Filter for enhancing vision and/or protecting the eyes and method of making a filter
First Claim
1. An optical filter for vision comprising:
- an input polarizing element;
an output polarizing element; and
a retarder stack between the input polarizing element and the output polarizing element;
wherein the input polarizing element, the output polarizing element, and the retarder stack, at least partially positioned in a field of view, substantially filter at least one band of light.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The selective filtering of light by polarization interference may be used to enhance vision and/or protect eyes from harmful light rays. For example, such filtering may be used in sunglasses, color corrective eyewear or protective eyewear. The selective filtering of incident light may provide any desired spectral transmission (including visible light and light not visible to the eye) and is performed by a pair of polarizing elements that sandwich a retarder stack. The filtering structure may be formed by multi-layer polarizing structures and may be formed by fabricating sheet laminates that are die cut to form inexpensive laminates. The laminates may be flat or curved in one (e.g., wrap-around) or more dimensions.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. An optical filter for vision comprising:
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an input polarizing element;
an output polarizing element; and
a retarder stack between the input polarizing element and the output polarizing element;
wherein the input polarizing element, the output polarizing element, and the retarder stack, at least partially positioned in a field of view, substantially filter at least one band of light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical filter for vision comprising:
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an input polarizing element;
an output polarizing element; and
a retarder stack between the input polarizing element and the output polarizing element;
wherein the input polarizing element, the output polarizing element, and the retarder stack, at least partially positioned in a field of view, substantially filter light to improve color deficient vision. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An optical filter for vision comprising:
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an input polarizing element;
an output polarizing element; and
a retarder stack between the input polarizing element and the output polarizing element;
wherein the input polarizing element, the output polarizing element, and the retarder stack, at least partially positioned in a field of view, substantially filter harmful light rays. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical filter for vision comprising:
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an input polarizing element;
an output polarizing element; and
a retarder stack between the input polarizing element and the output polarizing element;
wherein the input polarizing element, the output polarizing element, and the retarder stack, at least partially positioned in a field of view, substantially filter light such that at least two bands of light are substantially attenuated. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An optical filter for enhancing vision and/or protecting eyes from harmful light rays comprising a pair of polarizing elements that sandwich a retarder stack,
wherein the optical filter has a spectral transmission providing at least one of: -
color vision enhancement, color vision deficiency compensation, or attenuation of harmful light rays. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of filtering light for color vision enhancement, color vision deficiency compensation, or attenuation of harmful light rays comprising;
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polarizing input light to form polarized light;
wavelength selectively rotating the polarization of the polarized light to form rotated light; and
analyzing the rotated light. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. An optical filter for vision comprising:
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an input polarizing element;
an output polarizing element; and
a retarder stack between the input polarizing element and the output polarizing element;
wherein the input polarizing element, the output polarizing element, and the retarder stack, at least partially positioned in a field of view, filter light to substantially reduce at least one near zero chromaticity response band of light. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An optical filter for vision comprising:
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an input polarizing element;
an output polarizing element; and
a retarder stack between the input polarizing element and the output polarizing element;
wherein the retarder stack, the input polarizing element, and the output polarizing element, at least partially positioned in a field of view, have a light transmittancy at 450 nm, 540 nm and 610 nm that is greater than a light transmittancy at 500 nm or 580 nm. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. A method for improving a person'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s vision comprising:
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determining an initial spectral profile of the person'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s vision;
determining a desired spectral profile for the person'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s vision; and
providing eyewear for the person or the animal, wherein the eyewear comprises an input polarizing element, an output polarizing element, and a retarder stack, configured to substantially filter at least one band of light to compensate for the difference between the desired spectral profile and the initial spectral profile. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification