Curved lenses configured to decode three-dimensional content

• US 7,950,798 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MEI 3D LLC
• Original Assignee: MEI 3D LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, David A., Pritts, James
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US12/350,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 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: B32B 2309/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/105 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2551/00 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/02 characterised by a sequence of laminating steps, e.g. by adding new layers at consecutive laminating stations
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1866 conforming the layers or laminate to a convex or concave profile
• 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 5/3033 in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid
• 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 7/12 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/008 Aspects relating to glasses for viewing stereoscopic images

Abstract

Curved lenses configured to decode three dimensional content and method of fabricating the same. The lenses comprise a polyvinylalcohol polarizer film laminated with triacetate on both sides, wherein the polarizer film has a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a transmittance percentage equal to or exceeding 35% and a retarder film (e.g., norbornene copolymer resin) laminated on a front surface of the polyvinylalcohol polarizer film laminated with triacetate and aligned to produce a desired circular polarization responsive to specified retardation wavelengths.

Claims

1. A lens configured to decode three dimensional content 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 to the polymeric material layer to form a sheet, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization; and

wherein a blank cut from the sheet is curved utilizing a thermoforming process to form said lens configured to decode three dimensional content.

2. The lens of claim 1 wherein said polarizing layer has a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a luminous transmittance equal to or exceeding 35%.

3. The lens of claim 1 further comprising a polymeric material layer over the retarder layer.

4. The lens of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material layer includes cellulous triacetate, cellulous diacetate, polycarbonate, polyamide or polyethylenetelephthalate.

5. The lens of claim 1 wherein said polarizer layer is tinted with iodine crystals.

6. The lens of claim 1 wherein said retarder layer is norbornene copolymer resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene, polycarbonate or polymethylmethacrylate.

7. The lens of claim 1 further comprising a polarization angle in a range of about −

1.0 degree to 1.0 degree.

8. The lens of claim 1 further comprising a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees.

9. The lens of claim 1 further comprising a retardation angle in a range of about 134.0 degrees to 136.0 degrees.

10. The lens of claim 1 further comprising a lens thickness in a range of about 750 microns to 2000 microns.

11. The lens of claim 1 further comprising a lens retardation in a range of about 110 nm to 140 nm.

12. A method of fabricating a curved lens 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 said blanks are cut to maintain a predetermined alignment of a polarizing axis associated with said sheet;

heating the blanks to a deformation temperature;

curving the blanks using vacuum suction and/or pressure; and

cooling the curved blanks.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising utilizing a polarizing material having a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a luminous transmittance equal to or exceeding 35%.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising laminating a polymeric material layer over the retarder layer.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising heating the blanks to a deformation temperature in a range of 90°

C. to 130°

C.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising fabricating the lens to have a polarization angle in a range of −

1.0 degree to 1.0 degree.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising fabricating the lens to have a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising fabricating the lens to have a retardation angle in a range of about 134.0 degrees to 136.0 degrees.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising fabricating the lens to have a transmittance percentage in a range of about 37.5 degrees to 42.5 degrees.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising fabricating the lens to have a lens thickness in a range of about 750 microns to 2000 microns.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising fabricating the lens to have a retardation in a range of about 110 nm to 140 nm.

22. The method of claim 12 further comprising utilizing norbornene copolymer resin as the retarder layer.

23. The method of claim 12 further comprising utilizing cellulous triacetate, cellulous diacetate, polycarbonate, polyamide or polyethylenetelephthalate for the polymeric material layer.

24. Eyeglasses comprising:

a frame configured to retain a left lens and right lens;

said left lens 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 to form a sheet, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired left handed circular polarization; and

wherein a blank cut from the sheet is curved utilizing a thermoforming process to form said lens configured to decode three dimensional content; and

said right lens 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 to form a sheet, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired right handed circular polarization; and

wherein a blank cut from the sheet is curved utilizing a thermoforming process to form said lens configured to decode three dimensional content.

25. The eyeglasses of claim 24 wherein said left lens utilizes a retardation angle in a range of about 134.0 degrees to 136.0 degrees.

26. The eyeglasses of claim 24 wherein said left lens utilizes a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees.