# US 12,216,380 B2 · Gradient-index liquid crystal lens having a plurality of independently-operable driving zones > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,216,380 B2 - Document ID: US12216380B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/188,923 - Filed: 2023-03-23 - Published: 2024-03-21 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-09-16 - Assignees: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Eric Stratton; Amit Bhowmick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216380B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/294: {Variable focal length devices} - G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features} - G02B 27/0179: {Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed} - G02F 1/29: for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection - G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G09G 3/003: {to produce spatial visual effects} - G02B 2027/0123: {comprising devices increasing the field of view} - G02B 2027/0178: {Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C)} - G02B 2027/0187: {slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye} - G09G 2354/00: Aspects of interface with display user - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract A lens system may include a lens having a liquid crystal layer and a driving electrode array disposed on a first side of the liquid crystal layer, the driving electrode array including a plurality of driving zones that are independently operable. The plurality of driving zones may each include a plurality of driving electrodes consecutively arranged along a radial direction extending from a central region of the lens. The lens system may include a controller that is configured to independently operate each of the plurality of driving zones via a separate plurality of bus lines coupled to each of the plurality of driving zones. The controller may be configured to operate at least one of the driving zones based on a gaze direction of the user. Various other devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lens system comprising: a lens comprising; a liquid crystal layer; a driving electrode array disposed on a first side of the liquid crystal layer, the driving electrode array comprising a plurality of driving zones, wherein: the plurality of driving zones each comprise a plurality of driving electrodes consecutively arranged along a radial direction extending from a central region of the lens, and adjacent driving electrodes in a driving zone of the plurality of driving zones are coupled to each other by a resistor; a floating electrode array overlapping the driving electrode array, wherein the floating electrode array is disposed between the driving electrode array and the liquid crystal layer and is separated from the driving electrode array by a dielectric layer; and at least one common electrode disposed on a second side of the liquid crystal layer opposite the driving electrode array; and a controller that is configured to independently operate each of the plurality of driving zones via a separate plurality of bus lines coupled to each of the plurality of driving zones. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, further comprising an eye-tracking system configured to determine a gaze direction of a user, wherein the controller is further configured to operate at least one driving zone of the plurality of driving zones based on the gaze direction of the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of bus lines coupled to a driving zone of the plurality of driving zones is electrically coupled to a different driving electrode of the plurality of driving electrodes in the driving zone; and the controller is configured to operate the driving zone by applying a different voltage to each driving electrode electrically coupled to a bus line of the plurality of bus lines. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein each driving zone is electrically separated from other driving zones of the plurality of driving zones. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of driving electrodes in a driving zone are electrically coupled to each other via the resistors coupling adjacent driving electrodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein a resistor coupling two adjacent driving electrodes is configured to maintain a voltage difference between the two adjacent driving electrodes during operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of driving zones comprises at least four driving zones. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of driving zones each overlap different sectors of the liquid crystal layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lens system of claim 8, wherein the sectors overlapped by the plurality of driving zones have approximately equal sector angles. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of driving zones comprises a central driving zone surrounded by a plurality of outer driving zones. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lens system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of outer driving zones each extend from the central driving zone to a periphery of the driving electrode array. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of driving electrodes in a driving zone each overlap an area having approximately the same size. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein adjacent driving electrodes are separated from each other by a gap region extending between the adjacent driving electrodes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein the floating electrode array comprises a plurality of floating electrodes that overlap gap regions between adjacent driving electrodes of the driving electrode array. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of bus lines coupled to a driving zone of the plurality of driving zones is electrically coupled to a different driving electrode of the plurality of driving electrodes in the driving zone. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The lens system of claim 15, wherein each of the driving electrodes electrically coupled to a bus line of the plurality of bus lines in the driving zone is located at a different radial distance relative to the central region of the lens. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of driving electrodes in a driving zone of the plurality of driving zones extends along an arcuate path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The lens system of claim 1, wherein adjacent driving zones of the plurality of driving zones are separated by a partition region that extends radially between a central region and a periphery of the driving electrode array. ### Claim 19 A method comprising: operating a first driving zone of a driving electrode array of a lens via a first plurality of bus lines, wherein: the lens comprises a liquid crystal layer disposed between the driving electrode array and at least one common electrode, the first driving zone comprises a plurality of driving electrodes consecutively arranged along a radial direction extending from a central region of the lens, a floating electrode array overlapping the driving electrode array, wherein the floating electrode array is disposed between the driving electrode array and the liquid crystal layer and is separated from the driving electrode array by a dielectric layer and operating, independent of the first driving zone, a second driving zone of the driving electrode array via a second plurality of bus lines that is separate from the first plurality of bus lines. ### Claim 20 A lens comprising: a liquid crystal layer; a driving electrode array disposed on a first side of the liquid crystal layer, the driving electrode array comprising a plurality of driving zones that are independently operable, wherein: the plurality of driving zones each comprise a plurality of driving electrodes consecutively arranged along a radial direction extending from a central region of the lens, and adjacent driving electrodes in a driving zone of the plurality of driving zones are coupled to each other by a resistor; a floating electrode array overlapping the driving electrode array, wherein the floating electrode array is disposed between the driving electrode array and the liquid crystal layer and is separated from the driving electrode array by a dielectric layer; at least one common electrode disposed on a second side of the liquid crystal layer opposite the driving electrode array; and a plurality of bus lines coupled to each of the plurality of driving zones.