Active adaptive optics components and instruments

Abstract

The optical device (100, 300) comprises an eye tracking means (102a, 102b), an active optical element (104a, 104b, 200) having an active material (301), and a means (106a, 106b) for controlling the active material to generate a refractive index. Upon detecting that the user is looking through a predetermined portion (202) of the active optical element based on the user's eye gaze direction, a drive signal is generated to drive the control means to control the active material to generate a prescribed refractive index. Upon detecting that the user's eye gaze is moving towards the periphery (206) of the predetermined portion, another drive signal is generated to control the active material to generate an intermediate refractive index between zero and the prescribed refractive index.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to actively compensated optical devices. The present disclosure also relates to methods of manufacturing such optical devices.

[0002] Combining reading glasses with corrective prescription lenses (for distance vision) is not a simple optical challenge. One conventional optical device is a bifocal lens. This lens has two separate optical surfaces, one for reading and one for distance vision, which do not mix. The sudden change in optical power across the boundary between these separate optical surfaces results in various distortions and double images.

[0003] Another conventional optical device incorporates a progressive lens. A progressive lens has a distance vision area, a reading area, and a narrow corridor area that gradually transitions from the distance vision area to the reading area. A major problem with progressive lenses is that a large area of ​​the lens is wasted in the transition, giving the user distorted vision and poor visual acuity.

[0004] Yet another conventional optical device incorporates a combination of an electrically controllable reading lens and a distance-vision lens. The electrically controllable reading lens is much smaller than the distance-vision lens and is located at the fixed portion of the distance-vision lens, similar to a bifocal lens. This conventional technology also suffers from the same problems as a bifocal lens.

[0005] Thus, a need exists to overcome the above-mentioned problems associated with conventional optical instruments.

[0006] The present disclosure seeks to provide improved optical instruments. The present disclosure seeks to provide methods of manufacturing optical instruments. And the present disclosure seeks to provide solutions to existing problems of conventional optical instruments.

[0007] According to a first aspect, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide an optical instrument comprising: · Eye tracking measures; an active optical element provided for each eye, the active optical element including an active material encapsulated between at least a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate being optically transparent; · control means for controlling the active material within the active optical element to produce a plurality of refractive indices; · the processor; wherein the processor: processing the eye tracking data collected by said eye tracking means to determine a gaze direction of the user's eyes; detecting whether the user is looking through a portion of the active optical element based on a gaze direction of an eye in which the active optical element is worn; generating a drive signal to drive the control means when it is detected that the user is looking through the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal causing the control means to control the active material to produce a prescribed refractive index; detecting that the user's gaze is moving toward a periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element based on a change in gaze direction of the eye; generating at least one further drive signal for driving the control means when it is detected that the user's line of sight is moving towards the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the control means causing the active material to generate at least one intermediate refractive index; wherein the at least one intermediate refractive index is between zero and the specified refractive index.

[0008] According to a second aspect, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing an optical device, the method comprising: using an active optical element formed by encapsulating an active material between at least a first substrate and a second substrate, both of which are optically transparent; using a control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate a plurality of refractive indices; · Using eye-tracking measures; A processor; processing the eye tracking data collected by said eye tracking means to determine a gaze direction of the user's eyes; detecting whether the user is looking through a portion of the active optical element based on a gaze direction of an eye in which the active optical element is worn; generating a drive signal to drive the control means when it is detected that the user is looking through the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal causing the control means to control the active material to produce a predetermined refractive index; detecting that the user's gaze is moving toward a periphery of the portion of the active optical element based on a change in gaze direction of the eye; generating at least one further drive signal for driving the control means when it is detected that the user's line of sight is moving towards the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the control means causing the active material to generate at least one intermediate refractive index. and wherein the at least one intermediate refractive index is between zero refractive index and the predetermined refractive index.

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure substantially eliminate or at least partially address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, allowing for different refractive indices to be created throughout an active optical element based on which portions of the active optical element are being used by a user, allowing for smooth transitions in the refractive index created by the active optical element.

[0010] Further aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

[0011] It will also be appreciated that features of the present disclosure can be combined in various combinations without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims.

[0012] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, example configurations of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to the specific methods and apparatus disclosed therein. Also, the drawings are not drawn to scale. Similar elements are designated by the same numerals wherever possible. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which underlined numbers are used to represent the item in which they are located or adjacent to them. Numbers without underlines are associated with the item identified by the line extending from them. When a number is not underlined but is written with an arrow, the number is used to identify the item to which the arrow points. [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical instrument according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an active optical element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] 3A-3C are cross-sectional views of optical devices according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal Fresnel lens according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates an example of a spiral phyllotactic pattern in which multiple electrodes may be arranged, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates steps in a method for manufacturing an optical device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0014] The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and how they may be practiced. Although several forms for carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art will recognize that other forms for carrying out the present disclosure are possible.

[0015] According to a first aspect, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide an optical instrument comprising: · Eye tracking measures; an active optical element provided for each eye, the active optical element including an active material encapsulated between at least a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate being optically transparent; · control means for controlling the active material within the active optical element to produce a plurality of refractive indices; · the processor; wherein the processor: processing the eye tracking data collected by said eye tracking means to determine a gaze direction of the user's eyes; detecting whether the user is looking through a portion of the active optical element based on a gaze direction of an eye in which the active optical element is worn; generating a drive signal to drive the control means when it is detected that the user is looking through the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal causing the control means to control the active material to produce a prescribed refractive index; detecting that the user's gaze is moving toward a periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element based on a change in gaze direction of the eye; generating at least one further drive signal for driving the control means when it is detected that the user's line of sight is moving towards the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the control means causing the active material to generate at least one intermediate refractive index; wherein the at least one intermediate refractive index is between zero and the specified refractive index.

[0016] According to a second aspect, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing an optical device, the method comprising: using an active optical element formed by encapsulating an active material between at least a first substrate and a second substrate, both of which are optically transparent; using a control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate a plurality of refractive indices; · Using eye-tracking measures; A processor; processing the eye tracking data collected by said eye tracking means to determine a gaze direction of the user's eyes; detecting whether the user is looking through a portion of the active optical element based on a gaze direction of an eye in which the active optical element is worn; generating a drive signal to drive the control means when it is detected that the user is looking through the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal causing the control means to control the active material to produce a predetermined refractive index; detecting that the user's gaze is moving toward a periphery of the portion of the active optical element based on a change in gaze direction of the eye; generating at least one further drive signal for driving the control means when it is detected that the user's line of sight is moving towards the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the control means causing the active material to generate at least one intermediate refractive index. and wherein the at least one intermediate refractive index is between zero refractive index and the predetermined refractive index.

[0017] According to the embodiment, different refractive indices are generated in the optical device based on which part of the active optical element is used by the user (i.e., the part the user is looking at). The refractive index of the entire active optical element is adjusted according to the part of the active optical element being used. When the user is looking through the predetermined part, the entire active optical element generates a prescribed refractive index. When the user's line of sight is moving towards the periphery of the predetermined part, the entire active optical element generates at least one intermediate refractive index, thereby allowing a smooth transition of the refractive index generated by the active optical element. This smooth transition has the advantage that it is made gradually in time, making the transition less noticeable. This reduces distortion, prismatic error, and cylindrical error, since there are no separate parts with different refractive indices from each other. In this way, the refractive index of the optical device is actively adjusted based on the part of the active optical element being used, thereby facilitating convergence and accommodation, allowing the user to reproducibly focus on objects at a wide range of distances.

[0018] Because the same refractive index is generated throughout the active optical element, (note that the refractive index generated depends on the portion of the active optical element used), the user is provided with a complete coverage area for reading and for clearly viewing nearby objects. Also, the same refractive index is generated at each point in time, eliminating the distortion found in traditional multifocal lenses, which have different refractive indices in different locations.

[0019] Throughout this specification and drawings, the term "optical device" refers to a device worn over a user's eyes. Examples of such optics include, but are not limited to, eyeglasses, sunglasses, smart glasses, head mounted displays, etc.

[0020] It will be appreciated that a processor is communicatively coupled to at least the eye tracking means and the control means. The processor may be implemented as any one of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or a controller. As an example, the processor may be implemented as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) chip or a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) chip.

[0021] Throughout this disclosure, the term "active optical element" refers to an optical element whose refractive index can be altered. For active optical elements, the aforementioned control means are employed to control active material within the active optical element to globally change the refractive index of the active optical element over time based on which portion of the active optical element is being used by a user. As will be described in more detail below, the control means may be, for example, electrical, piezoelectric, magnetic, mechanical, or a combination thereof.

[0022] Throughout this disclosure, the term "predetermined portion" refers to a portion of the active optical element for use while reading or focusing on nearby objects. The predetermined portion of the active optical element may be located based on the particular purpose for which the user needs the optical instrument. The user may need the optical instrument for a particular professional application. As an example, an electrical engineer or an automotive technician may need an optical instrument with the "predetermined portion" located on the top of the active optical element. As another example, a pilot may need an optical instrument with the "predetermined portion" located on the top as well as the bottom of the active optical element, since he needs to see the controls on the instrument panel as well as the overhead panel of the cockpit.

[0023] Apart from the particular purpose for which the user requires the optical instrument, the "predetermined portion" of the active optical element may also be positioned uniquely to the user. In other words, the "predetermined portion" may be positioned based on the location of the pupil center of a given eye of the user. In this regard, in some embodiments, the processor may: selecting a portion of the active optical element whose center overlaps with a pupil center of a given eye of the user; identifying a selected portion as the predetermined portion of the active optical element; It is configured as follows.

[0024] The technical effect of this feature is that the optical instrument can be customized for the user, thereby providing the user with a very comfortable and convenient view. Since the "predetermined portion" is not a fixed portion, the same optical instrument can be customized for each of several users. This makes the optical instrument according to the invention highly reusable.

[0025] The predetermined portion of the active optical element may be formed as a simple closed curve. Here, the term "simple closed curve" refers to a connected curve that does not cross itself and ends at the same point where it begins. Hexagons, octagons, circles, ellipses, etc. are examples of simple closed curves. Despite the name "curve", a simple closed curve does not have to actually be a curve. Some simple closed curves are made only of line segments and are known as polygons. Other simple closed curves are made only of curves. Some simple closed curves are made of both line segments and curves.

[0026] Further in some embodiments, the processor: Processing the eye tracking data to determine the speed and / or acceleration of the user's eye movements; generating at least one other drive signal for driving the control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate at least one intermediate refractive index based on a speed and / or an acceleration of a user's eye movement; It is configured as follows.

[0027] This feature allows the processor to control the transition speed of the refractive index. This feature also allows the processor to control the manner in which the at least one intermediate refractive index is generated. As an example, the at least one intermediate refractive index may include at most three intermediate refractive indexes when the speed and / or acceleration does not exceed a predefined threshold, and the at least one intermediate refractive index may include three or more intermediate refractive indexes when the speed and / or acceleration exceeds a predefined threshold. In this manner, the number of intermediate refractive indexes in the at least one intermediate refractive index may vary depending on the speed and / or acceleration of the user's eye movement.

[0028]

[0006] In some embodiments, the optical instrument further comprises a pose tracking means, and the processor further comprises: processing the pose tracking data collected by the pose tracking means to determine speed and / or acceleration of the user's movements; generating at least one other drive signal for driving the control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate at least one intermediate refractive index based on a speed and / or an acceleration of a user's movement; It is configured as follows.

[0029] This feature allows the processor to control the rate of refractive index transition and / or the manner in which the at least one intermediate refractive index is generated, for example, the rate of transition and / or the manner in which the at least one intermediate refractive index is generated may be different when a user is walking while reading than when a user is sitting while reading.

[0030] Here, "attitude tracker" refers to a dedicated device employed to detect and / or follow changes in a user's attitude. The term "attitude" encompasses both position and orientation. Attitude tracker may be implemented as at least one of an optical-based tracking system (e.g., systems utilizing infrared cameras, visible light cameras, etc.), accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial measurement units (IMUs), timing and inertial measurement units (TIMUs), and global positioning systems (GPS) tracking systems. Attitude tracking data may be in the form of images, IMU / TIMU values, accelerometer data, gyroscope data, etc.

[0031] With regard to the expression "when the user's gaze is moving towards the periphery of the predetermined part", it will be understood that the user's gaze can move in any direction, i.e. vertically, horizontally, diagonally. For example, the user's gaze can move up and down. As another example, the user's gaze can move diagonally up or diagonally down towards the left or right. As yet another example, the user's gaze can move sideways. However, in such a case, the user may be reading even if the gaze moves sideways. Thus, when the user's gaze is moving sideways, the at least one intermediate refractive index is optionally generated only when the user's gaze is about to cross the periphery of the predetermined part. In this regard, in some embodiments, when the user's gaze is moving sideways, the at least one intermediate refractive index is optionally generated when the user's gaze is predicted to cross the periphery within a predefined time. The user's gaze can be predicted to cross the periphery within a predefined period based on the speed and / or acceleration of the user's gaze movement.

[0032] Throughout this specification and the drawings, the term "prescribed refractive index" refers to a positive refractive index for use while reading or focusing on nearby objects. This may be required, for example, if the user has presbyopia. The "prescribed refractive index" may be that prescribed for the user's eyes or may be selected to suit the needs of the user. As an example, the "prescribed refractive index" may be selected based on the refractive index prescribed to the user for reading.

[0033]

[0006] In some embodiments, the processor further comprises: determining a particular optical depth viewed by the user based on at least one of a gaze direction of the user's eyes and depth information of a real-world scene currently viewed by the user; selecting a prescribed refractive index for a particular eye of the user from among a plurality of prescribed refractive indices based on the particular optical depth at which the user is gazing; It is configured as follows.

[0034] As a result, different refractive indices can be generated for different optical depths, even when the user is looking at a nearby object. The prescribed refractive indices can be discrete indices, e.g., 0.75 diopters, 1 diopter, 1.5 diopters, 2 diopters, etc. For example, a user may require 1 diopter at an optical depth of 1 meter, 2 diopters at an optical depth of 0.5 meters, etc.

[0035] Throughout this specification and the drawings, the term "eye tracking means" refers to a special device employed to detect and / or track the direction of a user's gaze. Such eye tracking is performed when the working optical instrument is worn by the user. In some embodiments, the eye tracking means is implemented by a contact lens having a sensor, a camera monitoring the user's eye characteristics, etc. Such characteristics may include at least one of the following: pupil shape of the user's eye, pupil size, corneal reflection of at least one light source from the surface of the user's eye, relative position of the pupil to the corneal reflection, relative position of the pupil to the corner of the user's eye. Such eye tracking means are well known in the art.

[0036] In some embodiments, the particular optical depth seen by the user is determined based on the convergence of the gaze directions of the user's eyes. For example, the particular optical depth may be determined by using triangulation based on the interpupillary distance of the user. Additionally or alternatively, the particular optical depth may be determined based on depth information and a given gaze direction of a given eye of the user. In this regard, the depth information may be collected using at least one of a depth camera, a time-of-flight (ToF) camera, an ultrasonic imaging sensor, a radar, and a light detection and ranging (Lidar) sensor.

[0037] Further in some embodiments, the processor: Detecting when a user's line of sight is outside a perimeter of the predetermined portion of the active optical element; generating another drive signal for driving the control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element when the user's line of sight is detected to be outside the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal being for generating a base refractive index; It is configured as follows.

[0038] The base refractive index can be zero or negative depending on the needs of the user. As an example, if the user has only presbyopia and is looking through the remaining part of the active optical element (i.e., outside the predetermined part), a zero refractive index is generated so that the user can clearly see distant objects. As another example, if the user has both presbyopia and myopia and is looking through the remaining part of the active optical element, a negative refractive index is generated to facilitate distance vision. In these examples, the refractive index (whether negative or zero) to be generated when the user is looking through the remaining part of the active optical element allows the user to clearly see distant objects. This refractive index is often required to be used more frequently than the positive refractive index (i.e., the prescribed refractive index) during a typical day. Hereinafter, this refractive index is referred to as the "base refractive index".

[0039] Furthermore, the at least one intermediate refractive index consists of only one intermediate refractive index in some embodiments and of multiple intermediate refractive indexes in other embodiments. In some embodiments, multiple intermediate refractive indexes are generated in descending or ascending order depending on whether a transition is made from a prescribed refractive index to a base refractive index or from a base refractive index to a prescribed refractive index. Generating multiple intermediate refractive indexes in descending or ascending order ensures that the refractive index changes continuously and gradually. As a result, the change in refractive index is less noticeable to the user.

[0040] Throughout this specification and the drawings, the term "active material" refers to a material that is controlled to produce a specific refractive index at a specific time. This specific refractive index depends on the portion of the active optical element that is used by the user. "Controlling the active material" in an active optical element means that at least one of the curvature of the meniscus of the active material, the refractive index of the active material, and the amount of active material in the active optical element can be controlled.

[0041] In this regard, in some embodiments, the control means is employed to control at least one of the meniscus curvature, the refractive index, and the amount of active material. In some embodiments, the specific refractive index is generated by controlling the meniscus curvature of the active material. In some embodiments, the specific refractive index is generated by creating a relative refractive index between the active material and the substrate (i.e., the first substrate and the second substrate). In still other embodiments, the specific refractive index is generated by removing the active material and replacing it with air, thereby creating a relative refractive index between air and the substrate (i.e., the first substrate and the second substrate). In all these embodiments, a predetermined drive signal for driving the control means is generated based on the specific refractive index to be generated. Throughout this disclosure, the term "specific refractive index" encompasses the specified refractive index, the at least one intermediate refractive index, and in some embodiments, the base refractive index.

[0042] In some embodiments, the control means further comprises: at least one first electrode deposited on the first substrate and positioned between the first substrate and the active material; at least one second electrode deposited on the second substrate and positioned between the second substrate and the active material; Equipped with However, the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are optically transparent.

[0043] In some embodiments, the at least one first electrode is deposited as a transparent electrode layer on the first substrate. In such a case, the transparent electrode layer covers the entire surface of the first substrate, and the transparent electrode layer is disposed between the surface of the first substrate and the active material. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the at least one first electrode comprises a plurality of first electrodes deposited as a discontinuous transparent electrode layer. The discontinuous transparent electrode layer comprises a plurality of separate, unconnected segments on the first substrate.

[0044] In some embodiments, the at least one second electrode is deposited as a transparent electrode layer on the second substrate. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the at least one second electrode comprises a plurality of second electrodes deposited as a discontinuous transparent electrode layer. The discontinuous transparent electrode layer comprises a plurality of separate, disconnected segments on the second substrate. The plurality of second electrodes may be aligned with each of the plurality of first electrodes.

[0045] Such electrode layers may be made of, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO) or zinc oxide (ZnO), which is ZnO doped with aluminum or hydrogen, or may be formed of conductive polymers or graphene.

[0046] Furthermore, the optical device comprises, in addition to the aforementioned electrodes, a power source for supplying power to the processor. The power source and the processor may be mounted in any suitable location of the optical device. As an example, if the optical device is embodied as glasses, the power source and the processor may be mounted in the frame of the glasses. The power source and / or the processor may be located at the bridge or temple ends of the frame.

[0047] To generate a particular refractive index, the active material of the active optical element is controlled by generating a potential difference between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. In some embodiments, when zero potential difference is generated (i.e., when the same voltage is applied to both the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode), the active optical element is in the "OFF" mode and the active optical element generates a basic refractive index. In such embodiments, the active optical element is in the "ON" mode in which the particular refractive index is generated when a predetermined potential difference is generated between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode depending on the particular refractive index to be generated. In this regard, the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are supplied with different voltages such that different potential differences are generated therebetween.

[0048] By way of example, several different implementations of the optical instrument are presented, in some of which the control means (for controlling the active material) are electrical, in others the control means are piezoelectric, magnetic, mechanical, or a combination thereof.

[0049] In a first implementation, the active material includes an electrically conducting liquid and an electrically insulating liquid, and when controlling the active material, a curvature of a meniscus of the active material in the active optical element is controlled, thereby generating a specific refractive index. In this case, the meniscus is a liquid-liquid interface between a conducting liquid and an electrically insulating liquid. Since the electrically conducting liquid and the electrically insulating liquid have different refractive indices, a specific curvature of the meniscus generates a specific refractive index.

[0050] The first implementation operates on the principle of electrowetting, where a change in potential difference changes the curvature of the meniscus of the active material. Thus, a "specific refractive index" is generated based on the amount of potential difference generated between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. Furthermore, in the first implementation, one of the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode is in contact with the active material, and the other of the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode is insulated from the active material by an insulating layer formed thereon.

[0051] In a second implementation, the active material is a liquid crystal material, and controlling the active material controls the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material, thereby adjusting the refractive index of the liquid crystal material in the active optical element, thereby generating a particular refractive index. The alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the active optical element is changed by changing a potential difference generated between at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode.

[0052] In some embodiments, the active optical element comprises a first dielectric layer disposed between the first substrate and the at least one first electrode, and a second dielectric layer disposed between the second substrate and the at least one second electrode, where the first and second dielectric layers may be made of, for example, silicon oxide (SiOx). In some embodiments, the active optical element further comprises a polymeric sealing periphery that seals the liquid crystal material between the first and second substrates. The sealing periphery not only keeps the liquid crystal material inside, but also protects it from air (mainly oxygen) and dust (ambient atmosphere), thereby ensuring reliable operation of the active optical element.

[0053] The second implementation has three variations: sub-implementation 'A' which operates on the principle of refractive index matching, sub-implementation 'B' which operates on the principle of liquid crystal Fresnel lenses, and sub-implementation 'C' which operates on the principle of diffractive Fresnel lenses.

[0054] Some examples of sub-mounting 'A' are illustrated in relation to Figures 3A-3C. In the sub-mounting 'A' of the second mounting form, at least one of the first and second substrates is implemented as a Fresnel lens having a plurality of concentric grooves. These concentric grooves face the liquid crystal material sealed between the first and second substrates. Hereinafter, for convenience, at least one of the first and second substrates implemented as a Fresnel lens is referred to as a "Fresnel substrate". The shape of the concentric grooves may be refractive or diffractive.

[0055] In sub-implementation 'A', the concentric grooves of the Fresnel substrate can be shaped to emulate the properties of a plano-convex lens whose curvature corresponds to a prescribed index of refraction, i.e., a positive index of refraction for the user's presbyopia. When the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material is adjusted to match the index of refraction of the Fresnel substrate, the interface between the liquid crystal material and the concentric grooves of the Fresnel substrate disappears. The active optical element will then generate a base index, which may be a negative index or even zero index, as required by the user. When the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material in the active optical element is adjusted to be different from (e.g., lower than) the index of refraction of the Fresnel substrate, the interface between the liquid crystal material and the concentric grooves of the Fresnel substrate reappears, generating a "prescribed index of refraction". The index of refraction of the liquid crystal material in the active optical element is preferably adjusted to be between the index at which the prescribed index of refraction is generated and the index of refraction of the Fresnel substrate. At least one intermediate index of refraction is thereby generated. This allows for a smooth transition when switching from the prescribed index of refraction to the base index and when switching from the base index to the prescribed index.

[0056] The technical advantage of employing a Fresnel substrate in sub-implementation 'A' is that the active optical elements can be operated with a thin layer of liquid crystal material. The thinner the layer of liquid crystal material, the smaller the potential difference required to tune the refractive index of the liquid crystal material. Thus, the power requirements of the active optical elements are significantly reduced.

[0057] In a sub-implementation 'B' of the second implementation, the active optical element is implemented as a liquid crystal Fresnel lens. The liquid crystal Fresnel lens has a number of concentric zones. These concentric zones are formed entirely by tuning the refractive index of the liquid crystal material in the concentric zones by applying different voltages to the corresponding second electrodes. In other words, these concentric zones are not formed by physical grooves, but by applying different voltages to the liquid crystal material itself. The refractive index of the liquid crystal material in these concentric zones is tuned to produce a particular refractive index (either a prescribed refractive index, at least one intermediate refractive index, or a base refractive index). An example of such a liquid crystal Fresnel lens is shown in conjunction with FIG. 4.

[0058] If the base index is a negative index, the concentric zones of the liquid crystal Fresnel lens can be formed to emulate the characteristics of a plano-concave lens whose curvature corresponds to the base index when the user's line of sight moves away from the periphery of the predetermined portion, and the concentric zones of the liquid crystal Fresnel lens can be formed to emulate the characteristics of a plano-convex lens whose curvature corresponds to a prescribed index of refraction (i.e., a positive index of refraction) when the user is looking through the predetermined portion, and the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material of the concentric zones is adjusted to produce at least one intermediate index of refraction when the user's line of sight moves toward the periphery of the predetermined portion.

[0059] To form the concentric zones, in some implementations, the first electrodes and / or the second electrodes may be arranged in a helical phyllotactic pattern. Such a helical phyllotactic pattern resembles how sunflower seeds are arranged in a sunflower. An example of such a helical phyllotactic pattern is provided in FIG. 5. A technical advantage of arranging the first electrodes and / or the second electrodes in a helical phyllotactic pattern is that the number and thickness of the concentric zones can be flexibly changed.

[0060] In this way, various refractive indices can be produced in the active optical element by varying the arrangement and shape of the multiple second electrodes and the voltages applied to the multiple first electrodes and / or the multiple second electrodes.

[0061] In a sub-implementation 'C' of the second implementation, the active optical element has a matrix of diffractive zones whose refractive index can be varied. In a given diffractive zone, the refractive index of the liquid crystal material is adjusted to induce a phase retardation of the incident light beam. To make the active optical element operate as a diffractive Fresnel lens, the liquid crystal material of the diffractive zones is controlled to generate different delayed light wavefronts.

[0062] In some implementations, in sub-implementation 'C', the active optical element has at least one other substrate in addition to the first and second substrates. In such a case, a separate layer of liquid crystal material is enclosed between the second substrate and the at least one other substrate. Furthermore, at least one pair of electrodes is deposited on the second substrate and the at least one other substrate. This at least one pair of electrodes can be implemented in a similar manner to the implementation of the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. The technical advantage of having multiple liquid crystal material layers whose refractive index can be adjusted using corresponding electrodes is that it allows the active optical element to function as a multi-phase spatial light modulator (SLM).

[0063] Thus, the active optical element can be implemented as either a liquid crystal Fresnel lens or a diffractive Fresnel lens.

[0064] Moreover, in a third implementation, the active material is a fluid whose refractive index matches the refractive index of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and upon controlling the active material, the amount of fluid in the active optical element is changed, thereby producing a particular refractive index. The third implementation operates on the principle of index matching.

[0065] In a third implementation, the active optical element comprises at least one other substrate in addition to the first and second substrates. In such a case, a separate layer of fluid is enclosed between the second substrate and the at least one other substrate. The second substrate may be implemented as a plano-convex lens with its convex surface facing the fluid enclosed between the first substrate and the second substrate and with its curvature corresponding to a first positive refractive index. Meanwhile, the at least one other substrate may be implemented as at least one other plano-convex lens with its convex surface facing the fluid enclosed between the second substrate and the at least one other substrate and with its curvature corresponding to a second positive refractive index. Alternatively, the second substrate and the at least one other substrate may be implemented as a Fresnel lens with a plurality of concentric grooves. These concentric grooves face the fluid. In that case, the concentric grooves of the Fresnel substrate are formed to emulate the properties of each of the plano-convex lenses mentioned above.

[0066] By providing separate fluid layers between adjacent pairs of substrates, the refractive index can be changed stepwise. When a fluid is filled between adjacent pairs of substrates (note: the number of pairs is plural), the interface between the fluid and the substrate disappears because the refractive index of the fluid matches the refractive index of at least one of the adjacent substrates. The active optical element then generates a base refractive index, which may be a negative refractive index or zero refractive index as required by the user. When the fluid is removed from between at least one of the substrate pairs, the removed fluid is replaced with air. Since the refractive index of air is lower than that of the fluid, the interface between the air and at least one of the adjacent substrates reappears, thereby generating a specific refractive index. As an example, the refractive index of air is 1, while the refractive index of the fluid and the at least one other substrate is 1.4, and the refractive index of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate can also be 1.4. This allows a relative refractive index of 0.4.

[0067] As an example, if an active optical element has two adjacent substrate pairs, one capable of producing 1.5 diopters and the other 0.75 diopters, the refractive index can be stepped from 0 diopters to 0.75 diopters to 1.5 diopters to 2.25 diopters, it will be appreciated that in some implementations there may be more than two adjacent substrate pairs.

[0068] In a third implementation, a control means (for controlling the active material) is utilized to vary the amount of fluid, in some implementations the control means comprises a plurality of capillaries employed to remove fluid by capillary action through at least one fluid channel connecting the active optical element and at least one fluid reservoir.

[0069] In some implementations, the control means comprises a number of valves employed to control each corresponding capillary. The valves may be mechanical valves that may be controlled by actuators. The actuators may be implemented, for example, as electromagnetic actuators, piezoelectric actuators, memory metal actuators, electroactive polymers, electrophoretic actuators, or the like. Alternatively, in some implementations, the control means employs another technique for controlling surface energy in at least one fluid flow path using electricity.

[0070] The refractive index of the first substrate may be the same as that of the second substrate in some implementations, or may be different. The base refractive index to be generated by the active optical element depends on the curvature of the surface of the first substrate and / or the second substrate. The first substrate and / or the second substrate may be made of one of glass, polycarbonate, plastic, or high index plastic. One of ordinary skill in the art may recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0071] In some embodiments, the optical device comprises a passive optical element, for each eye, disposed in the optical path of the active optical element, the passive optical element having a fixed refractive index, which combines with a particular refractive index generated by the active optical element to generate a combined refractive index, where the combined refractive index refers to the sum of the fixed refractive index of the passive optical element and the refractive index contributed by the active optical element. In some embodiments, the center of the passive optical element is aligned with the pupil center of a particular eye of the user.

[0072] Throughout this specification and the drawings, the term "passive optical element" refers to an optical element whose refractive index cannot be changed. In other words, the refractive index of a passive optical element is fixed. In some embodiments, this fixed refractive index corresponds to a prescribed refractive index for the distance visual acuity of a particular eye of a user. It will be understood that the prescribed refractive index is a positive refractive index, whereas the fixed refractive index is either a negative refractive index or a zero refractive index.

[0073] This passive optical element can be employed in at least some of the aforementioned embodiments, for example in the first implementation (based on the principle of electrowetting), in the sub-implementation 'A' (based on the principle of index matching) of the second implementation, in the sub-implementation 'C' (based on the principle of diffractive Fresnel lenses) of the second implementation, and in the third implementation (based on the principle of index matching). In some embodiments, the passive optical element is implemented as either the first substrate or the second substrate.

[0074] In some embodiments, when the active optical element is switched "OFF", the active optical element does not generate a refractive index. In such embodiments, a combined refractive index generated by a combination of the fixed refractive index of the passive optical element and the refractive index of the active optical element can be employed to generate a base refractive index. As an example, one of the first and second substrates, from which light is emitted to the user's eye during use of the optical device, may be plano-concave and have a surface with a curvature corresponding to the base refractive index. As mentioned above, the base refractive index may be zero or negative depending on the needs of the user. Thus, the passive optical element may be employed to compensate for the myopic condition of the user. However, if the user only requires reading ability, the passive optical element may have a zero refractive index.

[0075] In some embodiments, the passive optical element may be implemented as a Fresnel lens having concentric zones, such as the Fresnel substrate discussed above, in which case the combined refractive index is employed to generate a positive refractive index for the user's presbyopia.

[0076] The present disclosure also relates to a method of the second aspect as mentioned above, wherein the various embodiments and variants disclosed above with respect to the first aspect as mentioned above apply mutatis mutandis to this method.

[0077]

[0006] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: determining a particular optical depth viewed by the user based on at least one of a gaze direction of the user's eyes and depth information of a real-world scene currently viewed by the user; selecting a prescribed refractive index for a particular eye of the user from among a plurality of prescribed refractive indices based on the particular optical depth at which the user is gazing; This includes configuring the device so that:

[0078]

[0008] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: selecting a portion of the active optical element whose center overlaps with the pupil center of a given eye of the user; identifying the selected portion as a predetermined portion of the active optical element; This includes configuring the device so that:

[0079] Further in some embodiments, the method further comprises: Processing the eye tracking data to determine the speed and / or acceleration of the user's eye movements; generating at least one other drive signal for driving the control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate at least one intermediate refractive index based on a speed and / or an acceleration of a user's eye movement; This includes configuring the device so that:

[0080] In further embodiments, the method further comprises: · Employing attitude tracking measures; said processor; processing pose tracking data collected by said pose tracking means to determine speed and / or acceleration of the user's movements; generating at least one other drive signal for driving the control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate at least one intermediate refractive index based on a speed and / or an acceleration of a user's movement; This includes configuring the device so that:

[0081] Additionally, in some embodiments, the method includes employing, for each eye, a passive optical element disposed in the optical path of the active optical element, the passive optical element having a fixed refractive index, and the fixed refractive index of the passive optical element producing a combined refractive index with the particular refractive index produced by the active optical element. In some embodiments, the passive optical element is implemented as either the first substrate or the second substrate.

[0082] Further, in said method, said control means is adapted to control at least one of the curvature of the meniscus, the refractive index, and the amount of said active material.

[0083] Further, in some embodiments, the active optical element comprises: depositing at least one first electrode on a first substrate; depositing at least one second electrode on a second substrate; It is formed by:

[0084] wherein the at least one first electrode is disposed between the first substrate and the active material, the at least one second electrode is disposed between the second substrate and the active material, and the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are optically transparent.

[0085] In a first implementation, the active material includes an electrically conducting liquid and an electrically insulating liquid, and when the active material is controlled, the curvature of the meniscus of the active material in the active optical element is controlled, thereby generating a particular refractive index, where the meniscus is the liquid-liquid interface between the electrically conducting liquid and the electrically insulating liquid.

[0086] In a second implementation, the active material is a liquid crystal material, and controlling the active material controls the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material, thereby adjusting the refractive index of the liquid crystal material within the active optical element, thereby producing a particular refractive index.

[0087] In a third implementation, the active material is a fluid whose refractive index matches the refractive index of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and when the active material is controlled, the amount of the fluid within the active optical element is changed, thereby generating a particular refractive index.

[0088] [Detailed description of the drawing]

[0089] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical instrument 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The optical instrument 100 comprises an eye tracking means, an active optical element for each eye, a means for controlling active materials in the active optical elements, and a processor 108. The eye tracking means are depicted as eye tracking means 102a and 102b for the first eye and the second eye, respectively. The active optical elements are depicted as active optical elements 104a and 104b for the first eye and the second eye, respectively. The control means are depicted as means 106a and 106b for the first eye and the second eye, respectively. The processor 108 is configured to perform the processing according to the first perspective described above.

[0090] 2 is a schematic diagram of an active optical element 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The active optical element 200 has a predetermined portion 202 and a remaining portion 204. When a user is detected looking through the predetermined portion 202, a prescribed refractive index is generated throughout the active optical element 200. When a user's line of sight is detected moving toward a periphery 206 of the predetermined portion 202, at least one intermediate refractive index is generated throughout the active optical element 200. When a user is detected looking through the remaining portion 204, a base refractive index is generated throughout the active optical element 200.

[0091] FIG. 2 is merely illustrative and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. The specific implementation of the active optical element 200 is provided as an example and should not be understood as limiting the shape, size, or location of the predetermined portion 202, nor should it be understood as limiting the active optical element 200 to a particular shape or size. Those skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In FIG. 2, the predetermined portion 202 is shown with a dotted line to indicate that it is not physically marked on the active optical element 200.

[0092] 3A-3C, cross-sectional views of an optical device 300 are illustrated in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The optical device 300 comprises an active optical element having an active material 301 encapsulated between a first substrate 302 and a second substrate 303. In some embodiments, the active optical element comprises an encapsulated perimeter 304. At least one first electrode 305 is disposed between the active material 301 and the first substrate 302, and at least one second electrode 306 is disposed between the active material 301 and the second substrate 303.

[0093] As shown in Figure 3A, the first substrate 302 can be implemented as a plano-convex lens, with its convex surface facing the active material 301 and its curvature corresponding to a prescribed refractive index, i.e., a positive refractive index for the user's presbyopia. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 3B and 3C, the first substrate 302 can be implemented as a Fresnel lens with a number of concentric grooves, which face the active material 301. In this case, the concentric grooves of the Fresnel substrate are formed to emulate the properties of the plano-convex lens described above.

[0094] In some embodiments, the optical device 300 further comprises a passive optical element having a fixed refractive index. The passive optical element can be implemented as one of the first substrate 301 and the second substrate 303. With reference to Figure 3C, the second substrate 303 acts as a passive optical element and is implemented as a plano-concave lens whose curvature corresponds to the base refractive index, which is a negative refractive index.

[0095] In embodiments that operate on the principle of index matching and in which the active material 301 is a liquid crystal material, the refractive index of the liquid crystal material can be adjusted to produce a particular refractive index. When the refractive index of the liquid crystal material matches the refractive index of the first substrate 302, the interface between the active material 301 and the first substrate 302 disappears. As a result, the optical device 300 produces a base refractive index.

[0096] In another embodiment, operating on the principle of index matching, where the active material 301 is a fluid whose refractive index matches that of the first substrate 302, the optical device 300 creates a base refractive index when the fluid is filled within the active optical element. When the fluid is removed and replaced with air, the interface between the air and the first substrate 302 reappears, thereby creating a particular refractive index.

[0097] 3A-3C are merely exemplary and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. The particular embodiment of the optical device 300 is provided by way of example and should not be construed as being limited to any particular arrangement of the first substrate, the second substrate, the at least one first electrode, and the plurality of second electrodes, nor should it be construed as being limited to any particular curvature of the first substrate and the second substrate. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0098] 4, a schematic of a liquid crystal Fresnel lens 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The liquid crystal Fresnel lens 400 includes a plurality of concentric zones 402a-f for adjusting different refractive indices of the liquid crystal material to emulate the characteristics of a Fresnel lens. A cross section 404 of the liquid crystal Fresnel lens 400 taken across line A1-A2 shown at the bottom of FIG. 4 illustrates that the refractive index of the liquid crystal material is adjusted by controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the plurality of concentric zones 402a-f.

[0099] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a helical phyllotactic pattern in which multiple electrodes may be arranged, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0100] 4 and 5 are merely examples, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of ordinary skill in the art could recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the disclosed embodiments.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 6, steps of a method for manufacturing an optical device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are illustrated. In step 602, an active optical element is formed by encapsulating an active material between at least a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate are optically transparent. In step 604, a means for controlling the active material in the active optical element is used. In step 606, a gaze tracking means is used. In step 608, a processor is configured to perform various operations according to the first perspective described above.

[0102] The steps described above are merely exemplary and may include alternative steps, i.e., one or more steps may be added, one or more steps may be removed, or one or more steps may be performed in a different order, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

[0103] Modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above can be made without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims. The terms "including," "comprising," "incorporating," "having," "being," and the like used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be interpreted in a non-exclusive manner, i.e., to allow for the presence of items, parts, or components not expressly described. The absence of a specification that an element is plural does not preclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The terms "first," "second," "third," and the like used in this specification do not indicate order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish one element from another.

Claims

1. 1. An optical instrument, comprising: - an eye-tracking means; an active optical element provided for each eye, the active optical element having a predetermined portion and a remaining portion, the active optical element including an active material encapsulated between at least a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate being optically transparent; - control means for controlling the active material within the active optical element to produce a plurality of refractive indices; a processor; the predetermined portion is a portion of the active optical element that is used when reading or focusing on nearby objects, and the processor processing the eye-tracking data collected by said eye-tracking means to determine the gaze direction of the user's eyes; - detecting whether the user is looking through the predetermined portion of the active optical element based on a gaze direction of an eye in which the active optical element is worn; generating a drive signal to drive the control means when it is detected that the user is looking through the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal causing the control means to control the active material to produce a prescribed refractive index; detecting that the user's gaze is moving toward the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element based on a change in gaze direction of the eye; generating at least one further drive signal for driving the control means when it is detected that the user's line of sight is moving towards the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal causing the control means to control the active material to produce at least one intermediate refractive index; Detecting that the user's line of sight is at the remaining portion of the active optical element; - when it is detected that the user's line of sight is outside the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element, generating another drive signal to drive the control means, the control means controlling the active material to generate a base refractive index, wherein the at least one intermediate refractive index is between zero and the specified refractive index, and the base refractive index is zero or a negative refractive index.

2. 10. The optical instrument of claim 1, wherein the processor: determining a particular optical depth viewed by the user based on at least one of the user's eye gaze direction and depth information of the real-world scene currently viewed by the user; selecting a prescribed refractive index for a particular eye of the user from among a plurality of prescribed refractive indices based on the particular optical depth at which the user is gazing; An optical instrument configured to:

3. 10. The optical instrument of claim 1, wherein the processor: selecting a portion of the active optical element whose center overlaps with the pupil center of a given eye of the user; - identifying the selected portion as the predetermined portion of the active optical element; An optical instrument configured to:

4. The optical instrument of claim 1, wherein the processor: processing the eye-tracking data to determine the speed and / or acceleration of the user's eye movements; generating at least one other drive signal for driving the control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate at least one intermediate refractive index based on the speed and / or acceleration of the user's eye movement; An optical instrument configured to:

5. The optical instrument of claim 1, further comprising: a posture tracking means; processing the attitude tracking data collected by the attitude tracking means to determine the speed and / or acceleration of the user's movements; generating at least one other drive signal for driving the control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate at least one intermediate refractive index based on the speed and / or acceleration of the user's movement; An optical instrument configured to:

6. An optical device as described in claim 1, comprising, for each eye, a passive optical element positioned on the optical path of an active optical element, the passive optical element having a fixed refractive index, which, together with the refractive index generated by the active optical element, generates a combined refractive index.

7. The optical apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the passive optical element is implemented on one of the first substrate or the second substrate.

8. 2. The optical instrument of claim 1, wherein the control means controls at least one of the curvature of the meniscus, the refractive index, and the amount of the active material.

9. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the control means at least one first electrode deposited on the first substrate and positioned between the first substrate and the active material; at least one second electrode deposited on the second substrate and positioned between the second substrate and the active material; wherein the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are optically transparent.

10. 10. The optical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the active material comprises an electrically conducting liquid and an electrically insulating liquid, and wherein controlling the active material controls the curvature of a meniscus of the active material within the active optical element to produce a particular refractive index, the meniscus being a liquid-liquid interface between the electrically conducting liquid and the electrically insulating liquid.

11. 10. The optical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the active material is a liquid crystal material, and controlling the active material controls the alignment of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material, thereby adjusting the refractive index of the liquid crystal material within the active optical element to produce a particular refractive index.

12. 10. The optical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the active material is a fluid having a refractive index that matches a refractive index of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and wherein controlling the active material changes the amount of the fluid within the active optical element, thereby producing a particular refractive index.

13. 1. A method for manufacturing an optical device, comprising: using an active optical element formed by encapsulating an active material between at least a first substrate and a second substrate, the active optical element having a predetermined portion and a remaining portion, the predetermined portion being used when reading or focusing on nearby objects, wherein the first and second substrates are optically transparent; using control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate a plurality of refractive indices; - using eye-tracking measures; Processor: processing the eye-tracking data collected by said eye-tracking means to determine the gaze direction of the user's eyes; detecting whether the user is looking through the predetermined portion of the active optical element based on a gaze direction of an eye in which the active optical element is worn; generating a drive signal to drive the control means when it is detected that the user is looking through the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal causing the control means to control the active material to produce a prescribed refractive index; detecting that the user's gaze is moving toward the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element based on a change in gaze direction of the eye; generating at least one further drive signal for driving the control means when it is detected that the user's line of sight is moving towards the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal causing the control means to control the active material to produce at least one intermediate refractive index; Detecting that the user's line of sight is at the remaining portion of the active optical element; generating another drive signal for driving the control means when it is detected that the user's line of sight is outside the periphery of the predetermined portion of the active optical element, the drive signal causing the control means to control the active material to produce a base refractive index; and wherein the at least one intermediate refractive index is between zero and the specified refractive index, and the base refractive index is zero or a negative refractive index.

14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the processor: determining a particular optical depth viewed by the user based on at least one of the user's eye gaze direction and depth information of the real-world scene currently viewed by the user; selecting a prescribed refractive index for a particular eye of the user from among a plurality of prescribed refractive indices based on the particular optical depth at which the user is gazing; The method of claim 1, further comprising:

15. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the processor: selecting a portion of the active optical element whose center overlaps with the pupil center of a given eye of the user; - identifying the selected portion as the predetermined portion of the active optical element; The method of claim 1, further comprising:

16. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the processor: processing the eye-tracking data to determine the speed and / or acceleration of the user's eye movements; generating at least one other drive signal for driving the control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate at least one intermediate refractive index based on the speed and / or acceleration of the user's eye movement; The method of claim 1, further comprising:

17. 14. The method of claim 13, - employing attitude tracking means; said processor, processing the attitude tracking data collected by the attitude tracking means to determine the speed and / or acceleration of the user's movements; generating at least one other drive signal for driving the control means for controlling the active material in the active optical element to generate at least one intermediate refractive index based on the speed and / or acceleration of the user's movement; and A method comprising:

18. 14. The method of claim 13, comprising employing, for each eye, a passive optical element positioned in the optical path of the active optical element, the passive optical element having a fixed refractive index that, together with the refractive index produced by the active optical element, produces a combined refractive index.

19. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the passive optical elements are implemented on one of the first substrate or the second substrate.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the control means controls at least one of the curvature of the meniscus, the refractive index, and the amount of the active material.

21. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the active optical element comprises: depositing at least one first electrode on a first substrate; depositing at least one second electrode on a second substrate; wherein the at least one first electrode is disposed between the first substrate and the active material, and the at least one second electrode is disposed between the second substrate and the active material, and the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are optically transparent.

22. 22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the active material comprises an electrically conducting liquid and an electrically insulating liquid, and controlling the active material controls the curvature of a meniscus of the active material within the active optical element to produce a particular refractive index, wherein the meniscus is a liquid-liquid interface between the electrically conducting liquid and the electrically insulating liquid.

23. 22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the active material is a liquid crystal material, and controlling the active material controls the alignment of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material, thereby adjusting the refractive index of the liquid crystal material within the active optical element to produce a particular refractive index.

24. 22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the active material is a fluid having a refractive index that matches a refractive index of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and controlling the active material changes the amount of the fluid within the active optical element, thereby producing a particular refractive index.

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