Autofocus & Optical Image Stabilization |
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Liquid lens for Autofocus
The liquid lenses that we develop are based on the electrowetting phenomenon described below : a water drop is deposited on a substrate made of metal, covered by a thin insulating layer. The voltage applied to the substrate modifies the contact angle of the liquid drop. The liquid lens uses two isodensity liquids, one is an insulator while the other is a conductor. The variation of voltage leads to a change of curvature of the liquid-liquid interface, which in turn leads to a change of the focal length of the lens. |
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Liquid lens for Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
Varioptic has developed a new version of the liquid lens, with a multi- electrodes design (see picture below), allowing to tilt the light in all
directions of space and, at the same time, to refocus the light. The ability to tilt the light enables camera module manufacturers to use our liquid lens to activate Optical Image Stabilization by measuring the handshake and compensating in real time with the liquid lens. The images below show the improvement of the picture quality taken with a mobile phone camera with OIS functionality:
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Low light conditions
Left: without OIS |
Right: with Varioptic OIS Liquid lens
Varioptic OIS Liquid lens |
| The miniaturization of camera phones have degraded light sensitivity : images are blurred due to a longer time exposure than the one experienced with a Digital Still Camera (DSC). Optical Image Stabilization is the only way to recover a good picture and, Varioptic OIS liquid lens is the best solution to achieve a high image quality while keeping a very small format. |
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 Key competitive advantages |
Ruggedness (No moving parts )
Fast, smooth and accurate response
Wide Operating temperature range
Very low electrical consumption
Simple low-cost construction |
| Intellectual Property |
| Varioptic has pioneered the electrowetting technology since its founding and is now at the forefront of all advances in this field. Varioptic owns fundamental global patents on the technology and is dedicating much of its resources to improve and patent new advances in this technology.
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