Liquid Crystal Eyewear (glasses, Goggles, Etc.) Patents (Class 349/13)
  • Patent number: 11927837
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes eye-tracking means, an active optical element per eye including an active material, and means for controlling the active material to generate optical powers. Gaze directions of a user's eyes are determined. When it is detected, based on the gaze directions, that the user is looking through a predefined portion of the active optical element, a drive signal is generated to drive said means to control the active material to produce a predefined optical power. When it is detected that the user's gaze is moving towards a periphery of the predefined portion, at least one other drive signal is generated to drive said means to control the active material to produce at least one intermediate optical power lying in a range between a zero optical power and the predefined optical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Pixieray Oy
    Inventors: Klaus Melakari, Rebecca Qing Melakari
  • Patent number: 11790814
    Abstract: A system includes a first multilayer surface that includes a plurality of layers. The system further includes a plurality of sensors and circuitry. The circuitry receives a plurality of signals from the plurality of sensors and projection data associated with a media content projectable by a projection device. The projection data includes contrast control information associated with the media content. The circuitry determines ambient condition of an enclosed space based on the received plurality of signals. The circuitry selects one or more portions of the plurality of layers of the first multilayer surface based on the determined ambient condition or the projection data. The circuitry controls an opacity level of the selected one or more portions of the first multilayer surface to provide dynamic shade control in the enclosed space or improve contrast of the projected media content based on the determined ambient condition or the projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ted Yamazaki, Tonni Larsen, Leigh Anderson, Tatsushi Nashida, Naomasa Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11650478
    Abstract: An augmented reality providing device includes a lens including a reflective mirror, a display module on at least one side surface of the lens and configured to display an image, and a dynamic prism module between the display module and the lens and configured to receive the image. The dynamic prism module is configured to be dynamically turned on or off to provide the received image to different positions of the reflective mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaejoong Kwon, Jinoh Kwag, Juhwa Ha, JeongWoo Park, Subin Jung
  • Patent number: 11640051
    Abstract: Motorized loupes enable the user to automatically increase or decrease the magnification on demand, without touching the loupes. Each loupe has a micromotor attached to it which moves a lens in the loupe to change the magnification. The motor is battery powered and the batteries are carried in a small housing worn by the user. The housing also contains electronic circuitry that at least reads the position encoders, drives the motors, receives the user's magnification commands and charges the battery when plugged in. A cord runs from each loupe to the housing to carry power and signals. The motors are controlled wirelessly by a foot pedal or by voice so that the user does not have to touch the loupes to change the magnification. In the preferred embodiment of surgical loupes, a TTL loupe is attached to each lens in a user's eyeglasses for binocular vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Visionary Optics, LLC
    Inventor: Jack H Casale
  • Patent number: 11567349
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (10) adapted to be worn by a wearer comprising at least: —a programmable lens (20) having an adjustable optical function and extending between at least one eye of the wearer and the real world scene when the optical device is worn by the wearer, —an optical function controller (30) comprising —a memory (32) storing at least computer executable instructions; and —a processor (34) for executing the stored computer executable instructions so as to control the optical function of the programmable lens (20), wherein the computer executable instructions comprise instructions for adjusting the optical function of the programmable lens (20) over a period of time determined so that the wearer does not perceive the adjustment of the optical function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Konogan Baranton, Benjamin Rousseau, Bruno Fermigier, Isabelle Poulain, Delphine Tranvouez-Bernardin
  • Patent number: 11554530
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a printed three-dimensional optical component built up from layers of printing ink characterized in that the three-dimensional optical component comprises at least one foil between two consecutive layers. The present invention further relates to a corresponding manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LUXEXCEL HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Joris Biskop
  • Patent number: 11534065
    Abstract: A contact lens according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a lens unit to be placed on an eyeball and a mesh-like or meandering linear communication electrode provided in all or a portion of the lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Iwasaki, Takayuki Hirabayashi, Naoto Yamaguchi, Tsukasa Yoshimura, Masakazu Yajima, Fumiko Shiga
  • Patent number: 11526032
    Abstract: Apparatus are described herein related to augmenting human vision by means of adaptive polarization filter grids. A preferred embodiment is described as smart sunglasses, realized as see through head mountable device (HMD) configured to reduce glare originating from polarized light. Each eyeglass of the HMD is associated with a grid comprising a plurality of dynamically configurable polarization filters placed in the path of the light. A polarization analyzer module analyzes the polarization characteristics of a field of view and performs an optimization calculation. The polarization analyzer controls the said grid via a controller module in such a way that the filter state of each grid element can be addressed separately. The grid of polarization filters causes the polarization characteristics of the incident light to be adapted in such a way as to reduce glare and/or to provide a user of the said head mountable device with an enhanced visual perception of the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventor: Maximilian Ralph Peter von und zu Liechtenstein
  • Patent number: 11385481
    Abstract: Eyewear providing dynamic focus. The eyewear includes two lenses, a mechanism for detecting a near object viewed by a user of the eyewear and a mechanism for dynamically changing a focus of the lenses. The lenses change focus to a near focus when a near object is detected. The eyewear may be eyeglasses or contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Ram Pattikonda, Shariq Hamid, Arshadev Pravas Vasudevan
  • Patent number: 11353770
    Abstract: An optical device includes a lens including a reflective mirror, a display module on at least one side surface of the lens and configured to display an image, and a dynamic prism module between the display module and the lens and configured to receive the image. The dynamic prism module is configured to be dynamically turned on or off to provide the received image to different positions of the reflective mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaejoong Kwon, Jinoh Kwag, Juhwa Ha, JeongWoo Park, Subin Jung
  • Patent number: 11213429
    Abstract: An eyewear apparatus may comprise an inner lens, an outer lens coupled to the inner lens, a liquid crystal film positioned between the inner lens and the outer lens, and a controller connected with the liquid crystal film and configured to provide a voltage to the liquid crystal film. The outer lens has a three-dimensional (3D) curvature characterized by a curvature along a first direction and a curvature along a second direction different from the first direction. The inner lens has a two-dimensional (2D) curvature characterized by a curvature along the first direction and substantially no curvature along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventor: Fenghua Li
  • Patent number: 11199715
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, via light from a light source, rendering an image on a retina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Van Heugten
  • Patent number: 11175521
    Abstract: A transparent optical element includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, an electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a control system operably coupled to at least one of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode and adapted to provide a drive signal to actuate the electroactive layer within an aperture of the transparent optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Katherine Marie Smyth, Spencer Allan Wells, Robin Sharma, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11129567
    Abstract: A portable nystagmus examination device includes: a main body which is provided in the form of goggles and comes into contact with the face of a subject so that the visual field of the subject is blocked from the outside; a camera unit which is provided on the inner side of the main body and captures eyeball image information on the subject; a monitor unit which is provided on the outer side of the main body and displays, to a user, the eyeball image information on the subject captured through the camera unit; and a control unit which is provided in the main body, collects the eyeball image information on the subject captured by the camera unit, and controls the monitor unit to output the eyeball image information. Thus, the user can perform the nystagmus examination regardless of a place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY FOUNDATION, YONSEI UNIVERSITY WONJU CAMPUS
    Inventor: Young Joon Seo
  • Patent number: 11119337
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device including patterned tabs is disclosed herein. An example ophthalmic device may include a plurality of optical elements formed into a stack and a substrate. A subset of optical elements of the plurality of optical elements may include a tab extending radially outward from an edge perimeter of a respective optical element, and each tab may include an opening formed there through. The substrate may include a plurality of bond pads, where each optical element of the plurality of optical elements is coupled to one of the plurality of bond pads by a conductive material, and the conductive material is disposed within respective openings of the subset of optical elements of the plurality of optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventors: Jeremy L. Emken, Scott B. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 11067791
    Abstract: A wearable device includes at least one lens, an output device, at least one sensor, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to identify a level of light sensed through the at least one sensor. The at least one processor is also configured to provide a notification related to the level of the light by using the output device when the level of the light satisfies a preset condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seongjin Cho, Naekyung Kim, Yongjoon Kim, Hanjun Kim, Jihyuk Lim
  • Patent number: 11016362
    Abstract: An optical device includes a lens including a reflective mirror, a display module on at least one side surface of the lens and configured to display an image, and a dynamic prism module between the display module and the lens and configured to receive the image. The dynamic prism module is configured to be dynamically turned on or off to provide the received image to different positions of the reflective mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaejoong Kwon, Jinoh Kwag, Juhwa Ha, JeongWoo Park, Subin Jung
  • Patent number: 10951836
    Abstract: A video display device comprises an arrangement of light sources for displaying video content. Further, the video display device comprises a controller that is configured to control the light sources to display the video content. Further, the controller is configured to control the light sources according to strobe control information to perform a strobe effect by periodically switching the light sources between a first state and a second state, e.g., between a state of low brightness and a state of high brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: HARMAN PROFESSIONAL DENMARK APS
    Inventors: Wouter Verlinden, Simon Allan
  • Patent number: 10948801
    Abstract: A hybrid lens is disclosed including optically coupled varifocal lens and adaptive lens. The varifocal lens is configured for varying optical power of the hybrid lens, and an adaptive lens includes a voltage-controlled element for varying optical power of the adaptive lens in coordination with varying the optical power of the varifocal lens and responsive to variation of the optical power of the hybrid lens, for lessening an optical aberration of the hybrid lens. The hybrid lens may be used in head-mounted displays e.g. for lessening a vergence-accommodation conflict.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lu Lu, Wai Sze Tiffany Lam, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai
  • Patent number: 10845616
    Abstract: An optical device for a wearer including an optical system with an active function configured to be mounted into a frame, a wafer comprising an internal face facing the optical system, the wafer being configured to be mounted into the frame, and holding means configured to maintain the optical system and the wafer in the frame without contact at least between a part of the optical system and the internal face of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Loic Quere, Eric Gacoin, Benoit Callier, Mathieu Meynen, Alexis Raposo, Hasana Sadiki, Marc Reignault
  • Patent number: 10737471
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a synthetic resin laminate comprising two transparent synthetic resin layers (A), two or more functional layers (B) having photochromic properties interposed between the two synthetic resin layers (A), and a transparent resin layer (C) interposed between the two or more functional layers (B), wherein the functional layer (B) is a cured layer comprising a photochromic dye and obtained from a diisocyanate and a polyol can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., MGC FILSHEET CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Murai, Kyousuke Nakamura, Hideaki Kimura
  • Patent number: 10670883
    Abstract: An electronic spectacle frame including: a face element including a housing for at least partially receiving a lens; and at least one electronic component. The face element includes at least one recess for receiving the at least one electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Ludovic Jouard, Eric Patin
  • Patent number: 10620482
    Abstract: A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a plurality of first liquid crystal molecules, a plurality of pixel structures, a third substrate, a fourth substrate, a plurality of second liquid crystal molecules, a plurality of light valves and a backlight source. Each of the plurality of pixel structures includes a pixel electrode and a common electrode. At least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode includes a plurality of first branches extended along a first extending direction. Each of the plurality of light valves includes a first electrode and a second electrode. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a plurality of second branches extended along a second extending direction. The plurality of first branches and the plurality of second branches are overlapped. The plurality of light valves are disposed between the backlight source and the plurality of pixel structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ju-Chin Chen, Seok-Lyul Lee
  • Patent number: 10564427
    Abstract: An optical system including at least a first lens, a partial reflector and a reflective polarizer is described. The optical system has an optical axis such that a light ray propagating along the optical axis passes through the first lens the partial reflector and the reflective polarizer without being substantially refracted. At least one major surface of the optical system is rotationally asymmetric about the optical axis. A major surface of the optical system may have a first portion defined by a first equation and a second portion adjacent the first portion defined by a different equation. The first lens may have a contoured edge adapted to be placed adjacent an eye of a viewer and substantially conform to the viewer's face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhisheng Yun, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Jo A. Etter, Robert M. Jennings
  • Patent number: 10526353
    Abstract: A silicone oil having a mean molecular weight average greater than about 20,000 Daltons, with no more than about 3% to about 4% of the total silicone oil by weight being comprised of components having a molecular weight less than about 15,000 Daltons. In some embodiments, the silicone oil is used in intraocular lens devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: LensGen, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Silvestrini
  • Patent number: 10531076
    Abstract: A device for stereoscopic display includes: a first display source for providing a first eye image; a first optical element on a light path of an emitted light ray of the first display source for reflecting the emitted light ray to enable the reflected light ray to reach a first position point; a second display source for providing a second eye image; and a second optical element on a light path of an emitted light ray of the second display source for reflecting the emitted light ray of the second display source to enable the reflected light ray to reach the first position point. Virtual images of the first eye image viewed at the first position point and the second eye image viewed at the first position point coincide, and the first eye image and the second eye image are a left eye image and a right eye image, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wei Wei
  • Patent number: 10509298
    Abstract: An optical device, such as a camera, with an electrochromic lens cap is disclosed. The electrochromic lens cap is electrically switchable and thermally erasable and can reversibly and visibly change from an opaque state to a highly transparent state when a charge is applied to it. A power source such as a battery or photovoltaic cell can supply the charge. In addition, the electrochromic lens cap can reversibly change from an opaque state to a highly transparent state when there is a temperature change in the electrochromic lens cap's environment. The optical device has an actuator and/or transceiver that can communicate with a remote device to control when and how the charge is applied to the electrochromic lens cap to change it to the opaque state, color, pattern, or other feature. Another feature of this invention is using the electrochromic lens cap as a neutral-density filter for an optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Roo, Inc.
    Inventors: Maximus Yaney, Noah Fram-Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10502950
    Abstract: With an image display apparatus, such as a head-mounted display, the eyes of a user observe an image displayed on a display panel through an eyepiece in an enlarged manner. A microlens array sheet that is one example of an optical element functioning as an optical lowpass filter is inserted in an optical path running from the display panel to the eyepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC., SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kikuchi, Takamasa Araki, Masatoshi Nakamura, Shotaro Tada, Rei Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 10495894
    Abstract: There is disclosed an optical display arrangement. The optical display arrangement includes an optical element, a voltage source connected to the optical element and a controller operatively coupled to the voltage source. The controller is operable to control the voltage source to apply a first voltage pulse over an operating voltage for a first period of time, to the optical element, to switch the optical element from a first optical state to a second optical state wherein the first voltage pulse is a sum of elevated voltage and operating voltage. Furthermore, the controller is operable to provide the operating voltage to the optical element to maintain the optical element in the second optical state. Moreover, the controller is operable to remove the operating voltage from the optical element to switch the optical element from the second optical state to the first optical state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: LIGHTSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, SIA
    Inventors: Ilmars Osmanis, Ainars Ozols, Kri{hacek over (s)}s Osmanis, Roberts Zabels
  • Patent number: 10459231
    Abstract: An augmented reality display system includes a pair of variable focus lens elements that sandwich a waveguide stack. One of the lens elements is positioned between the waveguide stack and a user's eye to correct for refractive errors in the focusing of light projected from the waveguide stack to that eye. The lens elements may also be configured to provide appropriate optical power to place displayed virtual content on a desired depth plane. The other lens element is between the ambient environment and the waveguide stack, and is configured to provide optical power to compensate for aberrations in the transmission of ambient light through the waveguide stack and the lens element closest to the eye. In addition, an eye-tracking system monitors the vergence of the user's eyes and automatically and continuously adjusts the optical powers of the pair of lens elements based on the determined vergence of those eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel A. Miller, Paul M. Greco, Brian T. Schowengerdt
  • Patent number: 10386655
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for sensing an overlap of an ophthalmic device by an eyelid of a user while the ophthalmic device is disposed in or on an eye of the user. In an embodiment, a circuit, disposed in a sealed enclosure of the ophthalmic device, interacts via an electromagnetic field with a film of tear fluid that is formed on the ophthalmic device. Based on the electromagnetic interaction, an oscillation characteristic of the circuit is evaluated. The oscillation characteristic varies with a resistance that is due in part to an eyelid of the user overlapping at least some portion of the ophthalmic device. Based on the evaluated oscillation characteristic, an amount of the eyelid overlap is determined by circuitry of the ophthalmic device. In another embodiment, the amount of eyelid overlap is used to determine one or more characteristics of gazing by the user's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: Shungneng Lee, Uei-ming Jow, Nathan Pletcher
  • Patent number: 10319343
    Abstract: The embodiments include systems and methods for adjustable polarization in service-providing terminals. In some embodiments, a system may include a display, an input device, an adjustable polarization screen adjacent to the display, and a polarization adjuster. The system may further include a processor configured to execute instructions to perform operations comprising providing illumination to the adjustable polarization screen through the display, controlling, via the polarization adjuster, a polarization of the adjustable polarization screen to a first polarization, receiving, via the input device, a polarization selection input, and based on the polarization selection input, adjusting, via the polarization adjuster, the polarization of the adjustable polarization screen from the first polarization to a second polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventor: David Wurmfeld
  • Patent number: 10261343
    Abstract: A frame independent focus adjustable eyewear lens blank includes an autonomous components assembly. The lens blank includes a front optically finished convex surface and a back unfinished surface. A first and second space are formed in the lens blank between the front and back surfaces. The autonomous components assembly includes a focus sensor configured to detect a need for near and/or far focus and a control electronics having a microprocessor and a power unit. The power unit includes a battery and/or a photocell. The lens blank includes a focus adjustable element configured to change a focus viewed through lens produced from the lens blank where the focus adjustable element is in communication with the focus sensor and the control electronics. The focus sensor, control electronics and power unit are disposed within the first space and the focus adjustable element is disposed within the second space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventor: Valdemar Portney
  • Patent number: 10191347
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reflecting cell including at least two substrates covered by an electrode and facing each other, the substrates delimiting between them a volume which separates them and which is filled with a cholesteric liquid crystal-type material, both electrodes being intended to be connected to a voltage source. This cell includes at least one half-wave plate arranged between both substrates and dividing the volume into two compartments, each enclosing a part of a same cholesteric liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: NEXTER SYSTEMS, INSTITUT MINES TELECOM—TELECOM BRETAGNE
    Inventors: Laurent Dupont, Suman Manna
  • Patent number: 10168551
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for the design and manufacturing of electronic eyeglasses and associated components thereof. Electronic eyeglasses consist of electro-active lenses, receiving electrical signals that turn them on and off from an electronic control module. The electronic control module is embedded within a temple of the eyeglass frame, and is powered by a removable power source pack residing at a temple tip through a flexible cable. Various methods describe the interconnection schemes between the components of the electronic eyeglasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, Sophie Adams, David Boyd, Richard Clompus, Mark Graham, Joshua Haddock, Robert Hall, Venki Iyer, William Kokonaski, Charles Willey, Yongping Wang, Claudio Dalla Longa
  • Patent number: 10114278
    Abstract: A light splitting module includes a first light source emitting first and second primary color lights, a second light source emitting a third primary color light, a color wheel and a modulator. The color wheel is aligned with the first and second light sources for splitting lights of the first and second light sources into image forming lights. The color wheel has first and second color sections and a transparent section. The first color section allows the first and third primary color lights to pass through. The second color section allows the second and third primary color lights to pass through. The modulator is coupled to the first and second light sources and the color wheel for modulating an incidence time of the first light source on the first color section to adjust an output ratio of the first primary color light in the image forming lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Jia-Ming Zhang, Tsung-Hsun Wu
  • Patent number: 10108068
    Abstract: A lens structure includes a transparent cell containing a liquid crystal material. The cell is thicker in a center region thereof than at peripheral regions. The structure further includes transparent electrically conductive electrodes coupled with opposing top and bottom surfaces of the cell and configured to establish an electric field through the cell that is strongest at the peripheral regions where the cell is thinner relative to the center region so that a value of the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material changes across the cell from the center region towards the peripheral regions to change an effective focal length of the lens structure. In some embodiments the top surface of the cell has a first curvature C1 and the bottom surface of the cell has a second curvature C2 that differs from the first curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Gordon, John U. Knickerbocker, Minhua Lu, Robert Polastre
  • Patent number: 10101631
    Abstract: A lens structure includes a transparent cell containing a liquid crystal material. The cell is thicker in a center region thereof than at peripheral regions. The structure further includes transparent electrically conductive electrodes coupled with opposing top and bottom surfaces of the cell and configured to establish an electric field through the cell that is strongest at the peripheral regions where the cell is thinner relative to the center region so that a value of the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material changes across the cell from the center region towards the peripheral regions to change an effective focal length of the lens structure. In some embodiments the top surface of the cell has a first curvature C1 and the bottom surface of the cell has a second curvature C2 that differs from the first curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Gordon, John U. Knickerbocker, Minhua Lu, Robert Polastre
  • Patent number: 10082678
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to contact lenses. Specifically, this invention relates to contact lenses that change color based on one or more stimuli. The present application provides for a color changing contact lens that can change its color based on one or more stimuli. The color changing contact lens is constructed of an inner layer, an outer layer and a supply of liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Inventor: Ehren Burton
  • Patent number: 10061135
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display device includes a display panel for displaying an image; a liquid crystal lens layer positioned under the display panel that refracts light like a lenticular lens depending on application of power, the liquid crystal lens layer including a plurality of nano polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC); a barrier layer integrally formed under the liquid crystal lens layer that has a light transmitting position and width that change depending on a power applying position, the barrier layer including a plurality of reflective PDLCs; and a backlight unit (BLU) positioned under the barrier layer that is configured to provide light to the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Chan Kim, Cheul Jin Park
  • Patent number: 10007038
    Abstract: The present invention relates to optical elements, such as but not limited to ophthalmic elements, comprising an alignment facility for an optical dye. The optical elements include a substrate; and an alignment facility for an optical dye connected to at least a portion of the substrate, where the alignment facility is an at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material having at least a first general direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Anil Kumar, Peter C. Foller, Jiping Shao
  • Patent number: 10001661
    Abstract: A method for preparing a body-mountable device is described. The method involves: forming a first polymer layer, the first polymer layer comprising a first liquid crystal elastomer; positioning a structure on the first polymer layer; and forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, the second polymer layer comprises a second liquid crystal elastomer, wherein the first polymer layer defines a first side of a body-mountable device and the second polymer layer defines a second side of the body-mountable device opposite the first side, and wherein the application of an electric field across the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer causes the body-mountable device to polarize or depolarize in response to the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Weibel, Babak Parviz
  • Patent number: 9989766
    Abstract: A spectacle lens for a display device can be fitted on the head of a user and generate an image. The spectacle lens includes a curved front and/or side, wherein a light guiding channel which is suitable for guiding light bundles of pixels of the generated image, which are coupled into the spectacle lens via the coupling-in section of the spectacle lens, in the spectacle lens to the coupling-out section to couple them out of the spectacle lens via the coupling-out section. The coupling-out section includes at least two deflecting surfaces arranged next to each other which reflect the light bundles in the direction of the rear side for the coupling out. Deflecting surfaces can be formed as a switchable layer which can be switched into a first and a second state, wherein the reflectivity of the switchable layers in the first state is higher than in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: tooz technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Dobschal, Karsten Lindig, Guenter Rudolph, Ersun Kartal, Lisa Riedel, Frank Widulle, Michael Patra
  • Patent number: 9977259
    Abstract: A method of controlling a programmable lens device comprising a programmable lens and an optical function controller, the programmable lens having an optical function and extending between at least one eye of the wearer and the real world scene when the device is used by the wearer, and the optical function controller being arranged to control the optical function of the programmable lens, the method comprising: an optical function data receiving step during which optical function data relating to the optical function of the programmable lens is received by the optical function controller, an optical function modifying step during which the optical function of the programmable electronic lens device is modified by the optical function controller based on the optical function data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Samuel Archambeau, David Escaich, Romain Fayolle, Stephane Perrot, Jean-Paul Cano, Cyril Guilloux, Benoit Callier, Vincent Yquel, Jérôme Ballet
  • Patent number: 9915812
    Abstract: A compact display module, such as can be used in wearable computing headset applications, includes a microdisplay with a display surface that is virtually imaged by a lens. The lens is positioned to receive light from the display surface of the microdisplay. The lens defines an angled fold, whereby light from a display generated at the display surface is reflected within the lens to thereby form a virtual image of the display in a virtual image plane that is angled non-perpendicularly relative to the display surface of the microdisplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney J. Bumgardner, Bor-Yeu Tsaur
  • Patent number: 9784994
    Abstract: A system for correcting human vision includes a mobile device in wireless communication with a vision correction device. The vision correction device includes lenses that are positioned to correct a user's vision. The mobile device generates adjustment information in response to receiving input information from a user. The mobile device wirelessly transmits the adjustment information to the vision correction device. The vision correction device adjusts a focal length of the lenses in response to receiving the adjustment information. The mobile device can be a smartphone or tablet computer. The input information from the user can be based on one or more of a user's finger interaction with a touchscreen and an image captured by the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Winthrop Childers
  • Patent number: 9778489
    Abstract: A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, William Kokonaski
  • Patent number: 9703120
    Abstract: This invention discloses a media substrate for incorporation into ophthalmic lenses that has been formed by the stacking of multiple functionalized layers. Additionally, methods and apparatus for providing a stacked functional layer insert for incorporation into an ophthalmic lens are also provided. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast molded from a silicone hydrogel and the lens includes at least one stacked functional layer insert portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Pugh, Frederick A. Flitsch, Daniel B. Otts, James Daniel Riall, Adam Toner
  • Patent number: 9671626
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described herein related to a see through head mountable device (HMD) configured to reduce glare originating from polarized light. Each eyeglass of the HMD is associated with a grid comprising a plurality of dynamically configurable polarization filters placed in the path of the light. A polarization analyzer module analyzes the polarization characteristics of a field of view and performs an optimization calculation. The polarization analyzer controls the said grid via a controller module in such a way that the filter state of each grid element can be addressed separately. The grid of polarization filters causes the polarization characteristics of the incident light to be adapted in such a way as to reduce glare and/or to provide a user of the said head mountable device with an enhanced visual perception of the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventor: Maximilian Ralph Peter von und zu Liechtenstein
  • Patent number: 9671612
    Abstract: A Head Mounted Display (“HMD”) includes a display module, an optical combiner, control circuitry, and a lens. The display module generates image light and the optical combiner is for combining the image light with external scene light. The lens is positioned to receive the image light. The lens is capable of dynamically changing at least one lens property of the lens. The control circuitry controls the lens to dynamically change at least one lens property of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard C. Kress, Greg E. Priest-Dorman