Vari-focal spectacles

• US 6,626,532 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishizaki, Koji, Nishioka, Kimihiko, Kaburaki, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US09/092,651
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/49, 351/158, 349/13
• US Class Current: 351/41
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/18 Cellular lens surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/20 Diffractive and Fresnel lenses or lens portions
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/14 Mirrors; Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/294 Variable focal length devices

Abstract

Optical elements such as a vari-focal lens element, a vari-focal diffractive optical element and a variable declination prism usable as spectacle lens elements and so on.

Claims

1. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

a lens unit configured so that a lens element for spectacles has a plurality of areas at least one of which has a vari-focal function; and

a support member for setting at least said lens unit before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs so as to permit saving a trouble of exchanging a plurality of spectacles by changing a focal length of at least an area of said lens unit, wherein said lens element has at least an area having a fixed focal length and said plurality of areas having a fixed focal length are formed within a range of a surface of said lens element.

2. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 1,

wherein said lens unit has the area having the vari-focal function at least below a center of said lens unit.

3. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 1,

wherein said lens unit has an area having a fixed focal point at least above a center of said lens unit.

4. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 1, wherein said area are having the vari-focal function disposed in said lens unit is configured so as to contain a refractive index variable substance.

5. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 4,

wherein said refractive index variable substance is configured in a periodically arranged condition.

6. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 1,

wherein said area having the vari-focal function disposed in said lens unit is configured so as to contain a liquid crystal substance.

7. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 1,

wherein said area having the vari-focal function disposed in said lens unit is configured so as to contain a liquid crystal substance and a diffractive optical element.

8. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 1,

wherein said area having the vari-focal function is configured so as to contain a liquid crystal substance and a polymer substance.

9. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 1, wherein a partial area of said lens unit having the vari-focal function consists of liquid crystal elements which are arranged in a spiral form satisfying the following condition:

10. A lens unit configured so that a lens element for spectacles has a plurality of areas at least one of which has a vari-focal function, wherein said lens element has at least an area having a fixed focal length and said plurality of areas having a fixed focal length are formed within a range of a surface of said lens element.

11. The lens unit according to claim 10,

wherein said lens unit has an area having said vari-focal function at least below a center of said lens unit.

12. The lens unit according to claim 11,

wherein said lens unit has an area having a fixed focal point at least above center of said lens unit.

13. The lens unit according to claim 11,

wherein said area having the vari-focal function disposed on said lens unit is configured so as to contain a refractive index variable substance.

14. The lens unit according to claim 11,

wherein said area having the vari-focal function disposed in said lens unit is configured so as to contain a liquid crystal substance.

15. The lens unit according to claim 11,

wherein said area having the vari-focal function disposed in said lens unit is configured so as to contain a liquid crystal substance and a diffractive optical element.

16. The lens unit according to claim 11,

wherein said area having the vari-focal function disposed in said lens unit is configured so as to contain a liquid crystal substance and a polymer.

17. The lens unit according to claim 11,

wherein a refractive index variable substance contained in said area having the vari-focal function is configured in a periodically arranged condition.

18. A vari-focal lens comprising:

a lens unit having a lens element; and

a support member for setting said lens unit before observer'"'"'s eyeballs, wherein said lens element has a plurality of areas within a range of a surface including at least an area having a variable focal length and at least an area having a fixed focal point.