Method for refracting and dispensing electro-active spectacles

• US 6,733,130 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E-Vision Optics LLC
• Original Assignee: e-Vision, LLC (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Katzman, Dan, Dustin, Dwight P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US10/281,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 351/215, 351/216, 351/228, 351/232, 351/246, 351/49, 351/54, 351/55, 351/161, 351/168, 351/169, 351/41, 351/158, 351/159, 351/208, 351/209, 359/652, 359/655, 359/665, 359/666, 359/245, 359/246, 359/254, 359/494, 359/256, 359/272, 359/273
• US Class Current: 351/216
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2039/505 comprising antibodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/00 Medicinal preparations containing peptides peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/5443 IL-15
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/244 Interleukins [IL]
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/2866 against receptors for cytokines, lymphokines, interferons
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2319/00 Fusion polypeptide
• 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 2202/22 Correction of higher order and chromatic aberrations, wave front measurement and calculation
• 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: G02F 1/13415 Drop filling process
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection

Abstract

An electro-active spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens includes a first lens optic. The disclosed lens also includes a first electro-active zone positioned in a cooperative relationship with the first lens optic. In certain embodiments, the electro-active lens includes a range finder positioned in a cooperative relationship with the electro-active lens.

Claims

1. An electro-active lens comprising:

a first electro-active region; and

a second electro-active region, the first electro-active region and the second electro-active region being in optical communication with each other

wherein, in an inactivated state, molecules of the first electro-active region are aligned orthogonal to molecules of the second electro-active region to reduce birefringence.

2. The lens of claim 1, wherein the second electro-active region is stacked upon the first electro-active region.

3. The lens of claim 1, wherein the electro-active region includes addressable loops of electro-active material.

4. The lens of claim 3, wherein the rings are shaped in an obround pattern.

5. An electro-active lens comprising:

a first electro-active region;

a second electro-active region, the first electro-active region and the second electro-active region being in optical communication with each other

wherein molecules of the first electro-active region are aligned orthogonal to molecules of the second electro-active region to reduce birefringence; and

a double-sided plate with diffraction patterns etched on both sides of the plate, the plate in optical communication with the first electro-active region and the second electro-active region.

6. The lens of claim 5, wherein the first electro-active region is placed on one side of the plate and the second electro-active region is placed on the other side of the plate.

7. An electro-active lens comprising:

a single optical lens having a first surface, a second surface, and an outer perimeter edge; and

an electro-active zone supported by the single optical lens,

the electro-active zone having at least two addressable regions,

the electro-active zone sized to be contained within the outer perimeter edge of the single optical lens,

the outer perimeter edge of the single optical lens being removable to conform the shape of the single optical lens to an eyeglass frame.

8. The electro-active lens of claim 7, wherein at least one of the addressable regions is in the shape of a continues loop.

9. An electro-active spectacle, comprising:

an electro-active lens;

a controller coupled to the electro-active lens and configured to adjust a focal length of the lens according to an adjustable time delay, the delay being adjustable by a wearer of the spectacle; and

a line of sight detector, the line of sight detector configured to sense a change in the line of sight of a wearer.

10. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to change the focal length in response to a voltage applied after the delay.

11. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the delay is adjustable according to vision comfort of the wearer.

12. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the delay is adjustable in response to a change in the wearer'"'"'s line of sight.

13. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the delay differs depending upon the change in the focal length.

14. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the amount of the delay is predetermined.

15. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the delay includes one of a lag time and a lead time.

16. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the electro-active lens includes an optical transition region, the region including a plurality of zones, each zone having a different viewing correction.

17. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the electro-active lens includes a plurality of zones with different viewing corrections, adjacent zones transitioning from near to far distance viewing correction.

18. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the electro-active lens includes an optical transition region, the region including a plurality of zones having different refractive corrections, and wherein the size of the region in the lens is variable.

19. The electro-active spectacle of claim 9, wherein the electro-active lens includes an optical transition region, the region including a plurality of zones having different refractive corrections, and wherein the position of the region in the lens is variable.

20. An electro-active spectacle comprising:

an electro-active lens;

a frame holding the electro-active lens; and

a viewing change detector coupled to the electro-active lens and adapted to sense a line of sight change of a wearer, the viewing change detector including

a first detector adapted to detect a line of sight change, and

a second detector adapted to override the first detector.

21. The electro-active spectacle of claim 20, wherein the viewing change detector is adapted to change a focal length of at least a portion of the electro-active lens in response to a change in the wearer'"'"'s line of sight.

22. The electro-active spectacle of claim 20, wherein the first detector includes a gyroscope.

23. The electro-active spectacle of claim 20, wherein the first detector includes an accelerometer.

24. The electro-active spectacle of claim 20, wherein the first detector includes a mercury switch.

25. The electro-active spectacle of claim 20, wherein the line of sight detector is coupled to a controller configured to change a focal length of the electro-active lens.

26. The electro-active spectacle of claim 20, wherein the line of sight detector is adapted to change a focal length of the lens in response to a signal from the first detector when the head position change is below 180 degrees and wherein the line of sight detector is adapted to change the focal length in response to a signal from the second detector when the head change position change is above 180 degrees.

27. A method for constructing an electro-active lens comprising the activities of:

providing a single lens having a first surface, a second surface, and an outer perimeter edge;

associating an electro-active zone with the single lens,

the electro-active zone having at least two addressable regions; and

removing at least a portion of a perimeter edge of the single lens to reconfigure the shape of the single lens to conform to an eyeglass frame.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the surfacing activity includes grinding the first surface of the lens blank.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one addressable region is in the shape of a loop.

30. An electro-active spectacle comprising:

an electro-active lens;

a frame holding the electro-active lens; and

a viewing change detector coupled to the electro-active lens and adapted to sense a line of sight change of a wearer, the viewing change detector including

a first detector adapted to detect a line of sight change, and

a switch adapted to override the first detector.

31. The electro-active spectacle of claim 30, wherein the viewing change detector is adapted to change a focal length of at least a portion of the electro-active lens in response to a change in the wearer'"'"'s line of sight.

32. The electro-active spectacle of claim 30, wherein the first detector includes a gyroscope.

33. The electro-active spectacle of claim 30, wherein the first detector includes an accelerometer.

34. The electro-active spectacle of claim 30, wherein the first detector includes a mercury switch.

35. The electro-active spectacle of claim 30, wherein the line of sight detector is coupled to a controller configured to change a focal length of the electro-active lens.

36. The electro-active spectacle of claim 30, wherein the line of sight detector is adapted to change a focal length of the lens in response to a signal from the first detector when the head position change is below 180 degrees and wherein the line of sight detector is adapted to change the focal length in response to a signal from the second detector when the head change position change is above 180 degrees.