Dynamic lens

• US 8,922,902 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Vision Optics LLC
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals Incorporated (Mitsui Chemicals)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Van Heugten, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): GREECE, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US13/050,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20110235186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 359/642, 359665-666, 351/159.01, 351/159.04, 351/159.34, 351/159.68
• US Class Current: 359/666
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/06 bifocal; multifocal ; progressive G02C7/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/061 Spectacle lenses with progressively varying focal power
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/08 Auxiliary lenses; Arrangements for varying focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/085 Fluid-filled lenses, e.g. electro-wetting lenses

Abstract

A device and/or apparatus that comprises a dynamic optical lens is provided. A first apparatus includes a first lens component having a first surface and a second surface. The first apparatus further includes a second lens component that comprises a flexible element. The first apparatus also includes a fluid that may be applied between at least a portion of the first lens component and at least a portion of the second lens component. The flexible element of the second lens component is such that it conforms to the first surface of the first lens component when an amount of fluid between the first surface of the first lens component and the second lens component is sufficiently low. The flexible element of the second lens component is also such that it does not conform to the first surface of the first lens component when an amount of fluid between the first surface of the first lens component and the second lens component is sufficiently great.

Claims

1. An optical system comprising:

a first lens component having a first surface and a second surface, at least the first surface shaped to provide optical power;

a transparent flexible element;

a transparent fluid, wherein the fluid may be applied between at least a portion of the first lens component and at least a portion of the flexible element; and

a pumping mechanism configured to adjust an amount of the fluid in a space between the first surface and the flexible element;

wherein the flexible element comprises a first region, wherein the first region is configured to conform to the first surface of the first lens component when an amount of fluid between the first surface of the first lens component and the first region is sufficiently low;

wherein the first region does not conform to the first surface of the first lens component when an amount of fluid between the first surface of the first lens component and the first region is sufficiently great; and

wherein the first surface provides an optical power with the first region conforming to the first surface of the first lens component, and the optical power is reduced with the first region not conforming to the first surface of the first lens component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first lens component includes a multi-focal surface included in a first optical feature.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first region conforms to the first optical feature when an amount of fluid between the first optical feature and the first region is sufficiently low;

and

wherein the first region does not conform to the first optical feature when an amount of fluid between the first optical feature and the first region is sufficiently great.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a first dynamic optical power region;

wherein the fluid has an index of refraction that is substantially similar to the index of refraction of the first lens component such that the first optical feature does not contribute to the first dynamic optical power region when an amount of the fluid between the first optical feature and the first region is sufficiently great.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the first lens component defines a first optical power stop.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first optical power stop defines a near vision optical power.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first dynamic optical power region is defined by the first optical feature when the fluid between the first optical feature and the first region is sufficiently low.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the first dynamic optical power region is tunable such that when an amount of fluid between the first optical feature and the first region is sufficiently low;

the dynamic optical power region is defined by the first optical power stop; and

as the amount of fluid between the first optical feature and the first region is increased, the dynamic optical power region tunes away from the first optical power stop.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein a decrease in the volume of fluid between the first lens component and the first region increases a positive optical power of the dynamic optical power region.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein a decrease in the volume of fluid between the first lens component and the first region decreases a positive optical power of the dynamic optical power region.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the shape of at least a portion of the flexible element is adjustable based on the amount of fluid between the first lens component and the flexible element.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the flexible element comprises a flexible membrane.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the flexible element is stretchable.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens component has a first index of refraction, the flexible element has a second index of refraction, and the fluid has a third index of refraction.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first index of refraction is substantially the same as the second index of refraction.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first index of refraction is substantially the same as third index of refraction.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the first, the second, and the third index of refraction are substantially the same.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein the optical feature comprises any one of, or some combination of, the following:

a progressive optical power region;

a bifocal;

a trifocal;

an aspherical optical feature;

an aspheric region;

a rotationally symmetric optical feature; and

a non-rotationally symmetric optical feature.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second lens component having a first surface and a second surface;

wherein the first lens component and the second lens component are positioned such that a gap exists between the first surface of the first lens component and the first surface of the second lens component;

wherein at least a portion of the flexible element conforms to at least a portion of the first surface of the second lens component when an amount of the fluid substantially fills the gap between at least a portion of the first lens component and at least a portion of the second lens component.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first surface of the second lens component defines a second optical power stop.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the second optical stop power stop is for a distance vision optical power.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the first surface includes a plurality of optical features located on different regions.

23. The system of claim 2, wherein the multi-focal surface comprises a progressive optical power region.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein a multi-focal surface is disposed at least partially in optical alignment with the first region of the flexible element such that the first region of the flexible element conforms to the multi-focal surface when an amount of fluid between the first optical feature and the first region of the flexible element is sufficiently low, and the multi-focal surface provides an optical stop having optical power in the first region.

25. An optical system comprising:

a lens component having a first surface shaped to provide optical power;

a transparent flexible element;

a transparent fluid having an index of refraction that is different from the index of refraction of air;

a pumping mechanism configured to pump said transparent fluid;

a fluid storage reservoir;

wherein said transparent fluid may be added into a space between said first surface and said flexible element, and subtracted from said space and transferred into said storage reservoir by said pumping mechanism;

wherein said flexible element is not in contact with said first surface when said fluid is added in said space, and flexible element is in contact with said first surface when said fluid is subtracted from said space by said pump;

wherein when said flexible element is in contact with said first surface, the difference in the indexes of refraction at the optical interface between said first surface, said flexible membrane and air is of one value;

wherein when said flexible element is not in contact with said first surface, the difference in the indexes of refraction at the optical interface between said first surface and said fluid is of a different value;

whereby the optical power of said first surface may have two discreet optical powers.