Ophthalmic device with adjustable filtering characteristics

Abstract

The present invention provides an ophthalmic device (110) having adjustable filtering characteristics, the ophthalmic device including at least one polarizer (119) and at least one half-wave plate (120), the at least one half-wave plate being rotatable relative to the polarizer (119) to thereby adjust the filtering characteristics for a polarized light beam (151) that successively encounters the half-wave plate (120) and then the polarizer (119).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ophthalmic device having adjustable filtering characteristics, such as filtering characteristics with respect to a polarized light beam. Background Art

[0002] U.S. Patent Application US 2018 / 0017780 discloses an ophthalmic device provided with an optically variable color filter configured such that the hue or chromaticity of light transmitted through the optically variable color filter can be changed.

[0003] In one embodiment, the filter includes two polarizers, one of which is rotatable to change the hue or chromaticity of light transmitted through the optical filter.

[0004] In another embodiment, the optically variable color filter includes two polarizing films and a liquid crystal polarization rotator interposed between the polarizing films. The liquid crystal polarization rotator has two states depending on whether a voltage is applied thereto. When no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal polarization rotator, the plane of polarization of light at the output of one of the two polarizing films rotates (active state); while when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal polarization rotator, the plane of polarization of light at the output of the polarizing film does not rotate (inactive state). In the active state, the rotation of the plane of polarization allows the hue or chromaticity of light transmitted through the optical filter to be changed; while in the inactive state, the hue or chromaticity does not change. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to an ophthalmic device having adjustable filtering characteristics, such as filtering characteristics for the polarization component of a polarized light beam, which is improved, optimized, more convenient, simple, economical, and easy to manufacture.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides an ophthalmic device having adjustable filtering characteristics, the ophthalmic device including at least one polarizer and at least one half-wave plate, the at least one half-wave plate being rotatable relative to the polarizer to thereby adjust the filtering characteristics for a polarized light beam that successively encounters the half-wave plate and then the polarizer.

[0007] By rotating the half-wave plate, the angle between the plane of polarization of the polarized light beam at the input of the polarizer and the polarization axis of the polarizer can be adjusted. The polarizer then blocks or in other words filters the polarized light beam depending on this angle.

[0008] Therefore, by rotating the half-wave plate, the filtering characteristics of the ophthalmic device with respect to the polarized light beam can be adjusted.

[0009] In addition, when the half-wave plate is rotated by a predetermined angle, the plane of polarization of the polarized light beam passing through the half-wave plate rotates by twice this predetermined angle.

[0010] Thus, the required range of rotation angle of the half-wave plate can be half of the desired range of angle between the plane of polarization of light and the polarization axis of the polarizer.

[0011] The polarized light beam can include an unpolarized component (i.e., a randomly polarized component) and a polarized component having the plane of polarization. Such a polarized light beam can be generated, for example, by a solar light beam reflected by a snow-covered surface in the user environment of the ophthalmic device.

[0012] It should be noted that due to the combination of the above-mentioned half-wave plate and the polarizer, the ophthalmic device of the present invention can filter only the polarized component and basically does not filter the unpolarized component. And such an unpolarized component can be polarized by the polarizer. Therefore, by rotating the half-wave plate, the polarized component will be more or less cut off from the polarized light beam, but the unpolarized component is basically not cut off, so that the overall transmittance of the ophthalmic device with respect to the polarized light beam will not be substantially changed by rotating the half-wave plate.

[0013] According to the present invention, the half-wave plate is mechanically actuated. The mechanical nature of the rotational movement of the half-wave plate relative to the polarizer provides a robust and simple ophthalmic device.

[0014] More generally, it should be noted that the assembly formed by the half-wave plate and the polarizer of the ophthalmic device behaves like a virtual polarizer whose polarization axis can rotate relative to the plane of polarization of this polarized light beam.

[0015] According to another advantageous and convenient feature, the polarizer can rotate relative to the half-wave plate.

[0016] By rotating the polarizer, the angle between the plane of polarization of the polarized light beam and the polarization axis of the polarizer at the input of the polarizer can be further adjusted.

[0017] When the polarizer is rotated by a predetermined angle, the angle between the plane of polarization of the polarized light beam and the polarization axis of the polarizer at the input of the polarizer decreases or increases depending on this predetermined angle.

[0018] Therefore, compared with the half-wave plate, by rotating the polarizer, the filtering characteristics of the ophthalmic device with respect to the polarized light beam can be adjusted more finely for the second time.

[0019] According to the present invention, the polarizer is mechanically actuated. The mechanical nature of the rotational movement of the polarizer relative to the half-wave plate provides a robust and simple ophthalmic device.

[0020] According to another advantageous and convenient feature:

[0021] - The half-wave plate can be rotated at least within an angular range of 45°.

[0022] - The angular range of 45° is between 0° and 45° or between 90° and 45° between the fast axis of the half-wave plate and the polarization axis of the polarizer;

[0023] - The filtering characteristic includes the transmittance of the ophthalmic device with respect to the polarization component of the polarized light beam, and the transmittance can be adjusted within a predetermined range;

[0024] - The ophthalmic device includes at least one ophthalmic lens, and the polarizer is fixed to or integrally formed with the ophthalmic lens;

[0025] - The at least one ophthalmic lens has corrective optical characteristics;

[0026] - The ophthalmic device includes at least a frame, the polarizer is fixedly mounted in the frame, and the half-wave plate is rotatably mounted in the frame;

[0027] - The frame has a conventional wearing position, and when the frame is in the conventional wearing position, the polarization axis of the polarizer is oriented substantially vertically;

[0028] - The frame is an eyeglass frame having two carrying parts, and one polarizer and one half-wave plate are at least partially mounted in each carrying part;

[0029] - The eyeglass frame includes a synchronization member, which is connected to the two carrying parts and is configured such that the rotational movement of the half-wave plate in the first carrying part of the carrying parts is replicated and mutual in the second carrying part of the carrying parts;

[0030] - The ophthalmic device includes at least another polarizer, which is fixed relative to the polarizer and is positioned such that the half-wave plate is located between the polarizer and the another polarizer;

[0031] - The polarization axis of the polarizer is substantially perpendicular to or parallel to the polarization axis of the another polarizer; and / or

[0032] - The ophthalmic device includes at least an actuator, which is configured to rotate the half-wave plate, and the actuator extends from a bracket of the ophthalmic device, and the bracket is fixed to and at least partially surrounds the half-wave plate, or is laminated on the half-wave plate. Description of the Drawings

[0033] The description of the present invention will now be continued with reference to the detailed description of the advantageous embodiments given below by way of non-limiting examples and with reference to the drawings. In these figures:

[0034] -Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an ophthalmic device according to the present invention, the ophthalmic device including a half-wave plate and a polarizer;

[0035] - Figure 2 And Figure 3 FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic front views of the half-wave plate and the polarizer of the ophthalmic device, respectively. The double arrows respectively show the orientation of the fast axis of the half-wave plate and the polarization axis of the polarizer, and the dashed lines respectively show the orientation of the polarization plane of the polarized light beam passing through the ophthalmic device at the input of the half-wave plate and the polarizer;

[0036] - Figure 4 And Figure 5 Is similar to FIGS. 2A and 2B, but the half-wave plate has been rotated clockwise by about 22.5°; Figure 2 And Figure 3 Is similar to FIGS. 2A and 2B, but the half-wave plate has been rotated clockwise by about 45°;

[0037] - Figure 6 And Figure 7 Is similar to FIGS. 2A and 2B, but with respect to both the polarized and non-polarized components of the polarized light beam; and Figure 2 And Figure 3 Shows the transmittance of the polarized component separated from the polarized light beam on the visible spectrum of the ophthalmic device, relative to the position of the half-wave plate shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

[0038] - Figure 8 FIG. 3 shows Figure 2 And Figure 6 The transmittance of the polarized component separated from the polarized light beam on the visible spectrum of the ophthalmic device, relative to the position of the half-wave plate shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

[0039] - Figure 9 Is similar to FIGS. 2A and 2B, but with respect to both the polarized and non-polarized components of the polarized light beam; and Figure 8 And

[0040] - Figure 10 And Figure 11 Show an ophthalmic device according to another embodiment of the present invention, where the half-wave plate is sandwiched between a polarizer and a front member (which may be another polarizer). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Figure 1 The ophthalmic device 110 shown in FIG. 4 includes a polarizer 119 and a half-wave plate 120 rotatable relative to the polarizer 119.

[0042] The ophthalmic device 110 has a conventional wearing position, where the eye 152 of the user of the ophthalmic device 110 is located on the opposite side of the polarizer 119, as Figure 1 Shown in FIG. 4.

[0043] Thus, the polarized light beam 151 from the environment observed by the user and propagating towards his eye 152 successively encounters the half-wave plate 120 and then the polarizer 119.

[0044] The polarizer 119 is positioned closer to the eye 152 than the half-wave plate 120 and is thus referred to as the "rear" polarizer 119.

[0045] The polarized light beam 151 has a polarization plane 132, which is schematically represented by the dashed line at Figures 2 to 7 the top.

[0046] The polarized light beam 151 is horizontally polarized here.

[0047] The rear polarizer 119 has a polarization axis 142, and the half-wave plate 120 has a fast axis 143.

[0048] At Figure 1 this time, the rear polarizer 119 is in its corresponding predetermined position where its polarization axis 142 is oriented substantially vertically, and the half-wave plate 120 is in its corresponding predetermined position where its fast axis 143 is oriented substantially horizontally.

[0049] The half-wave plate 120 is configured to rotate the polarization plane 132 of the polarized light beam 151 by an angle that is twice the angle between the polarization plane 132 of the light beam 151 and the fast axis 143 of the half-wave plate 120 at the input of the half-wave plate 120.

[0050] By rotating the half-wave plate 120, the angle between the polarization plane 132 of the polarized light beam 151 and the polarization axis 142 of the rear polarizer 119 at the input of the rear polarizer 119 can thus be adjusted.

[0051] The rear polarizer 119 then cuts off or in other words filters the polarized light beam 151 depending on this angle.

[0052] Therefore, by rotating the half-wave plate 120, the filtering characteristics of the ophthalmic device 110 with respect to the polarized light beam 151 can be adjusted.

[0053] At Figures 2 to 7 this time, the half-wave plate 120 and the rear polarizer 119 are shown with the ophthalmic device 110 in its conventional wearing position.

[0054] The dashed lines show the orientation of the polarization plane 132 of the polarized light beam 151 passing through the ophthalmic device 110 at the inputs of the half-wave plate 120 and the rear polarizer 119, respectively.

[0055] By passing through the ophthalmic device 110, the polarized light beam 151 successively encounters the half-wave plate 120 and then the rear polarizer 19.

[0056] As described above, the polarized light beam 151 is substantially horizontally polarized here. The orientation of the polarization plane 132 at the input of the half-wave plate 120 is thus substantially horizontal here.

[0057] The position of the half-wave plate 120 is defined herein by the angle θ between its fast axis 143 and the polarization plane 132.

[0058] By rotating the half-wave plate 120, the angle θ between the polarization plane 132 and the fast axis 143 of the half-wave plate 120 can be set at the input of the half-wave plate 120, and thus the angle γ between the polarization plane 132 of the light beam and its polarization axis 142 can be set at the input of the rear polarizer 119.

[0059] As described above, the rear polarizer 119 blocks or in other words filters the polarized light beam 151 depending on the angle γ between the polarization plane 132 of the light beam received from the half-wave plate 120 and the polarization axis 142 of the rear polarizer 119.

[0060] In Figure 2 , the angle θ is equal to approximately 0°. In other words, the polarization plane 132 at the input of the half-wave plate 120 and the fast axis 143 of the half-wave plate 120 are substantially parallel to each other. In this case, the polarization plane 132 is not rotated by the half-wave plate 120. Therefore, the polarization plane 132 at the input of the rear polarizer 119 is substantially perpendicular to its polarization axis 142 (the angle γ is equal to approximately 90°), as Figure 3 shown. The polarized light beam 151 is thus substantially completely blocked or filtered by the rear polarizer 119.

[0061] In Figure 4 , the angle θ is equal to approximately 22.5°. In this case, the polarization plane 132 will be rotated by the half-wave plate 120 by an angle equal to approximately 45°. Therefore, the angle γ is equal to approximately 45°, as Figure 5 shown. The polarized light beam is thus partially blocked or filtered by the rear polarizer 119.

[0062] In Figure 6 , the angle θ is equal to approximately 45°. In this case, the polarization plane 132 will be rotated by the half-wave plate 120 by an angle equal to approximately 90°. Therefore, the polarization plane 132 at the input of the rear polarizer 119 is substantially parallel to its polarization axis 142, as Figure 7 shown. The polarized light beam 151 is thus substantially completely unblocked or unfiltered by the rear polarizer 119.

[0063] Here, the filtering characteristics of the ophthalmic device 110 include its transmittance with respect to the polarized light beam 151.

[0064] The polarized light beam 151 here includes an unpolarized component (i.e., a randomly polarized component) and a polarized component having the polarization plane 132. Such a polarized light beam 151 can be generated, for example, by a solar beam reflected from a snow-covered surface in the user environment of the ophthalmic device 110.

[0065] Figure 8shows the transmittance with respect to the polarized components (i.e., excluding the unpolarized components) separated from the polarized light beam 151 in the visible spectrum of the ophthalmic device 110; and Figure 9 shows the transmittance of the ophthalmic device 110 with respect to all components of the polarized light beam 151, especially including the polarized components and the unpolarized components, that is, the overall transmittance.

[0066] The transmittance was measured using a Lambda 900 spectrophotometer from PerkinElmer. The polarized light beam 151 was simulated based on the light source D65 defined by the CIE standard ISO 10526:1999 / CIE S005 / E-1998. The rear polarizer 119 includes UV Grey3 polarized lenses from Essilor. The half-wave plate 120 includes an APHW92-003-280NM-PC half-wave retarder from American Polarizers, Inc.

[0067] In Figure 8 , the solid line 46 corresponds to when the half-wave plate 120 is in the Figure 2 shown position, and the dashed line 47 corresponds to when the half-wave plate 120 is in the Figure 6 shown position.

[0068] Thus, the solid line 46 and the dashed line 47 respectively show the minimum and maximum transmittances that can be obtained with the ophthalmic device 110. The minimum transmittance is here defined as approximately 0% of TvD65, and the maximum transmittance is defined as approximately 25% of TvD65. Any intermediate position of the half-wave plate 120 (such as the Figure 4 shown position) will result in a transmittance included between the solid line 46 and the dashed line 47. In other words, the transmittance of the ophthalmic device 110 with respect to the polarized components is adjustable within a predetermined range, which is here from approximately 0% to approximately 25%.

[0069] In Figure 9 , the lines 48, 49 and 50 respectively correspond to the Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 shown positions of the half-wave plate 120.

[0070] It can be seen that the lines 48, 49 and 50 are substantially overlapping, which means that the overall transmittance is substantially not changed by rotating the half-wave plate 20.

[0071] In fact, the ophthalmic device 110 can filter only the polarization component and substantially not filter the non-polarization component, such that by rotating the half-wave plate 120, the polarization component will be more or less cut off from the polarized light beam, but the non-polarization component will be substantially not cut off, such that the overall transmittance of the ophthalmic device 110 with respect to the polarized light beam will not be substantially changed by rotating the half-wave plate 120.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the ophthalmic device 110 is configured such that the half-wave plate 120 can be rotated within an angular range of 45°, which is between 90° ( Figure 2 ) and 45° ( Figure 6 ) between the fast axis 143 of the half-wave plate 120 and the polarization axis 142 of the rear polarizer 119.

[0073] In a variant (not shown), the ophthalmic device is configured such that the half-wave plate can be rotated within an angular range of 45°, which is between 0° and 45° between the fast axis of the half-wave plate and the polarization axis of the rear polarizer.

[0074] In another variant (not shown), the transmittance of the ophthalmic device 110 can be adjusted within a predetermined range different from about 0% to about 25% of TvD65. For example, the predetermined range of TvD65 is about 0% to about 50%, or 70%. This maximum transmittance of 70% can be obtained, for example, with a rear polarizer including a UV Grey 2 polarized lens from Essilor.

[0075] Figure 10 and Figure 11 shows an ophthalmic device 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the half-wave plate is sandwiched between a polarizer and a front member (which can be another polarizer).

[0076] The same reference numerals are used for corresponding elements between the ophthalmic devices 110 and 10, but the latter is reduced by 100.

[0077] Figure 10 and Figure 11 The illustrated ophthalmic device 10 includes a frame 11, a first spectacle lens 12, and a second spectacle lens 13.

[0078] The frame 11 has a conventional wearing position here, wherein the first spectacle lens 12 and the second spectacle lens 13 are substantially horizontally aligned and each is oriented generally vertically.

[0079] The frame 11 includes a first receiving portion 15 configured to receive the first spectacle lens 12, a second receiving portion 16 configured to receive the second spectacle lens 13, and a bridge 17 extending from the first receiving portion 15 to the second receiving portion 16.

[0080] The assembly formed by the first carrier part 15 and the first spectacle lens 12 is the same as the assembly formed by the second carrier part 16 and the second spectacle lens 13, except that they are symmetrically arranged. Therefore, the following description of the first carrier part 15 and the first spectacle lens 12 applies to the second carrier part 16 and the second spectacle lens 13 with necessary modifications.

[0081] The first carrier part 15 has a generally annular shape and has an inner surface 21 that defines an inner space 22, which is configured to at least partially receive the first spectacle lens 12. The first carrier part 15 completely surrounds the first spectacle lens 12 here. The first carrier part 15 has an outer surface 31 opposite to the inner surface 21.

[0082] The first spectacle lens 12 is configured to have adjustable filtering characteristics.

[0083] Since it is desired here that the first spectacle lens 12 and the second spectacle lens 13 have the same filtering characteristics simultaneously, the ophthalmic device 10 includes a synchronization system configured to synchronize their filtering characteristics. The synchronization system includes a synchronization member 14 connected to the carrier parts 15 and 16 here. This will be described in more detail later.

[0084] The first spectacle lens 12 includes a front member 18, a rear polarizer 19 fixed relative to the front member 18, and a half-wave plate 20 located between the front member 18 and the rear polarizer 19.

[0085] As described above, the front member 18 can be a front polarizer and thus can have polarization characteristics.

[0086] The front member 18 and the rear polarizer 19 are each fixedly mounted in the first carrier part 15 of the frame 11. In particular, the front member 18 and the rear polarizer 19 cannot rotate freely relative to the first carrier part 15.

[0087] In contrast, the half-wave plate 20 is mounted in the first carrier part 15 here to rotate freely about the axial direction 28 along which the front member 18, the half-wave plate 20, and the rear polarizer 19 are aligned.

[0088] The half-wave plate 20 is thus rotatably mounted in the frame 11 and is particularly rotatable relative to the rear polarizer 19.

[0089] The half-wave plate 20 is thus also particularly rotatable relative to the front member 18.

[0090] Generally speaking, in this article, the terms "rear" and "front" should be understood as meaning closest to and farthest from the user's eyes respectively.

[0091] Here, the front member 18 is positioned away from the eye of the wearer (not shown) of the ophthalmic device 10 and is thus referred to as "front", while the rear polarizer 19 is positioned closer to the eye of the wearer of the ophthalmic device 10 and is thus referred to as "rear".

[0092] In Figure 10 and Figure 11 the user's eye (not shown) is located on the left side of the frame 11.

[0093] The front member 18 is integrally formed here with a disc-shaped element having a substantially constant thickness. The front member 18 has a peripheral side surface 23 that is configured to cooperate with the inner surface 21 of the first carrier portion 15 to fixedly mount the front member 18 in the first carrier portion 15, here by snap fit.

[0094] The disc-shaped element forming the front member 18 does not have corrective properties here.

[0095] The rear polarizer 19 is integrally formed here with the ophthalmic lens of the ophthalmic device 10. The rear polarizer 19 has a peripheral side surface 26 that is configured to cooperate with the inner surface 21 of the first carrier portion 15 to fixedly mount the rear polarizer 19 in the first carrier portion 15.

[0096] The ophthalmic lens forming the rear polarizer 19 has corrective optical properties here. In particular, the rear polarizer 19 may have a front surface 25 and a rear surface 27 on both sides of the peripheral side surface 26, and at least one of the front surface and the rear surface is curved such that the rear polarizer 19 has a varying thickness.

[0097] The half-wave plate 20 includes here a 60-μm thick polycarbonate film that is configured to provide a half-wave plate function. The half-wave plate 20 further includes here a 190-μm thick triacetyl cellulose (TAC) film, and the polycarbonate film is laminated on the triacetyl cellulose film.

[0098] The first spectacle lens 12 includes here a bracket 29 that at least partially surrounds the half-wave plate 20 and secures the half-wave plate 20 thereto. The assembly formed by the bracket 29 and the half-wave plate 20 is generally disc-shaped here.

[0099] Here, the half-wave plate 20 is flat, that is, not curved. In a variant, the half-wave plate 20 may be curved, for example, to match the curvature of the front surface 25 of the rear polarizer 19, which is beneficial for the compactness of the ophthalmic device.

[0100] The bracket 29 is mounted in the first carrier portion 15 to rotate freely about the axial direction 28, thereby rotating the half-wave plate 20.

[0101] The bracket 29 includes here a generally circular ring 34 that completely surrounds the half-wave plate 20.

[0102] The carrier 29 further includes an elongate rib 33 that projects outwardly from the ring 34, that is, in a direction opposite to that of the half-wave plate 20. The rib 33 projects radially from the generally circular ring 34 here and extends longitudinally parallel to the ring 34.

[0103] The inner surface 21 of the first carrier portion 15 has a generally circular annular recess 24 that is configured to receive at least a portion (here the peripheral portion) of the carrier 29 and forms a sliding guide for the carrier when the carrier 29 rotates within the first carrier portion 15.

[0104] The first carrier portion 15 further includes an elongate opening 35 that surrounds the inner space 22, passes through the inner surface 21, enters the recess 24, and passes through the outer surface 31.

[0105] The elongate opening 35 is generally located on the side closest to the mouth of the wearer of the ophthalmic device 10 here.

[0106] The elongate opening 35 is configured to receive the elongate rib 33 and forms a sliding guide for the rib 33 when the carrier 29 rotates. The opening 35 is further configured such that the rib 33 is accessible to the wearer of the ophthalmic device 10, and the rib 33 thus forms an actuator that extends from the carrier 29 and is configured to rotate the half-wave plate 20.

[0107] The rib 33 and the opening 35 are further configured to define a predetermined angular position of the carrier 29 and thus a predetermined angular position of the half-wave plate 20. More specifically, the carrier 29 together with the half-wave plate 20 can be rotated from one extreme position where the rib 33 abuts against an end of the elongate opening 35 to another extreme position where the rib 33 abuts against the opposite end of the elongate opening 35, the ends being longitudinally opposite to each other.

[0108] Here, the length of the elongate opening 35 is such that the angular range through which the carrier 29 and the half-wave plate 20 can be rotated is approximately 30°. Here, the ophthalmic device 10 is configured such that one extreme position corresponds to a predetermined position of the fast axis of the half-wave plate 20 that is perpendicular to the polarization axis of the rear polarizer 19, and the other extreme position thus corresponds to another predetermined position of the fast axis that is at an angle of approximately 90° - 30° = 60° with respect to the polarization axis. In a variant, the predetermined position can be different from perpendicular, for example parallel to the polarization axis or at any predetermined angle with respect to the polarization axis.

[0109] The carrier 29 further includes a notch 37 that is formed in the ring 34 and extends transversely to the ring 34. The notch 37 is located on the side closest to the forehead of the wearer of the ophthalmic device 10 here. In other words, the notch 37 is generally positioned radially opposite to the rib 33 that forms the actuator.

[0110] The first bearing part 15 further includes a mounting hole 36, which is located here on the side closest to the wearer's forehead of the ophthalmic device 10.

[0111] The mounting hole 36 and the notch 37 are configured to connect the synchronization member 14 to the first bearing part 15 and its bracket 29; and the corresponding mounting hole 36 and the corresponding notch of the second bearing part 16 are configured to connect the synchronization member 14 to the second bearing part 16 and the bracket of the second bearing part 16.

[0112] The synchronization member 14 includes here a rod 38 and two pins 39 located at the respective ends of the rod 38 and extending transversely to the rod 38.

[0113] The mounting hole 36 of the first bearing part 15 and the corresponding mounting hole 36 of the second bearing part 16 are configured to form a sliding guide for at least partially receiving the rod 38 in each mounting hole 36.

[0114] The rod 38 extends here generally parallel to the bridge of the nose 17 and is closer to the wearer's forehead of the ophthalmic device 10 than the bridge of the nose 17.

[0115] Each pin 39 is configured to fit into the notch 37 of the bracket 29 of the respective lens of the first lens 12 and the second lens 13.

[0116] The synchronization member 14 is thus configured such that the rotational movement of the bracket 29 in the first bearing part 15 is replicated by another bracket in the second bearing part 16 and is reciprocal.

[0117] It should be noted here that the synchronization member 14 is configured to look like another bridge of the nose extending between the first bearing part 15 and the second bearing part 16, such that the frame 11 looks like a "double bridge" frame common in the eyewear industry.

[0118] It should further be noted that the synchronization member 14 also forms an actuator for rotating the bracket 29 and thus rotating the half-wave plate 20, such that the rib 33 can be optional.

[0119] In a manner similar to the operation of the ophthalmic device 110, the filtering characteristics of the first lens 12 can be adjusted by rotating the half-wave plate 20 according to different rotation angles.

[0120] The half-wave plate 20 is thus configured to allow a plurality of positions selected by rotating the half-wave plate 20 according to different rotation angles, each position corresponding to a respective position.

[0121] As explained above with respect to the ophthalmic device 110, the filtering characteristics of the first lens 12 are defined by the cooperation of the half-wave plate 20 and the rear polarizer 19.

[0122] It should be noted that in the ophthalmic device 10, the front member 18 or the front polarizer is fixed relative to the rear polarizer 19 and is positioned such that the half - wave plate 20 is located between the rear polarizer 19 and the front polarizer. In this way, any unpolarized components of the polarized light beam can be eliminated. In this variant, the polarization axis of the second polarizer can be substantially perpendicular or parallel to the polarization axis of the rear polarizer 19.

[0123] In a variant (not shown), the length of the elongated opening such as 35 can be such that the angular range within which the carriage 29 and the half - wave plate 20 can rotate is different from 30°, and is for example at least 45°.

[0124] In a variant (not shown), the rear polarizer is rotatably mounted in the frame and is thus particularly rotatable relative to the half - wave plate. By rotating the polarizer in this variant, the angle between the polarization plane of the polarized light beam and the polarization axis of the polarizer at the input of the polarizer can be further adjusted. It should be noted that if the polarizer is rotated by a predetermined angle, the angle between the polarization plane of the polarized light beam and the polarization axis of the polarizer at the input of the polarizer will decrease or increase by this predetermined angle. Therefore, compared with the half - wave plate, the filtering characteristics of the ophthalmic device relative to the polarized light beam can be adjusted more finely by rotating the polarizer twice. In this variant, the polarizer can be a polarizing film, which is mounted in the frame using a ring similar to the ring 34 used for the half - wave plate 20.

[0125] In a variant (not shown), the carriage of the half - wave plate can have a shape different from a substantially circular shape. In this case, the annular recess can be configured such that no part of the peripheral portion of the carriage will come out of the annular recess regardless of the angle of rotation of the carriage. In particular, the minimum depth required for the annular recess at any of its positions can be determined. In this regard, it should be noted that this minimum depth depends not only on the shape of the carriage but also on the angular range within which the carriage needs to rotate. In particular, the smaller the angular range of rotation, the smaller the required minimum depth. Here, since an angular range of rotation of 45° for the carriage is sufficient, the minimum depth of the annular recess can be relatively small, which is beneficial for the compactness of the mounting portion.

[0126] As described above, in the above - mentioned embodiment in which the ophthalmic device 10 includes two spectacle lenses 12 and 13 respectively mounted in the corresponding carrier portions 15 and 16, the synchronization member 14 ensures that the rotational movement of the carriage 29 in the first carrier portion 15 is replicated and mutual by the other carriage in the second carrier portion 16. Therefore, the synchronization member 14 is configured to synchronize the rotation of the corresponding half - wave plates 20. Thus, the angle of rotation of the polarization plane of the light beam passing through the first spectacle lens 12 is similar to the angle of rotation of the polarization plane of the light beam passing through the second spectacle lens 13.

[0127] In another variation, not shown, ring 34 is replaced by a generally disc-shaped element onto which a film configured to provide the half-wave plate function is laminated, and notches 37 are replaced by holes extending radially from a peripheral side 40 of the generally disc-shaped element.

[0128] In a variant not shown:

[0129] - the angular range for rotating the half-wave plate is at least 45°, such as 50°, 65° or 90°;

[0130] - an angular range for rotating the half-wave plate less than 45°, such as 30° or 25°;

[0131] the frame is different from a spectacle frame, for example a double spectacle frame; or the frame is different from a frame designed for two spectacle lenses, for example a frame designed for only one spectacle lens, such as a telescopic frame, and the ophthalmic device therefore has no synchronization system;

[0132] - only one of the first spectacle lens and the second spectacle lens has adjustable filtering characteristics;

[0133] The first supporting portion and / or the second supporting portion partially surround the spectacle lens;

[0134] - the bracket may have at least two diametrically opposed portions, each portion being configured to cooperate with an inner surface of the carrier, and the inner surface of the carrier may have a shape comprising at least two diametrically opposed arcuate portions, each arcuate portion being configured to cooperate with a corresponding portion of the diametrically opposed portions of the bracket to form a sliding guide for the bracket;

[0135] - the rear polarizer is different from a polarizer formed integrally with the disc-shaped element / ophthalmic lens, e.g. the rear polarizer comprises a film configured to provide the polarization function, which film is laminated onto the disc-shaped element / ophthalmic lens;

[0136] - the front member has no polarising properties; and / or

[0137] - the ophthalmic lens is not associated with the rear polarizer, but with the front element;

[0138] More generally, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the examples described and represented.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic device with adjustable filtering characteristics, the ophthalmic device comprising at least one polarizer (19; 119) and at least one half-wave plate (20; 120), the at least one half-wave plate being rotatable relative to the polarizer (19; 119), thereby adjusting the filtering characteristics for a polarized light beam that successively encounters the half-wave plate (20; 120) and then the polarizer (19; 119). Among them, The ophthalmic device has a conventional wearing position, in which the user's eye is on the opposite side of the polarizer, and the overall transmittance of the ophthalmic device relative to the polarized light beam is substantially unchanged by rotating the half-wave plate.

2. The ophthalmic device according to claim 1, wherein, The polarizer (19) is rotatable relative to the half-wave plate (20).

3. The ophthalmic device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein, The half-wave plate (120) can be rotated at least within an angular range of 45°.

4. The ophthalmic device according to claim 3, wherein, The angular range of 45° is between 0° and 45° or 90° and 45° between the fast axis (143) of the half-wave plate (120) and the polarization axis (142) of the polarizer (119).

5. The ophthalmic device according to claim 4, wherein, The filtering characteristics include the transmittance of the ophthalmic device (10; 110) relative to the polarization components of the polarized light beam, and the transmittance can be adjusted within a predetermined range.

6. The ophthalmic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The ophthalmic device includes at least one ophthalmic lens, and the polarizer (19) is fixed to or integrally formed with the ophthalmic lens.

7. The ophthalmic device according to claim 6, wherein, The at least one ophthalmic lens has corrective optical characteristics.

8. The ophthalmic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The ophthalmic device at least includes a frame (11), the polarizer (19) is fixedly mounted in the frame, and the half-wave plate (20) is rotatably mounted in the frame.

9. The ophthalmic device according to claim 8, wherein, When the ophthalmic device is in the conventional wearing position, the polarization axis of the polarizer (19) is oriented substantially vertically.

10. The ophthalmic device according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein, The frame (11) is an eyeglass frame having two carrying parts (15, 16), and one polarizer (19) and one half-wave plate (20) are at least partially mounted in each carrying part.

11. The ophthalmic device according to claim 10, wherein, The eyeglass frame (11) includes a synchronizing member (14), the synchronizing member is connected to the two carrying parts (15, 16) and is configured such that the rotational movement of the half-wave plate (20) in the first carrying part of the carrying parts (15, 16) is replicated by the half-wave plate in the second carrying part of the carrying parts (16, 15), and vice versa.

12. The ophthalmic device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The ophthalmic device at least includes another polarizer (18), the another polarizer is fixed relative to the polarizer (19) and is positioned such that the half-wave plate (20) is located between the polarizer (19) and the another polarizer (18).

13. The ophthalmic device according to claim 12, wherein, The polarization axis of the polarizer (19) is substantially perpendicular to or parallel to the polarization axis of the another polarizer (18).

14. The ophthalmic device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, The ophthalmic device at least includes an actuator (33; 14), the actuator is configured to rotate the half-wave plate (20), and the actuator (33; 14) extends from a bracket (29) of the ophthalmic device (10), the bracket being fixed to and at least partially surrounding the half-wave plate (20), or being laminated on the half-wave plate.

Images