TW202006402A - Methods of manufacturing liquid lenses - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of forming a liquid lens, comprising the steps of: emulsifying a first liquid and a second liquid to form an emulsified liquid in which the first liquid and the second liquid are substantially immiscible with each other; depositing the emulsified liquid into a cavity defined above a window; and demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have different refractive indices than each other such that an interface between the first liquid and the second liquid defines a variable lens.

Description

Method for manufacturing liquid lens

This application claims the priority of US Provisional Patent Application No. 62/674,787 filed on May 22, 2018 according to the Patent Law, and the entirety of the US Provisional Patent Application is incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to liquid lenses, and more specifically, to methods of manufacturing liquid lenses.

The liquid lens usually includes two immiscible liquids disposed in the cavity. Changing the electric field applied to the liquid can change the wettability of one of the liquids with respect to the wall of the cavity, which has the shape of the interface (meniscus) formed between the two liquids Of effect. Furthermore, in various applications, changes in the shape of the interface cause changes in the focal length of the lens.

During the manufacture of liquid lenses, precise amounts of two liquids must be dispensed into the cavity. However, the problem is that it is difficult to dispense an accurate amount of two liquids into the cavity of the liquid lens at high speed, and complicated equipment is required. In addition, current methods of dispensing the two liquids are performed in a manner that prevents the two liquids from mixing in the cavity. Prior to this disclosure, the mainstream idea was that it was very undesirable for the two liquids to mix in any form in the cavity.

The present disclosure makes the two by mixing a volume of two liquids, emulsifying the two liquids into an emulsified liquid, distributing the emulsified liquid into one or more cavities, and then demulsifying the emulsified liquid back into the component liquid The interface between the liquids was formed to solve the aforementioned problems and subvert the mainstream ideas.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, a method of forming a liquid lens includes the following steps: emulsifying the first liquid and the second liquid to form an emulsified liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are substantially immiscible with each other; emulsifying The liquid is deposited into the cavity defined above the window, and the emulsified liquid is de-emulsified into a first liquid and a second liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have different refractive indexes from each other, so that the first liquid and the second liquid The interface between them defines a variable lens.

According to a second aspect, the method of the first aspect, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are emulsified with a vortex emulsifier to form an emulsified liquid.

According to the third aspect, the method of any one of the first and second aspects further includes the step of depositing the emulsified liquid into a plurality of cavities provided on the substrate from a common source of emulsified liquid.

According to the fourth aspect, the method of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the density of the first liquid is different from the density of the second liquid at the temperature or temperature range at which the demulsification step occurs; and wherein due to gravity For this reason, the demulsification of the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid occurs within a period of about 1 hour to 48 hours.

According to the fifth aspect, the method of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the density of the first liquid and the density of the second liquid are different at the temperature or temperature range at which the demulsification step occurs; and wherein the emulsification The step of demulsifying the liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes using a centrifuge to apply centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid.

According to the sixth aspect, the method of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have a density of at least about the same at room temperature, but at a second temperature different from room temperature Having different densities; and wherein the step of demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes: raising the temperature of the emulsified liquid to the second temperature.

According to a seventh aspect, the method of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have a density of at least about the same at room temperature; and wherein the emulsified liquid is broken into the first liquid The steps of the second liquid include: applying a voltage to the driving electrode provided on the side wall of the cavity.

According to the eighth aspect, the method of any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid occurs at a temperature from about -80°C to about 100°C .

According to the ninth aspect, the method of any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the volume ratio of the second liquid to the first liquid in the emulsified liquid is from about 0.4 to about 0.6.

According to the tenth aspect, the method of the fourth aspect further includes the following steps: dividing the substrate to form a plurality of liquid lenses, each of the plurality of liquid lenses including one cavity of the plurality of cavities.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, a method of forming a liquid lens includes the following steps: mixing a first liquid and a second liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are substantially immiscible with each other; emulsifying the first and the second liquid Two liquids to form an emulsified liquid; depositing the emulsified liquid into the cavity defined above the window; and breaking the emulsified liquid into a first liquid and a second liquid, the first liquid and the second liquid having different refractive indexes from each other, The interface between the first liquid and the second liquid defines a variable lens.

According to a twelfth aspect, the method of the eleventh aspect, wherein the first liquid includes a polar liquid and the second liquid includes a non-polar liquid.

According to the thirteenth aspect, the method of any one of the eleventh and twelfth aspects further includes the steps of depositing the emulsified liquid from a common source of emulsified liquid into a plurality of cavities provided on the substrate.

According to the fourteenth aspect, the method of any one of the eleventh to thirteenth aspects, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are mixed in batches.

According to the fifteenth aspect, the method of any one of the eleventh to fourteenth aspects, wherein mixing the first liquid and the second liquid and emulsifying the first liquid and the second liquid are performed substantially simultaneously step.

The method according to any one of the sixteenth aspect, the eleventh to fifteenth aspect, wherein the first liquid has a different density from the second liquid at the temperature or temperature range at which the demulsification step occurs; and wherein Due to gravity, the demulsification of the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid occurs within a period of about 1 hour to 48 hours.

The method according to any one of the seventeenth aspect and the eleventh to fifteenth aspect, wherein the first liquid has a different density from the second liquid at the temperature or temperature range at which the demulsification step occurs; and wherein Demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes using a centrifuge to apply centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid.

According to the eighteenth aspect, the method of any one of the eleventh to fifteenth aspects, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have a density at least about the same at room temperature, but at a temperature different from the room temperature. The two temperatures have different densities; and the step of demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes: raising the temperature of the emulsified liquid to the second temperature.

According to the nineteenth aspect, the method of any one of the eleventh to fifteenth aspects, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have at least about the same density at room temperature; and wherein the emulsified liquid is broken into The steps of the first liquid and the second liquid include: applying a voltage to the driving electrode provided on the sidewall of the cavity.

According to the twentieth aspect, the method of any one of the eleventh to nineteenth aspects further includes the steps of: dividing the substrate to form a plurality of liquid lenses, each of the plurality of liquid lenses including the plurality of cavities A cavity.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the present disclosure, a method of forming a liquid lens includes the following steps: mixing a first liquid and a second liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have different refractive indexes and Different densities, and wherein the first liquid system is a polar liquid and the second liquid system is a non-polar liquid; emulsifying the first and second liquids to form an emulsified liquid; depositing the emulsified liquid into the cavity defined above the window; and emulsifying The liquid is demulsified into a first liquid and a second liquid, so that the interface between the first liquid and the second liquid defines a variable lens, and after demulsification, the first liquid contacts a common electrode.

According to the twenty-second aspect, the method of the twenty-first aspect, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are emulsified with a vortex emulsifier to form an emulsified liquid.

According to the twenty-third aspect, the method of any one of the twenty-first or twenty-second aspect further includes the steps of: depositing the emulsified liquid from a common source of emulsified liquid to a plurality of voids provided on the substrate Cavity.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect, the method of any one of the twenty-first to twenty-third aspects, wherein due to gravity, the emulsified liquid is broken into the first liquid and the second liquid at room temperature and at Occurs within a period of about 1 hour to 48 hours.

The method according to any one of the twenty-fifth aspect and any one of the twenty-first to twenty-third aspects, wherein demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid occurs at room temperature, and includes: using Centrifuge to apply centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid.

The method according to any one of the twenty-sixth aspect and any one of the twenty-first to twenty-third aspects, wherein demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid occurs at room temperature, and includes: The voltage is applied to the driving electrode provided on the side wall of the cavity.

According to the twenty-seventh aspect, the method of any one of the twenty-first to twenty-sixth aspects, wherein the volume ratio of the second liquid to the first liquid in the emulsified liquid is from about 0.4 to about 0.6.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect, the method of the twenty-third aspect, wherein the step of depositing the emulsified liquid into the plurality of cavities includes: simultaneously depositing the emulsified liquid into more than one cavity.

According to the twenty-ninth aspect, the method of any one of the twenty-third or twenty-eighth aspect further includes the following steps: dividing the substrate to form a plurality of liquid lenses, each of the plurality of liquid lenses including the plurality of empty A cavity in the cavity.

According to the thirtieth aspect, the method of any one of the twenty-first to twenty-ninth aspects, wherein the first liquid includes water and the second liquid includes oil.

By referring to the following specification, patent application scope, and accompanying drawings, those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which this case belongs will further understand and appreciate these and other features, advantages, and purposes of this disclosure.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the detailed description below, and will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which this case belongs, or by implementing the present invention and applications as described in the following description The scope of the patent is also recognized by the accompanying drawings.

As used herein, when the term "and/or" is used in a list of two or more items, it means that any of the listed items can be used alone, or in the listed items Any combination of two or more. For example, if an ingredient is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the ingredient may contain only A; only B; only C; the combination of A and B; the combination of A and C; A combination of B and C; or a combination containing A, B and C.

In this article, relational terms, such as first and second, top and bottom, etc., are only used to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, and do not necessarily require or imply between such entities or actions Any actual such relationship or order.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "coupled" (in all its tenses: present-day coupling, present-day coupling, past-style coupling, etc.) generally means that two (electrical or mechanical) components are directly connected to each other Or indirectly. This connection may be fixed in nature or movable in nature. This connection may be achieved by two (electrical or mechanical) components, and any additional intermediate elements may be formed integrally with each other as a single unitary body, or formed integrally with these two components. Unless otherwise stated, this connection may be permanent in nature, or may be removable or releasable in nature.

As used herein, the term "about" means that the content, size, formulation, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be precise, but can be approximated and/or greater or less than, reflect tolerance, conversion factors, Rounding, measurement errors, etc., and other factors known to those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which this case belongs. When the term "about" is used to describe a numerical value or an endpoint of a range, the disclosure should be understood to include the specific numerical value or endpoint referred to. Regardless of whether the numerical value or the end point of the range describes "about", the numerical value or the end point of the range is intended to include two embodiments: one modified by "about" and one not modified by "about". It will be further understood that the endpoint of each range is meaningful relative to the other endpoint and is independent of the other endpoint.

As used herein, the terms "substantial", "substantially" and variations thereof are intended to indicate that the features described are equal to or approximately equal to the value or description. For example, a "substantially planar" surface is intended to indicate a planar or nearly planar surface. Also, "substantially" is intended to mean that the two values are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, "substantially" may mean values within about 10% of each other.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements shown in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present invention are described in detail in this disclosure, persons with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which this case belongs will readily understand that with reference to this disclosure, many possible modifications (eg, sizes and dimensions of various elements) can be made , Structure, shape and ratio, parameter values, installation layout, use of materials, color, orientation, etc.), without substantially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described in this case. For example, an element shown as integrally formed may be composed of multiple parts, or an element shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interface may be reversed or otherwise changed, and the length or width of the structure may be changed and /Or components or connectors or other elements of the system, and may change the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements. It should be noted that the elements and/or components of the system may be composed of any of a variety of materials that can be presented in various colors, textures, and combinations to provide sufficient strength or durability. Therefore, all these modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which provide cross-sectional views of some examples of the liquid lens 100. According to various examples, the liquid lens 100 includes a lens body 102 and a cavity 104 formed in the lens body 102. The first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are disposed in the cavity 104. The method of forming the liquid lens 100 described in detail below involves improving the deposition of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 in the cavity 104.

According to various examples, the first liquid 106 may be a polar liquid or a conductive liquid. The first liquid 106 may be water carrying ionic compounds (such as one or more salts) that dissociate substantially or completely into cations and anions in the water. Examples of anions include, but are not limited to: halides, such as chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, carbonate, bicarbonate, acetate, etc., and mixtures thereof. Examples of cations include, but are not limited to: alkali, alkaline earth and metal cations. Examples of dissociable ionic compounds include, but are not limited to: potassium acetate, magnesium chloride, zinc bromide, lithium bromide, sodium bromide, lithium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium sulfate, etc., and mixtures thereof. The first liquid 106 may be or may include an ionized liquid (ie, an ionic compound that is liquid at the temperature associated with the application of the liquid lens 100).

The second liquid 108 may be a non-polar liquid or an insulating liquid. Examples include oils, alkanes, or mixtures of alkanes, including halogenated alkanes, or any other non-polar or insulating liquid that is not miscible with the first liquid 106. This non-conductive fluid contains organic or inorganic (mineral) compounds or mixtures thereof. Examples of such organic or inorganic compounds include Si-based monomers or oligomers, Ge-based monomers or oligomers, Si-Ge-based monomers or oligomers, hydrocarbons or mixtures of the foregoing. Specific hydrocarbons include straight-chain or branched-chain hydrocarbons, such as decane (C ₁₀ H ₂₂ ), dodecane (C ₁₂ H ₂₄ ), squalene (C ₃₀ H ₆₂ ), etc.; Cyclic alkanes, such as tert-butylcyclohexane (C ₁₀ H ₂₀ ), etc.; condensed ring systems, such as α-chloronaphthalene, α-bromonaphthalene ), cis, trans-decalin (C ₁₀ H ₁₈ ), etc.; mixtures of hydrocarbons, such as those obtained from Isopar® V, Isopar® P (from Exxon Mobil); Specific examples of silicon-based species include: hexamethyidisilane, diphenyldimethylsilane, chlorophenyltrimethylsilane, phenyltrimethyl-silane, Phenethyltris (trimethylsiloxy) silane, phenyltris (trimethylsiloxy) silane, polydimethylsiloxane ), tetra-phenyltetramethyltrisiloxane (tetra-phenyltetramethyltrisiloxane), poly(3,3,3-trifluoropropylmethylsiloxane) (poly(3,3,3-trifluoropropylmethylsiloxane)), 3, 5,7-triphenylnonylmethyl-pentasiloxane (3,5,7-triphenylnonamethyl-pentasiloxane), 3,5-diphenyloctamethyltetrasiloxane (3,5-diphenyloctamethyltetrasiloxane), 1,1,5,5-tetraphenyl-1,3,3,5-tetramethyl-trisiloxane (1,1,5,5-tetraphenyl-1,3,3,5-tetramethyl-trisiloxane ) And hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane). Specific examples of germanium-based species include: hexamethyldigermane, diphenyldimethylgermane, and phenyltrimethylgermane. The first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may include antioxidant compounds, such as BHT (dibutylhydroxytoluene) antioxidants, such as 2,6-di-tetra-butyl-4-methylphenol.

According to various examples, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are immiscible with each other and have different refractive indexes, so that the interface 110 between the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 forms a variable lens. In some embodiments, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may have substantially the same density in the temperature range where the liquid lens 100 is to be used, which may help to avoid liquid lenses due to (eg, due to gravity) The change of the physical orientation of 100 causes the shape of the interface 110 to change. In some embodiments, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may have substantially the same density (eg, less than 0.5% difference) at room temperature (20°C to 25°C / 68°F to 77°F) ). According to other embodiments, the densities of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are sufficiently different at room temperature (eg, the difference is 0.5% or more), so that the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are due to gravity Separated or separated. According to other embodiments, the densities of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are sufficiently different at a temperature different from room temperature (eg, the difference is 0.5% or more), so that gravity occurs at the different temperatures As a result, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are separated or separated.

According to various examples of the liquid lens 100, the cavity 104 includes a first portion (or head space) 104A and a second portion (or base) 104B. For example, as described below, the second portion 104B of the cavity 104 may be defined by a hole in the middle layer of the liquid lens 100. Additionally or alternatively, the first portion 104A of the cavity 104 is defined by the recess in the first outer layer 118 of the liquid lens 100 and/or is disposed outside the hole in the intermediate layer 120. According to various examples, at least a portion of the first liquid 106 is disposed in the first portion 104A of the cavity 104 and the second liquid 108 is disposed within the second portion 104B of the cavity 104. For example, substantially all of the second liquid 108 or a portion of the second liquid 108 is disposed in the second portion 104B of the cavity 104. The peripheral edge 111 of the interface 110 (eg, the edge of the interface 110 in contact with the side wall of the cavity 104) may be disposed in the second portion 104B of the cavity 104.

According to various examples, the interface 110 of the liquid lens 100 can be adjusted by electrowetting. For example, a voltage may be applied between the first liquid 106 and the surface of the cavity 104 (eg, an electrode located near the surface of the cavity 104 and insulated from the first liquid 106 as described in more detail below) to The wettability of the surface of the cavity 104 relative to the first liquid 106 is increased or decreased, and the shape of the interface 110 is changed. Adjusting the interface 110 can change the shape of the interface 110 so that the focal length or focus of the liquid lens 100 can be changed. For example, such a change in focus distance can enable the liquid lens 100 to perform an auto-focus function. Additionally or alternatively, adjusting the interface 110 can tilt the interface 110 relative to the optical axis 112 of the liquid lens 100. For example, such tilting of the interface 110 enables the liquid lens 100 to perform optical image stabilization (OIS) functions. The interface 110 can be adjusted without moving the liquid lens 100 relative to the image sensor, fixed lens or lens stack, housing, or other components of the camera module that can incorporate the liquid lens 100. In addition, as discussed below, the application of voltage may help to separate the emulsified composition of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108.

The lens body 102 of the liquid lens 100 may include a first window 114 and a second window 116. The cavity 104 is disposed between the first window 114 and the second window 116. According to various examples, the lens body 102 includes a plurality of layers that cooperatively form the lens body 102. For example, the lens body 102 may include a first outer layer 118, an intermediate layer 120, and a second outer layer 122. The intermediate layer 120 may define a hole formed therethrough. The first outer layer 118 may be bonded to one side (eg, object side) of the intermediate layer 120. For example, the first outer layer 118 may be bonded to the intermediate layer 120 at the bonding portion 134A. The bonding portion 134A may be an adhesive bonding portion, a laser bonding portion (eg, laser welding), or another suitable coupling capable of maintaining the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 within the cavity 104. Additionally or alternatively, the second outer layer 122 may be bonded to the opposite side (eg, image side) of the intermediate layer 120. For example, the second outer layer 122 may be joined to the intermediate layer 120 at the joint 134B and/or the joint 134C, and each of the joint 134B and the joint 134C may be configured as described herein with respect to the joint 134A. According to various examples, the middle layer 120 is located between the first outer layer 118 and the second outer layer 122, and the first outer layer 118 and the second outer layer 122 cover on opposite sides of the hole of the middle layer 120 and are defined within the hole At least a portion of cavity 104. Therefore, the portion covering the first outer layer 118 of the cavity 104 serves as the first window 114 and the portion covering the second outer layer 122 of the cavity 104 serves as the second window 116.

As explained above, the cavity 104 includes a first portion 104A and a second portion 104B. In the depicted example, the second portion 104B of the cavity 104 is defined by the hole in the intermediate layer 120, and the first portion 104A of the cavity 104 is disposed between the second portion 104B of the cavity 104 and the first window 114, But it will be understood that this configuration can be reversed. The first outer layer 118 includes a recess, and the first portion 104A of the cavity 104 is disposed in the recess in the first outer layer 118. Therefore, the first portion 104A of the cavity 104 is disposed outside the hole in the intermediate layer 120.

The cavity 104 (eg, the second portion 104B of the cavity 104) may be tapered so that the cross-sectional area of the cavity 104 decreases along the optical axis 112 in the direction from the object side to the image side of the liquid lens 100. For example, the second portion 104B of the cavity 104 includes a narrow end 105A and a wide end 105B. The terms "narrow" and "wide" are relative terms, meaning that the narrow end 105A is narrower than the wide end 105B. Such a tapered example of the cavity 104 may help maintain the interface 110 between the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 aligned along the optical axis 112. In other examples, the cavity 104 is tapered, so that the cross-sectional area of the cavity 104 increases along the optical axis 112 in the direction from the object side to the image side, or the cavity 104 is non-tapered, so that the cavity 104 The cross-sectional area is maintained substantially constant along the optical axis 112.

In the operation of the liquid lens 100, image light (or any other wavelength of electromagnetic radiation desired to be refracted by the liquid lens 100) can enter the liquid lens 100 depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B through the first window 114, and the first liquid The interface 110 between the 106 and the second liquid 108 is refracted and leaves the liquid lens 100 through the second window 116. According to various examples, the first outer layer 118 and/or the second outer layer 122 have sufficient transparency to allow image light (or any other relevant wavelength of electromagnetic radiation) to pass through. For example, the first outer layer 118 and/or the second outer layer 122 include polymer materials, glass materials, ceramic materials, glass-ceramic materials, other transparent materials, and/or combinations of the foregoing materials. The outer surface of the first outer layer 118 and/or the second outer layer 122 may be substantially planar. Therefore, even if the liquid lens 100 can be used as a lens (for example, by refracting the image light passing through the interface 110), the outer surface of the liquid lens 100 can be flat and not curved like the outer surface of a fixed lens . Additionally or alternatively, the outer surface of the first outer layer 118 and/or the second outer layer 122 is curved (eg, concave or convex). Therefore, the liquid lens 100 may include an integrated fixed lens. The intermediate layer 120 may include metal materials, polymer materials, glass materials, ceramic materials, glass-ceramic materials, composite materials, and/or combinations of the foregoing materials. Since the image light can pass through the hole in the intermediate layer 120, the intermediate layer 120 may or may not be transparent.

It will be understood that although the lens body 102 of the liquid lens 100 is described as including the first outer layer 118, the intermediate layer 120, and the second outer layer 122, the liquid lens 100 may have different configurations. For example, one or more of the first outer layer 118, the intermediate layer 120, and/or the second outer layer 122 may be omitted. Furthermore, the hole in the intermediate layer 120 may be configured as a blind hole that does not extend completely through the intermediate layer 120, and the second outer layer 122 may be omitted. Although the first portion 104A of the cavity 104 is described herein as being disposed within the recess in the first outer layer 118, other configurations are contemplated. For example, the recess may be omitted, and the first portion 104A of the cavity 104 is disposed in the hole in the intermediate layer 120. In such an example, the first portion 104A of the cavity 104 is the upper portion of the hole, and the second portion 104B of the cavity 104 is the lower portion of the hole. In other examples, the first portion 104A of the cavity 104 is partially disposed within the hole in the intermediate layer 120 and partially disposed outside the hole.

The liquid lens 100 may include a common electrode 124 that is in electrical communication with the first liquid 106. Furthermore, the liquid lens 100 may include a driving electrode 126 disposed on the side wall of the cavity 104 and insulated from the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108. Different voltages may be supplied to the common electrode 124 and the driving electrode 126, or the voltage difference between the common electrode 124 and the driving electrode 126 may be adjusted to change the shape of the interface 110. Furthermore, as mentioned above and described further below, the application of a voltage can separate the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 after distributing the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 into the cavity with the emulsified composition.

The liquid lens 100 may include a conductive layer 128. At least a portion of the conductive layer 128 may be disposed in the cavity 104. For example, the conductive layer 128 includes a conductive coating, wherein the conductive coating is applied to the intermediate layer 120 before joining the first outer layer 118 and/or the second outer layer 122 to the intermediate layer 120. The conductive layer 128 may include a metal material, a conductive polymer material, a conductive oxide, another suitable conductive material, and/or a combination of the foregoing materials. Additionally or alternatively, the conductive layer 128 may include a single layer or a plurality of layers, some or all of the plurality of layers may be conductive. According to various examples, conductive layer 128 defines common electrode 124 and/or drive electrode 126. For example, before bonding the first outer layer 118 and/or the second outer layer 122 to the intermediate layer 120, the conductive layer 128 may be applied to substantially the entire outer surface of the intermediate layer 120. After the conductive layer 128 is applied to the intermediate layer 120, the conductive layer 128 may be separated into a plurality of conductive elements (eg, common electrode 124, drive electrode 126, etc.). The liquid lens 100 may include a scribe line 130A in the conductive layer 128 to isolate the common electrode 124 and the driving electrode 126 from each other (eg, electrically isolate). The scribe line 130A includes a gap in the conductive layer 128. For example, the scribe line 130A is a gap having the following widths: about 5 µm, about 10 µm, about 15 µm, about 20 µm, about 25 µm, about 30 µm, about 35 µm, about 40 µm, about 45 µm , About 50 µm, or any and all values and ranges in between.

According to various examples, the liquid lens 100 includes an insulating element 132 disposed within the cavity 104. For example, the insulating element 132 includes an insulating coating applied to the intermediate layer 120 before joining the first outer layer 118 and/or the second outer layer 122 to the intermediate layer 120. The insulating element 132 may include an insulating coating, wherein the insulating coating is applied to the conductive layer 128 and the second after bonding the second outer layer 122 to the intermediate layer 120 and before bonding the first outer layer 118 to the intermediate layer 120窗116. Therefore, the insulating element 132 covers at least the portion of the conductive layer 128 in the cavity 104 and the second window 116. The insulating element 132 may be sufficiently transparent to allow image light (or any relevant wavelength of electromagnetic radiation) to pass through the second window 116, as described above.

The insulating element 132 may cover at least a portion of the driving electrode 126 (eg, the portion where the driving electrode 126 is disposed in the cavity 104) to insulate the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 from the driving electrode 126. At least a portion of the common electrode 124 may be disposed within the cavity 104 and not covered by the insulating element 132. Therefore, the common electrode 124 can electrically communicate with the first liquid 106. The insulating element 132 may include a hydrophobic surface layer of the second portion 104B of the cavity 104. Such a hydrophobic surface layer can help maintain the second liquid 108 within the second portion 104B of the cavity 104 (eg, by the attractive force between the non-polar second liquid 108 and the hydrophobic material), and And/or the peripheral edge 111 of the interface 110 can be moved along the hydrophobic surface layer (eg, by electrowetting) to change the shape of the interface 110. Based at least in part on the insulating element 132, the liquid lens 100 may exhibit a contact angle hysteresis of no more than 3° (ie, at the interface 110 between the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108). As used herein, “contact angle hysteresis” means that a series of driving voltages are applied to the driving electrode 126 (eg, between the driving voltage supplied to the driving electrode 126 and the common voltage supplied to the common electrode 124 Difference), the measured antenna angle difference of the second liquid 108 with the insulating element 132, the driving voltage is from 0V to the maximum driving voltage, and then returns to 0V (ie, relative to the common electrode 124). The initial contact angle without voltage is a maximum of 25° and increases to a contact angle of at least 15° under the "maximum driving voltage" due to the electrowetting effect. The maximum driving voltage may be about 10V, or about 20V, or about 30V, or about 40V, or about 50V, or about 60V, or about 70V, or any and all values and ranges therebetween.

In the example depicted in FIG. 1A, the liquid lens 100 is configured such that the driving electrode 126 is disposed on the side wall of the cavity 104 and is insulated from the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 by the insulating element 132. The insulating element 132 includes an insulating outer layer 132A. As shown, the insulating outer layer 132A contacts the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108. In the depicted example, the insulating element 132 is monolithic, that is, the insulating outer layer 132A has a dual function of electrically insulating the first liquid 106, the second liquid 108, and the driving electrode 126. The insulating element 132 may be hydrophobic (eg, to avoid being wetted by the first liquid 106). From a manufacturing process and/or manufacturing point of view, the monolithic example of the insulating element 132 may be advantageous. The thickness of the insulating outer layer 132A of the insulating element 132 may be from about 0.5 µm to about 10 µm, or from about 1 µm to about 10 µm, or from about 1 µm to about 9 µm, or from about 1 µm to about 8 µm, Or from about 1 µm to about 7 µm, or from about 1 µm to about 6 µm, or from about 1 µm to about 5 µm, or from about 1 µm to about 4 µm, or from about 1 µm to about 3 µm, Or from about 1 µm to about 2 µm, and any and all values and ranges in between. In a specific example, the thickness of the insulating outer layer 132A of the liquid lens 100 is from about 0.5 microns to about 2 microns.

In the example depicted in FIG. 1B, the liquid lens 100 is configured such that the driving electrode 126 is disposed on the side wall of the cavity 104 and is insulated from the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 by the insulating element 132. As shown in FIG. 1B, the insulating element 132 includes an insulating outer layer 132A and a base layer 132B, the insulating outer layer 132A contacts the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108, and the base layer 132B is interposed between the insulating outer layer 132A and the driving electrode 126. The insulating element 132 may be a multilayer stack including an insulating outer layer 132A and a base layer 132B. In FIG. 1B, the base layer 132B and the insulating outer layer 132A are electrically insulated from the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 and the drive electrode 126. In addition, the insulating outer layer 132A may be hydrophobic.

The thickness of the insulating outer layer 132A of the insulating element 132 may be from about 0.01 µm to about 2 µm, or from about 0.01 µm to about 1.5 µm, or from about 0.01 µm to about 1 µm, or from about 0.05 µm to about 2 µm, Or from about 0.05 µm to about 1 µm, or from about 0.05 µm to about 0.5 µm, or from about 0.05 µm to about 0.4 µm, or from about 0.1 µm to about 2 µm, or from about 0.1 µm to about 1.5 µm, Or from about 0.1 µm to about 1 µm, or from about 0.1 µm to about 0.5 µm, or any and all values and ranges therebetween.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which depicts a flowchart of a method 150 for forming the liquid lens 100. The method 150 may begin at step 154 by mixing the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108. As explained above, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may be substantially immiscible with each other, and have different refractive indexes from each other. Furthermore, as explained above, the first liquid 106 may be a polar liquid and the second liquid 108 may be a non-polar liquid.

According to various examples, the first liquid 106 and/or the second liquid 108 may further include an anti-emulsifier, a viscosity modifier, a density modifier, other additives, and/or a combination of the foregoing. The demulsifier can minimize or reduce the mixing and emulsification of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 together. The use of such an anti-emulsifier can facilitate the destruction (ie, demulsification) of the emulsification of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 (e.g., when filling the cavity 104 with the emulsified composition of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 after that). The viscosity modifier may be configured to increase or decrease the viscosity change of the first liquid 106 and/or the second liquid 108 when subjected to temperature changes. The viscosity modifier may be composed of polymer materials, organic materials, inorganic materials, and/or combinations of the foregoing materials. For example, the viscosity modifier may include butylated hydroxytoluene. Such use of the viscosity modifier may facilitate the destruction of the emulsification of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108. Density modifiers can be used to increase or decrease the density of the first liquid 106 and/or the second liquid 108 relative to each other. The density adjusting agent may be composed of a polymer material, an organic material, an inorganic material, and/or a combination of the foregoing materials. Such use of the density modifier may facilitate the destruction of the emulsification of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108. The use of any of the above additives or compounds may be advantageous to allow the first liquid 106 and/or the second liquid 108 to self-select when reaching the state of the first liquid 106 or the second liquid 108 depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B. selecting).

After the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are mixed, the volume ratio of the second liquid 108 to the first liquid 106 may be: from about 0.01 to about 0.99, or about 0.1 to about 0.9, or about 0.2 to about 0.8, or From about 0.3 to about 0.7, or from about 0.4 to about 0.6. For example, the volume ratio of the second liquid 108 to the first liquid 106 may be about 0.01, or about 0.05, or about 0.1, or about 0.15, or about 0.2, or about 0.25, or about 0.3, or about 0.35, or About 0.4, or about 0.45, or about 0.5, or about 0.55, or about 0.6, or about 0.65, or about 0.7, or about 0.75, or about 0.8, or about 0.85, or about 0.9, or about 0.95, or about 0.99 , Or any and all values and ranges therebetween. In an embodiment, the volume ratio of the second liquid 108 to the first liquid 106 is 0.5 or about 0.5. It will be understood that the first liquid 106 and/or the second liquid 108 may have the following volume ratio to the total volume of the mixed first liquid 106 and second liquid 108: from about 0.01 to about 0.99, or from about 0.1 to about 0.9 , Or about 0.2 to about 0.8, or about 0.3 to about 0.7, or about 0.4 to about 0.6.

In an embodiment, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may be mixed in the batch container 155 (see FIG. 3) before the contents of the batch container 155 are used in the subsequent steps of the method 150. For example, the total volume of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 to be used in the process operation of the method 150 may be mixed and maintained in the batch container 155, and then processed in the method 150. In the exemplary implementation of step 154, once the final target volume ratio of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 is determined, an appropriate amount of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 can be mixed in the batch container 155. The use of step 154 in this manner may facilitate the provision of a pre-mixed batch of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108, from which the pre-mixed batch may be drawn to utilize the method 150. The batch volume of the combined first liquid 106 and second liquid 108 in the batch container 155 is greater than the volume of the combined first liquid 106 and second liquid 108 to be dispensed into the cavity 104 of any particular liquid lens 100 . The combined volume of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 106 may be sufficient to distribute the combined first liquid 106 and second liquid 108 into the cavity 104 of the plurality of liquid lenses 100, and the plurality of liquid lenses 100 may be like a thousand (1000 ) Liquid lenses 100 or less or more.

Next, a step 158 of emulsifying the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 to form an emulsified liquid 159 is performed. As used herein, the terms "emulsion" and "emulsified liquid" are defined as a mixture of a first liquid 106 and a second liquid 108 (eg, the first liquid and the second liquid are usually immiscible or Immiscible), where one liquid (eg, the second liquid 108) is in the dispersed phase and the other liquid (eg, the first liquid 106) is in the dispersion medium phase. It will be understood that in an example where the volume ratio of the second liquid 108 to the first liquid 106 allows (eg, 0.5), both the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may be in the dispersed phase and the dispersed medium phase. In this way, the emulsified liquid 159 can be a homogeneous mixture of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108. In some embodiments, the dispersed phase of the emulsion contains a plurality of droplets dispersed in the dispersion medium phase. For example, the droplets may include microscopic droplets or microdroplets having the following average diameters: about 100 µm, about 90 µm, about 80 µm, about 70 µm, about 60 µm, about 50 µm, about 40 µm, Approximately 30 µm, approximately 20 µm, approximately 10 µm, approximately 1 µm, approximately 0.5 µm, approximately 0.1 µm, or any and all values and ranges therebetween.

The first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 can be emulsified in various ways to form the emulsified liquid 159. For example, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 can be emulsified in a vortex emulsifier using ultrasonic vibration (eg, from an ultrasonic probe), other emulsification methods, and/or a combination of the foregoing. The emulsified liquid 159 may be formed in the batch container 155.

According to various examples, the step 154 of mixing the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 and the step 158 of emulsifying the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may be performed substantially simultaneously. In an embodiment, the method 150 utilizes a "droplet on demand" technique. Exemplary on-demand drip techniques may include high-performance syringe pumps (eg, micro-injectors) or high-voltage pulses, which can be used to induce single droplet formation at the microfluidic T-joint or Y-joint. In the drop-on-demand technique, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 can be introduced at the T-junction or Y-junction of the microfluidic wafer. At the joint, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are combined in such a manner that both the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are mixed and simultaneously emulsified. In other examples, during step 154, one of the liquids (eg, the first liquid 106) may be stirred (eg, by any of the emulsification processes described above) while another liquid (eg, the second liquid 108) is added The stirred liquid is added so that the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are simultaneously mixed and emulsified together until the desired emulsified liquid 159 composition is achieved.

It will be understood that if there is a difference in density between the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 at room temperature, the density of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 can be as close as possible to different temperatures (above or below room temperature) ) To proceed to step 158 to promote the formation of emulsified liquid 159. For example, the method may include adjusting the temperature of the first liquid 106 and/or the second liquid 108 to reduce the difference in density between the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 before or at the same time as the mixing and/or emulsification. A higher density difference is reduced to a second lower density difference. The first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may be at the same or different temperatures before and/or during mixing and/or emulsification.

Next, referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a step 162 of depositing the emulsified liquid 159 into the cavity 104 defined above the window is performed. According to various examples, the window is the second window 116. According to various examples, the plurality of cavities 104 and the plurality of first windows 114 or second windows 116 may be arranged in an array 163 across the wafer or substrate 165. In such an example, step 162 may be performed on a single cavity 104 or on a plurality of cavities 104. In other words, the step 162 of depositing the emulsified liquid 159 into the cavity 104 may be performed in series across the plurality of cavities 104 on the substrate 165, or the step 162 may be performed in parallel to substantially simultaneously fill the plurality of cavities 104.

Once the emulsified liquid 159 is placed into the cavity 104 as described above (and illustrated in FIG. 4), step 166 is performed to emulsify the emulsified liquid 159 into the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 so that the first liquid 106 The interface 110 with the second liquid 108 defines a variable lens (as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B). In other words, once step 166 is performed to emulsify the emulsified liquid 159 into the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 as illustrated in FIG. 4, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may have the characteristics as described in connection with FIGS. 1A and 1B. The orientation is substantially the same. For example, demulsification can cause a plurality of droplets (e.g., microdroplets) of the dispersed phase to coalesce until droplets with substantially no dispersed phase are dispersed in the dispersion medium phase.

The step 166 of demulsifying the emulsified liquid 159 into the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 can be performed in various ways. In the first embodiment, the emulsified liquid 159 may have a sufficiently high separation driving force due to the gravity of (Earth), which allows the emulsified liquid 159 to stand for a period of time sufficient to break the emulsified liquid 159 into the first liquid 106 and Secondary liquid 108. In other words, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may have sufficiently different densities (eg, a difference of 0.5% or more) at a certain temperature or temperature range (eg, room temperature), so that the destruction of emulsification is caused by gravity It happens naturally after time. For example, step 166 may be performed for a period of time from about 1 second to about 48 hours, or from about 1 hour to about 48 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 40 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 32 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 24 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 16 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 8 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 7 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 6 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 5 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 4 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 3 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 2 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 1 hour, or from about 1 minute to about 30 minutes, or from about 1 minute to about 15 minutes, or from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes, or from about 1 minute to about 5 minutes, or any and all values in between and range.

In the second embodiment, step 166 is performed by centrifugal force to de-emulsify the emulsified liquid 159 into the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108. For example, the cavity 104 containing the emulsified liquid 159 (eg, and any peripheral structures such as the first outer layer 118 and the second outer layer 122) can be placed in the centrifuge so that the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 separate. The centrifuge can rotate at a sufficient speed (eg, revolutions per minute) so that the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 can achieve the orientation provided in Figures 1A and 1B. In this embodiment, the first liquid 106 has a sufficiently different density (eg, a 0.5% or greater difference) from the second liquid 108 at the temperature or temperature range at which step 166 of demulsification occurs.

In the third embodiment, the first liquid 106 and/or the second liquid 108 may have other structures for the liquid lens 100 and/or the cavity 104 (eg, common electrode 124, driving electrode 126, and/or insulating element 132) The sufficiently high affinity or repulsion force makes the emulsified liquid 159 itself tend to break emulsification. For example, the first liquid 106 may be attracted in one direction, while the second liquid 108 is repelled from that direction, so that the emulsified liquid 159 is demulsified. It will be understood that the third embodiment can be used in conjunction with the first embodiment without departing from the teachings provided herein.

In the fourth embodiment, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 have at least approximately the same density at room temperature, but have sufficiently different densities (eg, 0.5% or more) at a second temperature different from room temperature Big difference). The composition of the first liquid 106 or the second liquid 108 may cause the respective densities to be approximately the same at room temperature (eg, the difference is less than 0.5%), but sufficiently different than the second temperature (eg, the difference exceeds 0.5%) to allow the above The emulsification is broken by gravity or centrifugal force as described in the text. In such embodiments, demulsifying the emulsified liquid 159 into the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 includes raising the temperature of the emulsified liquid 159 to the second temperature. At the second temperature, de-emulsifying the emulsified liquid 159 may include the use of centrifugal force from the centrifuge, or (earth) gravity and sufficient time to pass, as explained above. The second temperature may be from about -80°C to about 100°C, or from about -25°C to about 100°C. For example, the second temperature may be about -80°C, or about -70°C, or about -60°C, or about -50°C, or about -40°C, or about -30°C, Or about -20°C, or about -10°C, or about 0°C, or about 10°C, or about 20°C, or about 30°C, or about 40°C, or about 50°C, Or about 60°C, or about 70°C, or about 80°C, or about 90°C, or about 100°C, or any and all values and ranges therebetween. The second temperature may produce the following density difference between the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108: from about 0.5% to about 10%, or from about 0.5% to about 8%, or from about 0.5% to about 7%, Or from about 0.5% to about 6%, or from about 0.5% to about 5%, or from about 0.5% to about 4%, or from about 0.5% to about 3%, or from about 0.5% to about 2%, Or from about 0.5% to about 1%, or from about 0.5% to about 5%. For example, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may have the following density difference at the temperature: about 0.51%, or about 1%, or about 1.3%, or about 1.4%, or about 1.5%, or about 1.6%, or about 1.7% or about 2%, or about 2.5%, or about 3%, or about 3.5%, or about 4%, or about 4.5%, or about 5%, or about 5.5%, or about 6 %, or about 6.5%, or about 7%, or about 7.5%, or about 8%, or about 8.5%, or about 9%, or about 9.5% or about 10%, or any and all values and ranges therebetween.

In the fifth embodiment, a voltage, potential, or magnetic field may be applied to the emulsified liquid 159 to separate the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108. For example, if one of the first liquid 106 or the second liquid 108 shows a tendency to be drawn or repelled by a voltage, potential, or magnetic field, such a force can be used to break the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 emulsification. Applying a bias voltage (eg, a simple DC voltage) to the driving electrode 126 can: (a) cause or promote the migration of droplets of the first liquid 106 within the emulsified liquid 159 by its action on the first liquid 106; and (b ) Causes larger droplets to flatten and/or reduce their surface tension, which promotes coalescence or coalescence into larger droplets.

As the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 continue to separate from the emulsified liquid 159, the interface 110 begins to reform. Applying the oscillation-actuated voltage waveform to the drive electrode 126 will physically move the droplets in a pumping manner through the general electrowetting process, causing the interface 110 to change shape in a periodic manner. These moving droplets collide with each other to promote coalescence. Pumping can create turbulent flow and promote larger droplet mixing and release of droplets that adhere to the walls of cavity 104, thereby allowing the droplets to coalesce. Collisions with the walls of cavity 104 can also promote coalescence and migration.

Applying the excitation voltage waveform to the drive electrode 126 will cause the droplets to combine based on the principles of electro-coalescence and electro-wetting. Under the force of the electric field, the suspended droplets merge together or coalesce to form larger droplets. This process continues as larger and larger droplets are formed until finally a better single main droplet is produced (ie, the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are completely separated).

It will be understood that various embodiments of step 166 of demulsifying the emulsified liquid 159 into the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 may be combined or used alone.

Before or after the step 166 of demulsifying the emulsified liquid 159 into the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108, several additional steps or actions may be performed. For example, the first outer layer 118 may be coupled to and coupled to the second outer layer 122 (eg, through adhesive bonding, laser bonding, or other suitable bonding process), and there are multiple instances of the cavity 104 on the substrate 165 In the process, the substrate 165 may be cut, singulated, or divided in any manner to form a plurality of liquid lenses 100.

It will be understood that although method 150 is described as including several steps in a particular order, method 150 may add or omit one or more steps, may perform the steps in the order described, or may perform one or more substantially in synchronization Steps without departing from the teaching provided in this article.

According to additional examples, the method 150 may include placing a droplet of the second liquid 108 on top of the first liquid 106 (eg, where the density of the second liquid 108 is greater than the density of the first liquid 106), where the first liquid 106 and The second liquid 108 is located in the cavity 104, the cavity 104 is sealed with the first outer layer 118, and the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 are centrifugally processed so that the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 reach the 1A and The orientation shown in Figure 1B.

Using the liquid lens 100 and method 150 disclosed herein may provide various advantages.

First, in an embodiment in which the emulsified liquid 159 is deposited into the plurality of cavities 104 in the substrate 165 in one manufacturing step, manufacturing time and cost can be greatly reduced. By providing the emulsified liquid 159 in the batch container 155 as a premix amount sufficient to fill the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 of the plurality of cavities 104 in the substrate 165, time and manufacturing complexity can be saved because The emulsified liquid 159 can be supplied to the cavity 104 in series or parallel. Compared with other methods, these features are beneficial to increase the yield of the liquid lens 100.

Second, by premixing the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 in the batch container 155, or emulsifying at the same time by mixing the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108, it is possible to avoid the metering and the separate cavity 104 Difficulties associated with dispensing a small amount of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 separately. For example, since the emulsified liquid 159 already contains the required ratio of the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108, higher uniformity can be achieved and the production time for producing the liquid lens 100 can be reduced.

Third, adding process variables such as temperature, additives, centrifugal force, and/or voltage to break the emulsified liquid 159 into the first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108 can increase manufacturing flexibility. Examples

Example 1 -Preparation of a first liquid 106 and a second liquid 108, the composition of the first liquid 106 has 50% by weight of ethylene glycol, 46.75% by weight of water, 3% by weight of sodium bromide and 0.25% by weight of amyl alcohol, The components of the second liquid 108 include phenyltrimethylgermane (phenyltrimethylgermane), phenyltri(trimethoxysiloxyalkyl) silane, and butylated hydroxyltoluene. The first liquid 106 has a density of 1.0893 g/ml at room temperature, while the second liquid 108 has a density of 1.0851 g/ml at room temperature, and the density difference at room temperature is (~0.39%). The two liquids 106, 108 are combined in a volume ratio of 0.5 (1 part of the first liquid 106 for every 2 parts of the second liquid 108). The combined liquids 106, 108 are then emulsified into emulsified liquid 159. The emulsified liquid 159 is deposited into the cavity 104. The cavity 104 is covered and sealed in a manner known in the art to complete the liquid lens 100. The temperature of the liquid lens 100 is raised to 50°C. At this temperature, the density of the first liquid 106 of the two liquids 106 and 108 deviates to 1.0704 g/ml, and the density of the second liquid 108 deviates to 1.0558 g /ml, making the density difference at 50°C (~1.3%). At this temperature for 24 hours, the emulsified liquid 159 is demulsified due to gravity, and the separated first liquid 106 and second liquid 108 form the interface 110. Next, the temperature of the liquid lens 100 is returned to room temperature. The rendering reproduced in Figure 5 shows the density difference between this particular first liquid 106 and the second liquid 108. Although there is no substantial difference at room temperature, it widens as the temperature increases.

Example 2 -Prepare the same first liquid 106 and second liquid 108 as in Example 1 above. The two liquids 106, 108 are combined in a volume ratio of 0.5 (1 part of the first liquid 106 for every 2 parts of the second liquid 108). The combined liquids 106, 108 are then emulsified into emulsified liquid 159. The emulsified liquid 159 is deposited into the cavity 104. The cavity 104 is covered and sealed in a manner known in the art to complete the liquid lens 100. As mentioned above, the temperature of the liquid lens 100 is raised to 50°C. At this temperature, the density of the first liquid 106 of the two liquids 106, 108 deviates to 1.0704 g/ml, while the density of the second liquid 108 The density deviates to 1.0558 g/ml, making the density difference at 50°C (~1.3%). The liquid lens 100 is placed in a swing barrel centrifuge. At 50° C. and the centrifuge was rotated at 3000 RPM for 15 minutes, the emulsified liquid 159 was demulsified by centrifugal force, and the separated first liquid 106 and second liquid 108 formed the interface 110. The temperature of the liquid lens 100 is returned to room temperature.

Although exemplary embodiments and examples have been described for illustrative purposes, the foregoing description is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and accompanying patent applications in any way. Therefore, the above-mentioned embodiments and examples can be changed and modified without departing from the spirit and various principles of the present invention. All these modifications and changes are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the scope of the accompanying patent application.

For those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which this case belongs and for those who make or use the present disclosure, modifications of the present disclosure will be conceivable. Therefore, when understood, the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described above are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure, which is defined by the following patent applications Interpretation of the scope of the following patent applications, including the equivalent theory, based on the principles of the Patent Law.

Those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which this case pertains will understand that the construction and other components of the disclosed content are not limited to any particular materials. Unless otherwise stated herein, other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a variety of materials.

100‧‧‧ liquid lens 102‧‧‧Lens body 104‧‧‧ Cavity 104A‧‧‧Part 1 (Headspace) 104B‧‧‧Part 2 (Base) 105A‧‧‧Narrow end 105B‧‧‧wide end 106‧‧‧First liquid 108‧‧‧Second liquid 110‧‧‧Interface 111‧‧‧periphery 112‧‧‧ Optical axis 114‧‧‧ First window 116‧‧‧Second window 118‧‧‧First outer layer 120‧‧‧ middle layer 122‧‧‧The second outer layer 124‧‧‧Common electrode 126‧‧‧Drive electrode 128‧‧‧Conducting layer 130A‧‧‧Scribe 132‧‧‧Insulation components 132A‧‧‧Insulating outer layer 134A, 134B, 134C 150‧‧‧Method 154, 158, 162, 166‧‧‧ steps 155‧‧‧ batch container 159‧‧‧Emulsified liquid 163‧‧‧Array 165‧‧‧ substrate

The following is a description of the drawings in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and for clarity and conciseness, certain features and certain views of the drawings may be shown in exaggerated scale or in a schematic manner.

In the diagram:

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid lens according to at least one example, illustrating separation of a first liquid from a second liquid at an interface;

FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid lens according to at least one example, illustrating that the first liquid is separated from the second liquid at the interface;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method of forming a liquid lens in any of FIGS. 1A and 1B according to at least one example;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a substrate including a plurality of cavities, and a batch of emulsified liquid (emulsion of the first liquid and the second liquid) is distributed into the plurality of cavities according to the method of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of one of the plurality of cavities of the substrate of Figure 3 (but after being further formed as a liquid lens in Figures 1A or 1B). Out of the cavity of the liquid lens containing the emulsified liquid before the demulsification becomes the first liquid and the second liquid separated at the interface in Figure 1A; and

Figure 5 is a plot of the measured density of the example first liquid and the example second liquid as a function of temperature, showing the density difference that widens with increasing temperature.

Domestic storage information (please note in order of storage institution, date, number) no

Overseas hosting information (please note in order of hosting country, institution, date, number) no

104‧‧‧ Cavity

155‧‧‧ batch container

159‧‧‧Emulsified liquid

163‧‧‧Array

165‧‧‧ substrate

Claims (30)

A method for forming a liquid lens includes the following steps: Emulsifying a first liquid and a second liquid to form an emulsified liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are substantially immiscible with each other; the emulsified liquid is deposited into a cavity defined by a window Above; and demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have different refractive indexes from each other, so that the first liquid and the second liquid An interface between them defines a variable lens. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are emulsified with a vortex emulsifier to form the emulsified liquid. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of depositing the emulsified liquid comprises the step of: depositing the emulsified liquid into a plurality of cavities from a common source of the emulsified liquid, the plurality of cavities being arranged in a On the substrate. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: At the temperature or temperature range at which the demulsification step occurs, the density of the first liquid is different from the density of the second liquid; and Due to gravity, the emulsified liquid breaks into the first liquid and the second liquid within a period of about 1 hour to 48 hours. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: At the temperature or temperature range at which the demulsification step occurs, the density of the first liquid is different from the density of the second liquid; and The step of demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes: using a centrifuge to apply centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The first liquid and the second liquid have at least about the same density at room temperature, but have different densities at a second temperature different from room temperature; and The step of demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes: raising the temperature of the emulsified liquid to the second temperature. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The first liquid and the second liquid have at least about the same density at room temperature; and The step of demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes: applying a voltage to a driving electrode provided on a side wall of the cavity. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the step of demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid occurs at a temperature of from about -80°C to about 100°C . The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a volume ratio of the second liquid to the first liquid in the emulsified liquid is from about 0.4 to about 0.6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of: dividing the substrate to form a plurality of liquid lenses, each of the plurality of liquid lenses including one cavity of the plurality of cavities. A method for forming a liquid lens includes the following steps: Mixing a first liquid and a second liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are substantially immiscible with each other; Emulsify the first liquid and the second liquid to form an emulsified liquid; Depositing the emulsified liquid into a cavity, the cavity being defined above a window; and Demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have different refractive indexes from each other, such that the difference between the first liquid and the second liquid An interface defines a variable lens. The method according to claim 11, wherein: The first liquid includes a polar liquid; and The second liquid contains a non-polar liquid. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the following steps: The emulsified liquid is deposited into a plurality of cavities from a common source of the emulsified liquid, and the plurality of cavities are provided on a substrate. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are mixed in batches. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the steps of mixing the first liquid and the second liquid and emulsifying the first liquid and the second liquid are performed substantially simultaneously. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein: At the temperature or temperature range at which the demulsification step occurs, the first liquid has a different density than the second liquid; and Due to gravity, the emulsified liquid breaks into the first liquid and the second liquid within a period of about 1 hour to 48 hours. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein: At the temperature or temperature range at which the demulsification step occurs, the first liquid has a different density than the second liquid; and Demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes using a centrifuge to apply centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein: The first liquid and the second liquid have at least about the same density at room temperature, but have different densities at a second temperature different from room temperature; and The step of demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes: raising the temperature of the emulsified liquid to the second temperature. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein: The first liquid and the second liquid have at least about the same density at room temperature; and The step of demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid includes: applying a voltage to a driving electrode provided on a side wall of the cavity. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising the following steps: The substrate is divided to form a plurality of liquid lenses, and each of the plurality of liquid lenses includes one cavity of the plurality of cavities. A method for forming a liquid lens includes the following steps: Mixing a first liquid and a second liquid, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have different refractive indexes and different densities from each other at room temperature, and wherein the first liquid system is a polar liquid and the second liquid The liquid system is a non-polar liquid; Emulsify the first liquid and the second liquid to form an emulsified liquid; Depositing the emulsified liquid into a cavity, the cavity being defined above a window; and Demulsifying the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid, such that an interface between the first liquid and the second liquid defines a variable lens, and after demulsifying, the first The liquid contacts a common electrode. The method according to claim 21, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid are emulsified with a vortex emulsifier to form the emulsified liquid. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the following steps: The emulsified liquid is deposited into a plurality of cavities from a common source of the emulsified liquid, and the plurality of cavities are provided on a substrate. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein: Due to gravity, the emulsified liquid is emulsified into the first liquid and the second liquid at room temperature and within a period of about 1 hour to 48 hours. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein: The emulsified liquid is de-emulsified into the first liquid and the second liquid at room temperature, and includes the following steps: using a centrifuge to apply centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein: The emulsification of the emulsified liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid occurs at room temperature, and includes the following steps: applying a voltage to a driving electrode provided on a side wall of the cavity. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein: The volume ratio of the second liquid to the first liquid in the emulsified liquid is from about 0.4 to about 0.6. The method according to claim 23, wherein: The step of depositing the emulsified liquid into the plurality of cavities includes the steps of: simultaneously depositing the emulsified liquid into more than one cavity. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the following steps: The substrate is divided to form a plurality of liquid lenses, and each of the plurality of liquid lenses includes one cavity of the plurality of cavities. The method of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the first liquid includes water and the second liquid includes oil.

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