Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Lens for Presbyopia Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-focal lenses suffer from optical aberrations and abrupt diopter transitions, limiting their ability to be tuned to an individual's specific needs, particularly for individuals with myopia who develop presbyopia, and existing electro-active lenses have limited diopter tuning capabilities due to common electrode configurations and passive matrix focusing.
Innovation Solution
An electrically focus-tunable lens with an active matrix type design, comprising a basic lens and a transparent phase modulator with a liquid crystal layer, thin film transistors, and a phase modulation electrode unit, allowing independent control of liquid crystal portions to create a continuous phase modulation profile and adjust focal lengths for multiple vision regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional multi-focal lens with multiple regions of different diopters is used, then the lens provides multiple vision regions, but optical aberration occurs and transition between regions is abrupt causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a liquid crystal layer that can dynamically change its refractive index distribution in response to applied voltages, enabling smooth transitions between different vision regions. The phase modulation electrode unit creates a continuous phase modulation profile rather than discrete zones, allowing the lens to adapt its focal characteristics continuously without abrupt transitions that cause optical aberration and wearer discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the refractive index parameter of the liquid crystal material through electrical control. By applying different voltages to the liquid crystal layer, the refractive index is modulated to create different focal lengths, enabling multiple vision regions without the physical discontinuities that cause optical aberration in conventional multi-focal lenses.
2Reliability
If a conventional multi-focal lens with fixed diopter regions is used, then the lens provides specific vision correction, but the diopter cannot be tuned according to wearer requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid crystal layer provides dynamic tunability by allowing continuous adjustment of the phase modulation profile through electrical signals. This enables the diopter to be adjusted according to different wearing conditions and individual wearer requirements, transforming a static optical element into a dynamically adaptable system that maintains reliable vision correction while offering versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens system achieves multi-functionality by integrating a programmable phase modulation electrode unit with the liquid crystal layer. This combination allows the same physical lens to perform multiple vision correction functions (different diopters, different vision regions) by simply changing the electrical control signals, making the lens universally adaptable to various presbyopic conditions without requiring multiple physical lenses.
3Extent of automation
If an electro-active lens with common electrode configuration is used, then the lens provides electro-active focusing, but tuning of the diopter is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrode system into a phase modulation electrode unit with multiple independent electrodes rather than using a single common electrode. This segmentation allows independent control of different regions of the liquid crystal layer, enabling precise local phase modulation and significantly expanding the diopter tuning range while maintaining electro-active focusing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds spatial dimensionality to the electrode control by arranging electrodes in arrays across the lens surface. This dimensional expansion of the control architecture enables independent modulation of different spatial zones, transforming the system from limited single-parameter control to multi-dimensional phase control, thereby greatly enhancing diopter tuning versatility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the electrically focus-tunable lens to provide multiple vision regions with different diopters, overcoming abrupt diopter transitions and optical aberrations, and allowing for customizable focal lengths to meet specific user requirements, such as distant, intermediate, and near vision regions.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, and includes an array of liquid crystal portions. Each of the liquid crystal portions of the liquid crystal layer is independently controlled by applying a predetermined voltage between the common electrode and a corresponding one of the data electrode strips
Implementation Method 2
provide each of the pixel areas with an independent refractive index to create a phase modulation profile for the transparent phase modulator so as to tune the first focal length of the basic lens
Data Source
AI summary
An electrically focus-tunable lens of an active matrix type includes a basic lens and a transparent phase modulator which includes a first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a common electrode unit, a phase modulation electrode unit, and an array of thin film transistors. Each liquid crystal portion of the liquid crystal layer is independently controlled by applying a predetermined voltage between the common electrode and a corresponding one of data electrode strips of the phase modulation electrode unit to provide each pixel area of the transparent phase modulator with an independent refractive index so as to create a phase modulation profile for the transparent phase modulator.