Liquid crystal eyeglasses

• US 5,552,841 A
• Filed: 10/04/1994
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Villa Borghini S. R. L.
• Original Assignee: A B G SRL
• Inventors: Angilella, Bruno, Gallorini, Massimo, Bocci, Sandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US08/317,920
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 351/44, 351/49, 351/45, 351/158, 351/41, 359/36, 359/38, 359/39, 359/40
• US Class Current: 351/49
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector

Abstract

The optical instrument comprises at least one lens (5) and application means (9) for applying the optical device. The lens is constituted at least in part by a liquid crystal device (LCD); power supply means of regulable voltage (11) are provided, to control the transparency of the lens.

Claims

1. Eyeglasses, comprising:

a frame;

a pair of lenses mounted on said frame, said lenses including a liquid crystal device having a variable transparency;

voltage generator means applied on said lenses, said voltage generator means for converting luminous energy incident on said lenses into electrical energy, said voltage generator means including a film deposited on a portion of a surface of said lenses, said voltage generator including control output means connected to said liquid crystal device of said lenses for controlling said transparency of the lenses as a function of said incident luminous energy.

2. Eyeglasses according to claim 1, wherein said lenses are lenses for correcting vision.

3. Eyeglasses according to claim 1, wherein said lenses each include a front transparent meniscus and a rear transparent meniscus which are coupled to one another and between which said liquid crystal device is disposed.

4. Eyeglasses according to claim 3, wherein between said front meniscus and said rear meniscus there are further disposed spacer microspheres which maintain a uniform distance between two opposing surfaces of said front meniscus and said rear meniscus.

5. Eyeglasses according to claim 3, wherein said front meniscus and said rear meniscus have external surfaces, a polarizing adhesive plastic film being disposed on at least one of said external surfaces.

6. Eyeglasses according to claim 1, further comprising manual control means connected to said liquid crystal device for manual regulation of the transparency of said lenses.

7. Eyeglasses according to claim 2, further comprising:

an infrared sensor for detecting an IR signal;

switching means for connecting said liquid crystal device of said lenses alternatively to said infrared sensor and to said voltage generator, whereby each lens, upon connection to said infrared sensor assumes a condition of transparency or of darkness alternatively, in response to the infrared signal detected by said sensor, and each lens, upon connection to said voltage generator is controlled by a voltage signal generated by said voltage generator as a function of the incident luminous energy.

8. Eyeglasses according to claim 1, wherein said lenses are subdivided into a plurality of adjacent fields, each field having the form of a strip extending along a width of the relevant lens, each field being constituted by a pixel realized with one said liquid crystal device, said pixels being connected to one another and being connected to said voltage generator in such a manner that each pixel is supplied with a different voltage as compared with adjacent pixels in order to obtain a gradual shading of said lenses.

9. Eyeglasses according to claim 8, wherein said gradual shading is from the top to the bottom of the lenses.

10. Eyeglasses, comprising:

a frame;

a pair of lenses mounted on said frame, said lenses including a liquid crystal device having a variable transparency;

voltage generator means connected to said lenses, said voltage generator means for converting luminous energy incident on said lenses into electrical energy;

an infrared sensor for detecting an IR signal;

switching means which connects said liquid crystal device of said lenses alternatively to said infrared sensor and to said voltage generator, whereby each lens, upon connection to said infrared sensor assumes a condition of transparency or of darkness alternatively, in response to the infrared signal detected by said sensor, and each lens, upon connection to said voltage generator is controlled by a voltage signal generated by said voltage generator as a function of the incident luminous energy.

11. Eyeglasses, comprising:

a frame;

a pair of lenses mounted on said frame, said lenses including a liquid crystal device having a variable transparency;

voltage generator means connected to said lenses, said voltage generator means for converting luminous energy incident on said lenses into electrical energy, said lenses being subdivided into a plurality of adjacent fields, each field having the form of a strip extending along a width of the relevant lens, each field being constituted by a pixel realized with a liquid crystal device, said pixels being connected to one another and being connected to said voltage generator in such a manner that each pixel is supplied with a different voltage as compared with adjacent pixels in order to obtain a gradual shading of said lenses.

12. Eyeglasses according to claim 11, wherein said gradual shading is from the top to the bottom of the lenses.

13. Eyeglasses according to claim 11, wherein an amount of said gradual shading is manually adjustable.

14. Eyeglasses according to claim 12, wherein an amount of said gradual shading is manually adjustable.

15. Eyeglasses according to claim 11, wherein said gradual shading is from the top to the bottom of the lenses with pixels of each voltage level extending horizontally in a rectangular block to provide said strip.