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NANO2021-Nanoteknologi og nye materiale

Beat the human eye

Alternative title: Slå det mennesklige øyet

Awarded: NOK 10.5 mill.

Project Number:

235210

Project Period:

2014 - 2018

Organisation:

Location:

Subject Fields:

poLight as develop and manufacture active lens elements and components for use in small cameras. The main market will be mobile phones and similar products. This type of cameras can also be used in a variety of other products and applications if the cost are low or the image quality significantly better. poLight?s first product, called Tlens®, is an autofocus lens that has copied elements from the human eye. The lens was shown and demonstrated in "Schrødingers katt" (Norwegian popular scientific TV program.) October 11, 2012. The main components are a thin piezoelectric film, which deforms a thin glass membrane, which contain a very soft inorganic polymer. The technology will also be used to create or move other geometrical shapes than a spherical lens such, as prisms, mirrors and similar objects. This makes it possible to develop several different products for optical applications (Optical Image stabalizer, Iris, Zoom lens and so on). Thin film piezoelectric technology can also be used with an advantage in other products that need to create a movement or a change in geometry. The project have four PhD-candidates work with their part of the technology. These key elements are: - Increased refractive index of the polymer - Green piezo actuator - New electrode design - Modeling of complex material structures (mainly multi-layer materials). Besides following lectures, the students have completed each their literature studies, carried out initial simulation experiments or similar activities through the first year. We have also established systems for information exchange, management of future IP and conducted several joint activities between NTNU, HBV and poLight. Through the autumn 2015 a large number of experiments and simulations has been carried out in all work packages. The first results were presented in different conferences and meetings in Norway. The first in situ synthesized particles in a silicone matrix show reasonably good properties. A new type of IDE electrodes has been proposed and simulated. This design will be processed on wafers and tested. In the winter of 2016 he PhD students have now passed the first half part of their study and have finished all needed theoretical topics/exams. All PhD-students have held number lecturers on their cases both nationally and internationally in conferences and seminars. The first Journal articles was published in the second half of 2016. One of the students at HSN have had a Research Stay at EPFL in Switzerland. One of the other students have stayed for a short period at ESRF in France to test Titania particles under radiation. This is part of our work on in-situ formation of nano-particles in a silicone-polymer. We will organize the last full-day project-meeting (seminar) on June 26 in Horten with focus on the results we have achieved and the final part of the student work. In the period July 2017 to January 2018, 3 out of 4 PhD have delivered and defended their PhD-thesis. The last student is also in his finishing phase and plan a delivery in May 2018. We have also started testing the model components that was delayed. One of the former PhD students will carry out this work as a part of a joint project between poLight and HSN.

poLights teknologi er unik, men gir noen begrensninger i forhold til hvor vi kan anvende linsene våre. Tilsvarende begrensninger eksisterer også for andre produkter vi ønsker å introdusere. Det som er viktig er den relative optiske kraften vi kan oppnå i forhold til aperturen. Kundene våre ønsker at alle kameraer kan fokusere ned til 10 cm som tilsvarer 10 diopter (optisk styrke). Dagens produkter har en aperture opp mot 2 mm og fungerer bra i mange mobilkamera og noen tilsvarende applikasjoner. Skal vi t a steget mot andre applikasjoner og være konkurransedyktig i framtidens telefoner må vi øke aperturen og forbedre nærfokuset. Dette kan gjøres ved å tilføre mer kraft gjennom aktuatoren (PZT) eller ved å øke brytningsindeksen i polymeren. Teoretisk vet vi hvor vi skal, men det er utfordrende å nå dit. For å kunne utvikle nye produkter for fremtiden må vi gjennomføre noen grunnleggende forskningsarbeider: - Aktuatoren må gi mer kraft og på sikt må vi ta i bruk et piezo-materiale uten bly for å imøtekomme f ramtidige miljøkrav. Dette kan gjøres ved en ny elektrodestruktur (IDE) eller transparente piezo-materialer. - Brytningsindeksen i polymeren må økes, samtidig som vi beholder mykheten for å kunne fokusere. Dette kan gjøres ved å modifisere den molekylære sammensetningen på polymerkjeden, eller ved å blande inn nanopartikler. Ved siden av de tekniske utfordringene har vi også miljørelaterte utfordringer som blir mer aktuelle i nær framtid. Den viktigste utfordringen er en liten mengde bly som finnes i ak tuatoren. PZT er foreløpig på unntakslisten i EU direktivet RoHS. Fordi vår teknologi benytter en tynnfilm piezoaktuator, er vektandelen bly liten og under grensen. Vi må likevel finne nye materialer innen rimelig tid. Alternativene er foreløpig langt fra optimale med hensyn til kraft og mulige miljøutfordringer er ukjent. Et steg på veien vil være å ta ut gevinsten man oppnår ved økt aktuatorstyrke i enda tynnere aktuatorfilm, som reduserer andelen bly i produktet.

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Funding scheme:

NANO2021-Nanoteknologi og nye materiale