Curved lenses configured to decode three-dimensional content on television and computer screens

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;

the curved blank is characterized by a polarization angle in a range of about −1.0 degrees to 1.0 degrees relative to horizontal and a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees or −44 degrees to −46 degrees relative to horizontal.

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 having a polarizing angle of about 0 degrees.

7. The lens of claim 1 wherein the retarder layer is characterized by a retarder angle of about −45 degrees relative to horizontal or +45 degrees relative to horizontal.

8. The lens of claim 1 wherein the lens is characterized by a thickness in a range of about 750 microns to 2000 microns.

9. The lens of claim 1 wherein the lens is characterized by a lens retardation in a range of about 110 nm to 140 nm.

10. 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

the blanks are characterized by a polarization angle in a range of about −1.0 degrees to 1.0 degrees relative to horizontal and a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees or −44 degrees to −46 degrees relative to horizontal;

heating the blanks to a deformation temperature;

curving the blanks using at least one of vacuum suction or pressure; and

cooling the curved blanks.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the polarizing layer is characterized by a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a luminous transmittance equal to or exceeding 35%.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising laminating a polymeric material layer over the retarder layer.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the deformation temperature is in a range of 90° C. to 130° C.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the curved lens is characterized by having a polarizing angle of about 0 degrees.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a retarder angle of about −45 degrees relative to horizontal or +45 degrees relative to horizontal.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a transmittance percentage exceeding 35%.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the curved lens has a thickness in a range of about 750 microns to 2000 microns.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the curved lens is characterized by a retardation in a range of about 110 nm to 140 nm.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the retarder layer comprises a norbornene copolymer resin.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the polymeric material layer includes cellulous triacetate.

21. 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;

wherein the first lens is characterized by a polarization angle in a range of about −1.0 degrees to 1.0 degrees relative to horizontal and a retardation angle in a range of about 44.0 degrees to 46.0 degrees relative to horizontal, and the second lens has a polarizing axis in a range of about −1.0 degrees to 1.0 degrees relative to horizontal and a retardation angle in a range of about −44 degrees to −46 degrees relative to horizontal.

22. The eyeglasses of claim 21 wherein the left lens is characterized by having a polarizing angle of about 0 degrees.

23. The eyeglasses of claim 21 wherein said left lens utilizes a retardation angle of about +45 degrees relative to horizontal or −45 degrees relative to horizontal.