Curved lenses configured to decode three-dimensional content

• US 8,419,181 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• 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:
  US13/454,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20120247653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/44, 351/49, 351/159.56, 351/159.57, 351/159.58, 351/159.6, 351/159.62, 359/464, 359/485.03, 359/487.05, 359/189.02, 359/489.07, 359/489.19, 264/1.32
• US Class Current: 351/49
• 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: G02C 7/12 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1026 with slitting or removal of material at reshaping area prior to reshaping

Abstract

Curved lenses configured to decode three dimensional content and method of fabricating the same. The lenses comprise a polyvinylalcohol polarizer film or similar type of material laminated with triacetate or similar type material on one or 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. Thermoforming and press polishing techniques may be used to fabricate/curve the blanks into lenses. The lenses (optical elements) may be used in an injection molding process to add thickness.

Claims

1. A method for constructing an optical element configured to decode three dimensional content, the method comprising:

laminating one side of a polarizing layer with a first polymeric material layer to form an exposed side;

laminating another side of the polarizing layer with a second polymeric material layer;

laminating a retarder layer onto the exposed side of the first polymeric material layer to form a sheet;

aligning the retarder layer with respect to the polarizing layer to decode a desired circular polarization;

cutting a blank from the sheet; and

curving the blank using a press polishing process to form an optical element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical element comprises a lens.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical element is characterized by a thickness of about 750 to 1500 microns.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding one or more thickness layers to the optical element using an injection molding process.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the optical element and the one or more thickness layers are characterized by a combined thickness in a range of about 1000 to 2200 microns.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the retarder layer comprises a norbornene copolymer resin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the retarder layer comprises cellulose triacetate (TAC).

8. A method for constructing an optical element configured to decode three dimensional content, the method comprising:

laminating one side of a polarizing layer with a first polymeric material layer;

laminating another side of the polarizing layer with a retarder layer to form a sheet;

aligning the retarder layer with respect to the polarizing layer to decode a desired circular polarization;

cutting a blank from the sheet; and

curving the blank using a press polishing process to form an optical element.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the optical element comprises a lens.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the optical element is characterized a combined thickness in a range of about 250 to 750 microns.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising adding one or more thickness layers to the optical element using an injection molding process.

12. The lens of claim 11 wherein the optical element and the one or more thickness layers are characterized by a combined thickness in a range of about 1000 to 2200 microns.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the retarder layer comprises a norbornene copolymer resin.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the retarder layer comprises cellulose triacetate (TAC).