Electro-optic lens with integrated components

• US 6,871,951 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E-Vision Optics LLC
• Original Assignee: e-Vision, LLC (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Duston, Dwight P., Kokonaski, William, Katzman, Youval, Efron, Uzi, Thibodeau, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Jordan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STULTZ, JESSICA T
• Application Number:
  US10/046,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20020140899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 351/159, 351/161, 351/168, 351176- 8, 351209- 10, 351/41, 351/44
• US Class Current: 351/159
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/20 Diffractive and Fresnel lenses or lens portions
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/06 bifocal; multifocal ; progressive G02C7/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/061 Spectacle lenses with progressively varying focal power
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/08 Auxiliary lenses; Arrangements for varying focal length
• 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 7/102 Photochromic filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133371 Cells with varying thickness of the liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134309 characterised by their geometrical arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/294 Variable focal length devices

Abstract

A system in accord with the present invention includes a first optical lens having a first outer surface, a second outer surface, and an outer perimeter, an electro-active refractive matrix; and a conductor coupled to the electro-active matrix. An alternative system in accord with the present invention includes a frame, the frame having a lens support and a temple region; an optical lens coupled to the lens support, the optical lens including an electro-active refractive matrix; a controller coupled to the electro-active refractive matrix; and a range finder coupled to the controller. The present invention also includes a method of assembling an optical lens system that comprises placing an electro-active refractive matrix into a cavity of a first optical lens; and covering at least a portion of the electro-active refractive matrix with a second optical lens.

Claims

1. An optical lens system comprising:

a first optical lens having a first region and a perimeter region;

an electro-active refractive matrix coupled to the first region of the optical lens, the electro-active refractive matrix capable of altering an optical power of the optical lens system,

the perimeter region of the lens being removable from the optical lens without removing a portion of said electro-active refractive matrix to configure the optical lens for a specific eyeglass frame.

2. The optical lens system of claim 1 wherein more than 30% of the perimeter region of the lens may be removed from the optical lens to configure the optical lens for a specific eyeglass frame.

3. The optical lens system of claim 1 wherein more than 60% of the perimeter region of the lens may be removed from the optical lens to configure the optical lens for a specific eyeglass frame.

4. The optical lens system of claim 1 wherein the electro-active refractive matrix is associated with patterned electrodes.

5. The optical lens system of claim 1 wherein the electro-active refractive matrix is associated with a diffractive element.

6. The optical lens system of claim 1 wherein the electro-active refractive matrix is associated with a plurality of pixilated elements.

7. The optical lens system of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller and a conductor bus coupled to the first optical lens.

8. The optical lens system of claim 7 wherein the controller includes a power source.

9. The optical lens system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second optical lens coupled to the first optical lens, the second optical lens covering at least a portion of the electro-active refractive matrix.

10. The optical lens system of claim 1 further comprising:

a conductor bus positioned along a radius of the first optical lens, the conductor bus coupling the perimeter region of the first optical lens to the electro-active refractive matrix.

11. The optical lens system of claim 1 further comprising:

a range finder coupled to the first optical lens; and

a power source coupled to the first optical lens.

12. The optical lens system of claim 1 wherein the electro-active refractive matrix is coupled to a carrier.

13. The optical lens system of claim 12 wherein a controller, a range finder, and a power source are coupled to the carrier and wherein the electro-active refractive matrix is associated with a diffractive element.

14. A method of assembling eyewear comprising:

providing a lens system having an electro-active refractive matrix, the electro-active refractive matrix capable of altering an optical power of the optical lens system, the lens system also having a fixed outer surface;

modifying the shape of the lens system by edging an outer perimeter of the lens system without removing a portion of said electro-active matrix; and

placing the lens system into an eyewear frame.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

coupling a conductor of the lens system to a conductor of the eyewear frame.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the electro-active refractive matrix includes a plurality of individual pixels.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising associating the electro-active refractive matrix with a diffractive element.

17. A method of assembling an optical lens system comprising:

providing a lens blank, the lens blank having an electro-active refractive matrix capable of altering an optical power of the optical lens system to provide vision correction; and

removing material from the lens blank to configure the lens blank to fit within a specified eyeglass frame without removing a portion of said electro-active refractive matrix.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the electro-active refractive matrix contains patterned electrodes.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising association the electro-active refractive matrix with a diffractive element.