Curved lenses configured to decode three-dimensional content
View Patent ↗Curved lenses configured to decode three dimensional content and method of fabricating the same. The lenses comprise a polyvinylalcohol polarizer film laminated with triacetate on both sides, wherein the polarizer film has a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a transmittance percentage equal to or exceeding 35% and a retarder film (e.g., norbornene copolymer resin) laminated on a front surface of the polyvinylalcohol polarizer film laminated with triacetate and aligned to produce a desired circular polarization responsive to specified retardation wavelengths.
1. A lens configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:
a curved blank comprising a polymeric material structure including:
a polarizing layer laminated with a first polymeric material layer on a first side and a second polymeric material layer on a second side opposing the first side;
wherein the polarizing layer has a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a luminous transmittance equal to or exceeding 35%; and
a retarder layer laminated to the second polymeric material layer, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization.
2. The lens of claim 1 further comprising a third polymeric material layer over the retarder layer.
3. The lens of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first polymeric material layer or said second polymeric material layer includes cellulose triacetate.
4. The lens of claim 1 wherein said polarizer layer is tinted with iodine crystals.
5. The lens of claim 1 wherein said retarder layer is norbornene copolymer resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene, polycarbonate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose diacetate, or polymethylmethacrylate.
6. The lens of claim 1 wherein the polarizing layer is characterized by a polarization angle in a range of about −1.0 degree to 1.0 degree.
7. The lens of claim 1 wherein the retarder layer is characterized by a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees.
8. The lens of claim 1 wherein the retarder layer is characterized by a retardation angle in a range of about 134.0 degrees to 136.0 degrees.
9. The lens of claim 1 wherein the lens is characterized by a thickness in a range of about 750 microns to 2000 microns.
10. The lens of claim 1 wherein the lens is characterized by a lens retardation in a range of about 110 nm to 140 nm.
11. A method of fabricating a curved lens configured to decode three dimensional content, the method comprising:
receiving a sheet of material comprising:
a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on both sides;
a retarder layer laminated to the polymeric material layer, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization;
cutting blanks from said sheet of material to maintain a predetermined alignment of a polarizing axis associated with said sheet; and
heating the blanks to a deformation temperature;
curving the blanks using at least one of vacuum suction or pressure; and
cooling the curved blanks.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the polarizing layer is characterized by a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a luminous transmittance equal to or exceeding 35%.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising laminating a polymeric material layer over the retarder layer.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the deformation temperature is in a range of 90° C. to 130° C.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a polarization angle in a range of −1.0 degree to 1.0 degree.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees.
17. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a retardation angle in a range of about 134.0 degrees to 136.0 degrees.
18. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a transmittance percentage exceeding 35%.
19. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens has a thickness in a range of about 750 microns to 2000 microns.
20. The method of claim 11 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a retardation in a range of about 110 nm to 140 nm.
21. The method of claim 11 wherein the retarder layer comprises a norbornene copolymer resin.
22. The method of claim 11 wherein the polymeric material layer includes cellulous triacetate.
23. Eyeglasses comprising:
a frame configured to retain a first lens and second lens;
wherein the first lens comprises a curved blank comprising a first polymeric material structure and the second lens comprises a curved blank comprising a second polymeric material structure;
wherein the first polymeric material structure and the second polymeric material structure comprise a polarizing layer having a polymeric material layer on both sides of the polarizing layer and a retarder layer laminated to one of the polymeric material layers;
wherein the retarder layer of the first polymeric material structure is aligned to decode light having a left handed circular polarization and the retarder layer of the second polymeric material structure is aligned to decode light having a right handed circular polarization.
24. The eyeglasses of claim 23 wherein the left lens utilizes a retardation angle in a range of about 134.0 degrees to 136.0 degrees.
25. The eyeglasses of claim 23 wherein said left lens utilizes a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees.