Head-Mounted Lens Simulator for Ophthalmic Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The traditional dispensing of ophthalmic lenses often results in wearer dissatisfaction due to a lack of suitable visual experience, as the selection process does not effectively convey the optical performance and design factors of the lenses.

Innovation Solution

A head-mounted lens simulator unit that replicates the selected ophthalmic lens design, simulating optical effects and characteristics such as sphere, cylinder, astigmatism, and motion-induced blur, allowing wearers to experience the visual impact of different lens designs through a simulated optical effect and characteristic, aiding in the selection of suitable lenses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a trial-and-error process is used to select ophthalmic lenses, then the selection process can be completed, but the wearer satisfaction is low due to lack of visual experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewearer satisfactionVSAvoidvisual experience information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a head-mounted display to create a virtual copy of the lens-wearing experience, allowing wearers to simulate and visualize the optical effects of different lens designs before actual dispensing. This virtual copying provides the missing visual experience information without requiring multiple physical trial lenses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a computer-generated visual simulation as an intermediary between the lens selection process and the wearer's decision-making. This intermediary provides visual feedback about optical characteristics (such as astigmatism correction and depth of field effects) that would otherwise be invisible to the wearer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If traditional lens dispensing methods are used, then the process is simple, but the wearer cannot understand optical performance and design factors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical performance understandingVSAvoidselection process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses color-coded visual overlays to represent different optical characteristics and performance parameters. By translating abstract optical data into visual and color-coded representations, the system makes optical performance information comprehensible to wearers without requiring complex technical knowledge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple lens designs are tried physically, then the wearer can experience different options, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens design comparison capabilityVSAvoidlens selection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary virtual simulations of multiple lens designs before the actual dispensing decision is made. By allowing wearers to preview and compare various lens options through virtual simulation in advance, the system eliminates the need for multiple physical trial fittings, significantly reducing the time required for lens selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1949174B1Ophthalmic lens simulation system and method
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 CARL ZEISS VISION AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LTD
  • EP1949174B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1949174B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1949174B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method of simulating an optical effect, and/or characteristic of a selected ophthalmic lens design for a wearer is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes retrieving simulation data for the selected ophthalmic lens design and processing the simulation data to generate output image data for an output image simulating the optical effect and/or characteristic of the selected ophthalmic lens design. The output image is displayed, using a head-mounted display worn by the wearer, for viewing by the wearer. A system for simulating an optical effect, and/or characteristic of a selected ophthalmic lens design for a wearer is also disclosed.