Curved lenses configured to decode three-dimensional content on television and computer screens

• US 7,854,506 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MEI 3D LLC
• Original Assignee: Marchon Eyewear Incorporated (VSP Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, David A., Pritts, James
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US12/604,155
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/44, 351/49, 351/163, 359/483, 359/485, 359/488, 359/497, 264/1.32
• US Class Current: 351/49
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/14 using multilayered preforms or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2001/12 Cellulose acetate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/12 Thermoplastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0034 Polarising
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0016 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/08 made of polarising materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/34 Stereoscopes providing a stereoscopic pair of separated images corresponding to parallactically displaced views of the same object, e.g. 3D slide viewers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/305 including organic materials, e.g. polymeric layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/104 having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/12 Polarisers

Abstract

Curved lenses configured to decode three dimensional content and method of fabricating the same. The lenses decode three-dimensional content displayed on televisions or computer monitors. Sheets from which the lenses are cut have either (i) a polarizing axis of 0 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at −45 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal; (ii) a polarizing axis of −45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal; or (iii) a polarizing axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal.

Claims

1. Glasses configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:

two lenses having;

a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;

a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or to the polymeric material to form a sheet, said retarder layer configured to decode a desired circular polarization;

wherein a blank cut from a first sheet is curved into a first lens and a blank cut from a second sheet is curved into a second lens wherein together the first and second lens are able to decode three dimensional content; and

wherein the first and second sheet are configured such that;

(i) the first and second sheet have a polarizing axis of 0 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at −

45 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal;

(ii) the first and second sheet have a polarizing axis of −

45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal;

or

(iii) the first and second sheet have a polarizing axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal.

2. The glasses of claim 1 wherein said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer have a combined thickness of 250-1500 microns.

3. The glasses of claim 1 wherein said first and second lens in combination are configured to decode three dimensional content displayed on a computer or television monitor.

4. Glasses configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:

two optical elements having;

a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;

a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or to the polymeric material to form a sheet, said retarder layer configured to decode a desired circular polarization;

wherein a blank cut from a first sheet is curved into a first optical element and a blank cut from a second sheet is curved into a second optical element;

wherein the first and second sheet are configured such that;

(i) the first and second sheet have a polarizing axis of 0 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at −

45 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal;

(ii) the first and second sheet have a polarizing axis of −

45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal;

or

(iii) the first and second sheet have a polarizing axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal.

5. The glasses of claim 4 wherein said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer have a combined thickness in a range of about 250-750 microns.

6. The glasses of claim 5 wherein said polarizing layer, polymeric layer, retarder layer and one or more thickness layers have a combined thickness in a range of about 1000 to 2200 microns.

7. The glasses of claim 4 wherein said pair of lenses is configured to decode three dimensional content displayed on a computer monitor.

8. A method of fabricating curved lenses configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:

cutting blanks from sheets of material comprising;

a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;

a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or the polymeric material, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization, and wherein a first and second blank used to form a left and right lens are cut from first and second sheets configured such that;

(i) the first and second sheet have a polarizing axis of 0 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at −

45 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal;

(ii) the first and second sheet have a polarizing axis of −

45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal;

or

(iii) the first and second sheet have a polarizing axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal; and

curving said first and second blanks into lenses by;

applying high pressure with controlled heating from both sides of a polished mold.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising fabricating said lens with said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer having a combined thickness of 250-1500 microns.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising fabricating said lens with said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer having a combined thickness of 250-750 microns.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising utilizing an injection molding process to add thickness to said lenses.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising fabricating said lens with said polarizing layer, polymeric layer, retarder layer and one or more injection molding layers having a combined thickness of 1000-2200 microns.