Adaptive optical filter for spectacle lenses

• US 9,915,831 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Hue, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung
• Application Number:
  US14/912,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20160202497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 351 41, 351158, 351 49, 351 45, 351 46, 349 13
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/047 Optical MEMS not provided for in B81B2201/042 - B81B2201/045
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/02 containing distinct electrical or optical devices of particular relevance for their function, e.g. microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS] B81B7/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/18 Cellular lens surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/105 having inhomogeneously distributed colouring

Abstract

An adaptive optical filter for a spectacle lens, comprising at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S), each being defined by an instantaneous value of at least one optical property. The optical property (CT) of at least one of the zones (10_M, 10_S) of the adaptive optical filter (10) is variable over time between a maximum value (CT_MAX) and a minimum value (CT_min).

Claims

1. An adaptive optical filter for a spectacle lens, comprising at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S), one being at least one upper zone and another being at least one lower zone, each of said at least one upper zone and said at least one lower zone being defined by an instantaneous value of at least one optical property,

wherein said at least one optical property (CT) of at least one of said at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S) of said adaptive optical filter is variable over time between a maximum value (CT_MAX) and a minimum value (CT_min);

wherein said at least one optical property is a light transmission coefficient (CT);

wherein a coefficient of transmission of said at least one lower zone is greater than a coefficient of transmission of said at least one upper zone.

2. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light transmission coefficient (CT) of at least one of said at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S) of said adaptive optical filter is variable according to a pulse width modulation (PWM).

3. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light transmission coefficient (CT) of at least one of said at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S) of said adaptive optical filter depends on a duty cycle (α

) of said pulse width modulation (PWM) cycle.

4. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 3, wherein said duty cycle (α

) of said pulse width modulation (PWM) cycle of said light transmission coefficient (CT) of one of said at least two separate zones (10_M) depends on said duty cycle (α

) of said pulse width modulation (PWM) cycle of said light transmission coefficient (CT) of an adjacent zone (10_S).

5. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light transmission coefficient is controlled by a control signal issued from a photosensitive sensor.

6. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adaptive optical filter comprises a zone (10_I), said light transmission coefficient (CT_I) of which is constant over time.

7. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S) of said adaptive optical filter includes a liquid-crystal cell.

8. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S) of said adaptive optical filter includes a micro-optical-electromechanical system (MEMS).

9. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adaptive optical filter includes said at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S), said light transmission coefficient (CT) of each of said at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S) of which is variable over time between a maximum value (CT_MAX) and a minimum value (CT_min).

10. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 9, wherein said light transmission coefficient (CT) of one of said at least two separate zones (10_M) depends on said light transmission coefficient (CT) of the other of said at least two separate zones (10_S).

11. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 10, wherein a duty cycle (α

) of said pulse width modulation (PWM) cycle of said light transmission coefficient (CT) of one of said at least two separate zones (10_M) depends on said duty cycle (α

) of said pulse width modulation (PWM) cycle of said light transmission coefficient (CT) of an adjacent zone (10_S).

12. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light transmission coefficient is controlled by a control signal issued from a photosensitive sensor.

13. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 12, wherein said photosensitive sensor emits a signal the value of which depends on a light intensity that it receives from a scene in front of a spectacle wearer.

14. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light transmission coefficient is controlled by a manual control signal.

15. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adaptive optical filter comprises a zone (10_I), said light transmission coefficient (CT_I) of which is constant over time.

16. The adaptive optical filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light transmission coefficient is controlled by a control signal issued from a photosensitive sensor.

17. A spectacle lens comprising:

an adaptive optical filter having;

at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S), one being at least one upper zone and another being at least one lower zone, each of said at least one upper zone and said at least one lower zone being defined by an instantaneous value of at least one optical property,

wherein said at least one optical property (CT) of at least one of said at least two separate zones (10_M, 10_S) of said adaptive optical filter is variable over time between a maximum value (CT_MAX) and a minimum value (CT_min);

wherein said at least one optical property is a light transmission coefficient (CT);

wherein a coefficient of transmission of said at least one lower zone is greater than a coefficient of transmission of said at least one upper zone.