Electro-active lens with crossed linear electrodes

• US 10,092,395 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Kokonaski, William, Duston, Dwight P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOPEZ, LESLIE ANN
• Application Number:
  US15/438,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20170172730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1613 having special lens configurations, e.g. multipart lenses; having particular optical properties, e.g. pseudo-accommodative lenses, lenses having aberration corrections, diffractive lenses, lenses for variably absorbing electromagnetic radiation, lenses having variable focus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1627 for changing index of refraction, e.g. by external means or by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/061 with movable shutters, e.g. filter discs; Actuating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/06 bifocal; multifocal ; progressive G02C7/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/16 Shades; shields; Obturators, e.g. with pinhole, with slot G02C5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

Eyewear is provided including a frame, and a camera connected with the frame, in which the camera is configured to be controlled by a remote controller. The camera may be configured to capture video and/or a photo. The eyewear may include data storage, and the camera may be connected to the data storage. A wrist watch may be configured to act both as a time piece and a controller of the camera. The eyewear may also include a heads up display and/or a video file player. The eyewear may also include an electro-active lens.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic system comprising:

a base optic to provide a fixed base optical power;

an electro-active element, in optical communication with the base optic, to provide at least one of a variable optical power or a variable transmittance, the electro-active element comprising;

a first electro-active lens having a first plurality of linear electrodes oriented orthogonal to an optical axis of the ophthalmic system; and

a second electro-active lens in optical communication with the first electro-active lens, the second electro-active lens having a second plurality of linear electrodes oriented orthogonal to the optical axis and to the first plurality of linear electrodes, at least one of the first plurality of linear electrodes or the second plurality of linear electrodes comprising independently controllable linear electrodes.

2. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, wherein the base optic comprises an intraocular lens.

3. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, wherein the base optic comprises a soft biocompatible material.

4. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, wherein the electro-active element is encapsulated within the base optic.

5. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, further comprising:

a photosensor, communicatively coupled to the electro-active element, to actuate the electro-active element in response to a change in brightness.

6. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, wherein the first electro-active lens is configured to produce prismatic power in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

7. The ophthalmic system of claim 6, wherein the second electro-active lens is configured to produce prismatic power in a second direction orthogonal to the optical axis and to the first direction.

8. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, wherein the first electro-active lens is configured to produce an image shift of 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm.

9. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, wherein the first electro-active lens is configured to produce an image shift of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

10. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, wherein the second electro-active lens is in optical series with the first electro-active element.

11. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna to receive a wireless signal; and

a control chip, in electrical communication with the electro-active element and the antenna, to actuate the electro-active element in response to the wireless signal.

12. The ophthalmic system of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control, communicatively coupled to the electro-active element, to actuate the electro-active element.

13. An ophthalmic system comprising:

a base optic to provide a fixed optical power; and

an electro-active element, encapsulated within the base optic, to provide at least one of variable optical power or variable tint, the electro-active element comprising;

a first liquid-crystal element having a first plurality of linear electrodes oriented orthogonal to an optical axis of the ophthalmic system; and

a second liquid-crystal element in optical series with the first liquid-crystal element, the second liquid-crystal element having a second plurality of linear electrodes oriented orthogonal to the optical axis and to the first plurality of linear electrodes, at least one of the first plurality of linear electrodes or the second plurality of linear electrodes comprising independently controllable linear electrodes.

14. The ophthalmic system of claim 13, wherein the base optic comprises an intraocular lens.

15. The ophthalmic system of claim 13, wherein the base optic comprises a soft biocompatible material.

16. The ophthalmic system of claim 13, wherein the electro-active element is encapsulated within the base optic.

17. The ophthalmic system of claim 13, further comprising:

a photosensor, communicatively coupled to the electro-active element, to actuate the electro-active element in response to a change in brightness.

18. The ophthalmic system of claim 13, wherein the second liquid-crystal element is in optical series with the first liquid-crystal element.

19. The ophthalmic system of claim 13, further comprising:

an antenna to receive a wireless signal; and

a control chip, in electrical communication with the electro-active element and the antenna, to actuate the electro-active element in response to the wireless signal.

20. The ophthalmic system of claim 13, further comprising:

a remote control, communicatively coupled to the electro-active element, to actuate the electro-active element.