Enhanced electro-active lens system

• US 20050036109A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Vision Optics LLC
• Original Assignee: e-Vision, LLC (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Duston, Dwight P., Kokonaski, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,195,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/168
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/06 for controlling the phase of light G02B26/08 takes precedence , measuring optical phase difference G01J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/22 Correction of higher order and chromatic aberrations, wave front measurement and calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/088 Lens systems mounted to spectacles

Abstract

A lens system and optical devices that provide enhanced vision correction are disclosed. The lens system includes an electro-active layer that provides correction of at least one higher order aberration. The higher order correction changes dynamically based on a user of the lens system'"'"'s needs, such as a change by the user'"'"'s gaze distance, pupil size, or changes in tear film following blinking, among others. Optical devices are also described that use these and other lens systems to provide correction of higher order aberrations. An optical guide is also described that guides the user'"'"'s line of sight to see through a lens region having a correction for a higher order aberration.

Claims

1. A lens system comprising at least one electro-active layer that provides correction of at least one higher order aberration, wherein the provided higher order correction dynamically changes in response to a user'"'"'s needs while looking through the lens system.

2. The lens system of claim 1 wherein the higher order correction dynamically changes to maintain the user'"'"'s best visual acuity.

3. The lens system of claim 1 wherein the provided higher order correction changes dynamically in response to a change in gaze distance by the user looking through the lens system.

4. The lens system of claim 1 wherein the provided higher order correction changes dynamically in response to a change in pupil size by the user looking through the lens system.

5. The lens system of claim 1 wherein the provided higher order correction changes dynamically in response to a change in a tear film of the user'"'"'s eye.

6. The lens system of claim 1 further comprising a second layer of electro-active material, the second layer of electro-active material, when activated, providing at least one of absorptive or reflective protection from a laser.

7. The lens system of claim 1 further comprising a night vision module.

8. The lens system of claim 7 wherein the night vision module comprises an infrared imaging device and a display screen.

9. The lens system of claim 7 wherein the night vision module comprises an image intensifier.

10. The lens system of claim 1 further comprising a photo-detector, wherein the photo-detector is configured to detect the diameter of a pupil of the user looking through the lens system.

41. The lens system of claim 1 further comprising a fixed focal length optic.

42. The lens system of claim 1 wherein the lens system provides conventional refractive vision correction to the user looking through the lens system.

49. An optical device comprising the lens system of claim 1.

11. A lens system comprising:

a lens that provides correction of at least one higher order aberration; and

a night vision module for use in association with the lens, the night vision module capable of being positioned in front of the eye of a user.

12. The lens system of claim 11 wherein the lens provides electro-active correction of the higher order aberration.

13. The lens system of claim 11 further comprising a heads-up display.

14. The lens system of claim 11 further comprising a communications system.

15. The lens system of claim 11 wherein the lens further comprises a chromic layer.

16. The lens system of claim 11 wherein the lens further comprises a laser protection layer.

17. The lens system of claim 11 wherein the lens system further comprises a solar power cell.

18. The lens system of claim 11 wherein the lens system further comprises a transceiver configured to receive a wireless transmission of a higher order vision correction prescription.

19. An optical device comprising a lens that corrects for at least one higher order aberration of a user'"'"'s vision.

20. The optical device of claim 19, wherein the higher order correction is configured to dynamically change based on a detected pupil size of a user of the optical device.

21. The optical device of claim 19 selected from the group consisting of a telescope, a microscope, bio-microscope, ophthalmoscope, camera, a rifle scope, binoculars, and a night scope.

22. The optical device of claim 19 wherein the lens that corrects for at least one higher order aberration is removably attached to the optical device.

23. The optical device or device of claim 22 wherein the lens removably attached to the optical device is adapted to attach over an eyepiece of the optical device.

24. The optical device or device of claim 22 wherein the lens removably attached to the optical device is adapted to attach within an eyepiece of the optical device.

25. The optical device of claim 22 wherein the optical device comprises a means for aligning the lens at a proper orientation.

26. The optical device of claim 19 wherein the lens includes viewable indicia to assist an individual in viewing through a proper location of the lens.

27. The optical device of claim 26 wherein the indicia are permanently viewable.

28. The optical device of claim 26 wherein the indicia are temporarily viewable.

29. The optical device of claim 19 wherein the higher correction of the lens is programmable.

30. The optical device of claim 29 wherein an electronic storage medium is associated with the optical device, the electronic storage medium capable of storing a prescription for higher order aberration correction.

31. The optical device of claim 30 wherein the electronic storage medium is adapted to store a plurality of prescriptions of different higher order aberration corrections.

32. The optical device of claim 31 wherein the plurality of different higher order aberration prescriptions are associated with a plurality of different viewing conditions.

33. The optical device of claim 31 wherein the plurality of different higher order aberration prescriptions are associated with a plurality of different users.

34. The optical device of claim 33 wherein the optical device is adapted to receive a communication that identifies a user of the lens, the higher order correction altered to correspond to the identified user.

35. The optical device of claim 34 wherein the identification of the user is obtained via a wireless communication.

36. The optical device or device of claim 35 wherein said wireless communication is accomplished by RFD technology.

37. The optical device of claim 29 wherein a plurality of higher order aberration corrections are stored in an electronic storage device associated with and accessible by the optical device.

38. The optical device of claim 37 wherein a stored higher order aberration correction is transmitted to a controller associated with the lens to modify the higher order prescription of the optical device to correspond to an individual using the optical device.

39. The optical device or device of claim 38 wherein the transmission of the prescription is a wireless transmission.

43. The optical device of claim 26 wherein the indicia are a pin-hole produced by two orthogonal polarized layers, the polarized layers having an aperture in substantial registration with one another to create the pin hole.

44. The optical device of claim 43 further comprising an eye-tracker to measure an individual'"'"'s line of sight, wherein the higher order aberration correction changes based on a change in the individual'"'"'s line of sight.

45. The optical device of claim 26 wherein the indicia are electrically activated, and when activated, produce an area of color contrast on the lens.

46. The optical device of claim 19 wherein the lens is electro-active.

47. The optical device of claim 19 wherein the lens system is integral with optical device.

48. The optical device of claim 30 wherein the electronic storage medium is attached to the optical device.

40. A method for obtaining a prescription for the correction of higher order aberrations of an individual comprising:

measuring higher order aberrations of the individual, wherein the higher order aberrations of the individual are measured under conditions comprising at least one of the group consisting of;

measuring higher order aberrations at a plurality of gaze distances, measuring higher order aberrations of the individual under a plurality of levels of ambient light intensity, and measuring higher order aberrations of the individual over a plurality of blink periods.

50. A method for altering a correction of higher order aberrations comprising:

dynamically changing a higher order aberration correction provided by an electro-active lens in response to at least one of a change in the gaze of a user looking through the lens, a change in ambient lighting, or a change in the user'"'"'s tear film.

51. An optical device comprising:

an electro-active lens system to provide a variable higher order aberration correction, wherein the higher order aberration correction varies in response to a change in the gaze of a user looking through the lens, a change in ambient lighting, or a change in the user'"'"'s tear film.

52. A lens system that provides a correction for higher order aberrations, the lens system comprising indicia for guiding a user'"'"'s eye to see through an area of the lens system that provides the correction for the higher order aberrations.

53. The lens system of claim 52 wherein the indicia are selected from the group consisting of a cross hair image, a circular image, a pin-hole or a circumscribed area.