Vari-lens phoropter and automatic fast focusing infinitely variable focal power lens units precisely matched to varying distances by radar and electronics

• US 5,440,357 A
• Filed: 07/20/1993
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence D. Quaglia
• Original Assignee: Lawrence D. Quaglia
• Inventors: Quaglia, Lawrence D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Do Hyun
• Application Number:
  US08/094,852
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/59, 351/227, 359/665, 359/666, 359/667
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/18 wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/40 using time delay of the reflected waves, e.g. of ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/08 Auxiliary lenses; Arrangements for varying focal length

Abstract

This invention will for the first time provide a digital read-out showing the amount of diopters either Positive or Negative with a zero starting point midway between the Positive and Negative dioxter readings. The people having their eyes checked will now be able to communicate in the most accurate way with their eye doctor using an adjustment knob for each eye respectively to obtain the prescription needed. This is achieved through a specially designed lens unit and through the use of direct gear rack drives attached to the movable lenses coupled to an encoder and that is battery powered producing a DC square wave output voltage and fed into a Positive to Negative read-out display Totalizer unit with LED electronic digital read-out that is available with a scaling factor for precise conversion to diopter values for each eye respectively. The Totalizer is a computerized unit with microchip circuitry running on DC battery current which makes the Vari-Lens™ Phoropter unit, portable to be used anywhere in remote areas for the visual impaired. The present invention also offers the automatic fast focusing lens units either for Positive or Negative focal power actuated by newly developed high power magnets in a flexible binder. This will reduce to a minimum the amount of weight for the eyeglasses for common use. This is the greatest development to date in regard to variable focal power lens units and are the only successfully operating units of their kind for the Vari-Lens™ Phoropter and the automatic fast focusing eyeglasses to date.

Claims

1. A lens system providing an infinitely variable focal power with a combined measuring system reflecting a readout display comprising:

a first lens and a second lens each having an inner surface and an outer surface, mounted adjacent to each other with said first lens being a forward lens, closer to an object to be viewed, and said second lens being a rearward lens, further from said object to be viewed;

wherein said first and second lenses inner surfaces are mounted in a juxtaposed relationship with a space formed between said lenses inner surfaces for receiving a transparent fluid medium there between;

a circular reservoir being substantially C-shaped in cross section to contain the transparent fluid medium between said first and second lenses;

said circular reservoir and stablilizer rings connected to said first lens and said second lens by an adhesive;

a set of current connection wires and other components connected to the circular reservoir by said adhesive;

first and second control members in mechanical communication with said forward and rearward lenses respectively, adapted to translate said lenses in forward and rearward directions;

a precision gearing system for manipulating said control members;

an encoder in mechanical communication with said precision gearing system for precision measurement of said lenses; and

a readout device in electrical communication with the encoder and displaying a readout reflecting the movement of said first and second lenses, wherein said precision gearing system comprises

a first shaft for moving the forward lens, the first shaft consisting of a precision gearing device having a driving pinion gear to drive a gear rack attached to the forward lens which in turn drives the first control member; and

a second shaft for moving the rearward lens, mounted substantially parallel to the first shaft and driven by a reduction set of gears connected to said first shaft, said second shaft having a driving pinion gear to drive a gear rack attached to the rearward lens, which in turn drives the second control member;

wherein said first and second control members are translated in a predetermined tandem manner by the precision gearing system, so that said first and second lenses are translated according to a predetermined gear ratio thereby.

2. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein the readout device comprises a totalizer device which displays an amount capable of going from a positive diopter reading to a definite zero diopter reading then to a negative diopter reading.

3. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein;

the forward and rearward lenses are composed of a material comprising Polyethylene Terephthalate.

4. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein;

the forward and rearward lenses are composed of a material comprising Polycarbonate.

5. A lens system in claim 1 further comprising an adjustable eyepiece for a focal power correction factor in communication with the lenses to establish a correspondingly equal amount of positive or negative focal power when the lens system is adjusted from positive to negative focal power.

6. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein;

said transparent fluid medium is a polydimethylsiloxane polymer oil.

7. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein;

said adhesive is an ultra-violet curing adhesive.

12. A lens system as described in claim 2 wherein the readout device comprises a totalizer device which displays an amount capable of going from a positive diopter reading to a definite zero diopter reading then to a negative diopter reading.

8. A lens system providing an infinitely variable focal power with a combined measuring system reflecting a readout display comprising:

a first lens and a second lens each having an inner surface and an outer surface, mounted adjacent to each other with said first lens being a forward lens, closer to an object to be viewed, and said second lens being a rearward lens, further from said object to be viewed;

first and second control members in mechanical communication with said forward and rearward lenses respectively, adapted to translate said lenses in forward and rearward directions;

a precision gearing system for manipulating said control members;

an encoder in mechanical communication with said precision gearing system for precision measurement of said lenses, and a readout device in electrical communication with the encoder and displaying a readout reflecting the movement of said first and second lenses, wherein said precision gearing system comprises

a first shaft for moving the forward lens, the first shaft having a pinion gear which drives a gear rack, which in turn drives the first control member;

said first shaft also having an additional gear to mate and drive a mating gear on a second shaft in a predetermined constant gear ratio;

said second shaft for moving the rearward lens, mounted substantially parallel to the first shaft and driven by said additional gear of said first shaft, said second shaft having a pinion gear which drives a gear rack, which in turn drives the second control member;

wherein said first and second control members are translated in a predetermined tandem manner by the precision gearing system, so that said first and second lenses are translated in a predetermined manner thereby.

9. A lens system as described in claim 8 wherein;

said additional gear of said first shaft and said mating hear on said second shaft have said predetermined constant gear ratio therebetween so that the gear racks driven by the first and second shafts are translated in distances having the same ratio as the predetermined constant gear ratio, thereby moving the first and second lenses respectively, in distances in accordance with said ratio.

10. A lens system as described in claim 9 wherein;

said predetermined constant gear ratio allows to move each lens simultaneously so that the lens shape moves from convex, to substantially flat to concave, thereby translating from positive focal power to zero focal power, to negative focal power, respectively.

11. A lens system as described in claim 10 further comprising a circular channel on each lens for facilitating movement of each lens, said circular channels being substantially S-shaped in cross section.