Patents by Inventor Ronald Blum

Ronald Blum 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: 20130242253
    Abstract: Eyewear is provided including a frame, a visor attached to frame and a heads up display. The heads up display may be housed in the visor. The visor may be configured to be positioned in multiple positions relative to the pupil of a wearer's eye, and/or adjustably positioned so that the heads up display may be transitioned between positions within the line of sight of the wearer and out of the line of sight of the wearer. The heads up display may be configured to be controlled by a remote controller, e.g. a wrist watch. The heads up display may be monocular or binocular. The eyewear may also include an electro-active lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: E-VISION LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski
  • Publication number: 20130235332
    Abstract: Eyewear is provided including a frame and an electronic docking station. The docking station may be configured to provide power to a docked electrical component, such as a camera, an audio player, a video player, etc. The electrical component docked into the docking station may provide a power source. The eyewear may also include an electro-active lens and/or a heads up display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: E-VISION LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski
  • Publication number: 20130215374
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: PIXELOPTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, Yongping Wang, Mark Graham, William Kokonaski, Richard Clompus
  • Publication number: 20130070198
    Abstract: Eyewear including an optical functional member, control electronics, and a sealed electrical connective element connecting the electronics to the optical functional member. The connective element can directly connect the electronics to the optical functional member, or can connect through an intermediate contact, e.g., a plug-and-receptacle. The connective element can be routed from the electronics, around a rimlock of the eyewear to the optical functional member. The connective element can be a conductive compressible member, such as conductive rubber. In some embodiments, the connective element can be a multiconductor cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: PixelOptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Willey, Joshua Haddock, Mark Graham, Claudio Dalla Longa, Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski
  • Publication number: 20130050639
    Abstract: An ophthalmic lens including an electro-active optical element including a substrate; a liquid crystalline material; and at least one first layer. The at least one first layer can include a layer of silicon oxide (SiOx) disposed between the liquid crystalline material and the substrate, and deposited onto a surface of the substrate at an oblique angle in reference to a plane normal to the mean surface of the substrate facing the liquid crystalline material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: PixelOptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Anita Trajkovska, Joshua N. Haddock, Ronald Blum, Amitava Gupta, Marko Theodoor Blom, Peter Tijssen
  • Publication number: 20130027655
    Abstract: An electro-active optical cell is described including a layer of electro-active material, a front glass substrate member, and a back glass substrate member. The optical cell is capable of independently providing changeable optical power with the application of an electrical potential. The cell is also configured to be affixed to an external surface of a plastic substrate and to provide the changeable optical power, with at least one of the front substrate or the back substrate of the optical cell being an outermost optical layer. The layer of electro-active material may have a thickness less than 10 ?m, and the glass substrate members may each have a thickness approximately between 20 ?m and 500 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: PixelOptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, Amitava Gupta, William Kokonaski, Venkatramani Iyer
  • Patent number: 8337014
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to integrating electronic components into an electro-active frame for driving electro-active focusing lenses. This is accomplished in a cosmetically pleasing manner that allows a platform of frame systems to be built from a single electronic module. Specifically, the present invention discloses controlling an electro-active lens in a deliberate, hands free manner that gives the user control of the electro-active lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: PixelOptics, Inc.
    Inventors: William Kokonaski, Ronald Blum, Tiziano Tabacchi, Martin Boch, Massimo Pinazza, Scott N. Richman, Volkan Ozguz, Joshua N. Haddock
  • Publication number: 20120300171
    Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses are described including a deformable layer and a deformable membrane disposed opposite the deformable layer. The lens is configured with at least two regions of adjustable optical power, such as by using a patterned electrode which is used to drive the membrane move axially along an optical path of the lens. A surface of the deformable layer is configured to expand and/or contract based on movement of the membrane along the optical path of the lens, such as by bonding one side of the deformable layer to the membrane and bonding the other side to a fixed optical element layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: PixelOptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Amitava Gupta, Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski
  • Publication number: 20120229754
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may provide an electro-active lens. The electro-active lens may comprise a first substrate, a second substrate, and an electro-active element disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The electro-active element may be configured to alter the optical power of at least a portion of the electro-active lens. The first substrate may comprise a different material than the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: PixelOptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkatramani Iyer, Robert S. Hall, Randall Blevins, Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski
  • Publication number: 20120212696
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a first optical device may be provided. The first optical device may include a first substrate, a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising a controlled pattern of features each having a dimension of at most 2 microns, and a liquid crystal layer disposed adjacent to the alignment layer that includes liquid crystal molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: PixelOptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Anita Trajkovska, Ronald Blum, Joshua Haddock, William Kokonaski
  • Publication number: 20110090455
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide an ophthalmic lens comprising at least one regressive and at least one non-regressive rotationally symmetric optical design element. The regressive and non-regressive optical design elements can be combined so as to form a desired optical power profile for the lens while simultaneously exploiting the different relative orientation of the astigmatic vectors of the constituent regressive and non-regressive design elements, thereby resulting in reduced unwanted astigmatism. The regressive and non-regressive rotationally symmetric optical design elements can be positioned on different lens surfaces and in optical communication or can be collapsed onto the same lens surface. The regressive and non-regressive rotationally symmetric optical design elements can each contribute to the total add power of an ophthalmic lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: PixelOptics
    Inventors: Amitava Gupta, Ronald Blum, Stefan Troller, Hans Jaeger, Julien Sauvet, Urban Schnell
  • Patent number: 7588332
    Abstract: A lens system and optical devices that provide enhanced vision correction are disclosed. The lens system includes an electro-active layer that provides correction of at least one higher order aberration. The higher order correction changes dynamically based on a user of the lens system's needs, such as a change by the user's gaze distance, pupil size, or changes in tear film following blinking, among others. Optical devices are also described that use these and other lens systems to provide correction of higher order aberrations. An optical guide is also described that guides the user's line of sight to see through a lens region having a correction for a higher order aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Pixel Optics
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski, Dwight P. Duston
  • Patent number: 7556376
    Abstract: A film suitable for use in an ophthalmic system is provided. The film may selectively inhibit blue light within the wavelength range of 400 nm to 460 nm to reduce phototoxic light to the eye while maintaining photopic vision, and may be color balanced to allow for the system into which the film is incorporated to be perceived as colorless to a viewer observing and/or using the system. The system may have a photopic and scotopic luminous transmission of 85% or more and a phototoxicity ratio of less than 80%. When used in an ophthalmic system or other system disposed between an observer's eye and a light source, the film may reduce the flux of blue light to the internal structures of the eye while reducing or minimizing dilation of the pupil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: High Performance Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Ishak, Joshua N. Haddock, William Kokonaski, Ronald Blum, Venkatramani S. Iyer, Mark M. Mattison-Shupnick
  • Patent number: 7490936
    Abstract: A lens system and optical devices that provide enhanced vision correction are disclosed. The lens system includes an electro-active layer that provides correction of at least one higher order aberration. The higher order correction changes dynamically based on a user of the lens system's needs, such as a change by the user's gaze distance, pupil size, or changes in tear film following blinking, among others. Optical devices are also described that use these and other lens systems to provide correction of higher order aberrations. An optical guide is also described that guides the user's line of sight to see through a lens region having a correction for a higher order aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: E-Vision LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski, Dwight P. Dusion
  • Publication number: 20090040060
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a portable electronic device comprising a power storage device by means of which the electronic device is supplied or can be supplied either indirectly or directly with power. The inventive method is characterized in that a date/period is stored in the electronic device and that a charge status indication regarding the charge status of the electronic device is output depending on the charge status of the power storage device and on the date/period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Kay Anbuhl, Ronald Blum
  • Publication number: 20080239236
    Abstract: A lens system and optical devices that provide enhanced vision correction are disclosed. The lens system includes an electro-active layer that provides correction of at least one higher order aberration. The higher order correction changes dynamically based on a user of the lens system's needs, such as a change by the user's gaze distance, pupil size, or changes in tear film following blinking, among others. Optical devices are also described that use these and other lens systems to provide correction of higher order aberrations. An optical guide is also described that guides the user's line of sight to see through a lens region having a correction for a higher order aberration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Ronald BLUM, William KOKONASKI, Dwight P. DUSTON
  • Patent number: 7374283
    Abstract: A lens system and optical devices that provide enhanced vision correction are disclosed. The lens system includes an electro-active layer that provides correction of at least one higher order aberration. The higher order correction changes dynamically based on a user of the lens system's needs, such as a change by the user's gaze distance, pupil size, or changes in tear film following blinking, among others. Optical devices are also described that use these and other lens systems to provide correction of higher order aberrations. An optical guide is also described that guides the user's line of sight to see through a lens region having a correction for a higher order aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: E-Vision, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski, Dwight P. Duston
  • Publication number: 20080106633
    Abstract: A lens system for dynamically collecting refractive error is disclosed, the lens system comprising: a lens having at least one electro-active element having a refractive property that is alterable, the lens being capable of being shaped to fit a housing without hindering performance of the electro-active element, a controller in communication with each of the at least one electro-active element thereto, and an input generator adapted for generating an input signal and transmitting the input signal to the controller, the input signal being generated based at least in part on an input parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski, Dwight Duston
  • Publication number: 20080106694
    Abstract: This invention relates to temples or end-pieces of temples for eyeglass frames. The temples are disclosed as having a wide variety of electrical and/or electronic components housed therein. Temples and hinges are also disclosed which attach to either the eyeglass frame itself or to the surface of a lens and which break apart from its attachment upon an impact without damage to the temple, the hinge, the frame, or the surface of the lens. A hinge is also disclosed for connecting a temple having a power source to an eyeglass frame and for providing an electrical connection with the frame only when the temple is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Ronald Blum, William Kokonaski, Dwight Duston, Ian Shakil, Nelson Roos, Charlotte Hanks, Daniel Lentz, Bridget Barry, Elizabeth Groeger, Martin Riofrio
  • Publication number: 20080106695
    Abstract: A low power indicator for electro-active spectacle lenses is presented in which the low power indicator is a part of a controller for the electro-active spectacle lenses or is operably connected to the controller. The low power indicator may generate a signal when the power of the power source for the electro-active spectacle lenses is low. The signal may be used by the controller, or other circuitry to activate an indication to a user of the lenses that the power is low. Such an indication may be periodically activating and deactivating one of an optical power of the electro-active lenses, a vibration source, a visible light source, or an audible sound source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: William Kokonaski, James Bochnowski, Ronald Blum, Joshua Haddock