Corrective alignment optics for optical device

• US 9,052,502 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Caldeira, Kenneth G., Hagelstein, Peter L., Hyde, Roderick A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Kare, Jordin T., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Pendry, John Brian, Schurig, David, Tegreene, Clarence T., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US13/374,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/159.74, 351/200, 351/203, 351205-206, 351209-210, 351220-223, 351227-231, 351/246, 351/41, 351/47, 351/52, 351/57, 351/110, 351/116, 351/159, 351/177
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1015 for wavefront analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/152 for aligning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/24 Base structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/06 for controlling the phase of light G02B26/08 takes precedence , measuring optical phase difference G01J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0025 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/022 Viewing apparatus G02B27/04, G02B27/06, G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/28 Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/365 by analysis of the spatial frequency components of the image
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/22 Correction of higher order and chromatic aberrations, wave front measurement and calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor

Abstract

Exemplary methods, systems and components enable an enhanced direct-viewing optical device to make customized adjustments that accommodate various optical aberrations of a current user. In some instances a real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements is based on known corrective optical parameters associated with a current user. In some implementations a control module may process currently updated wavefront measurements as a basis for determining appropriate real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements to produce a specified change in optical wavefront at an exit pupil of the direct-viewing device. Possible transformable optical elements may have refractive and/or reflective and/or diffractive and/or transmissive characteristics that are adjusted based on current performance viewing factors for a given field of view of the direct-viewing device. Some embodiments enable dynamic repositioning and/or transformation of corrective optical elements based on a detected shift of a tracked gaze direction of a current user of the direct-viewing device.

Claims

1. Alignment correction system for a direct-viewing optical device, comprising:

one or more corrective optical elements optically incorporated with the direct-viewing optical device, wherein the corrective optical elements include customized optical parameters applicable to ameliorate one or more aberrations of a particular user, the direct-viewing optical device comprising one or more of a microscope, a telescope, binoculars, a weapon sight, a gun sight, a diagnostic tool, a manufacturing inspection device, a hand-held device, a head mounted device, and a body mounted device;

a sensor adapted to track a gaze direction of the particular user during a period of optical device usage by the particular user;

a sensor adapted to indicate an aperture stop or a focal length of the direct-viewing optical device for respective fields of view in different gaze directions as a basis for dynamically repositioning the corrective optical elements; and

a control module operatively connected to the sensor and configured to implement a mode comprising dynamic repositioning of the corrective optical elements in order to produce a specified change in optical wavefront at an exit pupil of the direct-viewing optical device, based upon the tracked gaze direction of the particular user and the aperture stop or the focal length of the direct-viewing optical device, wherein the tracked gaze direction comprises an angle of the eye with respect to the direct-viewing optical device, and wherein said control module is configured to implement a first operational mode causing real-time physical repositioning of the corrective optical elements in response to a detected shift of the tracked gaze direction, wherein the physical repositioning comprises one or more of translational and rotational physical realignment of the corrective optical elements to cause a central viewing axis of one or more of the corrective optical elements to be substantially parallel with the tracked gaze direction.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the corrective optical elements are configured during varied gaze directions to ameliorate one or more low-order and/or high order aberrations of the particular user'"'"'s vision.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more mounting features adapted to support the corrective optical elements in relation to the direct-viewing optical device during the aforesaid repositioning or transformation.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the mounting features are configured to incorporate the corrective optical elements in an eyepiece for the direct-viewing optical device.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the mounting features are configured to position the corrective optical elements as an insert between an eyepiece and a remainder portion of the direct-viewing optical device.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the mounting features are configured to position the corrective optical elements as an insert between a user'"'"'s eye and an eyepiece of the direct-viewing device.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a motorized component adapted to cause the translational and/or rotational physical realignment of certain corrective optical elements relative to the tracked gaze direction of the particular user.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user-activated component adapted to cause the translational and/or rotational physical realignment of certain corrective optical elements relative to the tracked gaze direction of the particular user.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user-interface module configured to scan or read a result of a subjective user selection of different positional changes or different transformation adjustments of certain corrective optical elements during varied gaze directions of the particular user.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said control module is further configured to cause dynamic adjustment of one or more transformable corrective optical elements currently installed in the direct-viewing optical device, in response to the detected shift of the tracked gaze direction.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more corrective optical elements include at least one of the following types of transformable optical elements:

MEMS deformable mirror, deformable liquid lens, deformable diffractive lens or mirror, liquid crystal phase modulator, controllable metamaterial lens or mirror, controllable photonic crystal lens or mirror.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more corrective optical elements are configured to include variable aberration elements based on relative displacement or rotation of complementary layers.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

an illumination sensor calibrated for measuring a current level of average brightness or maximum brightness or minimum brightness for respective fields of view in different gaze directions, as a basis for dynamic adjustment of the transformable corrective optical elements.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a sensor calibrated for measuring scene contrast or spatial frequency content or spectral attributes for respective fields of view in different gaze directions, as a basis for dynamic adjustment of the transformable corrective optical elements.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said sensor includes:

a sensor module configured to measure a user'"'"'s pupil diameter for respective fields of view in different gaze directions, as a basis for dynamic adjustment of the transformable corrective optical elements.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said control module is configured for implementing a first operational mode causing physical repositioning of corrective optical elements and for implementing a second operational mode causing dynamic adjustment of transformable corrective optical elements, in response to a detected shift of the tracked gaze direction.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the corrective optical elements are adapted to amelioriate during varied gaze directions a current user'"'"'s high order aberrations corresponding to Zernike polynomials of order 3 or order 4 or order 5 or order 6 or higher.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the corrective optical elements are adapted during varied gaze directions to compensate for one or more aberrations of a current user characterized by a spatially-sampled wavefront error.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said control module is configured during varied gaze directions to modify a square or hexagonal matrix of sensors or actuators which transform a deformable reflective or refractive aspect of the one or more corrective optical elements.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the corrective optical elements are adapted to ameliorate during varied gaze directions one or more aberrations of the particular user based on information received from a wavefront detection device that directly measures optical aberrations of the particular user'"'"'s vision.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the corrective optical elements are adapted to ameliorate during varied gaze directions one or more aberrations of the particular user based on information received from a wavefront detector or data record or external source or user input or on-board memory or removable memory.

22. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a data table or database that includes eye measurement data and/or corrective optical features respectively correlated with one or more particular users of the direct-viewing optical device.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said data table or database is operably linked with one or more additional direct-viewing devices which are available to the one or more particular users.

24. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user-interface module operatively linked to the control module and configured to determine the specified wavefront change for the current user based on one or more optical properties of the direct-viewing optical device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said user-interface module is configured to determine the specified wavefront change for the current user based on a known radial distortion or calibrated aberration or wavefront error of a specific direct-viewing optical device.

26. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a specific direct-viewing optical device adapted to incorporate the one or more corrective optical elements.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein said corrective optical elements are configured to include both objectively determined and subjectively selected adjustable optical parameters.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein said corrective optical elements include a first set of customized adjustable optical parameters correlated with one eye of the particular user, and a second set of customized adjustable optical parameters correlated with a different eye of the particular user.

29. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a specific type of direct-viewing optical device configured to incorporate as an integral component the corrective optical elements having reflective and/or refractive characteristics, wherein the direct-viewing optical device is adapted for dedicated usage by an individual user.

30. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a specific type of direct-viewing optical device configured to optionally incorporate as an auxiliary component the corrective optical elements having reflective and/or refractive characteristics, which are respectively correlated with one of several possible users of the direct-viewing optical device.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein said control module is configured to implement a second operational mode causing dynamic adjustment of one or more transformable corrective optical elements currently installed in the direct-viewing optical device, wherein such dynamic adjustment includes static control or periodic control or continual control of the transformable corrective optical elements during varied gaze directions of a current user.

32. An alignment adjustment method for a direct-viewing optical device, comprising:

incorporating one or more corrective optical elements as an operative component in the direct-viewing optical device, wherein the corrective optical elements include customized optical parameters applicable to ameliorate one or more aberrations of a particular user, the direct-viewing optical device comprising one or more of a microscope, a telescope, binoculars, a weapon sight, a gun sight, a diagnostic tool, a manufacturing inspection device, a hand-held device, a head mounted device, and a body mounted device;

tracking a gaze direction of the particular user of the direct-viewing optical device during a period of optical device usage;

detecting an aperture stop or a focal length of the direct-viewing optical device for respective fields of view in different gaze directions as a basis for dynamically repositioning the corrective optical elements; and

responsive to detection of the tracked gaze direction, activating a control module to implement a mode comprising dynamic repositioning of the corrective optical elements in a manner to produce a specified change in optical wavefront at an exit pupil of the direct-viewing optical device, wherein the specified change enhances optical acuity during varied gaze directions, wherein the tracked gaze direction comprises an angle of the eye with respect to the direct-viewing optical device, and wherein said control module causes real-time physical repositioning of the corrective optical elements in response to a detected shift of the tracked gaze direction and the aperture stop or the focal length of the direct-viewing optical device, wherein the physical repositioning comprises one or more of translational and rotational physical realignment of the corrective optical elements to cause a central viewing axis of one or more of the corrective optical elements to be substantially parallel with the tracked gaze direction.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

obtaining access to information regarding corrective optical parameters in order to ameliorate one or more low-order and/or high order aberrations of the particular user'"'"'s vision during varied gaze directions.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

activating a motorized component to cause the translational and/or rotational physical realignment of certain corrective optical elements relative to the tracked gaze direction of the particular user.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

enabling a user-activated component to cause the translational and/or rotational physical realignment of certain corrective optical elements relative to the tracked gaze direction of the particular user.

36. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

scanning or reading a result of a subjective user selection of different positional changes or different transformation adjustments of certain corrective optical elements during varied gaze directions of the particular user.

37. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

implementing a second operational mode causing dynamic adjustment of one or more transformable corrective optical elements currently installed in the direct-viewing optical device, in response to a detected shift of the tracked gaze direction.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said incorporating one or more corrective optical elements as an operative component includes:

incorporating at least one of the following types of transformable corrective optical elements;

MEMS deformable mirror, deformable liquid lens, deformable diffractive lens or mirror, liquid crystal phase modulator, controllable metamaterial lens or mirror, controllable photonic crystal lens or mirror.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein said incorporating one or more corrective optical elements as an operative component includes:

incorporating one or more transformable optical elements that include variable aberration elements based on relative displacement or rotation of complementary layers.

40. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

implementing a first operational mode causing the physical repositioning of corrective optical elements and also implementing a second operational mode causing dynamic adjustment of transformable corrective optical elements, in response to a detected shift of the tracked gaze direction.

41. The method of claim 32 wherein said tracking a gaze direction includes:

tracking a real-time gaze direction of a right eye or left eye of the particular user; and

repositioning or transforming the corrective optical elements associated with both eyes of the particular user, based on such tracked real-time gaze direction.

42. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

obtaining separate information regarding wavefront measurement data and/or related corrective optical parameters respectively correlated with each eye of the particular user.