IP Library Granted Patent US 12,066,695
Granted Patent B2
US 12,066,695 · App. 17/101,066 · Granted Aug 20, 2024

Ophthalmic systems and methods with lateral focus shifting

Inventors: Ronald D. Blum (Roanoke, VA); William Kokonaski (Gig Harbor, WA); Dwight P. Duston (Laguna Niguel, CA)
Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.
G02C7/083A61F2/1613A61F2/1627A61F9/061G02C7/06G02C7/101G02C7/16G02C11/10G06F1/163H02J50/10H04N23/54H04N23/63H04N23/66
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,066,695
App. No.
17/101,066
Granted
Aug 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Eyewear is provided including a frame, and a camera connected with the frame, in which the camera is configured to be controlled by a remote controller. The camera may be configured to capture video and/or a photo. The eyewear may include data storage, and the camera may be connected to the data storage. A wristwatch may be configured to act both as a time piece and a controller of the camera. The eyewear may also include a heads up display and/or a video file player. The eyewear may also include an electro-active lens.

Claims (36)

1. An ophthalmic system comprising:

an electro-active lens to shift a transverse location of a focal point of the ophthalmic system and to shift a location of the focal point of the ophthalmic system along an optical axis of the ophthalmic system;

a controller, operably coupled to the electro-active lens, to control the electro-active lens; and

a power supply, operably coupled to the electro-active lens and the controller, to power the electro-active lens and the controller,

wherein the electro-active lens comprises:

a first electro-active lens element to shift the transverse location of the focal point of the ophthalmic system in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the ophthalmic system; and

a second electro-active lens element, in optical series with the first electro-active lens element, to shift the transverse location of the focal point of the ophthalmic system in a second direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the ophthalmic system and different than the first direction.

2. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , wherein the first electro-active lens element comprises linear electrodes aligned parallel to the second direction and the second electro-active lens element comprises linear electrodes aligned parallel to the first direction.

3. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , wherein the first electro-active lens element comprises a first layer of liquid crystal material and the second electro-active lens element comprises a second layer of liquid crystal material.

4. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , wherein the first electro-active lens element is configured to provide variable prismatic power in the first direction and the second electro-active lens element is configured to provide variable prismatic power in the second direction.

5. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , wherein the first electro-active lens element is configured to be actuated independently of the second electro-active lens element.

6. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , wherein the electro-active lens is configured to shift the transverse location of the focal point of the ophthalmic system over a range of 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm.

7. An ophthalmic system comprising:

an electro-active lens to shift a transverse location of a focal point of the ophthalmic system and to shift a location of the focal point of the ophthalmic system along an optical axis of the ophthalmic system;

a controller, operably coupled to the electro-active lens, to control the electro-active lens; and

a power supply, operably coupled to the electro-active lens and the controller, to power the electro-active lens and the controller,

wherein the electro-active lens is configured to shift the transverse location of the focal point of the ophthalmic system over a range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

8. The ophthalmic system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a base optic, in optical communication with the electro-active lens, to provide a fixed optical power.

9. The ophthalmic system of claim 8 , wherein the electro-active lens in embedded in the base optic.

10. A method of operating an ophthalmic system comprising an electro-active lens, the method comprising:

varying an optical power provided by the electro-active lens so as to shift a location of a focal point of the electro-active lens along an optical axis of the electro-active lens; and

varying a prismatic power provided by the electro-active lens so as to shift a transverse location of the focal point of the electro-active lens,

wherein the electro-active lens comprises a first electro-active lens element in optical series with a second electro-active lens element and varying the prismatic power comprises at least one of:

shifting the transverse location of the focal point of the electro-active lens in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the electro-active lens with the first electro-active lens element; or

shifting the transverse location of the focal point of the electro-active lens in a second direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the electro-active lens and different than the first direction with the second electro-active lens element.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein shifting the transverse location of the focal point of the electro-active lens in the first direction comprises applying a voltage to linear electrodes aligned parallel to the second direction.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying the voltage to the linear electrodes aligned parallel to the second direction comprises phase-wrapping the voltage across the linear electrodes.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein varying the prismatic power shifts the transverse location of the focal point of the electro-active lens over a range of 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein varying the prismatic power shifts the transverse location of the focal point of the electro-active lens over a range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

15. An ophthalmic lens comprising:

a first electro-active lens element to shift a transverse location of a focal point of the ophthalmic lens in a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the ophthalmic lens; and

a second electro-active lens element, in optical series with the first electro-active lens element, to shift the transverse location of the focal point of the ophthalmic lens in a second direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the ophthalmic lens and different than the first direction.

16. The ophthalmic lens of claim 15 , wherein the first electro-active lens element comprises linear electrodes aligned parallel to the second direction and the second electro-active lens element comprises linear electrodes aligned parallel to the first direction.

17. The ophthalmic lens of claim 15 , wherein the first electro-active lens element is configured to provide prismatic power in the first direction and the second electro-active lens element is configured to provide prismatic power in the second direction.

18. The ophthalmic lens of claim 15 , wherein the first electro-active lens element is configured to be actuated independently of the second electro-active lens element.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2020
From: DUSTON, DWIGHT P.
To: E-VISION SMART OPTICS INC.
Reel/Frame 054467/0235 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2020
From: BLUM, RONALD D.; KOKONASKI, WILLIAM
To: E-VISION, LLC
Reel/Frame 054517/0296 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2020
From: E-VISION LLC
To: E-VISION SMART OPTICS INC.
Reel/Frame 054517/0316 →
Continuity (21)
Continuation 16049193 · Jul 30, 2018
Continuation 15438104 · Feb 21, 2017
Division 14816249 · Aug 3, 2015
Continuation 13779320 · Feb 27, 2013
Continuation 11261035 · Oct 28, 2005
Provisional Application 60692270 · Jun 21, 2005
Provisional Application 60687342 · Jun 6, 2005
Provisional Application 60687341 · Jun 6, 2005
Provisional Application 60685407 · May 31, 2005
Provisional Application 60679241 · May 10, 2005
Provisional Application 60674702 · Apr 26, 2005
Provisional Application 60673758 · Apr 22, 2005
Provisional Application 60669403 · Apr 8, 2005
Provisional Application 60667094 · Apr 1, 2005
Provisional Application 60666167 · Mar 30, 2005
Provisional Application 60661925 · Mar 16, 2005
Provisional Application 60659431 · Mar 9, 2005
Provisional Application 60636490 · Dec 17, 2004
Provisional Application 60623946 · Nov 2, 2004
Provisional Application 60623947 · Nov 2, 2004
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