Abstract: An actuator for a fluid-filled lens including a housing having a first and a second end; a reservoir disposed within the housing. In an embodiment, a slider is slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the reservoir. In an embodiment, the actuator further includes a compression arm having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir. Sliding the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the slider to push the second end of the compression arm so as to compress the reservoir. In an embodiment, the slider includes a first end having a wedge shape configured to compress the reservoir. Sliding of the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the first end of the slider to compress the reservoir.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses and manufacturing methods for a fluid filled lens reservoir system. The eyeglass reservoir system includes a temple piece having a cavity, a bladder positioned within the cavity and configured to repeatedly compress and relax, the bladder being made of a flexible material, and a connecting tube coupled to an inlet port of a lens module and to the bladder, configured to carry a fluid between the bladder and a fluid filled lens cavity of the lens module. The eyeglass reservoir system further comprises a compression arm contacting the bladder and configured to transmit force from an actuator to the bladder to cause movement of the fluid between the bladder and the connecting tube. The bladder and connecting tube are made of a flexible material such as polyvinyledende difluoride. The connecting tube further comprises a flared end configured to couple to the inlet port of the lens module.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a non-powered actuator arm for controlling liquid flow to a fluid-filled lens are described herein. A vertical tweezer assembly compresses a reservoir of solution in a first vertical direction by lateral disposition of a slider mounted on the outside of the housing. The assembly may also be shaped to provide compression of the reservoir in a second horizontal direction by lateral disposition of a slider. In another embodiment, a housing may contain a piston that moves laterally within the housing and collapses the reservoir disposed adjacent to the piston and also within the housing. The housing may contain a plurality of compressible domes which can each be compressed to cause a local compression on the reservoir disposed within the housing. Compression of the reservoir causes liquid inflation of a lens module.

Abstract: An embodiment of a piezoelectric actuator system for a fluid-filled lens is described herein. A piezoelectric reservoir is provided encompassing a fluid. In an embodiment, the reservoir is disposed around the perimeter of a lens module within a housing. In an embodiment, electrodes are woven into the reservoir and connected to a power source. An applied potential causes the reservoir to flex with a magnitude and direction related to the amplitude and polarity respectively of the potential. In an embodiment, flexing of the reservoir causes fluid to either inflate or deflate the fluid-filled lens module.

Abstract: An optical and mechanical design of a sealed, non-round fluid-filled lens capable of providing variation of optical power. The fluid lens includes at least three optical components: at least one mostly rigid optical disc, at least one mostly flexible optical membrane and a layer of a transparent fluid that is in communication via a fluid channel with a reservoir of excess fluid contained in a reservoir that can be accessed to augment the fluid volume inside the fluid lens to change the power of the fluid lens. The fluid lens is capable of providing correction of spherical and astigmatic errors, and utilizes contoured membranes to minimize image aberrations.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a hinge for a fluid-filled lens assembly includes a base having a first end configured to connect to a temple arm of the lens assembly and a second end configured to connect to a frame of the lens assembly, wherein the base includes a gap that is shaped to allow for tubing to pass from the first end to the second end of the base. In an embodiment, the first end of the base includes a cammed surface configured to engage a surface of the temple arm. In an embodiment, the first and second ends of the base are configured to flex around a rotation axis of the hinge.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for an adjustable fluid-filled lens is provided. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly includes a clamp configured to adjust the optical power of the fluid lens module when the clamp is compressed. In some embodiments, a magnetic element is configured to adjust the optical power of the fluid-filled lens. In some embodiments, a plunger changes the optical power of the fluid lens module. In some embodiments, a reservoir is configured such that deformation of the reservoir changes the optical power of the fluid-filled lens. In some embodiments, a balloon is configured to deform the reservoir. In some embodiments, an adjustable fluid-filled lens includes a septum configured to be pierceable by a needle and automatically and fluidly seal a fluid chamber after withdrawal of the needle. In some embodiments, a thermal element can heat fluid within a fluid chamber to change an optical power of the lens module.

Abstract: An actuator for a fluid-filled lens including a housing having a first and a second end; a reservoir disposed within the housing. In an embodiment, a slider is slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the reservoir. In an embodiment, the actuator further includes a compression arm having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir. Sliding the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the slider to push the second end of the compression arm so as to compress the reservoir. In an embodiment, the slider includes a first end having a wedge shape configured to compress the reservoir. Sliding of the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the first end of the slider to compress the reservoir.

Abstract: A fluid-filled adjustable contact lens is provided. An exemplary contact lens includes a lens chamber configured to be positioned on a pupil of a user wearing the contact lens; a reservoir fluidly connected to the lens chamber; an actuator configured to transfer fluid back and forth between the lens chamber and the reservoir; a sensor configured to sense movement from the user and transmit a control signal when a predetermined movement is performed by the user; and a processor configured to actuate the actuator upon receipt of the control signal from the sensor.

Abstract: An optical and mechanical design of a sealed, non-round fluid-filled lens capable of providing variation of optical power. The fluid lens includes at least three optical components: at least one mostly rigid optical disc, at least one mostly flexible optical membrane and a layer of a transparent fluid that is in communication via a fluid channel with a reservoir of excess fluid contained in a reservoir that can be accessed to augment the fluid volume inside the fluid lens to change the power of the fluid lens. The fluid lens is capable of providing correction of spherical and astigmatic errors, and utilizes contoured membranes to provide for a substantially constant desired spherical power over a substantially full field of view of a user.

Abstract: An endoscope realized as either a borescope or a fiberscope including one or more fluid filled lenses is described. In an embodiment, the optical power of the fluid filled lenses may be adjusted to adjust the focal length associated with the endoscope. Thus, variable working distances are allowable while maintaining focus on an object in front of the endoscope. The endoscope may include a distance sensor, which is used to determine a distance between the endoscope and a sample. A processor may compare the measured distance to the current optical power of the one or more sealed fluid filled lenses. The processor may transmit signals to one or more actuators coupled to one or more sealed fluid filed lenses to change the optical power of the one or more sealed fluid filled lenses based on the comparison.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a non-powered actuator arm for controlling liquid flow to a fluid-filled lens are described herein. A vertical tweezer assembly compresses a reservoir of solution in a first vertical direction by lateral disposition of a slider mounted on the outside of the housing. The assembly may also be shaped to provide compression of the reservoir in a second horizontal direction by lateral disposition of a slider. In another embodiment, a housing may contain a piston that moves laterally within the housing and collapses the reservoir disposed adjacent to the piston and also within the housing. The housing may contain a plurality of compressible domes which can each be compressed to cause a local compression on the reservoir disposed within the housing. Compression of the reservoir causes liquid inflation of a lens module.

Abstract: An embodiment of a piezoelectric actuator system for a fluid-filled lens is described herein. A piezoelectric reservoir is provided encompassing a fluid. In an embodiment, the reservoir is disposed around the perimeter of a lens module within a housing. In an embodiment, electrodes are woven into the reservoir and connected to a power source. An applied potential causes the reservoir to flex with a magnitude and direction related to the amplitude and polarity respectively of the potential. In an embodiment, flexing of the reservoir causes fluid to either inflate or deflate the fluid-filled lens module.

Abstract: A fluid lens assembly including a front rigid lens, a semi-flexible membrane that is adapted to be expanded from a minimum inflation level to a maximum inflation level, and a fluid layer therebetween. The front lens of the fluid lens assembly is configured to have a negative optical power. In an embodiment, the fluid lens assembly may be configured to have an overall negative optical power when the membrane is expanded to the maximum inflation level. In an embodiment, the fluid lens assembly can be configured to have an overall negative optical power when the membrane is expanded between the minimum inflation level and the maximum inflation level.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a hinge for a fluid-filled lens assembly includes a base having a first end configured to connect to a temple arm of the lens assembly and a second end configured to connect to a frame of the lens assembly, wherein the base includes a gap that is shaped to allow for tubing to pass from the first end to the second end of the base. In an embodiment, the first end of the base includes a cammed surface configured to engage a surface of the temple arm. In an embodiment, the first and second ends of the base are configured to flex around a rotation axis of the hinge.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses and manufacturing methods for a fluid filled lens reservoir system. The eyeglass reservoir system includes a temple piece having a cavity, a bladder positioned within the cavity and configured to repeatedly compress and relax, the bladder being made of a flexible material, and a connecting tube coupled to an inlet port of a lens module and to the bladder, configured to carry a fluid between the bladder and a fluid filled lens cavity of the lens module. The eyeglass reservoir system further comprises a compression arm contacting the bladder and configured to transmit force from an actuator to the bladder to cause movement of the fluid between the bladder and the connecting tube. The bladder and connecting tube are made of a flexible material such as polyvinyledende difluoride. The connecting tube further comprises a flared end configured to couple to the inlet port of the lens module.

Abstract: An optical and mechanical design of a sealed, non-round fluid-filled lens capable of providing variation of optical power. The fluid lens includes at least three optical components: at least one mostly rigid optical disc, at least one mostly flexible optical membrane and a layer of a transparent fluid that is in communication via a fluid channel with a reservoir of excess fluid contained in a reservoir that can be accessed to augment the fluid volume inside the fluid lens to change the power of the fluid lens. The fluid lens is capable of providing correction of spherical and astigmatic errors, and utilizes contoured membranes to minimize image aberrations.