Prism-enhanced lenses and methods of using prism-enhanced lenses
Assigneee-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Van Heugten, Harry Milton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electro-active lens is presented which utilizes a surface relief structures and an electro-active material, with a change in refractive index facilitating the change in optical properties. A molded structure and a liquid crystal are used to form a diffractive lens. In addition to the classical approach of utilizing diffractive optics and multiple Fresnel zones to form a lens, an additional structure is placed between Fresnel zones in order to improve the diffraction efficiency across the visible spectrum and reduce chromatic aberration.
Claims23
An electro-active lens comprising:
- a first substrate;
- a second substrate;
- a liquid crystal material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
- and
- a surface relief structure formed in the first substrate opposite the second substrate, the surface relief structure defining a diffractive lens having a plurality of phase wrap regions and at least one prism structure, disposed between a pair of phase wrap regions in the plurality of phase wrap regions, to mitigate diffraction efficiency reductions at wavelengths higher and lower than a design wavelength of the diffractive lens.
An electro-active lens comprising:
- a first substrate;
- a second substrate;
- a liquid crystal material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
- and
- a surface relief structure formed in the first substrate opposite the second substrate, the surface relief structure defining a diffractive lens having a plurality of phase wrap regions and at least one prism structure, disposed between a pair of phase wrap regions in the plurality of phase wrap regions, to reduce a variation in a Strehl ratio of the diffractive lens over a wavelength range of about 450 nm to about 650 nm.
An electro-active lens comprising:
- a first substrate;
- a second substrate;
- a liquid crystal material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
- and
- a single surface relief structure formed on a first surface of the first substrate, the first surface of the first substrate being opposite the second substrate, the single surface relief structure defining a diffractive lens having a plurality of phase wrap regions and at least one prism structure, disposed between a pair of phase wrap regions in the plurality of phase wrap regions, to reduce chromatic aberration of the diffractive lens at wavelengths higher and lower than a design wavelength of the diffractive lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.