Curved lenses configured to decode three-dimensional content

• US 8,430,505 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: MEI 3D LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, David A., Pritts, James
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US13/103,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20120050858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/44, 351/49, 351/163, 351/159.59, 351/159.6, 351/159.62, 359/483.01, 359/485.03, 359/489.01, 359/489.02, 359/489.07, 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

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 curved blank comprising a polymeric material structure including;

a polarizing layer laminated with a first polymeric material layer on a first side and a second polymeric material layer on a second side opposing the first side;

wherein the polarizing layer has a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a luminous transmittance equal to or exceeding 35%; and

a retarder layer laminated to the second polymeric material layer, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization.

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

3. The lens of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first polymeric material layer or said second polymeric material layer includes cellulose triacetate.

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

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

6. The lens of claim 1 wherein the polarizing layer is characterized by a polarization angle in a range of about −

1.0 degree to 1.0 degree.

7. The lens of claim 1 wherein the retarder layer is characterized by a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees.

8. The lens of claim 1 wherein the retarder layer is characterized by a retardation angle in a range of about 134.0 degrees to 136.0 degrees.

9. The lens of claim 1 wherein the lens is characterized by a thickness in a range of about 750 microns to 2000 microns.

10. The lens of claim 1 wherein the lens is characterized by a lens retardation in a range of about 110 nm to 140 nm.

11. A method of fabricating a curved lens configured to decode three dimensional content, the method comprising:

receiving a sheet of material comprising;

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

a retarder layer laminated to the polymeric material layer, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization;

cutting blanks from said sheet of material to maintain a predetermined alignment of a polarizing axis associated with said sheet; and

heating the blanks to a deformation temperature;

curving the blanks using at least one of vacuum suction or pressure; and

cooling the curved blanks.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the polarizing layer is characterized by a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a luminous transmittance equal to or exceeding 35%.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising laminating a polymeric material layer over the retarder layer.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the deformation temperature is in a range of 90°

C. to 130°

C.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a polarization angle in a range of −

1.0 degree to 1.0 degree.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a retardation angle in a range of about 134.0 degrees to 136.0 degrees.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a transmittance percentage exceeding 35%.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens has a thickness in a range of about 750 microns to 2000 microns.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a retardation in a range of about 110 nm to 140 nm.

21. The method of claim 11 wherein the retarder layer comprises a norbornene copolymer resin.

22. The method of claim 11 wherein the polymeric material layer includes cellulous triacetate.

23. Eyeglasses comprising:

a frame configured to retain a first lens and second lens;

wherein the first lens comprises a curved blank comprising a first polymeric material structure and the second lens comprises a curved blank comprising a second polymeric material structure;

wherein the first polymeric material structure and the second polymeric material structure comprise a polarizing layer having a polymeric material layer on both sides of the polarizing layer and a retarder layer laminated to one of the polymeric material layers;

wherein the retarder layer of the first polymeric material structure is aligned to decode light having a left handed circular polarization and the retarder layer of the second polymeric material structure is aligned to decode light having a right handed circular polarization.

24. The eyeglasses of claim 23 wherein the left lens utilizes a retardation angle in a range of about 134.0 degrees to 136.0 degrees.

25. The eyeglasses of claim 23 wherein said left lens utilizes a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees.