Field-customizable variable focal length lens

• US 5,956,183 A
• Filed: 05/26/1998
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LycoRed Natural Products Industries Ltd. (ADAMA Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Saul Epstein, Stephen Kurtin
• Inventors: Kurtin, Stephen, Epstein, Saul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US09/084,473
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/158, 351/159, 351/161, 351/168, 351/169, 359/666, 359/665, 359/832, 359/642, 359/508-588, 359/601-614, 359/886, 359/722, 359/831
• US Class Current: 359/666
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/085 Fluid-filled lenses, e.g. electro-wetting lenses

Abstract

A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit, particularly useful in eyeglasses, comprised of a generic variable focus capsule to which a fixed-focus rigid lens is attached. The capsule has a preestablished optical power at its distance setting, which may be the same for all capsules of a given style, and a variable optical addition. The rigid lens, which is attached to a completed capsule, includes a surface having a shape related to the visual acuity of an intended user so that the combination of a generic capsule and the rigid lens results in a lens unit having a net optical power which matches the refractive prescription of the intended user at all distances.

Claims

1. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit which comprises:

a liquid-filled variable focus capsule having a first set of predetermined optical characteristics and comprised of;

i) a transparent wall member;

ii) a transparent distensible membrane; and

iii) a layer of transparent liquid filling the volume between said wall member and said distensible membrane; and

a fixed-focus rigid lens exterior of and attached to said liquid-filled variable focus capsule and abutting said wall member, whereby said liquid-filled variable focus lens unit comprised of said liquid-filled variable focus capsule and said fixed-focus rigid lens possesses a second set of predetermined optical characteristics.

2. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the surface of said rigid lens which abuts said wall member has a convex shape.

3. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 2 wherein said rigid lens is attached to said lens capsule by a layer of transparent cement between said rigid lens and said wall member.

4. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 2 wherein the portion of said liquid-filled lens capsule which abuts said rigid lens is rigid.

5. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said transparent wall member is a thin flexible membrane.

6. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said rigid lens is adhesively attached to said lens capsule around the periphery of said rigid lens.

7. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 1 and further including a film of liquid between said fixed-focus rigid lens and said transparent wall member.

8. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit which comprises:

a closed chamber having opposed exterior walls, said opposed exterior walls of said chamber comprising a transparent wall member and a distensible membrane;

a transparent liquid filling said chamber;

means for varying the pressure of said transparent liquid in said chamber; and

a fixed-focus rigid lens exterior of said chamber and abutting said transparent wall member.

9. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for varying the pressure of said transparent liquid comprises means for changing the spacing between said transparent wall member and said distensible membrane.

10. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 8 where the surface of said rigid lens which abuts said transparent wall member is convex, and further including a layer of transparent cement between said rigid lens and said transparent wall member.

11. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 8 and further including a film of liquid between said rigid lens and said transparent wall member.

12. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 8 wherein said transparent wall member is a thin flexible membrane.

13. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 8 wherein said transparent wall member is rigid.

14. A liquid-filled variable focus lens unit as recited in claim 13 wherein said transparent wall member has a concave shape.