Applications of an electrokinetic device for an imaging system

• Main Authors: Roop, Cassady, Koch, Timothy, Abbott, James E, Wickramanayake, Palitha
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.07.2023
• Subjects: DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF; TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION

An electrokinetic device is configured as a dynamic lens cover and/or filter for an imaging assembly, e.g., of a mobile device, to selectively allow electromagnetic radiation to pass through a lens of the imaging assembly when the dynamic lens cover is in a first operating state or to prevent electromagnetic radiation from reaching the lens of the imaging assembly when the dynamic lens cover is in a second operating state. The electrokinetic device includes transparent first and second substrates, and a compaction trench surrounding the lens of the imaging assembly. The compaction trench stores pigment when the dynamic lens cover is in the first operating state. In the second operating state pigment is dispersed within a carrier fluid between the first and second substrates.