Patent · US Expired

Actuation mechanism for variable focal length eyeglasses

US5526067A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
16References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 1994
Grant dateJun 11, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 21, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02C2202/16
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Variable power eyeglasses of many shapes can be manufactured having a frame, a pair of lens assemblies and a linear actuation mechanism. Each lens assembly includes: a rigid substrate; a membrane support spaced from the rigid substrate; a flexible seal extending between the rigid substrate and the membrane support, where the flexible seal acts as a hinge at a first section and acts as a spring by allowing relative motion between the rigid substrate and the membrane support at a second section; a transparent elastomeric membrane sealed around a periphery to the membrane support; and a transparent liquid filling the space between the rigid substrate and the membrane forming a liquid lens. The linear actuation mechanism causes relative motion between the membrane and the rigid substrate so that both optical and prismatic power of the liquid lens changes by varying a force applied to the flexible sealing means at the second section. The linear actuation mechanism is positioned within a plane of the lens assemblies and includes: a pair of sliders connected via a wire passing through a tube mounted onto the frame; a pair of cams with one of the cams attached to each end of the pair of sl…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.