Optical lens assemblies, head-mounted displays, and related methods

1 . An optical lens assembly, comprising:

a substantially transparent deformable element that, when deformed, alters an optical property of the optical lens assembly, the deformable element exhibiting a first coefficient of thermal expansion;

a structural support element exhibiting a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion;

a substantially transparent deformable medium positioned between the structural support element and the deformable element; and

a compliant interface material that is disposed between and couples at least a portion of the deformable element and the structural support element and laterally surrounds the deformable medium, wherein the compliant interface material is configured to compensate for a difference between a physical property of the deformable element and the structural support element, the compliant interface material exhibiting a third coefficient of thermal expansion that falls between the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

2 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the physical property further comprises at least one of:

a stiffness;

an applied pre-tension;

a modulus of elasticity; or

an electrical conductivity.

3 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a housing supporting the structural support element and at least partially covering a peripheral edge of the structural support element.

4 . The optical lens assembly of claim 3 , wherein the compliant interface material is at least partially covered by the housing.

5 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the deformable element comprises at least one substantially transparent electroactive material that is configured to deform when an electrical voltage is applied thereto.

6 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a force distribution ring abutting against the deformable element on a side thereof opposite the compliant interface material, wherein the force distribution ring is configured to deform the deformable element.

7 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compliant interface material is disposed along a peripheral edge region of the deformable element or of the structural support element.

8 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compliant interface material is disposed along substantially an entire surface area of the deformable element or of the structural support element.

9 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compliant interface material comprises a hyperelastic material or a composite material.

10 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compliant interface material exhibits anisotropic material properties.

11 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compliant interface material is configured to constrain the substantially transparent deformable medium between the deformable element and the structural support element.

12 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compliant interface material prevents the deformable element from directly interfacing with any portion of the structural support element.

13 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the optical lens assembly is asymmetric.

14 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the structural support element comprises at least one of an eye-tracking element or an optical lens.

15 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical property comprises at least one of an accommodative optical property or an adaptive optical property.

16 . The optical lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compliant interface material comprises at least one of a fiber reinforcement or a nanomaterial reinforcement such that the compliant interface material exhibits an anisotropic stiffness that is stiffer in a lateral direction compared to a vertical direction.

17 . A head-mounted display, comprising:

a display element; and

an optical lens assembly positioned proximate to the display element, the optical lens assembly comprising:

a substantially transparent deformable element that, when deformed, alters an optical property of the optical lens assembly, the deformable element exhibiting a first coefficient of thermal expansion;

a structural support element exhibiting a second coefficient of thermal expansion;

a substantially transparent deformable medium positioned between the structural support element and the deformable element; and

a compliant interface material that is disposed between and couples at least a portion of the deformable element and the structural support element and laterally surrounds the deformable medium, wherein the compliant interface material is configured to compensate for a difference between a physical property of the deformable element and the structural support element, the compliant interface material exhibiting a third coefficient of thermal expansion that falls between the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

18 . A method for fabricating an optical lens assembly, comprising:

selecting a compliant interface material to compensate for a difference between a physical property of a deformable element and a structural support element, wherein the compliant interface material includes at least one of a fiber reinforcement or a nanomaterial reinforcement such that the compliant interface material exhibits an anisotropic stiffness that is stiffer in a lateral direction compared to a vertical direction; and

coupling at least a portion of the deformable element to at least a portion of the structural support element via the compliant interface material.