System, apparatus, and method for correcting vision using an electro-active lens

• US 7,077,519 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: e-vision Smart Optics, Inc. (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: e-Vision, LLC (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Duston, Dwight P., Katzman, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JORDAN MARC
• Application Number:
  US10/627,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 351/159, 351/41, 351/44, 351/168, 351/161, 351163-165, 351/169, 351176-177, 351/205, 351/209
• US Class Current: 351/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/028 for testing visual acuity; for determination of refraction, e.g. phoropters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0285 Phoropters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/04 Trial frames; Sets of lenses for use therewith lenses per se G02C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• 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: B29D 11/00009 Production of simple or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/0073 Optical laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00817 Producing electro-active lenses or lenses with energy receptors, e.g. batteries or antennas
• 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: G02B 3/0081 having one or more elements with analytic function to create variable power variable magnification in general G02B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/28 Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/285 including two or more different focus detection devices, e.g. both an active and a passive focus detecting device
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/12 Locally varying refractive index, gradient index lenses
• 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 7/02 : Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/022 : Ophthalmic lenses having special refractive features achieved by special materials or material structures G02C7/049 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/049 : Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures
• 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 7/066 : Shape, location or size of the viewing zones
• 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 1/133526 : Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/294 : Variable focal length devices

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:

an electro-active material of a substantially constant thickness;

at least one alignment layer to align molecules of the electro-active material;

a plurality of conductive electrodes arranged in a grid or array comprising a plurality of elements, wherein each grid or array element is an electrode, wherein each electrode is isolated from other electrodes by an insulating material; and

wherein the electro-active lens is capable of being edged without destroying or removing material or components needed for the electro-active material to function properly.

2. The electro-active lens of claim 1, wherein the insulating material is an oxide.

3. The electro-active lens of claim 2, wherein the insulating material is silicon oxide.

4. The electro-active lens of claim 1, wherein the insulating material is substantially transparent.

5. The electro-active lens of claim 1, wherein the grids or arrays are substantially circular and concentric with respect to one another.

6. The electro-active lens of claim 1, wherein the electro-active material contalns a liquid crystal.

7. An electro-active lens comprising:

at least one layer of electro-active material having substantially constant thickness;

at least one alignment layer to align molecules of the electro-active material;

at least one grid or array of conductive electrodes in electrical contact with the at least one layer of electro-active material, wherein each grid or array element is an electrode and wherein the optical power of the electro-active lens is varied by altering an applied voltage from a power source to individual electrodes of the grid or array, each electrode is isolated from at least one other electrode by an insulating material; and

wherein the electro-active lens is capable of being edged without destroying or removing material or components needed for the electro-active material to function properly.

8. The electro-active lens of claim 7 wherein a change in refractive index of the electro-active material is at least 0.02 units per volt.

9. An ophthalmic electro-active lens comprising:

an electro-active material of a substantially constant thickness;

at least one alignment layer to align molecules of the electro-active material; and

a plurality of conductive electrodes arranged in a grid or array comprising a plurality of elements, wherein each grid or array element is an electrode, wherein each electrode is isolated from other electrodes by an insulating material,

wherein the electro-active material is at least partially disposed above a pupil of a wearer'"'"'s eye when the ophthalmic electro-active lens is in an as-worn position, and

wherein the ophthalmic electro-active lens is capable of being edged without destroying or removing material or components needed for the electro-active material to function properly.

10. The electro-active lens of claim 9, wherein the insulating material is an oxide.

11. The electro-active lens of claim 10, wherein the insulating material is silicon oxide.

12. The electro-active lens of claim 9, wherein the insulating material is substantially transparent.

13. The electro-active lens of claim 9, wherein the grids or arrays are substantially circular and concentric with respect to one another.

14. The electro-active lens of claim 9, wherein the electro-active material contains a liquid crystal.

15. An ophthalmic electro-active lens comprising:

at least one layer of electro-active material having substantially constant thickness;

at least one alignment layer to align molecules of the electro-active material;

at least one grid or array of conductive electrodes in electrical contact with the at least one layer of electro-active material, wherein each grid or array element is an electrode and wherein the optical power of the electro-active lens is varied by altering an applied voltage from a power source to individual electrodes of the grid or array, the electrodes isolated from another by an insulating material,

wherein the electro-active material is at least partially disposed above a pupil of a wearer'"'"'s eye when the ophthalmic electro-active lens is in an as-worn position, and

wherein the ophthalmic electro-active lens is capable of being edged without destroying or removing material or components needed for the electro-active material to function properly.

16. The electro-active lens of claim 15 wherein a change in refractive index of the electro-active material is at least 0.02 units per volt.