Variable power lens system
First Claim
1. A variable lens comprising:
- a variable power optical device including an optically active lens responsive to an energy stimulus for changing the power of the lens;
control means for controlling the energy stimulus;
a source of energy for generating the energy stimulus for driving the control means and the lens;
a substrate for housing the lens, control means and energy source, each integrally deposited on the substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There has been provided a variable lens. In one form the lens power may be varied and in another the power may be selectively fixed in a carrier material. There are no moving mechanical parts but instead an optically active molecular material such as liquid crystals. In one embodiment, the lens and control means for varying the power of the lens are mounted on a common substrate. The lens may be a single optical element or a multi-element device such as a Fresnel lens. A variable gradient index of refraction is achievable by applying a controlled stimulus field to the lens. For example, a geometrically configured matrix of electrical voltages, each at a selected addressable location relative to the optically active material, provides the gradient in one embodiment. A thin film embodiment finds applications in magnifying glasses, cameras, telescopes, microscopes, as well as for intraocular and contact lenses for the human eye.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A variable lens comprising:
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a variable power optical device including an optically active lens responsive to an energy stimulus for changing the power of the lens; control means for controlling the energy stimulus; a source of energy for generating the energy stimulus for driving the control means and the lens; a substrate for housing the lens, control means and energy source, each integrally deposited on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A lens system comprising:
- a plurality of closely spaced electrodes having addressable pairs of discrete locations, means for addressably impressing on each said electrode pair electric energy of a selected amount thereby producing different electrical fields at different electrode pair locations, optically active material located in intimate relation with the electrodes and being responsive to the electric fields for producing a corresponding index of refraction in the active material at each respective location, and optically active material being configured in a relatively thin film of up to about 100 microns in thickness between said electrodes to thereby minimize the power necessary to drive the active material to the various indices of refraction, the different indices of refraction creating a gradient index of refraction across said system, the electrodes being in the form of a matrix of addressable dots.
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18. A lens system comprising:
- a plurality of closely spaced electrodes having addressable pairs at discrete locations, means for addressably impressing on each said electrode pair electric energy of a selected amount thereby producing different electrical fields at different electrode pair locations, optically active material located in intimate relation with the electrodes and being responsive to the electric fields for producing a corresponding index of refraction in the active material at each respective location, said optically active material being configured in a relatively thin film of up to about 100 microns in thickness between said electrodes to thereby minimize the power necessary to drive the active material to the various indices of refraction, the different indices of refraction creating a gradient index of refraction across said system, a substrate material for supporting the electrodes, said substrate material having at least one of a curved surface, prismatic surface, and fresnel surface.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A light transmission device comprising:
- a carrier mixed with an electrically and optically active material, said device at least momentarily operatively coupled to a matrix of programmable electrodes, said electrodes being programmed to produce a gradient electric field across said matrix.
- View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A variable lens comprising:
- a fresnel surface having a selected optical power;
an energy stimulus responsive optically active material deposited in optical relation with the fresnel surface for varying said optical power in response to an energy stimulus input; and
control means for generating said energy stimulus input;
wherein said fresnel surface comprises a plurality of optical elements formed of separately addressable electrodes, each of said electrodes coupled to the control means. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
- a fresnel surface having a selected optical power;
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33. A variable power Fresnel lens comprising:
a plurality of optically active lens elements arranged in a Fresnel lens pattern and responsive to a source of energy stimulus for changing the index of refraction over the lens surface, a source of energy stimulus and means for applying said energy stimulus to said lens elements in a controlled manner for selecting the optical power of said lens. - View Dependent Claims (34)
Specification