Electro-Active Spectacle Lens Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spectacle lenses do not effectively account for individual variations in sensitivity to ambient illumination and contrast, leading to suboptimal visual performance, as they primarily focus on object distance without considering these factors.

Innovation Solution

A spectacle lens with a changeable optical effect, accompanied by an effect-setting apparatus, memory apparatus, and supply apparatus, which store and apply intended-setting data from multiple refraction measurements to adjust the lens's optical properties based on ambient conditions, including illumination and contrast, ensuring optimal correction for refractive errors under varying visual conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single fixed optical effect is used in spectacle lenses, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different ambient conditions and individual visual performance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to ambient conditionsVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spectacle lens incorporates an electro-active element that enables dynamic switching between different optical effects (e.g., spherical, cylindrical, astigmatic) based on ambient conditions and individual refraction measurements. This transforms the static lens into a dynamic system that can adapt its optical properties in real-time, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity by making the complexity controllable and condition-dependent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the lens by applying different voltage levels to the electro-active element, thereby switching between predetermined optical effects. This parameter-based control allows the lens to adapt to different ambient illumination and contrast conditions without requiring multiple physical lenses, maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple refraction measurements under different ambient conditions are performed, then the measurement precision for individual visual performance is improved, but the measurement time and procedure complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of refraction measurementVSAvoidmeasurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs refraction measurements under different ambient conditions (illumination and contrast levels) during the initial fitting process and stores the results as predetermined optical effects in memory. This preliminary action allows the lens to be pre-configured with multiple optical effects, eliminating the need for repeated measurements during actual use and reducing measurement time while maintaining high precision for individual visual performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the refraction data from multiple measurements and stores it in memory as intended-setting data. This copying approach preserves the precision of multiple measurements without requiring the user to undergo repeated physical measurements during use, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If electro-active elements are used to change optical effects, then the adaptability to different optical corrections is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical effect variabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The electro-active element serves multiple functions: it enables switching between different optical effects (spherical, cylindrical, astigmatic), accommodates individual refraction measurements, and adapts to ambient conditions. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single component, avoiding the need for multiple separate mechanisms and simplifying manufacturing despite the enhanced adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The electro-active element acts as an intermediary between the control system (effect-setting apparatus) and the optical system (spectacle lens). This intermediary component enables flexible optical correction by translating electrical signals into optical effect changes, simplifying the overall system architecture and manufacturing process while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8851677B2Arrangement with a spectacle lens having a changeable effect and method for setting the effect of a spectacle lens

Publication Date: 2014.10.07 CARL ZEISS VISION GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to an arrangement with a spectacle lens having a changeable optical effect and with an effect-setting apparatus for setting the optical effect of the spectacle lens on the basis of intended-setting data. A memory apparatus stores first intended-setting data for setting a first predetermined optical intended effect, which was established from a first refraction measurement on an eye of a spectacles wearer for whom the spectacle lens is destined, and for storing second intended-setting data for setting a second predetermined optical intended effect, which was established from a second refraction measurement on the eye, and also a supply apparatus for supplying the first intended-setting data or the second intended-setting data to the effect-setting apparatus.