiment further includes an additional pair of electrodes 15a on the second hydrophobic layer. At this time, it is preferable that the upper and lower electrodes are arranged so as to be aligned with each other. It is the same as the first embodiment that an insulating material or a dielectric material can be interposed between the first hydrophobic layer 11 and the second hydrophobic layer 11. [

In the present embodiment, the ground electrodes 31b and 31a may be provided between the pair of electrode pairs 15a and 15, respectively.

Power is supplied only to the electrodes positioned in the same direction with respect to the center of the diaphragm 10a. That is, when power is supplied to the right electrode of the pair of lower electrodes, power should be supplied to the right electrode among the electrode pairs of the upper electrode pairs. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the right side of the first hydrophobic layer 14 and the second hydrophobic layer 11 are converted into a direction of increasing hydrophilicity, and the polar transparent liquid 12 moves to the right side.

The principle of the stereoscopic image will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the principle of image formation, and Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a change in the position of an image due to the transfer of a lens and a diaphragm.

Referring to FIG. 7, the ray of light ray (Light ray 2) passing through the center of the lens is guided by the principle of geometrical optics and is refracted at the center of the lens while maintaining a straight line and the light ray (Light ray 3) limited by the diaphragm. The light rays (Light ray1, Light ray3) are refracted by the diaphragm, and the light rays (Light ray2) passing through the center of the lens are formed at the points where they meet with each other.

Assuming that the diaphragm and the lens move together at this time, it is as shown in Fig. 8 (a), when the diaphragm and the lens are moved upward, they are moved upward or upward as shown in FIG. 8 (b). On the contrary, when the diaphragm and the lens are moved downward (C) of FIG. 8, the image is shifted downward. That is, when the diaphragm and the lens are moved, the same effect as that obtained by photographing at different positions using a plurality of cameras can be obtained.

Meanwhile, as described above, in order to produce a stereoscopic image, the images to be provided to the left and right eyes should be produced as separate images separated by a certain distance on a certain plane in order to provide a virtual viewing angle. Generally, two stereoscopic images are shot using two cameras. However, when the diaphragm and the center of the lens are moved, one stereoscopic image can be produced using one camera.

≪ Example 3 >

The optical input / output device according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 9 to 11. Fig. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the optical input / output device according to the third embodiment, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the optical input / output device according to the third embodiment, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a change in position on the substrate.

The optical input / output device according to the third embodiment is a device for photographing a stereoscopic image by moving the diaphragm and the lens as described above. The optical input / output device according to the present embodiment can be largely divided into a diaphragm 10 and a lens 20.

The diaphragm 10 has the same components as the diaphragm 10 according to the first embodiment described above. That is, the first pair of electrodes 15 is provided on one surface of the base layer 30, and the first hydrophobic layer 14 is provided on the first pair of electrodes 15. When the first hydrophobic layer 14 is supplied with power to any one of the first pair of electrodes 15, the characteristic of the portion corresponding to the electrode to which power is supplied is converted to hydrophilic. The opaque non-polar liquid 13 and the transparent polar liquid 12 are provided between the second hydrophobic layer 11 and the first hydrophobic layer 14 as in the first embodiment. When electric power is supplied to any one of the first pair of electrodes 15 and the portion of the first hydrophobic layer 15 corresponding to the electrode to which electric power is supplied is converted into hydrophilic, 12 is increased.

On the other hand, the lens unit 20 will be described. 9, the lens unit 20 includes a second pair of electrodes 25, a third hydrophobic layer 24, a transparent non-polar liquid 22, and the like, which are provided below the base layer 30, And a transparent polar liquid (23). A second pair of electrodes 25 is provided on the other surface of the base layer 30. A third hydrophobic layer 24 is provided under the second pair of electrodes 25. A transparent nonpolar fluid 22 and a transparent polar liquid 23 are provided under the third hydrophobic layer 24. The transparent polar liquid 23 is provided on the inner side of the non-polar liquid 22 and in contact with the third hydrophobic layer 24. On the other hand, the outer surface of the second hydrophobic layer 11 may further include a ground layer made of glass. The ground layer 31 can be formed using a wafer made of a glass material or the like. The explanation of the constituent parts which are not related to the technical features of the present invention such as the outer housing other than the above will be omitted.

Power is supplied to the first pair of electrodes 15 and the second pair of electrodes 25 in order to operate the stereoscopic image photographing apparatus according to the third embodiment. At this time, it is preferable to supply electric power to the electrodes positioned in the same direction so that the diaphragm 10 and the lens 20 can be moved in the same direction. That is, when power is supplied to the right electrode among the first pair of electrodes 15, electric power is supplied to the right electrode among the second pair of electrodes 15, The transparent polar liquid 12 of the lens 20 and the transparent polar liquid 23 of the lens 20 move to the right together.

By moving the diaphragm and the lens together as described above, the position of the image relative to a specific object can be changed. 11, the diaphragm Ap and the lens L of the optical input / output device (FIG. 11 (a)) according to the present embodiment are controlled so as to move upward from the lens center Ct (B) of FIG. 11) so that the position of the image can be controlled to move upward, and conversely, the stop and the lens can be controlled to move downward as viewed in FIG. 11 (c) have. By alternating these controls, it is possible to obtain the same effect as shooting two cameras with different positions.

<Example 4>

The optical input / output device according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the optical input / output device according to the fourth embodiment.

The optical input / output device according to the fourth embodiment is different from the optical input / output device according to the third embodiment in that only one pair of electrodes is provided. In other words, in the case of the third embodiment, the pair of electrodes 15 for controlling the diaphragm 10 and the lens 20 and the pair of electrodes 15 for controlling the diaphragm 10 and the lens 20 are provided in the present embodiment, Only the ground electrode 15b is provided between the pair of electrodes 15 and the electric field.

That is, the diaphragm 10 and the lens 20 can be simultaneously controlled by supplying electric power to any one of the electrodes 15. In this embodiment, although there is a surface which is difficult to precisely control each of the diaphragm 10 and the lens 20, it has a simpler structure, which is advantageous in manufacturing cost and efficiency.

&Lt; Example 5 >

The optical input / output device according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the optical input / output device according to the fifth embodiment.

The optical input / output device according to the fifth embodiment differs from the optical input / output device according to the third embodiment in that a third pair of electrodes 15a for controlling the diaphragm 10a is additionally provided. That is, as described in the second embodiment, it is advantageous in that the control of the transparent polar liquid 12 in the diaphragm 10a can be made more precise by providing an additional electrode pair.

In this case, the diaphragm 10a and the lens 20 can be controlled to move in the same direction by providing electric power to the electrodes provided in the same direction among the first to third pair of electrodes 15, 15a, have.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, And an optical input / output device having the optical path adjusting device.

10: aperture 11: second hydrophobic layer
12: transparent polar liquid 13: opaque nonpolar fluid
14: first hydrophobic layer 15, 15a, 25: a pair of electrodes
20: fluid lens 22: transparent nonpolar fluid
23: transparent polar liquid

Claims (2)

Transparency base layer;
A first electrode and a second electrode provided on one surface of the base layer;
A first hydrophobic layer provided on the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein a property of a corresponding position is converted into hydrophilicity when electric power is supplied to the first electrode and the second electrode;
A second hydrophobic layer provided in parallel with the first hydrophobic layer;
A fluid iris comprising an opaque non-polar fluid disposed between the first hydrophobic layer and the second hydrophobic layer and a transparent polar liquid contained in the opaque non-polar liquid;
A third electrode and a fourth electrode provided on the other side of the base layer;
Wherein when a power is supplied to the third electrode and the fourth electrode, a characteristic of a portion corresponding to a position of the third electrode and the fourth electrode is converted into a hydrophilic property, 3 hydrophobic layer;
A fluid lens provided on the other side of the third hydrophobic layer and including a transparent non-polar liquid and a transparent polar liquid provided in the transparent non-polar liquid; And
And a power controller for controlling power to be supplied to only one of the first electrode, the third electrode pair, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode pair,
And supplying power to the first electrode and the third electrode pair to move the transparent polar liquids of the fluid stop and the fluid lens in the direction of the first electrode and the third electrode pair, An optical input / output device using electrowetting phenomenon which changes the position of an image relative to a specific object by moving the transparent diaphragm of the fluid diaphragm and the transparent lens liquid of the fluid lens in the direction of the second electrode and the fourth electrode pair by supplying electric power to the electrode pair, . A first electrode and a second electrode;
A first hydrophobic layer provided on the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein a property of a corresponding position is converted into hydrophilicity when electric power is supplied to the first electrode and the second electrode;
A second hydrophobic layer provided in parallel with the first hydrophobic layer;
A fluid iris comprising an opaque non-polar fluid disposed between the first hydrophobic layer and the second hydrophobic layer and a transparent polar liquid disposed in the opaque non-polar fluid;
Wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are provided on the other side of the first hydrophobic layer with respect to the first electrode and the second electrode, and when power is supplied to the first electrode and the second electrode, A third hydrophobic layer in which characteristics of a corresponding portion are converted to hydrophilicity;
A fluid lens provided on the other side of the third hydrophobic layer and including a transparent non-polar liquid and a transparent polar liquid provided in the transparent non-polar liquid; And
And a power control unit that controls power to be supplied to only one of the first electrode and the second electrode,
And supplying power to the first electrode to move the transparent polar liquids of the fluid iris and the fluid lens toward the first electrode or to supply power to the second electrode to supply the transparent polar liquid To the second electrode so as to vary the position of the image with respect to a specific object.

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