System and apparatus for deflection optics

• US 8,482,858 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovega Inc.
• Original Assignee: Innovega Inc.
• Inventors: Sprague, Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James
• Application Number:
  US12/432,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20100053121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/23 Photochromic filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/102 Photochromic filters

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide for systems and apparatuses directed toward using a contact lens and deflection optics to processes display information and non-display information. In one embodiment of the invention, a contact lens assembly is provided, comprising: a substrate including optical path optics and configured to receive a display information optical path emitted from a display and a non-display information optical path not emitted from the display. The optical path optics of the substrate is configured to be partially deflective such that the non-display information optical path is transmitted to a human visual system without deflection, and the display information optical path is transmitted to the human visual system with deflection.

Claims

1. A contact lens assembly, comprising:

a contact lens substrate including optical path optics and configured to receive optical information within an optical information path,

wherein the optical path optics is configured to be partially deflective such that the optical information is transmitted to a human visual system with deflection, and wherein the optical path optics comprises a reflective element that deflects the optical information to the human visual system.

2. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical information is display information emitted from a display, and the optical information path is a display information optical path.

3. The contact lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the contact lens substrate is further configured to receive non-display information not emitted from the display within a non-display information optical path, wherein the non-display information is transmitted to the human visual system without deflection.

4. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element is configured such that the optical information transmitted to the human visual system is reflected once prior to reaching the human visual system.

5. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element is configured such that the optical information transmitted to the human visual system is reflected more than once prior to reaching the human visual system.

6. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element comprises an array of full reflectors.

7. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element comprises an array of partial reflectors.

8. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element comprises one or more surfaces that absorb or disperse stray light rays.

9. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element includes a polarization reflector.

10. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the contact lens substrate further includes a polarization filter for the optical information path.

11. The contact lens assembly of claim 3, wherein the contact lens substrate further includes a polarization filter for the non-display information optical path.

12. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the contact lens substrate further includes a bandpass filter for the optical information path.

13. The contact lens assembly of claim 3, wherein the contact lens substrate further includes a notch filter for the non-display information optical path.

14. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the contact lens substrate further includes an optical power for the optical information path.

16. The contact lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element includes a narrow band spectral reflector.

27. The contact lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the display is positioned off-axis with respect to the human visual system.

28. The contact lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the display is disposed on a head-borne apparatus.

29. The contact lens assembly of claim 28, wherein the head-borne apparatus is eyewear.

30. The contact lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the optical path optics is further configured with three concentric regions comprising a first region allowing for transmission of an ambient view, a secondary region having deflection elements allowing for transmission of a virtual image, and a third region allowing for transmission of a display image.

31. The contact lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the optical path optics is further configured with a center region comprising a deflection region and a non-deflection region, and a surrounding region, wherein the deflection region and the non-deflection region are side-by-side, the deflection region allows for transmission of a virtual image, the non-deflection region allows for transmission of a display image, and the surrounding region allows for transmission of an ambient view.

15. A contact lens assembly, comprising:

a substrate including optical path optics and configured to receive optical information within an optical information path,

wherein the optical path optics is configured to be partially deflective such that the optical information is transmitted to a human visual system with deflection;

wherein the optical information is display information emitted from a display, and the optical information path is a display information optical path;

wherein the substrate is further configured to receive non-display information not emitted from the display within a non-display information optical path, wherein the non-display information is transmitted to the human visual system without deflection; and

wherein the substrate further includes an optical power for the non-display information optical path.

24. The contact lens assembly of claim 15, wherein the substrate includes a normal optical power for the non-display information optical path.

26. The contact lens assembly of claim 15, wherein the substrate includes an optical power of substantially zero for non-display information optical path.

17. A contact lens assembly, comprising:

a substrate including optical path optics and configured to receive optical information within an optical information path,

wherein the optical path optics is configured to be partially deflective such that the optical information is transmitted to a human visual system with deflection;

wherein the optical path optics comprises a refractive element that deflects the optical information to the human visual system; and

wherein the refractive element comprises a prism.

18. The contact lens assembly of claim 17, wherein the refractive element causes light rays of different colors within the optical information path to converge in a first direction, and a display is configured to separate colors of light rays emitted into the optical information path by the display in a second direction.

19. The contact lens assembly of claim 18, wherein the first direction of convergence is opposite to the second direction of divergence.

20. The contact lens assembly of claim 18, wherein the display is configured with a front mounted refractive element that diverges colors of light rays emitted by the display in a second direction.

21. The contact lens assembly of claim 18, wherein the display is configured with an algorithm that offsets colors of light rays emitted by the display in a second direction.

22. A contact lens assembly, comprising:

a substrate including optical path optics and configured to receive optical information within an optical information path,

wherein the optical path optics is configured to be partially deflective such that the optical information is transmitted to a human visual system with deflection;

wherein the optical path optics comprises a diffractive element that deflects the optical information to the human visual system; and

wherein the diffractive element is a diffraction grating or holographic lens.

23. A contact lens assembly, comprising:

a substrate including optical path optics and configured to receive optical information within an optical information path,

wherein the optical path optics is configured to be partially deflective such that the optical information is transmitted to a human visual system with deflection; and

wherein the substrate includes an optical power of substantially zero for the optical information path.

25. A contact lens assembly, comprising:

a substrate including optical path optics and configured to receive optical information within an optical information path,

wherein the optical path optics is configured to be partially deflective such that the optical information is transmitted to a human visual system with deflection; and

wherein the substrate includes a close optical power for the optical information path.