CAMERA & IMAGING SYSTEMS.
e-Vision’s electro-optic liquid crystal technology is the foundation of its patent-protected Smart Optics innovation platform. While this platform allows for a multitude of business opportunities, e-Vision is highly focused on exploiting what is believed to be one of its largest markets and the one that will be the fastest to adopt this technology, that being camera modules and lens systems utilized by mobile devices.
e-Vision’s 3rd generation 2.4 millimeter, continuously tunable auto-focus lens (“Tunable Lens”) is a significant improvement for cameral modules utilized today that rely on a “voice coil” system to mechanically move lenses to create an auto-focus effect. In addition, this lens will be enabling technology that will permit camera module manufactures to transition their technology to reflowable wafer systems. Whether used in the reflowable design or the standard designs of today, the fully adjustable optical profile can enable much thinner camera modules to be designed.
e-Vision has achieved certain highly proprietary technological breakthroughs with its Tunable Lens. These lenses allow for continuous focus from that of far distance object to near distance object and back from near to far; are completely solid state, use significantly less power than the voice coil technology; can achieve 400 micron overall thickness with production grade manufacturing processes and, the adjustable voltage profile permits the lens to adopt to different environmental conditions without add-on devices such as heaters.
A conventional system design, which is illustrated below in the top figure, requires a drive motor to focus the lens on the object. The second figure illustrates the e-Vision design which has no moving parts and accomplishes the same task as the conventional design just by changing the optical power.
See our Video of this lens with a click of the button on the side bar.
e-Vision also has a proprietary pipe line of additional electro-optic product innovations in various forms of development following behind the Tunable Lens. Each of these innovations incorporate optical performance breakthroughs that will be easily adopted by their respective markets as radical product enhancements.
Variable Focus Projection Optics for Heads Up Display Systems
Image Shifting for Security and Facial Recognition Systems
Switchable 2D/3D Display Systems without Glasses/Goggles
Beam Steering for Cameras and Gaming and
Zoom Lens Systems for Cameras and other imaging applications
Imaging and Beam-Steering for Security and Military Applications
Another area of development for e-Vision is small imaging systems for security and military applications, such as mini-UAV's (unmanned aerial vehicles). These systems will be capable of imaging in both visible and infrared light. The advantages of thin, lightweight, small form-factor electro-optical components for these miniature platforms can greatly improve performance. Also, due to the low power consumption of electro-optics, these vehicles are able stay aloft longer; and the elimination of the motors to move the optics increasing reliability and survivability.
In addition, with beam-steering devices made from liquid crystal electro-optics, we will be able to perform large-angle scanning without moving the focal plane array and achieve image stabilization with small-angle steerers.
Beam-Steering for the Gamers
With our ability to perform focusing, magnification, image stabilization, and beam steering (pan and tilt) with no moving optical components, there are multiple opportunities for liquid crystal electro-optic lenses to improve the performance and capabilities of computer gaming.
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