Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

U.S. Philips Corporation

Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.

Bernardus H W Hendriks

Tohru Kimura

Levinus Pieter Bakker

Stein Kuiper

Johannes Wilhelmus Weekamp

Ivon Franciscus Helwegen

Sjoerd Stallinga

Nobuyoshi Mori

Johannus Wilhelmus Weekamp

Szabolcs Deladi

Christoph Dobrusskin

Robert Andrew Hayes

Drazenko Babic

Hans Zou

Marjolein Van Der Voort

Cornelius Antonius Hezemans

Nenad Mihajlovic

Mischa Megens

Rami Nachabe

Marco A J Van As

Josephus J M Braat

Hendrik Van Houten

Adrien Emmanuel Desjardins

Augustinus Laurentius Braun

Christina Adriana Renders

Derk J W Klunder

Maarten M J W Van Herpen

Albert H J Immink

Wim Crooijmans

Waltherus C J Bierhoff

Erik M H P Van Dijk

Dirk L J Vossen

Gert Het Hooft

Robert W J Zijlstra

Antonius T M Van Gogh

Willem G Ophey

Antonius J J Rademakers

Philomeen A C Engels

Henk Van Houten

Johannus W Weekamp

Bernardus W J Wassink

Jan De Graaf

Cornelius A N M Van Der Vleuten

Adrien E Desjardins

Martin F Mckinney

Rik Harbers

Anton P M Van Arendonk

Franciscus M A M Van Gaal

Cornelius A Hezemans

Guy S Shechter

An optical probe and an optical imaging system include an optical guide, and an actuator having driving coils and a magnet. By supplying a driving current through the driving a magnetic flux is generated which causes a displacement of the distal end of the optical guide. A position measuring device includes a position measuring coil used for monitoring the position of the optical guide, where displacement of the guide distal end causes change in the relative positions of the measuring and driving coils. A power supply supplies a high frequency AC current through the driving coils which causes, an induced voltage in the position measuring coil and thus generates a magnetic coupling between the measuring and driving coils. This induced voltage change is indicative for the position of the distal end.

Optical probe having a position measuring system

A method of determining a color transformation for images of biological material includes preparing a first set of biological test objects using a first preparation method, and preparing a second set of biological test objects using a second preparation method. Each test object in the second set of test objects corresponding to a counterpart test object in the first set of test objects, the test object and its counterpart being of the same biological type of material. For each test object in the first and second set of test objects, the color of the test object is determined thereby generating a first and second set of colors The method further includes generating a conversion table indicating a mapping between the colors in the first set of colors and the corresponding colors in the second set of colors. The first and second preparation methods include first and second staining methods, respectively.

Colour management for biological samples

An optical device for assessing optical depth in a sample illuminated by polarized radiation from a source include two radiation guides having their end portions arranged for capturing reflected radiation from the sample. A detector measures two polarizations of the reflected radiation, and two intensities of the reflected radiation in the two radiation guides, respectively. A processor is configured to calculate two pectral functions, which are indicative of single scattering events in the sample. The processor is further configured to calculate a measure of the correlation between the two spectral functions so as to assess whether the single scattering events originate from substantially the same optical depth within the sample. Thus, the causal relation between the two spectral functions can be used for assessing whether the single scattering events giving rise to the two spectral functions come from substantially the same optical depth within the sample.

Optical device for assessing optical depth in a sample

A controllable electrowetting lens system has a feedback control loop for controlling the electrode arrangement drive signals to implement an autofocus function. The feedback control loop comprising an image analysis focus detection system and a variable gain element. The gain is adjusted based on the lens condition, for example as sensed by a capacitance sensing arrangement. The autofocus control loop can be optimized to the lens characteristics (because the lens characteristics change over time) and/or to external conditions such as temperature.

Controllable optical lens

A controllable optical lens system, comprises a chamber housing first and second fluids, the interface between the fluids defining a lens surface. An electrode arrangement controls the shape of the lens surface and has first and second electrodes. A parameter is determined by the system dependent on the electrical resistance through at least one of the lens fluids between the first and second electrodes. Thus, the series resistance through a lens fluid is used as a measure of meniscus position.

The present invention discloses a method for measuring an intensity of a part of an electromagnetic spectral range, and an electronic device implementing the method. The method comprises the steps of providing an electronic device comprising an optical device () comprising at least a first liquid (A) and being placed in front of a sensor (), the optical device () having a transmittance of the part of the electromagnetic spectral range depending on an orientation of at least the first liquid (A); measuring a first intensity of the electromagnetic (EM) spectral range; changing the orientation of at least the first liquid (A); measuring a second intensity of the electromagnetic spectral range; and calculating an intensity of the part of the electromagnetic spectral range from the difference between the first intensity and the second intensity. Consequently, an intensity for a part of the EM spectral range can be measured without the need for a sensor dedicated to this part of the EM spectral range. In particular, an optical element based on the electrowetting principle is used in a mobile phone to measure the intensity of UV radiation.

Light intensity measuring method and electronic device

An optical waveguide comprises a body (), the body including an entrance window () and an exit window () defining an optical path () through a cavity. The cavity contains a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), with an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid defined by a meniscus. The meniscus lies longitudinally along the optical path. Means for adjusting the meniscus are provided, for example a voltage source and at least two electrodes. Electrowetting can be used for influencing the fluids.

Optical waveguide

The present invention discloses an optical device comprising a container having an inner wall, said container enclosing a first liquid (A) and an electrically susceptible second liquid (B), said liquids (A; B) being immiscible and being in contact with each other via an interface (), said interface () having a contact angle with the inner wall; and an electrode arrangement () for controlling the shape of the interface () by means of a voltage; the optical device having an operational range in between a first value of the contact angle and a second value of the contact angle, the first value being in a range of 50-110&#xb0; and the second value being in a range of 70&#xb0;-130&#xb0;, the second value being larger than the first value. It has been discovered that the response speed of the interface () to a change in position is a function of the contact angle (&#x3b8;), with a response speed reaching a maximum value around (&#x3b8;)=90&#xb0; and at least 75% of this maximum value in the given interval. Consequently, an optical device having advantageous response characteristics is obtained.

Liquid-based optical device, method for controlling such a device and electronic device

A variable focus lens comprises a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and a conducting liquid (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the conducting liquid (B) being immiscible, having different refractive indices and being in contact with each other via an interface (), the liquids (A, B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The variable focus lens further comprises an electrode arrangement () for controlling the shape of the interface () by means of an applied voltage. The container further comprises a transparent end portion () in the light path, a part () the transparent end portion () defining the shape of a part of the interface () at a predefined value of the voltage. Consequently, a variable focus lens with a reduced building height (H) is achieved that suffers less from the gradual formation of is small droplets of the conducting liquid (B) on the inner surface of the end portion ().

Variable focus lens having two liquids and electronic device

An optical element () for correcting refractive index related aberrations comprises a fluid chamber () which is provided with an electrode configuration () and includes a first, electrically conducting, fluid (B) and a second, non-conducting, fluid (A), and an interface () between the fluids, the fluids having different Abbc numbers. By applying a voltage (VO to the electrode configuration electrowetting forces are generated, which deform the shape of the interface (') and determine the corrective power.

Optical element for correcting refractive index related abberations

The present invention discloses an optical device comprising a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and a liquid responsive to an electric field (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the liquid responsive to an electric field (B) being immiscible and being in contact with each other via an interface (), at least one of the liquids (A; B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The optical device further comprises an electrode arrangement () for controlling the shape of the interface () by means of a voltage; and means () for preventing the interface from an exposure to an external electric field. Consequently, the build-up of electrostatic charge on a surface of the optical device is avoided, which prevents the unwanted distortion of the interface () caused by the interaction of the liquid responsive to an electric field (B) and the electrostatic charge.

Liquid-based optical device and electronic device

Optical apparatus for modifying a radiation beam, the apparatus including a variable focus lens () comprising a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B) wherein the fluids are immiscible and are separated from each other by a fluid meniscus () which is configurable into a configuration which is arranged to modify a predetermined vergence of an input radiation beam () and a focus control system. The optical apparatus is characterised in that the apparatus comprises a first redirector arranged to redirect the radiation beam, after having passed once through the fluid meniscus, back towards the fluid meniscus, and a second redirector arranged to further redirect the radiation beam, after having passed twice through the meniscus, back towards the fluid meniscus, wherein the configuration is arranged to further modify the vergence of the radiation beam following each of the redirections, the further modifications being arranged to provide the variable focus lens with an amplified focal power.

Variable focus lens

A zoom optical system is provided which has a lens system which comprises a first lens which is arranged to provide a continuously variable focus for a beam of radiation. The lens system further comprises a switchable optical element including a first fluid, a second fluid and a wavefront modifier having a part through which said radiation beam is arranged to pass. In a first mode the switchable optical element has a first fluid configuration with said part being substantially covered by the first fluid, and in a second mode the switchable optical element has a second, different, fluid configuration with said part being substantially covered by the second fluid.

Zoom optical system

An optical system for use in an optical pickup device for recording and/or reproducing information on an optical recording media, the optical system having an optical axis and comprising: an objective system for converging a light beam emitted from a light source on the optical recording media; an optical aberration correcting element comprising two lenses arranged on an optical path between the light source and the objective system and having an adjustable distance in the direction of the optical axis, the optical aberration correcting element comprising a ring-shaped phase structure formed in at least one lens surface of the optical aberration correcting element, and wherein the ring shaped phase structure is non-periodic and comprises a plurality of concentric ring surfaces k (k=1 . . . N), and each of the ring surfaces has a step in the direction of the optical axis between the adjacent ring surface.

Optical system having an objective system and an optical aberration correcting element

The present invention discloses an optical device comprising a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and an electrically susceptible liquid (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B) being immiscible and being in contact with each other via an interface (), at least one of the liquids (A; B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The optical device further comprises heating means () that preferably are responsive to a temperature sensor () for heating the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B). Consequently, an optical device is obtained in which the influence of the temperature dependence of the physical properties of the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B) on the behavior of the optical device is reduced, thus yielding an optical device with improved optical characteristics at low temperatures.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Bernardus H W Hendriks