Automatic fast focusing infinitely variable focal power lens units for eyeglasses and other optical instruments controlled by radar and electronics

• US 5,739,959 A
• Filed: 08/07/1995
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence D. Quaglia
• Original Assignee: Lawrence D. Quaglia
• Inventors: Quaglia, Lawrence D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US08/512,085
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 359/665, 359/666
• US Class Current: 359/666
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S13/46
• 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 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/085 Fluid-filled lenses, e.g. electro-wetting lenses

Abstract

The present invention provides new variable focal power Lens Units in an eyeglass frame, controlled by radar and electronics for the visually impaired, consisting of a Neodymium Iron Boron ring magnet in a flexible rubber binder having a convention pole e.g. North, (facing the electromagnet) attached to the stabilizer ring on the forward movable lens. Forward movement to supply positive focal power is achieved by repulsion coming from an electro ring magnet with a Barium Ferrite core in a flexible rubber binder, having a copper coil around the core creating the electromagnetic force when energized by the current controlled power supply. Rearward movement to supply negative focal power is achieved by attraction coming from the electro ring magnet in reverse operation.

The second Lens Unit consists of an automatic fast focusing infinitely variable focal power Lens Unit consisting of a permanent magnet with an additional copper coil surrounding it to energize a clear magnetic fluid oil to have e.g. a North pole facing rearward and having the electromagnet on the rearward lens generating a South pole when in operation to provide movement of the lens members.

Claims

1. A lens system for infinitely variable focal power comprising:

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

wherein said first and second lenses'"'"' inner surfaces are mounted in 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-ring shaped in cross section to contain the transparent fluid medium between said first and second lenses;

said circular reservoir and stablizer 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;

said forward lens, and said rearward lens form lens units;

an electromagnet affixed to the rearward lens, the electromagnet being connected to a power supply; and

a permanent magnet affixed to the forward lens and being magnetically aligned so that its north pole is adjacent to the north pole of the electromagnet, when the electromagnet is energized;

an electromagnet affixed to the forward lens, the electro magnet being connected to a power supply; and

a permanent magnet affixed to the rearward lens and being magnetically aligned so that its south pole is adjacent to the south pole of the electromagnet, when the electromagnet is energized.

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

said transparent fluid medium is a polydimethylsiloxane polymer oil.

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

said electromagnet is affixed to the rearward lens with the electromagnet being connected to a power supply;

to generate a north pole supplying an amount of magnetic force to repel the north pole of a permanent magnet affixed to the forward lens and being magnetically aligned so that its north pole is adjacent to the north pole of the electromagnet when the electromagnet is energized to supply an infinitely variable positive focal power.

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

said electromagnet is affixed to the forward lens, the electromagnet being connected to a power supply;

to generate a north pole supplying an amount of magnetic force to attract the south pole of a permanent magnet affixed to the rearward lens and being magnetically aligned so that its south pole is adjacent to the north pole of the electromagnet when the electromagnet is energized to supply an infinitely variable negative focal power.

5. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein the lens units are calibrated with a diopter gauge, to establish a definite zero diopter starting point for either positive or negative focal power lens units.

6. A lens system as described in claim 1 further comprising a circular channel on each lens for facilitating movement of each lens, said circular channels being substantially S-shaped in cross section.

7. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein the forward and rearward lens elements are composed of material comprising polyethylene terephthalate.

8. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein the forward and rearward lens elements are composed of a material comprising polycarbonate.

9. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein:

the lenses and adjacent current connection wires are assembled to the C-ring reservoir and to each other with an ultra-violet curing adhesive.

10. A lens system as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a reservoir around the perimeter of said rearward and forward lenses'"'"' edges in fluid communication with the space between said lenses'"'"' inner surfaces;

a transparent liquid located in said reservoir and filling said space between said lenses inner surfaces; and

wherein the transparent fluid comprises an electrically conductive oil.

11. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein:

the lenses are composed of a material comprising intrinsically conductive polymer.

12. A lens system as described in claim 1 wherein:

the lenses are composed of a material comprising polyaniline.

13. A lens system as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a reservoir around the perimeter of said rearward and forward lenses'"'"' edges in fluid communication with the space between said lenses'"'"' inner surfaces;

a transparent liquid located in said reservoir and filling said space between said lenses'"'"' inner surfaces, and

a circular channel on each lens for facilitating rearward and forward movement of each lens, the circular channel connecting the forward and rearward lenses.

14. A lens system as described in claim 13 wherein:

the electromagnet has a core which is a permanent magnet composed of barium ferrite in a flexible binder; and

the permanent magnet on the forward lens is composed of neodimium iron boron in a flexible binder; and

said magnets are ring magnets circumferentially mounted on the periphery of the lens element members magnetized with conventional poles.

15. A lens system as described in claim 14 further comprising:

a radar control device in communication with the power supply for operating the electromagnet.

16. A lens system as described in claim 14 further comprising:

an antireflective coating applied to the forward lens.

17. A lens system as described in claim 14 wherein:

the rearward lens is substantially rigid and stationary, and the forward lens is flexible and moves forward and rearward for infinitely variable positive focal power.

18. A lens system as described in claim 14 wherein:

the forward lens is substantially rigid and stationary, and the rearward lens moves rearward and forward for infinitely variable negative focal power.

19. A lens system for infinitely variable focal power comprising:

a first lens and a second lens 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 juxtaposed relationship with a space formed between said lenses'"'"' inner surfaces;

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 radar system in electrical communication with the control members, for activating the control members having a housing and further comprising a transmitting means, mounted in the housing for transmitting a signal;

a receiving means mounting in the housing for receiving return signals;

an RF converter having analog microchip circuitry, in electronic communication with the receiving means, for converting high RF signals received into low RF;

a sampler converter in electronic communication with the RF converter, for convering low RF to voltage, a closed loop circuit with range gating in electronic communication with the sampler converter, to measure distance to objects when the transmitted signal hits objects at various angles, wherein the resultant voltage is proportional to the distance being measured.

20. A lens system for infinitely variable focal power comprising:

a first lens and a second lens 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 juxtaposed relationship with a space formed between said lenses'"'"' inner surfaces;

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 radar system in electrical communication with the control members, for activating the control members having a housing and further comprising a transmitting means, mounted in the housing for transmitting a signal;

a receiving means mounted in the housing for receiving return signals;

an RF converter having analog microchip circuitry, in electronic communication with the receiving means, for converting high RF signals received into low RF;

a sampler converter in electronic communication with the RF converter, for converting low RF to voltage, a closed loop circuit with range gating in electronic communication with the sampler converter, to measure distance to objects when the transmitted signal hits objects at various angles, wherein the resultant voltage is proportional to the distance being measured; and

an electronic converter in electronic communication with the closed loop circuit which sends a controlling signal voltage to activate said control members.

21. A lens system for infinitely variable focal power comprising:

a first lens and a second lens 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 juxtaposed relationship with a space formed between said lenses'"'"' inner surfaces for receiving an electromagnet affixed to the rearward lens, the electromagnet being connected to a power supply to generate a north pole supplying an amount of magnetic force to repel the north pole of a permanent magnet affixed to the forward lens and being magnetically aligned so that its north pole is adjacent to the north pole of the electromagnet when the electromagnet is energized, supplying infinitely variable positive focal power.

22. A lens system for infinitely variable focal power comprising:

a first lens and a second lens 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 juxtaposed relationship with a space formed between said lenses'"'"' inner surfaces for receiving an electromagnet affixed to the forward lens, the electromagnet being connected to a power supply to generate a north pole supplying an amount of magnetic force to attract the south pole of a permanent magnet affixed to the rearward lens and being magnetically aligned so that its south pole is adjacent to the north pole of the electromagnet when the electromagnet is energized, supplying infinitely variable negative focal power.