Patents by Inventor Chris Laning

Chris Laning has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230185078
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising: a container (2) forming a fluidic lens, the container (2) comprising a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (10), a transparent optical element (20) facing the membrane (10), and a wall member (3), wherein the optical element (20) and the membrane (10) are connected to the wall member, and wherein said container encloses a volume (V) that is filled with a fluid (F), a lens shaping part (11) that is in contact with said membrane (10) for defining a curvature adjustable area (10c) of the membrane (10), which area (10c) faces said optical element (20), and a circumferential lens barrel (50) extending in an axial direction, which lens barrel (50) surrounds an opening (50c) in which at least one rigid lens (51) is arranged that is held by the lens barrel (50), and a voice coil motor (5) that is designed to move the lens shaping part (11) along an axial direction (z) with respect to said container (2), so as to adjust a curvature of said
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Nextlens Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Michael BUEELER, David NIEDERER, Chris LANING, Roman PATSCHEIDER
  • Patent number: 11579435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising: a container (2) forming a fluidic lens, the container (2) comprising a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (10), a transparent optical element (20) facing the membrane (10), and a wall member (3), wherein the optical element (20) and the membrane (10) are connected to the wall member, and wherein said container encloses a volume (V) that is filled with a fluid (F), a lens shaping part (11) that is in contact with said membrane (10) for defining a curvature adjustable area (10c) of the membrane (10), which area (10c) faces said optical element (20), and a circumferential lens barrel (50) extending in an axial direction, which lens barrel (50) surrounds an opening (50c) in which at least one rigid lens (51) is arranged that is held by the lens barrel (50), and a voice coil motor (5) that is designed to move the lens shaping part (11) along an axial direction (z) with respect to said container (2), so as to adjust a curvature of said
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, Michael Bueeler, David Niederer, Chris Laning, Roman Patscheider
  • Publication number: 20220066239
    Abstract: The present invention relates to An optical device (1), particularly for an ophthalmic device, comprising: a container (2) enclosing an internal space (3) of the container (2), wherein the internal space (3) is filled with a transparent liquid (L), and wherein the container (2) comprises a transparent bottom (21) and a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (22) opposing said bottom (21) such that the liquid (L) is arranged between the membrane (22) and the bottom (21), a deformable annular lens shaping element (4) connected to the membrane (22) so that a circumferential edge (41) of the lens shaping element (4) defines a central area (23) of the membrane (22) so that light can pass through the container (2) via the central area (23) and the bottom (21), wherein in a non-deformed state said edge (41) lies in a plane, and an adjustable spherical power and an adjustable cylindrical power, wherein for adapting the cylindrical power of the optical device (1), the lens shaping element (4) is configured to
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Roman PATSCHEIDER, Manuel ASCHWANDEN, David Andreas NIEDERER, Chris LANING, Aaron GERRATT
  • Publication number: 20220011473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lens (1) having an adjustable focal length, comprising: a container (2) enclosing an internal space (3) of the container (2), wherein the internal space (3) is filled with a transparent liquid (L), and wherein the container (2) comprises a circumferential lateral wall (20) surrounding said internal space (3), wherein the lateral wall (20) is connected to a transparent cover element (21) and to a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (22) such that the liquid (L) is arranged between the membrane (22) and the cover element (21), an annular lens shaper (4) connected to the membrane (22) so that an inner circumferential edge (40) of the lens shaper (4) defines a central area (23) of the membrane (22) and light passing said area (23) is refracted depending on a curvature of said area (23), and an actuator configured to move the lens shaper (4) towards or away from the cover element (21) to adjust said curvature of said area (23) of the lens (1) and therewith the focal length of
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE AG
    Inventors: Stephan SMOLKA, Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Chris LANING, Roman PATSCHEIDER, Johannes HAASE, David Andreas NIEDERER
  • Publication number: 20200124839
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising: a container (2) forming a fluidic lens, the container (2) comprising a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (10), a transparent optical element (20) facing the membrane (10), and a wall member (3), wherein the optical element (20) and the membrane (10) are connected to the wall member, and wherein said container encloses a volume (V) that is filled with a fluid (F), a lens shaping part (11) that is in contact with said membrane (10) for defining a curvature adjustable area (10c) of the membrane (10), which area (10c) faces said optical element (20), and a circumferential lens barrel (50) extending in an axial direction, which lens barrel (50) surrounds an opening (50c) in which at least one rigid lens (51) is arranged that is held by the lens barrel (50), and a voice coil motor (5) that is designed to move the lens shaping part (11) along an axial direction (z) with respect to said container (2), so as to adjust a curvature of said
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AG
    Inventors: Manuel ASCHWANDEN, Michael BUEELER, David NIEDERER, Chris LANING, Roman PATSCHEIDER
  • Patent number: 7183938
    Abstract: A rotating beacon system and a method for synchronizing multiple rotating beacons. The rotating beacon system includes two or more rotating beacons and a feedback based control system adapted to sense an angular position of each of the two or more rotating beacons and generate two or more digitally controlled currents, each of the two or more digitally controlled currents conducted to an associated rotating beacon, the two or more digitally controlled currents driving and controlling the angular speed of each of the two or more rotating beacons to regulate a pre-selected phase relationship between multiple beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Electronic Controls Company
    Inventors: Scott McKendry, Chris Laning, Kevin Brewster, Richard Ireland
  • Publication number: 20060055562
    Abstract: A rotating beacon system and a method for synchronizing multiple rotating beacons. The rotating beacon system includes two or more rotating beacons and a feedback based control system adapted to sense an angular position of each of the two or more rotating beacons and generate two or more digitally controlled currents, each of the two or more digitally controlled currents conducted to an associated rotating beacon, the two or more digitally controlled currents driving and controlling the angular speed of each of the two or more rotating beacons to regulate a pre-selected phase relationship between multiple beacons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Scott McKenory, Chris Laning, Kevin Brewster, Richard Ireland