Method and apparatus for ophthalmic devices including gradient-indexed and shaped liquid crystal layers

• US 9,880,398 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: De Sio, Luciano, Flitsch, Frederick A., Pandojirao-S, Praveen, Pugh, Randall Braxton, Riall, James Daniel, Serak, Svetlana, Tabirian, Nelson V., Toner, Adam, Uskova, Olena
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tallman, Robert E
• Application Number:
  US14/469,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20160062141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 35115901, 35115902, 35115903, 35115905, 35115939, 3511594, 35115941
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/022 Ophthalmic lenses having special refractive features achieved by special materials or material structures G02C7/049 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/041 bifocal; multifocal
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133711 by organic films, e.g. polymeric films
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133753 with different alignment orientations or pretilt angles on a same surface, e.g. for grey scale or improved viewing angle
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133761 with different pretilt angles
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133788 by light irradiation, e.g. linearly polarised light photo-polymerisation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134309 characterised by their geometrical arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/294 Variable focal length devices

Abstract

This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing a variable optic insert into an ophthalmic lens. The variable optic insert may have surfaces within that have differing radii of curvature. A liquid crystal layer may be used to provide a variable optic function and in some embodiments, an alignment layer for the liquid crystal layer may be patterned in a radially dependent manner. The patterning may allow for the index of refraction of the optic device to vary in a gradient-indexed or GRIN manner. An energy source is capable of powering the variable optic insert included within the ophthalmic lens. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast-molded from a silicone hydrogel. The various ophthalmic lens entities may include electroactive liquid crystal layers to electrically control optical characteristics.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the ophthalmic lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:

a curved front surface and a curved back surface, wherein the front surface and the back surface are configured to bound at least a portion of one chamber;

an energy source embedded in the variable optic insert in at least a region comprising a non-optical zone;

a layer containing liquid crystal material positioned within the at least one chamber, wherein the layer includes regions of liquid crystal material aligned in a pattern by a non-rubbed alignment layer which orients molecules in the liquid crystal material thereby varying the index of refraction across at least a first portion of the variable optic insert with a radial dependence in the absence of an electric field;

wherein the index of refraction of the layer containing liquid crystal material across at least the first portion of the optic insert has a parabolic dependence on a radial dimension in the absence of an electric field; and

wherein an optical effect of the layer containing liquid crystal material is supplemented by an effect of different radii of insert surfaces.

2. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 1 wherein the lens is a contact lens.

3. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 2 further comprising:

a first layer of electrode material proximate to the curved back surface; and

a second layer of electrode material proximate to the curved front surface.

4. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the layer containing liquid crystal material varies its index of refraction affecting a ray of light traversing the layer containing liquid crystal material when an electric potential is applied across the first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material.

5. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 4 wherein the variable optic insert alters a focal characteristic of the lens.

6. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 5 further comprising an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit controls a flow of electrical energy from the energy source to the first and second electrode layers.

7. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 6 wherein the electrical circuit comprises a processor.

8. An ophthalmic lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the ophthalmic lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:

a curved first front surface and a curved first back surface wherein the first front surface and the first back surface are configured to bound at least a portion of a first chamber;

a curved second front surface and a curved second back surface wherein the second front surface and the second back surface are configured to bound at least a portion of a second chamber;

at least one layer containing liquid crystal material positioned within the at least one chamber, wherein the at least one layer includes regions of liquid crystal material aligned in a pattern by a non-rubbed alignment layer which orients molecules in the liquid crystal material thereby varying the index of refraction across at least a first portion of the variable optic insert with a radial dependence in the absence of an electric field;

an energy source embedded in the insert in at least a region comprising a non-optical zone;

wherein the index of refraction of the layer containing liquid crystal material across at least the first portion of the optic insert has a parabolic dependence on a radial dimension in the absence of an electric field; and

wherein an optical effect of the layer containing liquid crystal material is supplemented by an effect of different radii of insert surfaces.

9. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 8 wherein the index of refraction of the layer containing liquid crystal material across at least the first portion of the optic insert has a parabolic dependence on a radial dimension in the absence of an electric field.

10. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 9 wherein an optical effect of the layer containing liquid crystal material is supplemented by an effect of different curvature of insert surfaces.

11. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 8 wherein the lens is a contact lens.

12. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 11 further comprising:

a first layer of electrode material proximate to the first curved back surface; and

a second layer of electrode material proximate to the curved first front surface.

13. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 12 wherein the layer containing liquid crystal material varies its index of refraction affecting a ray of light traversing the layer containing liquid crystal material when an electric potential is applied across the first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material.

14. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 13 wherein the variable optic insert alters a focal characteristic of the lens.

15. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 14 further comprising an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit controls a flow of electrical energy from the energy source to the first and second electrode layers.

16. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 15 wherein the electrical circuit comprises a processor.

17. A contact lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the contact lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:

a curved first front surface and a curved first back surface wherein the first front surface and the first back surface are configured to form at least a first chamber;

a first layer of electrode material proximate to the curved first front surface;

a second layer of electrode material proximate to the curved first back surface;

a first layer containing liquid crystal material positioned within the first chamber, wherein the first layer includes regions of liquid crystal material aligned in a first pattern by a non-rubbed alignment layer which orients molecules in the liquid crystal material thereby varying the first index of refraction across at least a first portion of the variable optic insert with a first radial dependence in the absence of an electric field, wherein the first layer containing liquid crystal material varies its first index of refraction affecting a first ray of light traversing the first layer containing liquid crystal material when a first electric potential is applied across the first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material;

a curved second front surface and a curved second back surface wherein the second front surface and the second back surface are configured to form at least a second chamber;

a third layer of electrode material proximate to the curved second front surface;

a fourth layer of electrode material proximate to the curved second back surface;

a second layer containing liquid crystal material positioned within the second chamber, wherein the second layer includes regions of liquid crystal material aligned by a second non-rubbed alignment layer which orients molecules in the liquid crystal material thereby varying the second index of refraction across at least a second portion of the variable optic insert varies with a second radial dependence in the absence of an electric field, wherein the second layer containing liquid crystal material varies its second index of refraction affecting a second ray of light traversing the second layer containing liquid crystal material when a second electric potential is applied across the third layer of electrode material and the fourth layer of electrode material;

an energy source embedded in the insert in at least a region comprising a non-optical zone;

an electrical circuit comprising a processor, wherein the electrical circuit controls a flow of electrical energy from the energy source to one or more of the first, second, third or fourth electrode layers;

wherein the variable optic insert alters a focal characteristic of the contact lens device, wherein the index of refraction of the layer containing liquid crystal material across at least the first portion of the optic insert has a parabolic dependence on a radial dimension in the absence of an electric field; and

wherein an optical effect of the layer containing liquid crystal material is supplemented by an effect of different radii of insert surfaces.

18. A contact lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the contact lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:

a layer containing liquid crystal material positioned within the variable optic insert, wherein the layer includes regions of liquid crystal material aligned by a non-rubbed alignment layer which orients molecules in the liquid crystal material thereby varying the index of refraction across at least a first portion of the variable optic insert with a radial dependence in the absence of an electric field;

wherein at least a first surface of the layer containing liquid crystal material is curved;

wherein the index of refraction of the layer containing liquid crystal material across at least the first portion of the optic insert has a parabolic dependence on a radial dimension in the absence of an electric field; and

wherein an optical effect of the layer containing liquid crystal material is supplemented by an effect of different radii of insert surfaces.

19. An ophthalmic lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the ophthalmic lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:

an insert front curve piece and an insert back curve piece, wherein a back surface of the front curve piece has a first curvature and a front surface of the back curve piece has a second curvature;

an energy source embedded in the insert in at least a region comprising a non-optical zone;

a layer containing liquid crystal material, wherein the layer includes regions of liquid crystal material aligned by a non-rubbed alignment layer which orients molecules in the liquid crystal material thereby varying the index of refraction across at least a first portion of the variable optic insert with a radial dependence in the absence of an electric field; and

wherein the index of refraction of the layer containing liquid crystal material across at least the first portion of the optic insert has a parabolic dependence on a radial dimension in the absence of an electric field; and

wherein an optical effect of the layer containing liquid crystal material is supplemented by an effect of different radii of insert surfaces.

20. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 19 wherein the index of refraction of the layer containing liquid crystal material across at least the first portion of the optic insert has a parabolic dependence on a radial dimension in the absence of an electric field.

21. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 20 wherein an optical effect of the layer containing liquid crystal material is supplemented by an effect of different curvature of insert surfaces.

22. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 19 wherein the first curvature is different from the second curvature.

23. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 19 wherein the lens is a contact lens.

24. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 23 further comprising:

a first layer of electrode material proximate to the back surface of the front curve piece; and

a second layer of electrode material proximate to the front surface of the back curve piece.

25. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 24 wherein the layer containing liquid crystal material varies its index of refraction affecting a ray of light traversing the layer containing liquid crystal material when an electric potential is applied across the first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material.

26. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 25 wherein the variable optic insert alters a focal characteristic of the lens.

27. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 26 further comprising an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit controls a flow of electrical energy from the energy source to the first and second electrode layers.

28. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 27 wherein the electrical circuit comprises a processor.

29. An ophthalmic lens device with a variable optic insert positioned within at least a portion of an optical zone of the ophthalmic lens device, wherein the variable optic insert comprises:

an insert front curve piece, at least a first intermediate curve piece and an insert back curve piece, wherein a back surface of the front curve piece has a first curvature and a front surface of the first intermediate curve piece has a second curvature;

an energy source embedded in the insert in at least a region comprising a non-optical zone; and

the variable optic insert comprising a layer containing liquid crystal material, wherein the layer includes regions of liquid crystal material aligned in a pattern by a non-rubbed alignment layer which orients molecules in the liquid crystal material thereby varying the index of refraction across at least a first portion of the variable optic insert with a radial dependence in the absence of an electric field; and

wherein the index of refraction of the layer containing liquid crystal material across at least the first portion of the optic insert has a parabolic dependence on a radial dimension in the absence of an electric field; and

wherein an optical effect of the layer containing liquid crystal material is supplemented by an effect of different radii of insert surfaces.

30. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 29 wherein the index of refraction of the layer containing liquid crystal material across at least the first portion of the optic insert has a parabolic dependence on a radial dimension in the absence of an electric field.

31. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 30 wherein the first curvature is different from the second curvature.

32. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 29 wherein the lens is a contact lens.

33. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 32 further comprising:

a first layer of electrode material proximate to the front curve piece; and

a second layer of electrode material proximate to one or more of the intermediate curve piece and the back curve piece.

34. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 32 further comprising:

a first layer of electrode material proximate to the front curve piece; and

a second layer of electrode material proximate to the intermediate curve piece.

35. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 34 wherein the layer containing liquid crystal material varies its index of refraction affecting a ray of light traversing the layer containing liquid crystal material when an electric potential is applied across the first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material.

36. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 35 wherein:

the variable optic insert alters a focal characteristic of the lens.

37. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 36 further comprising an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit controls a flow of electrical energy from the energy source to the first and second electrode layers.

38. The ophthalmic lens device of claim 37 wherein the electrical circuit comprises a processor.