Patents Assigned to e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.
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Publication number: 20230086814Abstract: An eyewear system including an eyewear frame and an application module. The eyewear frame including a docking station, and an electronic connector including a first set of preconfigured application connection points. The application module adapted to be mounted to the docking station, and including an electronic device configured to perform a function, and a second set of preconfigured application connection points corresponding to at least some of the first set of preconfigured application connection points. The second set of preconfigured application connection points including at least two different sub-function connections used to support the function of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, Yongping Wang, Mark Graham, William Kokonaski, Richard Clompus
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Publication number: 20230028581Abstract: A lens including a flexible refractive optic having a fixed refractive index, an electro active element embedded within the flexible refractive optic, wherein the electro-active element has an alterable refractive index, and a controller electrically, connected to the electro-active element wherein when power is applied thereto the refractive index of the electro-active element is altered.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, Joshua N. Haddock, William Kokonaski, John M. Hunkeler
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Patent number: 11526029Abstract: An electro-active lens provides simultaneous focusing at two different optical powers. It does this with a stack of electro-active lens elements aligned along the same optical axis that each focus light in different polarization states (e.g., horizontal and vertical polarization states). If a first and second electro-active lens elements have different optical powers, light in a first polarization state can be focused to one optical power and light in a second polarization state can be focused to a different optical power simultaneously. The electro-active lens can be switched between different single and multiple optical powers. People with presbyopia may use the electro-active lens mounted in eyewear in place of conventional bifocal glasses. The electro-active lens may also be used in a scope to improve target aiming.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventor: Anthony Van Heugten
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Publication number: 20220390767Abstract: 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 wrist watch 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, William Kokonaski, Dwight P. Duston
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Patent number: 11513416Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, apparatus, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a process, method, and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, generating a gradient in an index of refraction of a material.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignees: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc., Kent State UniversityInventors: Liwei Li, Anthony Van Heugten, Dwight P. Duston, Phil Bos, Douglas Bryant
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Patent number: 11487138Abstract: An eyewear system including an eyewear frame and an application module. The eyewear frame including a docking station, and an electronic connector including a first set of preconfigured application connection points. The application module adapted to be mounted to the docking station, and including an electronic device configured to perform a function, and a second set of preconfigured application connection points corresponding to at least some of the first set of preconfigured application connection points. The second set of preconfigured application connection points including at least two different sub-function connections used to support the function of the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Ronald Blum, Yongping Wang, Mark Graham, William Kokonaski, Richard Clompus
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Publication number: 20220342274Abstract: A conventional liquid crystal lens switches on and off so slowly that a person can perceive the lens's gradual transition from high to low optical power. This makes a conventional liquid crystal lens unsuitable for focusing virtual images quickly in an augmented, mixed, or virtual reality system. Conversely, an inventive fast-switching electroactive lens system can switch so fast (e.g., in 35 milliseconds or less) that a person perceives its optical power to change instantaneously. The system accomplishes this fast switching with using an electroactive wave plate in series with slower liquid-crystal lenses. The wave place can be switched quickly between emitting vertically or horizontally polarized light. Each lens focuses either vertically or horizontally polarized light and transmits orthogonally polarized light. By switching between polarization states, the wave plate effectively turns one lens on and the other lens off much faster than either lens could be switched by itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Van Heugten, Yingfei JIANG
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Patent number: 11474380Abstract: A lens including a flexible refractive optic having a fixed refractive index, an electro-active element embedded within the flexible refractive optic, wherein the electro-active element has an alterable refractive index, and a controller electrically connected to the electro-active element wherein when power is applied thereto the refractive index of the electro-active element is altered.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2018Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, Joshua N. Haddock, William Kokonaski, John M. Hunkeler
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Publication number: 20220324188Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optic includes disposing electronic circuitry on a substrate. The method also includes depositing a first resin on the first side of the electronic circuitry and curing the first resin to form a first optical segment. The method further includes depositing a second resin on the second side of the electronic circuitry and curing the second resin to form a second optical segment. The first and second optical segments encapsulate the electronic circuitry. The first resin and the second resin can include multiple droplets of resin, thereby reducing mechanical force imposed on the electronic circuitry during printing and allowing conformal contact between the resin and the electronic circuitry. Accordingly, electronic circuitry of smaller dimension can be used to form the electronic eyewear.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Van Heugten, Joel D. Zychick
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Publication number: 20220317457Abstract: Transparent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) can be used as light-emitting pixels in a near-eye display for augmented reality applications. The light from these pixels can be switchably tuned and/or steered with tunable beam-steering and focusing elements, also called tunable micro-lenses. These tunable micro-lenses are arranged in an array and mated to the array of pixels, for example, by embedding in a spectacle lens. The tunable micro-lenses use fast-switching half-wave plates to selectively focus and/or tilt light from the pixels. By switching the light from the pixels between resolvable positions/angles at a rate faster than the flicker fusion threshold (e.g., 60 Hz), the tunable micro-lenses can effectively double the apparent resolution of the near-eye display. And by switching between focusing and non-focusing states at the same rate, the tunable micro-lenses can effectively superimpose the virtual images from the pixels on the real-world image visible through the pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventor: Anthony Van Heugten
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Publication number: 20220317540Abstract: Resistive bridges can connect many ring electrodes in an electro-active lens with a relatively small number of buss lines. These resistors are usually large to prevent excessive current consumption. Conventionally, they are disposed in the same plane as the ring electrodes, which means that the ring electrodes are spaced farther apart or made discontinuous to accommodate the resistors. But spacing the ring electrodes farther apart or making them discontinuous degrades the lens's optical quality. Placing the ring electrodes and resistors on layers separated by an insulator makes it possible for the ring electrodes to be closer together and continuous with resistance high enough to limit current consumption. It also relaxes constraints on feature sizes and placement during the process used to make the lens. And because the resistors and electrodes are on different planes, they can be formed of materials with different resistivities.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Van Heugten, Harry Milton
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Publication number: 20220308392Abstract: A typical liquid crystal lens includes liquid crystal sandwiched between transparent substrates, which are patterned with ring electrodes. Applying a voltage across the electrodes causes the liquid crystal molecules to rotate, changing their apparent refractive index and the lens's focal length. The ring electrodes are separated by gaps and get narrower toward the lens's periphery. If the ring electrodes are too narrower, their cannot switch the liquid crystal well. To address this problem, an inventive liquid crystal lens includes a substrate with a stepped surface that defines concentric liquid crystal regions with thicknesses that increase with lens radius. Each region is switched by a different set of ring electrodes, which may be on, under, or opposite the stepped surface. Within each region, the ring electrodes get narrower farther from the lens's center. But the ring electrodes' widths also increase with liquid crystal thickness, offsetting the decrease in width that degrades lens performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventor: Anthony Van Heugten
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Publication number: 20220291526Abstract: An electro-active lens provides simultaneous focusing at two different optical powers. It does this with a stack of electro-active lens elements aligned along the same optical axis that each focus light in different polarization states (e.g., horizontal and vertical polarization states). If a first and second electro-active lens elements have different optical powers, light in a first polarization state can be focused to one optical power and light in a second polarization state can be focused to a different optical power simultaneously. The electro-active lens can be switched between different single and multiple optical powers. People with presbyopia may use the electro-active lens mounted in eyewear in place of conventional bifocal glasses. The electro-active lens may also be used in a scope to improve target aiming.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2021Publication date: September 15, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventor: Anthony Van Heugten
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Patent number: 11422389Abstract: 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 wrist watch 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski, Dwight Duston
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Publication number: 20220244539Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2021Publication date: August 4, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventor: Anthony Van Heugten
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Patent number: 11397367Abstract: Resistive bridges can connect many ring electrodes in an electro-active lens with a relatively small number of buss lines. These resistors are usually large to prevent excessive current consumption. Conventionally, they are disposed in the same plane as the ring electrodes, which means that the ring electrodes are spaced farther apart or made discontinuous to accommodate the resistors. But spacing the ring electrodes farther apart or making them discontinuous degrades the lens's optical quality. Placing the ring electrodes and resistors on layers separated by an insulator makes it possible for the ring electrodes to be closer together and continuous with resistance high enough to limit current consumption. It also relaxes constraints on feature sizes and placement during the process used to make the lens. And because the resistors and electrodes are on different planes, they can be formed of materials with different resistivities.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2021Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Van Heugten, Harry Milton
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Publication number: 20220214565Abstract: An electro-active lens is presented which utilizes a surface relief structures and an electro-active material, with a change in refractive index facilitating the change in optical properties. A molded structure and a liquid crystal are used to form a diffractive lens. In addition to the classical approach of utilizing diffractive optics and multiple Fresnel zones to form a lens, an additional structure is placed between Fresnel zones in order to improve the diffraction efficiency across the visible spectrum and reduce chromatic aberration.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Van Heugten, Harry Milton
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Publication number: 20220214595Abstract: A beam steering device includes a substrate with a first refractive index that defines a cavity, an electroactive material in the cavity that has a variable refractive index, and two sets of opposing overlays. The overlays in one set of opposing overlays are parallel to each other, while the overlays in the other set are tilted with respect to each other. This allows one or more electric fields between the overlays to be used to align the electroactive material in two different directions to change its refractive index, allowing for a faster speed of beam steering through refraction than conventional approaches.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventor: Anthony Van Heugten
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Patent number: 11370185Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optic includes disposing electronic circuitry on a substrate. The method also includes depositing a first resin on the first side of the electronic circuitry and curing the first resin to form a first optical segment. The method further includes depositing a second resin on the second side of the electronic circuitry and curing the second resin to form a second optical segment. The first and second optical segments encapsulate the electronic circuitry. The first resin and the second resin can include multiple droplets of resin, thereby reducing mechanical force imposed on the electronic circuitry during printing and allowing conformal contact between the resin and the electronic circuitry. Accordingly, electronic circuitry of smaller dimension can be used to form the electronic eyewear.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Van Heugten, Joel D. Zychick
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Publication number: 20220171235Abstract: A see-through near eye display, which can be modulated in such a manner to synchronize with electronic enabled micro-lenses of a switchable micro-lens array, wherein when pixels of the near eye display are lit the micro-lenses of the micro-lens array are present; thus, a virtual image can be formed and seen by the eye of a user. When the see-through near eye display is not lit, the micro-lenses are not present, thus permitting a real image to be present.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2021Publication date: June 2, 2022Applicant: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventor: Ronald Blum