Customized Optical Element Shaping for Vision-Correcting Goggles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical components such as sunglasses, ski-goggles, swimming-goggles, and virtual reality goggles are not corrected for specific visual impairments, making them costly and impractical for visually impaired individuals.
Innovation Solution
A method to customize optical elements by combining them with existing optical components using a transparent solidifiable liquid material, adjusting its shape to compensate for visual defects, and solidifying it to achieve desired optical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical components are manufactured specifically to correct visual impairments, then optical correction effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases prohibitively
Solution Approach 1:
The optical correction function is segmented from the main optical component. Instead of manufacturing complete customized optical components, the patent creates a separate optical element that can be attached to existing components. This segmentation allows the expensive customization to be applied only to the necessary corrective portion rather than the entire optical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element is designed to be nested within or attached to the existing optical component. The element fits into a cavity or attaches to the optical surface, creating a nested structure where the corrective optical element is integrated with the base optical component without requiring complete remanufacturing.
2Reliability
If optical components are customized for individual visual defects, then optical correction effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is designed with universal applicability to various types of optical components (glasses, goggles, VR headsets). The same basic element design can be adapted to different base components, reducing the complexity of creating customized solutions for different applications while maintaining effective optical correction.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of redesigning the entire optical component structure, the patent achieves customization by changing parameters of the optical element such as curvature, thickness, and material properties. These parameter adjustments allow adaptation to different visual defects without increasing structural complexity of the overall system.
3Ease of operation
If existing optical components are used without customization, then ease of acquisition is improved, but optical correction effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary customization of optical components before they are put to use. By creating the optical element in advance with the required corrective properties and attaching it to the base component, the system achieves both ease of acquisition (using existing components) and optical correction effectiveness (through pre-customized elements).
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 cost-effective customization of optical components to address visual impairments, providing personalized optical corrections without the need for expensive manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
Arranging a transparent solidifiable liquid material in a cavity... Solidifying the liquid material to obtain the optical element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a customized optical element to adjust an optical property of an optical component, such as goggles, wherein the method comprises the steps of receiving customer data indicative of a visual defect a person and/or a desired visual correction of the optical component; determining, from the customer data, the shape of a first surface of an optical element to be manufactured, such that the optical component, when the optical element is applied to an optical surface of the optical component, compensates at least partially or entirely the visual defect of the person or exhibits the desired visual correction; manufacturing the optical element using a liquid material that when brought in shape, is solidified.