Multi-chamber switchable optical element

Abstract

A lens includes a switchable optical element having an optical substrate with a diffraction surface. A substrate cover forms an internal chamber with the optical substrate. An elastic membrane in contact with the diffraction surface of the substrate forms an active chamber. Through channels are placed through the optical substrate's thinnest parts of the grooves connecting the active and internal chambers. The switchable optical element changes focus positions between one focus with the optical fluid filling the active chamber and the elastic membrane taking a non-periodic shape with the membrane's surface forming a refractive shape of certain curvature and another focus where the optical fluid is transported from the active chamber through the through channels to the internal chamber for the elastic membrane to conform to the diffraction surface shape of the optical substrate with the membrane's surface forming diffractive surface of periodicity of the diffractive guiding surface.