Granted Patent B2

US 12,546,916 · App. 17/270,065 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Inventors: David Andreas Niederer (Küttigen, CH); Stephan Smolka (Zürich, CH)

G02B3/14G02C7/085G02C2202/22

Abstract

Claims (113)

1 . A lens ( 1 ), comprising:

a first chamber (C 1 ) filled with a first transparent liquid (L 1 ) comprising a first mass density (p1) and a first refractive index (n1),

a second chamber (C 2 ) filled with a second transparent liquid (L 2 ) comprising a second mass density (p2) and a second refractive index (n2), and

a transparent and elastically deformable first membrane ( 12 ) that separates the two chambers (C 1 , C 2 ) from one another and contacts the first liquid (L 1 ) and the second liquid (L 2 ), wherein said mass densities (p1, p2) and said refractive indices (n1, n2) are selected such that an acceleration-dependent aberration of the lens ( 1 ) is reduced or prevented,

wherein the lens ( 1 ) comprises a second transparent and elastically deformable membrane ( 22 ), wherein the second membrane ( 22 ) faces the first membrane ( 12 ),

wherein the lens ( 1 ) comprises a circumferential first lateral wall ( 10 ), wherein the first lateral wall ( 10 ) comprises a first side ( 10 a ) and a second side ( 10 b ), wherein the second side ( 10 b ) faces away from the first side ( 10 a ), and wherein the lens ( 1 ) comprises a first transparent cover element ( 11 ), wherein the first cover element ( 11 ) is connected to the first side ( 10 a ) of the first lateral wall ( 10 ), and the first membrane ( 12 ) is connected to the second side ( 10 b ) of the first lateral wall ( 10 ) to form the first chamber (C 1 ), and wherein the lens ( 1 ) comprises an annular movable lens shaper ( 30 ) and wherein the second membrane ( 22 ) is connected with a circumferential boundary ( 22 c ) region to a second side ( 301 ) of the movable lens shaper ( 30 ), such that the two membranes ( 12 , 22 ) and the movable lens shaper ( 30 ) enclose the second chamber (C 2 ), wherein the second side ( 301 ) of the movable lens shaper ( 30 ) faces away from a first side ( 300 ) of the movable lens shaper ( 30 ).

2 . The lens according to claim 1 , characterized in that when an optical axis (A) of the lens ( 1 ) is in a horizontal position, the first membrane ( 12 ) forms on a surface ( 120 ) facing the first liquid (L 1 ) at least a convex section ( 12 d ) and at least a concave section ( 12 e ).

3 . The lens according to claim 1 , characterized in that the mass densities (p1, p2) and the refractive indices (n1, n2) are selected such that acceleration-dependent aberration of the lens ( 1 ) is reduced or prevented independent of an orientation of the optical axis (A) of the lens ( 1 ), and wherein the first mass density (p1) is smaller than the second mass density (p2), and wherein the first refractive index (n1) is larger than the second refractive index (n2).

4 . The lens according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first mass density is larger than the second mass density, and wherein the first refractive index is smaller than the second refractive index.

5 . The lens according to claim 1 , wherein a stiffness s 1 of the first membrane and a stiffness s 2 of the second membrane is given by

s

1

s

2

=

n

2

-

n

1

n

2

-

1

⁢

p

1

-

p

2

p

2

,

wherein n 1 corresponds to the first refractive index (n1), wherein n 2 corresponds to the second refractive index (n2), wherein p 1 corresponds to the first mass density (p1), wherein p 2 corresponds to the second mass density (p2).

6 . The lens according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first lateral wall ( 10 ) is elastically deformable, such that the lens ( 1 ) allows to compensate a thermal expansion of the first and/or second liquid (L 1 , L 2 ).

7 . The lens according to claim 1 , characterized in that a stiffness of the first membrane ( 12 ), a stiffness of the second membrane ( 22 ), said mass densities (p1, p2) and said refractive indices (n1, n2) are adapted such that the acceleration-dependent aberration of the first and of the second membrane ( 12 , 22 ) is compensated.

8 . The lens according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lens ( 1 ) forms an achromat.

9 . The lens according to claim 1 , characterized in that the movable lens shaper ( 30 ) comprises a first circumferential edge ( 31 a ) defining a portion ( 12 a ) of the first membrane ( 12 ) and an opposing second circumferential edge ( 31 b ) defining a portion ( 22 a ) of the second membrane ( 22 ), wherein said portion ( 12 a ) of the first membrane ( 12 ) comprises an adjustable curvature, and wherein said portion ( 22 a ) of the second membrane ( 22 ) comprises an adjustable curvature.

10 . Eyeglasses ( 3 ), comprising two lenses, each of the two lenses being a lens according to claim 1 , namely a first lens ( 2611 , 2621 ) and a second lens ( 2612 , 2622 ), wherein the second lens ( 2612 , 2622 ) is arranged in front of the first lens ( 2611 , 2621 ), and wherein a waveguide ( 2615 , 2625 ) is arranged between the first lens ( 2611 , 2621 ) and the second lens ( 2612 , 2622 ).

11 . The eyeglasses ( 3 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the eyeglasses are augmented reality eyeglasses.

12 . The lens ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first membrane ( 12 ) and the second membrane ( 22 ) are non-circular, wherein adjustable portions of the first and/or second membrane are non-circular.

13 . The lens according to claim 1 , wherein said mass densities (p1, p2) and said refractive indices (n1, n2) are selected such that a gravity-induced aberration of the lens and/or a gravity-induced coma aberration of the lens is reduced or prevented.

14 . The lens according to claim 1 , wherein the first cover element ( 11 ) is a plano-concave cover element ( 11 ) comprising a concave surface ( 11 b ) that faces towards the first membrane ( 12 ).

15 . The lens according to claim 1 , wherein the annular movable lens shaper is connected to the first membrane with the first side of the movable lens shaper.

16 . A lens ( 1 ), comprising:

a first chamber (C 1 ) filled with a first transparent liquid (L 1 ) comprising a first mass density (p1) and a first refractive index (n1),

a second chamber (C 2 ) filled with a second transparent liquid (L 2 ) comprising a second mass density (p2) and a second refractive index (n2), and

a transparent and elastically deformable first membrane ( 12 ) that separates the two chambers (C 1 , C 2 ) from one another and contacts the first liquid (L 1 ) and the second liquid (L 2 ), wherein said mass densities (p1, p2) and said refractive indices (n1, n2) are selected such that an acceleration-dependent aberration of the lens ( 1 ) is reduced or prevented,

wherein the lens ( 1 ) comprises a second transparent and elastically deformable membrane ( 22 ), wherein the second membrane ( 22 ) faces the first membrane ( 12 ),

wherein the lens ( 1 ) comprises a circumferential first lateral wall ( 10 ), wherein the first lateral wall ( 10 ) comprises a first side ( 10 a ) and a second side ( 10 b ), wherein the second side ( 10 b ) faces away from the first side ( 10 a ), and wherein the lens ( 1 ) comprises a first transparent cover element ( 11 ), wherein the first cover element ( 11 ) is connected to the first side ( 10 a ) of the first lateral wall ( 10 ), and the first membrane ( 12 ) is connected to the second side ( 10 b ) of the first lateral wall ( 10 ) to form the first chamber (C 1 ), and wherein the lens ( 1 ) comprises a second lateral wall ( 20 ), wherein the second lateral wall ( 20 ) comprises a first side ( 20 a ) and a second side ( 20 b ), wherein the second side ( 20 b ) of the second lateral wall ( 20 ) faces away from the first side ( 20 a ) of the second lateral wall ( 20 ), and wherein the first side ( 20 a ) of the second lateral wall ( 20 ) is connected to the first membrane ( 12 ), and the second side ( 20 b ) of the second lateral wall ( 20 ) is connected to the second membrane ( 22 ) to form the second chamber (C 2 ), wherein a stiffness s 1 of the first membrane and a stiffness s 2 of the second membrane is given by

s

1

s

2

=

n

2

-

n

1

n

2

-

1

⁢

p

1

-

p

2

p

2

,

wherein n 1 corresponds to the first refractive index (n1), wherein n 2 corresponds to the second refractive index (n2), wherein p 1 corresponds to the first mass density (p1), wherein p 2 corresponds to the second mass density (p2).

17 . The lens according to claim 16 , wherein when an optical axis (A) of the lens ( 1 ) is in a horizontal position, the first membrane ( 12 ) forms on a surface ( 120 ) facing the first liquid (L 1 ) at least a convex section ( 12 d ) and at least a concave section ( 12 e ).

18 . The lens according to claim 16 , characterized in that the mass densities (p1, p2) and the refractive indices (n1, n2) are selected such that acceleration-dependent aberration of the lens ( 1 ) is reduced or prevented independent of an orientation of the optical axis (A) of the lens ( 1 ), and wherein the first mass density (p1) is smaller than the second mass density (p2), and wherein the first refractive index (n1) is larger than the second refractive index (n2).

19 . The lens according to claim 16 , characterized in that the first mass density is larger than the second mass density, and wherein the first refractive index is smaller than the second refractive index.

20 . The lens according to claim 16 , characterized in that the first lateral wall ( 10 ) is elastically deformable, such that the lens ( 1 ) allows to compensate a thermal expansion of the first and/or second liquid (L 1 , L 2 ).

21 . The lens according to claim 16 , characterized in that a stiffness of the first membrane ( 12 ), a stiffness of the second membrane ( 22 ), said mass densities (p1, p2) and said refractive indices (n1, n2) are adapted such that the acceleration-dependent aberration of the first and of the second membrane ( 12 , 22 ) is compensated.

22 . The lens according to claim 16 , characterized in that the lens ( 1 ) forms an achromat.

23 . The lens ( 1 ) according to claim 16 , wherein the first membrane ( 12 ) and the second membrane ( 22 ) are non-circular, wherein adjustable portions of the first and/or second membrane are non-circular.

24 . The lens according to claim 16 , wherein said mass densities (p1, p2) and said refractive indices (n1, n2) are selected such that a gravity-induced aberration of the lens and/or a gravity-induced coma aberration of the lens is reduced or prevented.

25 . The lens according to claim 16 , wherein the first cover element ( 11 ) is a plano-concave cover element ( 11 ) comprising a concave surface ( 11 b ) that faces towards the first membrane ( 12 ).

26 . Eyeglasses ( 3 ), comprising two lenses according to claim 16 , namely a first lens ( 2611 , 2621 ) and a second lens ( 2612 , 2622 ), wherein the second lens ( 2612 , 2622 ) is arranged in front of the first lens ( 2611 , 2621 ), and wherein a waveguide ( 2615 , 2625 ) is arranged between the first lens ( 2611 , 2621 ) and the second lens ( 2612 , 2622 ).

27 . A lens ( 1 ), comprising:

a first chamber (C 1 ) filled with a first transparent liquid (L 1 ) comprising a first mass density (p1) and a first refractive index (n1),

a second chamber (C 2 ) filled with a second transparent liquid (L 2 ) comprising a second mass density (p2) and a second refractive index (n2), and

a transparent and elastically deformable first membrane ( 12 ) that separates the two chambers (C 1 , C 2 ) from one another and contacts the first liquid (L 1 ) and the second liquid (L 2 ), wherein said mass densities (p1, p2) and said refractive indices (n1, n2) are selected such that an acceleration-dependent aberration of the lens ( 1 ) is reduced or prevented, wherein the lens ( 1 ) comprises a second transparent and elastically deformable membrane ( 22 ), wherein the second membrane ( 22 ) faces the first membrane ( 12 ), wherein a stiffness s 1 of the first membrane and a stiffness s 2 of the second membrane is given by

s

1

s

2

=

n

2

-

n

1

n

2

-

1

⁢

p

1

-

p

2

p

2

,

 wherein n 1 corresponds to the first refractive index (n1), wherein n 2 corresponds to the second refractive index (n2), wherein p 1 corresponds to the first mass density (p1), wherein p 2 corresponds to the second mass density (p2).

28 . Eyeglasses ( 3 ), comprising two lenses according to claim 27 , namely a first lens ( 2611 , 2621 ) and a second lens ( 2612 , 2622 ), wherein the second lens ( 2612 , 2622 ) is arranged in front of the first lens ( 2611 , 2621 ), and wherein a waveguide ( 2615 , 2625 ) is arranged between the first lens ( 2611 , 2621 ) and the second lens ( 2612 , 2622 ).

Assignments (2)

Priority Claims (4)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (44)