公开(公告)号：US11880111B1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-23

申请号：US17181911

申请日：2021-02-22

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Patrick R. Gill ,  Yu Horie ,  Eric G. Smith

IPC: G02F1/1343 ,  G02F1/1345 ,  G02F1/137 ,  G02F1/29

CPC classification number: G02F1/137 ,  G02F1/13439 ,  G02F1/134309 ,  G02F1/294 ,  G02F1/1345

Abstract: A pair of eyeglasses may include one or more adjustable lenses that are each configured to align with a respective one of a user's eyes. The adjustable lenses may each include electrically modulated optical material such as one or more liquid crystal cells, each having a phase profile that is adjusted using patterned electrodes. Analog voltages may be provided to the patterned electrodes through variable-resistance conductive paths that are each coupled to a subset of the patterned electrodes. Digital voltage selection circuitry may be used to select which analog voltage to apply to each of the variable-resistance conductive paths from a predetermined set of analog voltages that are generated off of the lens. The digital voltage selection circuitry may include an array of multiplexers, each of which selects a desired voltage based on control signals received from digital control circuitry such a shift register and/or a decoder.

公开(公告)号：US20200096770A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-26

申请号：US16520200

申请日：2019-07-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James E. Pedder ,  Igor Stamenov ,  Cheng Chen ,  Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov ,  Graham B. Myhre ,  Victoria C. Chan ,  Xiaonan Wen ,  Peng Lv ,  Yuan Li ,  Yu Horie ,  Siddharth S. Hazra

IPC: G02B27/01 ,  G02B3/12

Abstract: A lens module in a head-mounted device may include a fluid-filled chamber, a semi-rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, and at least one actuator configured to selectively bend the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may become rigid along a first axis when the lens element is curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Six actuators that are evenly distributed around the periphery of the semi-rigid lens element may be used to control the curvature of the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may initially be planar or non-planar. For example, the semi-rigid lens element may initially have a spherically convex surface and a spherically concave surface. A tunable spherical lens may be incorporated into the lens module to offset a parasitic spherical lens power from the semi-rigid lens element.

公开(公告)号：US11221488B1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-11

申请号：US16917323

申请日：2020-06-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Miikka M. Kangas ,  Yu Horie ,  Ehsan Arbabi ,  Patrick R. Gill ,  Jeffrey G. Koller

IPC: G02F1/1333 ,  G02B27/01 ,  G02B27/00 ,  G02F1/03 ,  G02C7/08

Abstract: A pair of eyeglasses may include one or more adjustable lenses that are each configured to align with a respective one of a user's eyes. The adjustable lenses may include a foveated liquid crystal adjustable lens stacked with a non-liquid-crystal adjustable lens such as a fluid-filled lens or an Alvarez lens. The foveated adjustable lens may include electrically modulated optical material such as one or more liquid crystal cells. The liquid crystal cells may include arrays of electrodes that extend along one, two, three, four, or more than four directions. Control circuitry may apply control signals to the array of electrodes in each liquid crystal cell to produce a desired phase profile. Each lens may be foveated such that portions of the lens within the user's gaze exhibit a different phase profile than portions of the lens outside of the user's gaze.

公开(公告)号：US20210041705A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-11

申请号：US17082736

申请日：2020-10-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James E. Pedder ,  Igor Stamenov ,  Cheng Chen ,  Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov ,  Graham B. Myhre ,  Victoria C. Chan ,  Xiaonan Wen ,  Peng Lv ,  Yuan Li ,  Yu Horie ,  Siddharth S. Hazra

IPC: G02B27/01 ,  G02B3/12

Abstract: A lens module in a head-mounted device may include a fluid-filled chamber, a semi-rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, and at least one actuator configured to selectively bend the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may become rigid along a first axis when the lens element is curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Six actuators that are evenly distributed around the periphery of the semi-rigid lens element may be used to control the curvature of the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may initially be planar or non-planar. For example, the semi-rigid lens element may initially have a spherically convex surface and a spherically concave surface. A tunable spherical lens may be incorporated into the lens module to offset a parasitic spherical lens power from the semi-rigid lens element.

公开(公告)号：US10852553B2

公开(公告)日：2020-12-01

申请号：US16520200

申请日：2019-07-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James E. Pedder ,  Igor Stamenov ,  Cheng Chen ,  Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov ,  Graham B. Myhre ,  Victoria C. Chan ,  Xiaonan Wen ,  Peng Lv ,  Yuan Li ,  Yu Horie ,  Siddharth S. Hazra

IPC: G02B27/01 ,  G02B3/12 ,  G02B3/00

Abstract: A lens module in a head-mounted device may include a fluid-filled chamber, a semi-rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, and at least one actuator configured to selectively bend the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may become rigid along a first axis when the lens element is curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Six actuators that are evenly distributed around the periphery of the semi-rigid lens element may be used to control the curvature of the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may initially be planar or non-planar. For example, the semi-rigid lens element may initially have a spherically convex surface and a spherically concave surface. A tunable spherical lens may be incorporated into the lens module to offset a parasitic spherical lens power from the semi-rigid lens element.

公开(公告)号：US20220026742A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-27

申请号：US17392011

申请日：2021-08-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Patrick R. Gill ,  Miikka M. Kangas ,  Jeffrey G. Koller ,  Alexander A. Miles ,  Yu Horie

IPC: G02C7/08 ,  G02F1/1335 ,  G02F1/1333 ,  G02F1/1343 ,  G02F1/1337

Abstract: A pair of eyeglasses may include one or more adjustable lenses that are each configured to align with a respective one of a user's eyes. The adjustable lenses may each include electrically modulated optical material such as one or more liquid crystal cells. The liquid crystal cells may include arrays of electrodes that extend along one, two, three, four, or more than four directions. Control circuitry may apply control signals to the array of electrodes in each liquid crystal cell to produce a desired phase profile. Each lens may be foveated such that portions of the lens within the user's gaze exhibit a different phase profile than portions of the lens outside of the user's gaze. The control circuitry may adjust the location of the optically distinct area so that it remains aligned with the user's gaze.

公开(公告)号：US12189216B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-07

申请号：US17392011

申请日：2021-08-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Patrick R. Gill ,  Miikka M. Kangas ,  Jeffrey G. Koller ,  Alexander A. Miles ,  Yu Horie

IPC: G02F1/1335 ,  G02C7/08 ,  G02F1/1333 ,  G02F1/1337 ,  G02F1/1343

Abstract: A pair of eyeglasses may include one or more adjustable lenses that are each configured to align with a respective one of a user's eyes. The adjustable lenses may each include electrically modulated optical material such as one or more liquid crystal cells. The liquid crystal cells may include arrays of electrodes that extend along one, two, three, four, or more than four directions. Control circuitry may apply control signals to the array of electrodes in each liquid crystal cell to produce a desired phase profile. Each lens may be foveated such that portions of the lens within the user's gaze exhibit a different phase profile than portions of the lens outside of the user's gaze. The control circuitry may adjust the location of the optically distinct area so that it remains aligned with the user's gaze.

公开(公告)号：US20240385448A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-21

申请号：US18787271

申请日：2024-07-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James E. Pedder ,  Igor Stamenov ,  Cheng Chen ,  Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov ,  Graham B. Myhre ,  Victoria C. Chan ,  Xiaonan Wen ,  Peng Lv ,  Yuan Li ,  Yu Horie ,  Siddharth S. Hazra

IPC: G02B27/01 ,  G02B3/00 ,  G02B3/12

Abstract: A lens module in a head-mounted device may include a fluid-filled chamber, a semi-rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, and at least one actuator configured to selectively bend the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may become rigid along a first axis when the lens element is curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Six actuators that are evenly distributed around the periphery of the semi-rigid lens element may be used to control the curvature of the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may initially be planar or non-planar. For example, the semi-rigid lens element may initially have a spherically convex surface and a spherically concave surface. A tunable spherical lens may be incorporated into the lens module to offset a parasitic spherical lens power from the semi-rigid lens element.

公开(公告)号：US11086143B1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-10

申请号：US16436784

申请日：2019-06-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Patrick R. Gill ,  Miikka M. Kangas ,  Jeffrey G. Koller ,  Alexander A. Miles ,  Yu Horie

IPC: G02F1/1343 ,  G02C7/08 ,  G02F1/1335 ,  G02F1/1333 ,  G02F1/1337

Abstract: A pair of eyeglasses may include one or more adjustable lenses that are each configured to align with a respective one of a user's eyes. The adjustable lenses may each include electrically modulated optical material such as one or more liquid crystal cells. The liquid crystal cells may include arrays of electrodes that extend along one, two, three, four, or more than four directions. Control circuitry may apply control signals to the array of electrodes in each liquid crystal cell to produce a desired phase profile. Each lens may be foveated such that portions of the lens within the user's gaze exhibit a different phase profile than portions of the lens outside of the user's gaze. The control circuitry may adjust the location of the optically distinct area so that it remains aligned with the user's gaze.