SYSTEMS, ARTICLES, AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING HOLOGRAPHIC OPTICAL ELEMENTS WITH EYEGLASS LENSES
Systems, articles, and methods that integrate photopolymer film with eyeglass lenses are described. One or more hologram(s) may be recorded into/onto the photopolymer film to enable the lens to be used as a transparent holographic combiner in a wearable heads-up display employing an image source, such as a microdisplay or a scanning laser projector. The methods of integrating photopolymer film with eyeglass lenses include: positioning photopolymer film in a lens mold and casting the lens around the photopolymer film; sandwiching photopolymer film in between two portions of a lens; applying photopolymer film to a concave surface of a lens; and/or affixing a planar carrier (with photopolymer film thereon) to two points across a length of a concave surface of a lens. Respective lenses manufactured/adapted by each of these processes are also described.
1 . A method of adapting a lens for use in a wearable heads-up display, the method comprising:
providing a lens having a concave surface; and
applying a photopolymer film to the concave surface of the lens, wherein the photopolymer film adopts a concave curvature at least approximately equal to a curvature of the concave surface of the lens.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein applying a photopolymer film to the concave surface of the lens includes:
providing the photopolymer film;
applying an optical adhesive to at least one surface selected from a group consisting of: the concave surface of the lens and a surface of the photopolymer film;
pressing the concave surface of the lens and the surface of the photopolymer film together; and
curing the optical adhesive.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein pressing the concave surface of the lens and the surface of the photopolymer film together includes warming the photopolymer film to a temperature below about 80 degrees Celsius.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein applying the photopolymer film to the concave surface of the lens includes:
applying the photopolymer film to a surface of a carrier;
curving the carrier to provide a concave curvature that at least approximately matches the concave surface of the lens;
applying an optical adhesive to at least one surface selected from a group consisting of: the concave surface of the lens, a surface of the photopolymer film, and a surface of the carrier;
pressing the concave surface of the lens and the carrier, with the photopolymer film thereon, together to sandwich the optical adhesive; and
curing the optical adhesive.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein curving the carrier, with the photopolymer film thereon, includes:
warming the photopolymer film to a temperature below about 80 degrees Celsius; and
pressing the carrier, with the photopolymer film thereon, over a curved surface, the curved surface having a curvature that at least approximately matches or mates with the concave surface of the lens.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
removing the carrier.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein applying a photopolymer film to the concave surface of the lens includes depositing the photopolymer film directly on the concave surface of the lens by at least one thin film deposition technique selected from a group consisting of: spin-coating, dip-coating, and vacuum deposition.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying an eyeglass prescription to the lens before applying the photopolymer film to the concave surface of the lens.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
recording a hologram into the photopolymer film before applying the photopolymer film to the concave surface of the lens, wherein the hologram compensates for an optical effect of the lens.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
recording a hologram into the photopolymer film after applying the photopolymer film to the concave surface of the lens, wherein:
applying a photopolymer film to the concave surface of the lens is performed in a dark environment.
11 . A lens for use in a wearable heads-up display, the lens adapted by a process comprising the acts of:
providing a lens having a concave surface; and
applying a photopolymer film to the concave surface of the lens, wherein the photopolymer film adopts a concave curvature at least approximately equal to a curvature of the concave surface of the lens.