Embedded Electrodes in Electro-Active Eyewear Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electro-active lenses and eyewear face challenges in providing cosmetically acceptable and practical mechanisms for electrical connectivity, recharging, and reducing component weight to enhance wearer comfort, while also minimizing electrode obstruction of the field of view.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates electrodes embedded in the lens body, positioned to extend downward from the upper side end, disposed parallel and spaced apart, with lower ends spaced from the electro-active section, allowing for voltage application and current passage without obstructing the field of view, and includes a removable and rechargeable power source pack for the eyeglasses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrodes are provided in the lens to modify focal length, then vision adjustment capability is improved, but the electrodes obstruct the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions electrodes in the upper peripheral region of the lens, utilizing the vertical and horizontal dimensions to place conductive elements where they do not intersect with the central visual axis. This spatial arrangement allows the electrodes to extend downward from the upper edge while maintaining clearance from the pupil's line of sight, thus enabling focal length modification without obstructing the field of view.
2Ease of operation
If electrodes are extended to connect to external power sources, then electrical connectivity is improved, but the electrodes obstruct the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical connectivity function from the central lens area by positioning electrodes exclusively in the upper peripheral region. The electrodes extend downward from the upper edge to provide electrical connection to the electro-active material, while their placement outside the central visual field ensures they do not obstruct the wearer's view. This separation of electrical connection points from the optical path resolves the contradiction between connectivity and visual clarity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional electro-active lenses are designed with embedded electronics, then lens functionality is improved, but weight increases reducing wearer comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the eyewear system into distinct functional components: the lens containing only the electro-active material and electrodes, and a separate power source housed in the temple or frame. This segmentation allows the lens to remain lightweight while still providing full functionality, as the heavy battery and control electronics are relocated to the temple portion of the eyewear, which is already designed to bear some weight.
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
This solution effectively suppresses electrode obstruction, provides convenient power charging, and enhances wearer comfort by integrating lightweight electronic apparatuses within the eyewear frame, ensuring continuous use and improved vision adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
Electro-active lenses generally provide a region of adjustable optical power by changing the refractive index of an electro-active material (e.g., a liquid crystal material) by the application and removal of electrical power
Implementation Method 2
a pair of electrodes that are embedded in the lens body, that are electrically connected to the electro-active section, that extend downward from an upper side end of the lens body
Data Source
AI summary
A lens includes a lens body, and an electro-active section (liquid crystals and a diffraction section) that is provided to a region of part of the lens body. The lens includes a pair of electrodes that are embedded in the lens body, that are electrically connected to a focal length modification section, that extend downward from an upper side end of the lens body, and that are disposed substantially parallel to each other spaced apart in a width direction orthogonal to an up-down direction of the lens body. Lower ends of the pair of electrodes are disposed spaced apart from the electro-active section in the up-down direction of the lens body.