Patent ID: 8087778

Claim:
A mechanism for changing the optical strength of a variable focus optical apparatus, said variable focus optical apparatus comprising an optical component comprising a cavity filled with a variable amount of fluid and a reservoir containing additional fluid and being in fluid communication with said optical component cavity, said mechanism comprising: a diaphragm sealing said reservoir, and an actuator configured to cause movement of said diaphragm relative to said reservoir in response to a force or an impulse on said actuator so as to increase or decrease pressure within said reservoir, whereby increased pressure within said reservoir forces fluid out of said reservoir and into said optical component cavity, and decreased pressure within said reservoir withdraws fluid out of said optical component cavity and into said reservoir, whereby a change in the amount of fluid within said optical component cavity changes the optical strength of said optical apparatus, and wherein said actuator comprises a plunger impinging against said diaphragm and movable relative to said diaphragm in opposing directions substantially transverse to said diaphragm, whereby movement of said plunger in a direction towards said diaphragm increases pressure within said reservoir, and movement of said plunger in a direction away from said diaphragm decreases pressure within said reservoir.