Eyeglass With Variable Optical Power For Dual Vision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing eyeglasses that provide both ophthalmic and supplementary vision often fail to focus both images sharply on the retina simultaneously, leading to optical distortions and requiring expensive adjustments or complex curvature management.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a transparent active device between the light-conducting element's exit face and the eyeglass's back face, which produces variable optical power based on a control signal, allowing for distinct focusing states for ophthalmic and supplementary visions, thereby optimizing the front and back faces for distortion-free ophthalmic vision and sharp supplementary image display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the front face and back face have curvatures to provide optical power for ophthalmic vision, then the ophthalmic vision is improved, but the supplementary image cannot be focused sharply on the retina simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefocus sharpnessVSAvoiddual vision functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing a variable optical power device that can dynamically adjust its focal length between two states. This allows the eyeglass to adapt between providing optical power for ophthalmic vision and not providing optical power for supplementary vision, enabling both functions to work sharply without permanent structural compromise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by varying the optical power parameter of the light-conducting element between two distinct states. When the variable optical power device is in the first state, it provides optical power for ophthalmic vision; when in the second state, it provides no optical power for supplementary vision, thus resolving the focusing conflict

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If a focussing unit is added to adjust supplementary image focus, then both images can be sharp simultaneously, but the device becomes expensive and requires user operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage focus sharpnessVSAvoidfocussing unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by making the light-conducting element serve dual functions: it acts as both the supplementary light guide and the variable optical power device. This eliminates the need for a separate focussing unit, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to focus both images sharply

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the focussing function into the light-conducting element itself by introducing the variable optical power device within it. This combination eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure while achieving dual-image sharpness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the front face curvature is limited to reduce optical power, then accommodation threshold is maintained, but optical distortions occur for oblique gaze directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation compatibilityVSAvoidoblique vision accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by using a variable optical power device that can adjust its state based on viewing conditions. The device provides optical power when needed for ophthalmic vision and eliminates optical distortions for supplementary vision by switching states, maintaining both accommodation compatibility and oblique vision accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 simultaneous sharp focusing of natural and supplementary images on the retina without significant optical distortions, allowing for mass production using semi-finished eyeglass production stages and ametropia correction for both visions.

Implementation Method 1

a light-conducting element 2, which is located in the light-refracting transparent material 1, and adapted to output a supplementary light SL between the front face FF and the back face BF of the eyeglass 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The exit face EF of the light-conducting element 2 is thus oriented towards the eye 20, so that the supplementary light SL enters into the eye 20 through the eye pupil P

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

Because the front face FF and the back face BF have respective curvatures, they each produce an optical power. Since the light OL which is efficient for the ophthalmic vision intersects both the front face FF and the back face BF of the eyeglass 10, the optical power of this eyeglass for the ophthalmic vision is the algebraic sum of the respective optical powers of the two faces.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2517067B1Eyeglass adapted for providing an ophthalmic vision and a supplementary vision
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL(COMPAGNIE GENERALE D OPTIQUE)
  • EP2517067B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP2517067B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~5

AI summary

An eyeglass (10) is adapted for providing an ophthalmic vision and a supplementary vision to a wearer of said eyeglass, both ophthalmic and supplementary visions being sharp during respective periods. To this purpose, a transparent active device (3) is located between the back face (BF) of the eyeglass and a light-conducting element (2), this latter being embedded within the eyeglass and dedicated to ouput the light of the supplementary vision. The transparent active device switches between two optical power values, which are dedicated to make sharp the ophthalmic vision and the supplementary vision, respectively.