The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 13, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 16, 2002
Ronald A. Schachar, Dallas, TX (US);
Edward S. Kolesar, Fort Worth, TX (US);
PC Lens Corp, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method is disclosed for focusing an elastically deformable lens by making small changes in the equatorial diameter of the lens. A plurality of micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) microengine assemblies are coupled to the periphery of the lens. The lens is focused by exerting and relaxing radial tension in a plane generally perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens. Each microengine assembly utilizes thermal beam actuator arrays in combination with mechanical links to move a slider unit that is coupled to an aperture in the periphery of the lens. The movement of the slider unit alters the diameter of the lens to change the focus of the lens. The lens diameter may be changed by amounts as small as one micron.