Lens for Displaying a Virtual Image

• US 20160231577A1
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laforge Optical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Laforge Optical Inc.
• Inventors: Mack, Corey, Kokonaski, William
• Granted Patent: US 9,897,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

A lens for projecting a virtual image comprising first and second body sections coupled along first and second surfaces to form an internal interface within the lens, and a reflective coating on at least a portion of either the first surface or the second surface configured to redirect light projected into the second body section toward an eye of a wearer. Another lens comprising first and second body sections having different indices of refraction, and an interface configured to redirect light toward an eye of a wearer for display as a virtual image. A method for manufacturing a lens comprising providing a first body section, casting on a first surface of the first body section a material for forming a second body section, and curing the material to form the second body section and bond it to the first body section to form a unitary lens.

Claims

1. A lens for projecting a virtual image, the lens comprising:

a first body section having a first surface;

a second body section having a second surface, the first and second body sections being coupled along the first and second surfaces to form an internal interface within the lens; and

a reflective coating on at least a portion of either the first surface or the second surface, the reflective coating being configured to redirect light projected into the second body section toward an eye of a wearer of the lens for display as a virtual image.

2. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second body section substantially the same index of refraction as the first body section.

3. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second body section has a substantially different index of refraction as the first body section.

4. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the internal interface has a reflective or refractive property.

5. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the internal interface is curved for correcting vision.

6. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second body sections has a curved outer surface for correcting vision.

7. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interface is angled or curved so as to direct, towards an eye of the wearer, image light projected into the lens.

8. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is shaped to manipulate the image light in a manner that produces a virtual image in a field of vision of the wearer of the lens.

9. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reflective coating is positioned in a central portion of the lens.

10. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reflective coating is positioned in a peripheral portion of the lens.

11. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reflective coating spans less than a diameter of the lens.

12. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reflective coating spans a diameter of the lens.

13. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reflective coating includes at least one of silver, nickel, chromium, titanium, aluminum, various dielectric stack materials including metal oxides, glass or other suitable materials to create a surface which reflect a significant amount of light.

14. A lens as set forth in claim 1, further including a third body section positioned on an opposing side of the second body section such that the second body section is situated between the first body section and the third body section.

15. A lens as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first and third body sections have substantially similar indices of refraction, and the second body section has a substantially different index of refraction.

16. A lens as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

a second internal interface is formed between the third body section and the second body section, and

the second body section forms a solid medium through which the projected light is directed and contained prior to being redirected through the third body section toward an eye of the wearer of the lens for display as a virtual image.

17. A lens as set forth in claim 1, further including an electrochromic coating on an outer surface of the first lens body.

18. A lens as set forth in claim 17, wherein the electrochromic coating, when activated, is configured to darken the lens to promote enhanced visualization of the virtual image.

19. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second body section is configured to act as a transmission medium through which the projected light is directed and contained prior to being redirected toward an eye of the wearer of the lens for display as a virtual image.

20. A lens for projecting a virtual image, the lens comprising:

a first body section having a first index of refraction;

a second body section coupled to the first body section, the second body section having a second index of refraction different than the first index of refraction; and

an interface defined by a joinder of a first surface of the first body section and a second surface of the second body section, the interface being configured to redirect light projected into the second body section toward an eye of a wearer of the lens for display as a virtual image.

21. A lens as set forth in claim 20, wherein the internal interface has a reflective or refractive property.

22. A lens as set forth in claim 20, wherein the first and the second surfaces are curved to for correcting vision.

23. A lens as set forth in claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second body sections has a curved outer surface for correcting vision.

24. A lens as set forth in claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the interface is angled or curved so as to direct, towards an eye of the wearer, image light projected into the lens.

25. A lens as set forth in claim 20, wherein the reflective surface is shaped to manipulate the image light in a manner that produces a virtual image in a field of vision of the wearer of the lens.

26. A lens as set forth in claim 20, further including a third body section positioned on an opposing side of the second body section such that the second body section is situated between the first body section and the third body section.

27. A lens as set forth in claim 26, wherein the third body section has a substantially similar index of refraction as the first body section.

28. A lens as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

a second internal interface is formed between the third body section and the second body section, and

the second body section forms a solid medium through which the projected light is directed and contained prior to being redirected through the third body section toward an eye of the wearer of the lens for display as a virtual image.

29. A lens as set forth in claim 20, wherein the second body section is configured to act as a transmission medium through which the projected light is directed and contained prior to being redirected toward an eye of the wearer of the lens for display as a virtual image.

30. A method for manufacturing a lens, the method comprising:

providing a first body section having a first surface;

casting, on the first surface of the first body section, a material for forming a second body section; and

curing the material to form the second body section and bond it to the first body section to form a unitary lens body.

31. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the first body section is formed of glass, acrylate, urethane, or polycarbonate.

32. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the first surface is shaped to manipulate image light in a manner that produces a virtual image in a field of vision of the wearer of the lens.

33. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the second body section is formed of glass, acrylate, urethane, or polycarbonate.

34. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the second body section has substantially the same index of refraction as the first body section.

35. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the second body section has a substantially different index of refraction as the first body section.

36. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the step of casting includes positioning a mold opposite the first surface of the first body section and introducing, into a cavity between the mold and the first surface of the first body section, a material from which the second body section is formed.

37. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the step of curing includes at least one of exposing the material to heat and exposing the material to ultraviolet or other wavelengths of light.

38. A method as set forth in claim 30, further including the step of applying a coupling material on the first surface of the first body section.

39. A method as set forth in claim 38, wherein the coupling material facilitates bonding of the second body section to the first body section.

40. A method as set forth in claim 30, further including the step of coating at least a portion of the first surface with a reflective material.

41. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the reflective material includes one of silver, nickel, aluminum, chromium, titanium, various dielectric stack materials including metal oxides, glass or other suitable materials to create a surface which reflect a significant amount of light.

42. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the coating of reflective material is transparent or translucent.

43. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the step of coating includes coating less than the entirety of the first surface with the reflective material.

44. A lens as set forth in claim 40, wherein the reflective surface is shaped to manipulate the image light in a manner that produces a virtual image in a field of vision of the wearer of the lens.

45. A method as set forth in claim 40, further including the step of applying a protective material over the reflective material.

46. A method as set forth in claim 45, wherein the protective material protects the reflective coating from reacting with reagents in the material from which the second body section is formed.

47. A method as set forth in claim 30, further including applying a prism thinning technique to one or both of the first and second body sections to reduce a thickness of the lens without disturbing the reflective material or interface formed by the coupling of the first and second surfaces.