Variable focus lenses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of fabricating a variable focus lens comprising the steps of:
- providing a first ring;
interengaging second and third rings to engage a first transparent, flexible membrane and to retain said first flexible membrane across the second ring, said interengagement of said second and said third ring causing tension over said first flexible membrane before insertion of a fluid;
interengaging said first ring with said second and third rings to engage a second transparent, flexible membrane and to retain said second flexible membrane across the second ring, said interengagement of said first and said second ring causing tension over said second transparent membrane, whereby said first and said second flexible membranes define a cavity therebetween; and
holding said first, said second and said third rings together such that said first and said second flexible membranes are each tensioned across said second ring.
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Abstract
A variable focus lens comprises first and second transparent, flexible membranes (2) which are tensioned and which define a cavity (30) in which a transparent, silicone oil (4) is sealed. Adjustment of the pressure or volume of the oil in the cavity changes the focal length of the lens. To fabricate the lens, the periphery of each membrane (2) is engaged between two rings (8, 10; 10, 12) of a set of three interengaging rings (8, 10, 12). The interengaged rings are crimped together to tension the membranes (2) and seal the cavity (30).
157 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating a variable focus lens comprising the steps of:
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providing a first ring;
interengaging second and third rings to engage a first transparent, flexible membrane and to retain said first flexible membrane across the second ring, said interengagement of said second and said third ring causing tension over said first flexible membrane before insertion of a fluid;
interengaging said first ring with said second and third rings to engage a second transparent, flexible membrane and to retain said second flexible membrane across the second ring, said interengagement of said first and said second ring causing tension over said second transparent membrane, whereby said first and said second flexible membranes define a cavity therebetween; and
holding said first, said second and said third rings together such that said first and said second flexible membranes are each tensioned across said second ring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A variable focus lens comprising:
a cavity containing a transparent fluid defined between a first and a second transparent flexible membrane, wherein each of said first and said second flexible membranes is tensioned across and held by a peripheral annular frame, said annular frame being formed from first, second and third interengaged rings, said first ring receiving the second and third rings therein and defining a periphery of said annular frame, wherein the interengagement of said second and said third ring causes tension over said first flexible membrane before insertion of a fluid and the interengagement of said first and said second ring causes tension over said second transparent membrane. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A pair of spectacles comprising:
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a first and a second transparent flexible membrane;
a transparent fluid;
at least one cavity defined by the first and the second flexible membranes, said cavity containing the transparent fluid; and
a peripheral annular frame for holding the first and second transparent flexible membranes, said peripheral annular frame being formed from first, second and third interengaged rings, said first ring receiving the second and third rings therein and defining the periphery of the annular frame.
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15. A method of fabricating a variable focus lens comprising the steps of:
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providing a first ring;
interengaging second and third rings to engage a first transparent, flexible membrane and to retain said first flexible membrane across the second ring;
interengaging said first ring with said second and third rings to engage a second transparent, flexible membrane and to retain said second flexible membrane across the second ring, whereby the first and second flexible membranes define a cavity therebetween;
holding said first, second and third rings together such that said first and second flexible membranes are each tensioned across said second ring; and
turning, crimping or otherwise deforming the first ring so that the second and third rings are retained within said first ring.
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16. A variable focus lens comprising:
a cavity containing a transparent fluid defined between a first and a second transparent flexible membrane, wherein each of said first and second flexible membranes is tensioned across and held by a peripheral annular frame, said annular frame being formed from first, second and third interengaged rings, said interengaged rings causing the periphery of said transparent flexible membrane to change direction more than once, said first ring receiving the second and third rings therein and defining the periphery of said annular frame.
Specification