US 2025/0060648 A1 · ELECTRO-ACTIVE LENSES WITH MULTIPLE ELECTRODE LAYERS

Abstract

Concentric ring electrodes in a conventional electro-active lens are arranged in the same layer and spaced apart from each other to prevent electrical shorts. The spacing between electrodes depends on the substrate material and how the electrodes are made. Ideally, the electrodes should be as close together as possible to prevent eddies or discontinuities in the electric field that the electrodes apply to the electro-active material in the electro-active lens. These eddies or discontinuities degrade the electro-active lens's optical quality. Unfortunately, current photolithographic patterning processes cannot produce gaps smaller than about 5 microns on plastic substrates. To compensate for this constraint, the electrodes can be arranged on the substrate in two or more staggered layers, with the electrodes in one layer appearing to fill the gaps in the other layer(s) when looking through the electro-active lens. This eliminates apparent gaps between electrodes even with plastic substrates and coarse patterning resolution.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An electro-active lens comprising:

a first plastic substrate;
a second plastic substrate;
liquid crystal material disposed between the first plastic substrate and the second plastic substrate;
first electrodes disposed on the first plastic substrate and separated from each other by first gaps of 5 microns;
an insulating layer disposed on the first electrodes;
and
second electrodes disposed on the insulating layer, separated from each other by second gaps of 5 microns, and staggered with respect to the first electrodes.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electro-active lenses with multiple electrode layers

Life of this patent

Electro-active lenses with multiple electrode layers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22