Electro-active spectacle lenses

• US 7,971,994 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Vision Optics LLC
• Original Assignee: Pixeloptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Duston, Dwight P., Haddock, Joshua N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben; Loha
• Application Number:
  US12/350,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/159, 351/153, 351/168, 351/169, 351/172, 351/177, 351/200, 359464-466, 359/469, 600/27, 600/545, 600/546, 600/549, 353/7, 345 7- 9, 352/62, 352/63, 352/85, 348/42, 348/49, 348/51, 348 53- 56, 348/E13.037, 348/E13.04, 349/11, 349/13, 349/15
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00817 Producing electro-active lenses or lenses with energy receptors, e.g. batteries or antennas
• 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

Abstract

An adapter for a spectacle frame is disclosed which is configured for enabling the spectacle frame to operate and control electro-active lenses housed therein. In particular, the spectacle frame may allow electro-active lenses housed therein to focus and be controlled both automatically and manually with heretofore unrealized results.

Claims

1. Spectacles, comprising:

a spectacle frame;

a first electro-active lens housed in the spectacle frame;

a second electro-active lens housed in the spectacle frame; and

a synchronization transmitter operably connected to at least one of the first electro-active lens and the second electro-active lens, wherein the synchronization transmitter is adapted to coordinate operation of the lenses, and wherein the first and second electro-active lenses are activated at substantially the same time.

2. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein the synchronization transmitter comprises an infrared (IR) transmitter.

3. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein the synchronization transmitter comprises a radio frequency (RF) transmitter.

4. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein the synchronization transmitter comprises a pulsed current source.

5. The spectacles of claim 1, further comprising:

a frame eye wire of the spectacle frame;

an edged spectacle lens wherein at least one of the first electro-active lens and the second electro-active lens is the edged spectacle lens; and

a flexible circuit disposed between the frame eye wire and the edged spectacle lens. between the frame eye wire and the edged spectacle lens.

6. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein the synchronization transmitter comprises an ultrasonic transmitter.

7. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein the synchronization transmitter comprises a vibration transducer.

8. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein optical powers of the first and second electro-active lenses are changed from a first state to a second state, respectively, at substantially the same time.

9. The spectacles of claim 1, further comprising:

a spectacle lens, wherein at least one of the first electro-active lens and second electro-active lens is the spectacle lens;

an eye wire of the spectacle frame; and

an adapter containing a power source, wherein the adapter is located between the spectacle lens and the eye wire of the spectacle frame.

10. The spectacles of claim 9, wherein the adapter is connected to electrical leads extending from one of the first and second electro-active lenses.

11. The spectacles of claim 10, wherein the electrical leads are exposed during edging.

12. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein the synchronization transmitter is connected to the first electro-active lens.

13. The spectacles of claim 12, further comprising a synchronization receiver operably connected to the second electro-active lens, wherein the synchronization receiver activates the second electro-active lens based on a signal received from the synchronization transmitter connected to the first electro-active lens.

14. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein the synchronization transmitter is connected to the first electro-active lens and the second electro-active lens.

15. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein the synchronization transmitter is connected to the second electro-active lens.

16. The spectacles of claim 15, further comprising a synchronization receiver operably connected to the first electro-active lens, wherein the synchronization receiver activates the first electro-active lens based on a signal received from the synchronization transmitter connected to the second electro-active lens.

17. The spectacles of claim 1, further comprising:

an adapter containing a power source, and

a frame eye wire of the spectacle frames;

wherein the adapter is located near to where the frame eye-wire and temple connect.

18. The spectacles of claim 1, further comprising an adapter containing a power source, wherein the adapter simultaneously contacts one of the first and second electro-active lenses and the frame.

19. The spectacles of claim 1, further comprising an adapter containing a power source, wherein the adapter only contacts one of the first and second electro-active lenses and does not contact the frame.

20. The spectacles of claim 1, further comprising:

a surface formed by the first electro-active lens; and

an adapter containing a power source, wherein the adapter is located under and above the surface of the lens when it is in contact therewith.

21. The spectacles of claim 1, further comprising an adapter containing a power source, wherein the adapter is located near a periphery of a surface of one of the first and second electro-active lenses. when it is in contact therewith.

22. The spectacles of claim 1, wherein the first electro-active lens and the second electro-active lens are activated by application of an electrical signal.