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`DYNAMIC LENS
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`Ronald D. Blum
`Tony Van Heugten
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`March 24, 2010
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`P9933-USP146
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`FIG.1illustrates a side view of a lens 100 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
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`The lens 100 can comprisea first lens component 10 and a second lens component 5. The second lens
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`component5 can be positioned closer to an object being observed or viewed with the lens 100 (such
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`that, for example,thefirst lens component10is positioned closer to a user of the lens 100). A fluid (or
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`liquid or gel, etc.) 20 can be positioned between the first lens component 10 and the secondlens
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`component5. Thefirst lens component 10 can be a solid lens comprising a material having a
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`homogeneousindexof refraction. The fluid 20 can have an index of refraction that is approximately
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`equal to the index of refraction of the first lens component 10.
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`The first lens component 10 can comprise a front surface 11 (the surface ofthefirst lens
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`component10 thatis adjacent to the fluid 20) and a back surface 12 (the surface ofthefirst lens
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`component10 thatis not adjacentto the fluid 20). The front 11 and back surfaces 12 of the first lens
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`component 10 can each have any shapeor curvature. Further, any optical feature — for example, a
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`progressive optical power region,a bifocal, trifocal or other multifocal region, an aspheric optical
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`feature, a rotationally symmetric optical feature (including rotationally symmetric aspheric regions), a
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`non-rotationally symmetric optical feature (including non-rotationally symmetric aspheric regions), or
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`any combination thereof — can be positioned on any portion of either the front surface 11 or the back
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`surface 12 of the first lens component 10.
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`The second lens component 5 can bea flexible element such as a flexible membrane. The
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`second lens component5 can also be stretchable. Accordingly, the shape of the second lens component
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`5 can be dynamically adjusted based on the volume offluid 20 positioned between the first lens
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`component 10 and the second lens component5. Specifically, as the amount or volume offluid 20 is
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`decreased, the second lens element 5 can be drawn toward the front surface 11 ofthe first lens
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`component 10. Eventually, the second lens component 5 can comeinto contact with (and can conform
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`to the shapeof)the first lens component 10. Correspondingly, as the amountor volume offluid is
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`increased, the second lens element 5 can be moved away from the front surface 11 ofthe first lens
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`component10. The flexible membrane 5 can be a material such as, but not limited to, urethane.
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`As the shape of the second lens component5 is dynamically adjusted, the optical power in one
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`or more regions of the lens 100 can be varied or adjusted. When thefluid 20 separatesthe first lens
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`component10 and the second lens component5, any optical feature on any portion of the front surface
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`11 ofthe first lens component 10 covered by the fluid 20 will not contribute to any optical power
`provided in any portion of the lens 100. This is because the fluid 20 has an index of refraction that
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`approximately matchesthe index of refraction of the first lens component 10. When nofluid 20
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`separates the front lens component 10 and the second lens component5, then the second lens
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`component 5 can conform to the shapeofthe front surface 11 ofthe first lens component 10.
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`In turn,
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`any optical feature on any portion of the front surface 11 of the first lens component 10 can contribute
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`to a dynamic optical power provided in various portions of the lens 100. More specifically, any optical
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`feature on the front surface 11 of thefirst lens component 10 that can be covered and not covered by
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`the fluid 20, can contribute to a dynamic optical power provided by lens 100. Such a region can be
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`considered to be a dynamic optical power region of lens 100. A dynamic optical power region of the
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`lens 100 can be of any shapeor size and can contribute any desired optical power when no longer
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`covered bythe fluid 20. Further, a dynamic optical power region of the lens 100 can be placed into
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`optical communication with one or more additional optical features of the lens 100 (e.g., an optical
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`feature positioned on the back surface 12 ofthe first lens component 10).
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`In this way, a dynamic optical
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`power region of the lens 100 can contribute a portion of a total desired optical power for a region of the
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`lens 100 (e.g., a first portion of a total add power of the lens 100).
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`The fluid 20 can be moved by several different methods and mechanisms. As an example,
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`movementofthe first lens component 10 can displace the fluid 20.
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`If the first lens component 10is
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`moved towards the second lens component5,the fluid 20 can be forced out of the region separating
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`the first lens component 10 and the second lens component5. If the first lens component 10 is moved
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`away from the second lens component5,the fluid 20 can be allowed to enter the region separating the
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`first lens component 10 and the second lens component 5. Alternatively, an actuator can pump the fluid
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`into and out of a region between thefirst lens component 10 and the second lens component 5. Such
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`an actuator can be positioned within a temple of a lens frame housing the lens 100.
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`Thefluid 20 can be evacuated to a chamber or reservoir positioned in a variety of places with
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`respect to the lens 100. As an example, and as shownin FIG. 1, the fluid 20 can be evacuated to one or
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`morereservoirs 25. As an additional example, the fluid can be pumpedinto a reservoir positioned
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`within a temple of a lens frame housing the lens 100.
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`The dynamiclens of the present invention is not limited to the lens 100 depicted in FIG. 1. As
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`shownin FIG. 1, the fluid 20 is depicted as separating the entire front surface 11 ofthe first lens
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`component 10 from the entire membrane5 (i.e., the fluid can cover approximately the entire front
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`surface 11 of the first lens component 10) but is not so limited. That is, the fluid 20 of a dynamiclens of
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`the present invention can be positioned between only selectportions ofthefirst lens component 10 and
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`the second lens component5. For portions of the Jens 100 wherenofluid 20 is allowed to separate the
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`first lens component 10 and the second lens component5, the membrane 5 can approximately conform
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`to that portion of the front surface 11 of the first lens component 10. Further, portions of the
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`membrane 5 can be adhesively attached to the front surface 11 of the first lens component 10.
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`Additionally, a dynamic lens of the present invention can comprise a flexible membrane 5 and a lens
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`component10that are in switched positions — that is, such that the flexible membrane5 is positioned
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`closer to a user of the lens 100 and the first lens component10is positioned further form the user.
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`Under such a scenario, optical features positioned on the back surface 12 of the lens component 10
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`would be exposed or covered based on the presence or absenceoffluid 20 separating regions of the
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`flexible membrane 5 from the lens component 10.
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`Overall, a dynamic lens of the present invention can dynamically adjust the overall optical power
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`provided by one or more regions of the dynamic lens by exposing or covering up optical features of a
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`lens componentsurface with an approximately index matchedfluid. Accordingly, a dynamic lens of the
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`presentinvention can be used to form anyvariable optical power lens — with the optical power of the
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`lens capable of being varied spatially and temporally.
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`The following figures provide an example of the operation of the lens 100 and are not intended
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`to belimiting:
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`FIG. 1 — The lens 100 is depicted in an approximatelyfirst or beginning state. The fluid 20
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`separatesthe entire front surface 11 of the first lens component 10 from theflexible membrane 5. Asa
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`result, no optical features of the front surface 11 ofthe first lens component 10 contribute to any optical
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`power provided by the lens 100 in the first state. As shownin FIG. 1, the lens is shownto be a single
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`vision lens (e.g., plano) in the first state but is not so limited. For example, the back surface 12 of the
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`first lens component 10 could comprise a multifocal region — such as a progressive optical power region
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`— such that the lens 100 provides one or moreoptical powersin thefirst state.
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`FIG, 2 — The lens 100 is depicted to be in a transitional state. Specifically, a portion of the fluid
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`20 has been displaced from the gap between the first lens component 10 and the second lens
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`component5. A portion of the second lens component 5 begins to change shapeas it comesinto
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`contact with and conforms to the front surface 11 offirst lens component 10. Based on the shape of
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`this portion of the front surface 11 of the first lens component 10, an optical power provided by the lens
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`in this region can be adjusted or change. Fluid 20 can be displaced by using movable slide 15 and fixed
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`portion 40.
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`FIG. 3 — The lens 100 is depicted in an approximately final or second state. The fluid 200 has
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`been entirely or approximately entirely displaced from between thefirst lens component 10 and the
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`second lens component 5. Additional portions of the second lens component 5 have changed shape as
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`they came into contact with and conformed to the remaining portions of the front surface 11of first
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`lens component 10. Overall, an optical power provided by the lens 100 has been adjusted by having the
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`flexible membrane 5 conform to the shape of the front surface 11 of the first lens component10.
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`As shownin FIG. 3, the lens 100 is depicted as being a single vision lens (e.g., providing positive
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`optical power) butis not so limited. That is, a portion of the front surface 11 ofthe first lens component
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`10 can comprise a multifocal region — for example, a progressive optical power region — such that the
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`lens 100 in the second state provides multiple optical powers or vision zones.
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`FIG. 4-The lens 100 is depicted in a front view. The depiction of the lens 100 in FIG. 4
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`correspondsto the fensin the first or initial state as shownin the side view of FIG. 1.
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`FIG. 5 — The lens 100 is depicted in a front view. The depiction of the lens 100 in FIG. 5
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`correspondsto the lensin the transitional state as shownin the side view of FIG. 2. A region or zone 30
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`is shownthatis distinguished from an outer periphery of the lens 100. The region 30 can correspond to
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`the region of the flexible membrane 5 that comesinto contact or conformsto the front surface 11 of the
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`first lens component 10. As such, the region 30 can provide an optical power that varies from the
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`optical power provided by the area of the lens surrounding the region 30. The region 30 can be
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`considered to be a portion of a dynamic (or adjustable) optical power region of the lens 100.
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`FIG. 6 — The lens 100 is depicted in a front view. The depiction of the lens 100 in FIG. 6
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`corresponds to the lensin the secondor final state as shownin the side view of FIG. 3. The region 30is
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`enlarged compared to the region 30 depicted in FiG. 5 and can correspond to the region ofthe flexible
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`membrane 5 that comesinto contact or conformsto the front surface 11 of the first lens component 10.
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`The region 30 can be of any size or shape and can provide a constant optical power or a variable
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`optical power (having either a symmetric or non-symmetric and either a continuous or discontinuous
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`optical power profile). The region 30 can be positioned to be centered or located in any region of the
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`lens 100. Further, the lens can include more than one adjustable optical power region 30.
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`One skilled in the pertinent art will appreciate and understand that, in general, the dynamic lens
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`of the present invention can provide a first or initial optical power profile in a first or initial state, can
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`provide a transitional optical power profile in a transitional state, and can provide a second or final
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`optical power profile in a second or final sate based on the exposureof optical features on the front
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`surface 11 of the first lens component 10. The first, transitional and second optical power profiles can
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`be any desired optical power profiles. One or more surfaces or optical features can contribute to the
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`optical power profiles provided by the lens 100 (e.g., two or more surfaces can provide a total add
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`power ofthe lens 100 by being in optical communication with one another). Further, one skilled in the
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`pertinentart will appreciate the different methods and mechanism that can be used to displace and
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`store the fluid used in the dynamic lens of the present invention.
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`The first optical power profile can be determined by the back surface 12 ofthe first lens
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`component 10 and theflexible membrane 5. Thefirst optical power profile can be provided by the lens
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`100 when the fluid 20 covers one or more optical features of the front surface 11 ofthefirst lens
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`component 10 as described above.
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`The second optical power profile can be determined by the back surface 12 of the first lens
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`component10 and thefront surface 11 of the first lens component 10. The second optical power profile
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`can be provided by the lens 100 when the one or morepreviously covered optical features of the front
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`surface 11 of the first lens component10 are exposed as described above.
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`According to an aspect of the present invention, the membrane 5 can be coated with a hard
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`coat/anti-scratch coating, an anti-reflection coating, and/or an anti-soiling coating.
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`According to an aspect of the present invention, the index matchfluid 20 can have an index of
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`refraction that is matched to within approximately 0.05 units of the refractive index of thefirst lens
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`component 10. The membrane5 can also be index matched the fluid 20 and thefirst lens component
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`10.
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`Additional features and examples of the dynamic lens of the present invention are described
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`below in relation to FIGs. 7-12.
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`FIG. 7 - A dynamic lens 200 of the present invention is shown. The lens shownin FIG. 7 can be a
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`lens blank (e.g., an unfinished lens blank or a semi-finished lens blank). The lens shownin FIG. 7 can be
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`edged andfinishedto fit into a spectacle frame (e.g., as shownin FIG. 11 as will be described further
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`below). The flexible membraneof the lens 200 is adhered over the entire lens except the circular region
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`shownby the dashedline (e.g., the dynamic or adjustable power region). Accordingly, the area
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`surroundedby the dashed line is the only region of the lens 200 having an optical power thatwill change
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`as the fluid of the lens 200 is extracted from this region. This region can be positioned belowa fitting
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`point of the lens but is not so limited. This region can be centered about the geometric center of the
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`lens but is not so limited. Further, a dynamic lens 200 of the present invention can haveafitting point
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`that coincides with the geometric center of the lens but is not so limited. A bond line shows the
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`separation between the region of the flexible membrane that is adhered to the lens 200 and the region
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`of the flexible membrane that is not adhered to the lens 200. A trench or moat can surround all or a
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`portion of the unattached flexible membrane portion. The trench or moat can be located on the front
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`surface surface 11 of the first lens component 10. The trench or moat can be used to route thefluid.
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`The trench or moat can be (butis not always) of a width and depth to cause membrane 5 to stretch
`when membrane5 is sucked into the trench or moatasthefluid is sucked out. The trench or moat can
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`be polished and shaped by mold to have no sharp edges. The fluid can enter and exit the dashed region
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`using the channel. The channel is shownto extend horizontally from the dynamic power region butis
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`not so limited. That is, the channel can extend from the dynamic power region in any direction or art
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`any angle(e.g., sloped at a slight angle away from the dynamic power region).
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`The dynamic power region and surrounding moatcan be anysize or shape.
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`In general, the size
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`of the dynamic power region and surrounding moatcan be a sizethatwill fit within the dimension of
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`any frame style or shape. For example, for a lens frame having a vertical height of approximately 48
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`mm, the diameter of the dynamic power region and surrounding moat can have a diameter thatis
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`between 43 mm and 44mm. Fora lens frame having a vertical height of approximately 26 mm,the
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`diameter of the dynamic power region and surrounding moat can have a diameter that is between 21
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`mm and 22 mm.
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`FIG, 8 — Showsthe dynamic lens 200 of FIG. 7 ina side view. The portion of theflexible
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`membrane that is permanently bondedor adheredto the lens 200 is distinguished from the portion of
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`the membranehaving a shape than can be adjusted.
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`FIG. 9 — Shows the dynamiclens 200 as having a rotationally symmetric aspheric add zone.
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`When exposed,this add zone as showncan provide an add powerof 2.50 D (butis not so limited). The
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`rotationally symmetric aspheric add zone can have a rotationally symmetric continuous optical power
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`profile having a lower optical power atits periphery than at its center. The periphery may or may not
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`have an optical power discontinuity (e.g., having an optical discontinuity of 0.25 D as shownin FIG. 9).
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`In general, a discontinuity of a dynamiclens of the present invention can be a discontinuity of slope or
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`sag. Further, a discontinuity of a dynamic lens of the present invention can be a power discontinuity
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`having any optical power value.
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`FIG. 10 —- Showsthe dynamic lens 200 as having a shape similar to the progressive addition
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`surface positioned on the internal surface of the lens that the membrane can conform to when the
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`index matchingfluid no longer separates the membranefrom the internal progressive addition surface.
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`Similar to FIG. 7, a bond line shows the separation between the region of the flexible membranethatis
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`adhered to the lens 200 (outside of the bond line) and the region of the flexible membrane thatis not
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`adhered to the lens 200 (inside of the bond line). The exemplary lens shownin FIG. 10 can use the
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`internal progressive surface (located at or belowthefitting point of the first lens component 10 and on
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`the surface 11) to provide the full add power of the lens. Alternatively, the internal progressive surface
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`can bein optical communication with another optical elementof the lens(e.g., a progressive addition
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`region positioned on the back surface of the lens) such that internal progressive surface provide a first
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`componentofa total add power of the lens.
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`In general, the dynamic power region of a dynamiclens of
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`the present invention can be in optical communication with one or more optical elements such that the
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`combined elements provide the desired optical power for a particular vision zone(e.g., either an
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`intermediate or near vision zone).
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`FIG. 11 — Shows examples of the dynamic lens 200 in various shapes andsizes to accommodate
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`a wide range oflens and frame styles. The dynamic lens of the present invention can be madeto have
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`any desired shapeor size. The examples shownin FIG. 11 can be lenses for a patient’s right eye.
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`FIG. 12 — Shows an example of the dynamic lens positioned within an exemplary spectacle
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`frame. As shown in FIG. 11, a channel of the dynamic lens is coupled to an actuator and reservoir
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`positioned in or near a temple of the spectacle frame. The actuator can use the channel to pump the
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`fluid of the dynamic lens into and outof the reservoir to dynamically alter the optical power provided by
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`the dynamic lens. Oneskilled in the pertinent arts will appreciate that a variety of actuators can be used
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`to help movethefluid of the dynamic lens. For example, the dynamic lens of the present invention can
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`use a mechanical actuator, electronic actuator, a fuel cell actuator or a manual actuator. For example,
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`the actuator can be a syringe, plunger, pump that is mechanically (e.g., spring loaded), manually,
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`electrically, or electro-mechanically moved or adjusted to move the placementof thefluid of the
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`dynamic lens. An air tight seal can be formed between the one or moreactuators, one or more
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`reservoirs and the one or more dynamic power regions(i.e., regions allowingfluid to enter and exit) to
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`enable good flow ofthe fluid of the dynamic lens.
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`The example shownin FIG. 12 can be lensesfor a patient’s right eye. The dynamic lens of the
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`present invention can use one or morereservoirs. Further, the one or more reservoirs are notlimited to
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`the location shownin FIG. 12. That is, one or more reservoirs can be positioned within the nose bridge
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`of a frame housing a dynamic lens of the present invention. Further, a dynamic lens of the present
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`invention can use multiple reservoirs positioned in various locations in relation to the lens. For example,
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`a first reservoir can be positioned in a temple and a second reservoir can be located in a nose bridge.
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`FIG. 13 — Shows an example of the lens 100 having an optical feature 14 on the front surface 11
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`of the first lens component 10. The optical feature 14 can be a constant optical power region (when no
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`longer coverted by the fluid 20) and can have a spherical or aspherical curvature that is different from
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`the rest of the front surface 11. As such, the lens 100 — when the front surface 11 is no longer covered
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`by the fluid 20 — can be a multifocal lens.
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`FIG. 14 — Showsthelens of FIG. 13 when the fluid 20 no longer separates the optical feature 14
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`from the membrane 5. As such, the membrane 5 has conformed to the shapeofthe optical feature 14.
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`The lens 100 can therefore provide an optical power in a lower portion of the lens that is different from
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`an optical power provided by an upper portion of thelens. It should be pointed out that while
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`membrane 5 is flexible it also can be stretchable. In certain embodiments of the invention it is only
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`flexible, but in other embodimentsof the invention it is stretchable and also flexible. When membrane
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`5 is stretched and flexed to conform to the shape of surface 11 and optical feature 14, the stretching can
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`aid the fluid 20 re-filing the chamber of the lens when the membrane 5 is released.
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