Foveated Liquid Crystal Eyeglass Lenses for Gaze-Contingent Vision Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing eyewear with tunable lenses that can accommodate varying eye prescriptions and correct for different focal ranges while minimizing disorienting visual sensations and higher-order aberrations, which existing optical systems often fail to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of adjustable lenses comprising liquid crystal cells and fluid-filled or Alvarez lenses, controlled by a sensor system and control circuitry to dynamically adjust the refractive index and optical power, ensuring that the lenses align with the user's gaze and correct for presbyopia and higher-order aberrations by varying optical power across different regions of the lens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If variable optical power is applied across the entire lens to correct presbyopia, then vision correction for different focal ranges is improved, but disorienting visual sensations increase due to magnification changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical powers to different regions of the lens based on the user's gaze location. The gaze-contingent variable optical power is applied only to the foveal region (center of gaze) while peripheral regions maintain different optical characteristics. This local differentiation corrects presbyopia in the fovea without causing disorienting magnification changes in peripheral vision, thereby resolving the contradiction between vision correction and visual comfort.
2Manufacturing precision
If high spatial resolution control signals are applied to electrodes, then manufacturing precision of optical correction is improved, but device complexity increases due to numerous control signal lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a serpentine conductive path with varying resistance that automatically generates the required voltage gradient across the electrode array. The resistance varies along the length of the serpentine path to create different voltage levels at different electrode positions without requiring separate control signal lines for each electrode. This self-generating mechanism achieves high spatial resolution optical correction while minimizing control signal lines and device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple liquid crystal cells with different alignment orientations are stacked, then adaptability to correct various aberrations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the liquid crystal system into multiple stacked cells, each with specific alignment orientations (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°). Each cell layer contributes to correcting different types of optical aberrations through its unique orientation. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive aberration correction capability while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular cell construction.
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
The solution provides effective vision correction for users with different prescriptions and focal ranges, reducing disorienting effects by aligning the optically distinct areas with the user's gaze and minimizing spatial variations in optical power, thereby improving visual clarity and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid crystal adjustable lens may include one or more liquid crystal cells (or other voltage-modulated optical material). Each liquid crystal cell may include a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between transparent substrates. Control circuitry may apply control signals to an array of electrodes in the liquid crystal cell to adjust a phase profile of the liquid crystal material.
Implementation Method 2
Each of the first and second adjustable lenses may include a liquid crystal adjustable lens stacked with a non-liquid-crystal adjustable lens such as a fluid-filled lens or an Alvarez lens.
Data Source
AI summary
A pair of eyeglasses may include one or more adjustable lenses that are each configured to align with a respective one of a user's eyes. The adjustable lenses may include a foveated liquid crystal adjustable lens stacked with a non-liquid-crystal adjustable lens such as a fluid-filled lens or an Alvarez lens. The foveated adjustable lens may include electrically modulated optical material such as one or more liquid crystal cells. The liquid crystal cells may include arrays of electrodes that extend along one, two, three, four, or more than four directions. Control circuitry may apply control signals to the array of electrodes in each liquid crystal cell to produce a desired phase profile. Each lens may be foveated such that portions of the lens within the user's gaze exhibit a different phase profile than portions of the lens outside of the user's gaze.