Adlens Limited

Simon Peter Horrocks

Robert Edward Stevens

Thomas Norman Llyn Jacoby

Daniel Paul Rhodes

Alex Edginton

Martyn Francis Kenneally

Benjamin Ian Curnow

David Mlynski

A hybrid injection-compression variable focal power optical element, a variable focal power optical device including such a hybrid injection-compression optical element and an electronic control system, and an augmented reality headset including at least one group of optical elements including at least one such hybrid injection-compression optical element, a waveguide interposed therebetween for displaying a virtual image and an electronic control system.

Relating to variable focal power optical elements, a variable focal power optical device, a display module for an augmented reality headset and an augmented reality headset

A variable focusing power fluid-filled lens or minor assembly () comprising a fluid-filled envelope and a supporting structure () therefor; the fluid-filled envelope being constituted by a first wall that is formed of a distensible elastic membrane () having an exterior optical surface () of variable focusing power, a second wall () that is spaced from the first wall on a z-axis which is generally perpendicular to the membrane, and a collapsible peripheral side wall () that extends between the first and second walls (), and being filled with a substantially incompressible fluid (); a membrane holding structure () that is attached to a peripheral edge of membrane for holding the membrane under tension, the membrane holding structure defining a plurality of discrete control points spaced around the peripheral edge of membrane where the position of the peripheral edge of the membrane relative to the second wall on the z-axis is controlled and permitting bending of the peripheral edge of the membrane between the control points in a plane defined by the z-axis and a tangent to the peripheral edge of the membrane; the plurality of control points including a plurality of dynamic actuation points; and an actuation mechanism for displacing the edge of the membrane on the z-axis relative to the second wall at each of the actuation points to control the shape of the membrane; wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a plurality of first cam members () that are connected to the membrane holding structure and associated with respective actuation points, a cam belt disposed circumjacent the membrane which comprises a plurality of spaced second cam members (), each second cam member being engaged with a corresponding one of the first cam members for controlling the position of the edge of the membrane on the z-axis at the respective actuation point, a cam belt support () that supports the cam belt for bidirectional rotation around the z-axis relative to the membrane and a coupling () for drivably connecting the cam belt to a selectively operable driver ().

Variable focusing power optical devices

A method of fabricating a lens element for an adjustable power lens of the kind comprising two lens elements that are slidable relative to one other in a direction transverse the optical axis of the lens and have respective lens surfaces that are shaped to act together to form a corrective lens, the power of which varies according to the relative disposition of the two lens elements, the method comprising the steps of forming a lens puck having two opposite faces, which are shaped to form opposite lens surfaces of one of the lens elements of the adjustable power lens, the puck having at least one alignment feature, and thereafter edging the puck to a desired eye shape with reference to the alignment feature.

Glasses with selectively adjustable optical power lenses

An adjustable fluid-filled lens or minor assemblycomprising a fluid-filled envelope and a supporting structure therefor; the fluid-filled envelope being constituted by a first wall that is formed of a distensible elastic membranehaving an exterior optical surface of variable focusing power, a second wallthat is spaced from the first wall on a z-axis, and a collapsible peripheral side wallthat extends between the first and second walls, and being filled with a substantially incompressible fluid; a membrane holding structurethat is attached to a peripheral edge of membranefor holding the membrane under tension; and one or more selectively operable actuator assemblies r, r, rfor moving one or more corresponding regions of the peripheral edge of the membrane on the z-axis towards and away from the second wallfor controlling the profile of the peripheral edge of the membrane; wherein the or each actuator assembly comprises a connecting memberthat is attached to the membrane or membrane holding structure at a respective actuation point, a linear actuatorthat is mounted to the supporting structure and a linkagethat is connected between the connecting member and an actuation point a, a, aon the linear actuator; wherein the linear actuator is a linear SMA actuator comprising an array of SMA wiresthat are coupled together to work in parallel and which extend transversely of the z-axis, and the linkage is configured for converting linear motion of the actuation point of the SMA actuator in a direction transverse the z-axis to linear motion of the connecting member on the z-axis, thereby to move the corresponding region of the peripheral edge of the membranetowards or away from the second wall

Or relating to variable focusing power optical devices

An augmented reality display unit for use in an augmented reality headset or the like comprising front and rear variable focusing power compression liquid lens assemblies () in mutual optical alignment on an optical axis (O), a transparent waveguide display () interposed between the front and rear liquid lens assemblies () and a selectively operable adjustment mechanism for adjusting the focusing powers of the front and rear compression liquid lens assemblies (); wherein each of the front and rear compression liquid lens assemblies () comprises a fluid-filled envelope () having a first wall formed by a distensible elastic membrane () that is held under tension around its edge by a peripheral support ring, a second substantially rigid wall () formed by or supported on an inner surface of a transparent plate or a hard lens of fixed focusing power, and a collapsible side wall (), the membrane forming an optical surface of variable optical power, and the adjustment mechanism being arranged to displace the support ring towards or away from the second wall parallel to the optical axis (O) for increasing or decreasing the pressure of the fluid () within the envelope thereby to cause the membrane to distend or contract respectively parallel to the optical axis for changing the focusing power of the optical surface of the membrane (); wherein the second wall () of the front compression liquid lens () is formed by or supported on a transparent plate or hard lens () which is tilted at a first angle to the optical axis to introduce a first amount of prism to a ray of light passing therethrough, and the second wall () of the rear compression liquid lens is formed by or supported on a transparent plate or hard lens () which is tilted at a second angle to the optical axis to introduce a second amount of prism to a ray of light passing therethrough, wherein the first and second amounts of prism are mutually substantially equal and opposite.

Augmented reality display units and augmented reality headsets comprising the same

A membrane assemblyfor a variable focusing power optical assemblyis disclosed. The membrane assemblycomprises a distensible membranethat is held under tension around its periphery (boundary B) by at least one bendable support ringand one or more bending actuators, each comprising a selectively operable self-bending strip, which are attached contiguously to respective discrete sections of the support ringfor actively controlling the curvature of those sections of the support ring. Also disclosed is a variable focusing power optical assemblycomprising such a membrane assembly. Further disclosed is an article of eyewearcomprising at least one such variable focusing power optical assembly

Relating to variable focusing power optical devices and an augmented reality headset or helmet incorporating such a device

A membrane assembly () for a variable focusing power optical assembly () comprising a distensible membrane () that is held under tension around its periphery by at least one bendable support ring () and one or more curvature controllers () that are mounted to respective discrete sections of the support ring () for actively controlling the curvature of those sections of the ring in a plane (Btz) that is parallel to a z-axis normal to an (x,y) plane which is defined by the un-deformed support ring and tangential (t) to the periphery (boundary B) of the membrane. Also disclosed is a variable focusing power optical assembly () comprising such a membrane assembly, which has a compressible fluid-filled envelope having a first wall formed by the distensible membrane (), an inflexible second wall () opposite the first wall, the support ring () being held at a fixed distance from the second wall at hinge points that are spaced apart around the support ring () and being bendable towards or away from the second wall intermediate the hinge points on the z-axis which is substantially aligned or coincident with an optical axis of the optical assembly (), and a side wall () between the first and second walls that is collapsible to accommodate such bending; wherein the membrane () is arranged to distend in a direction towards or away from the second wall upon bending of the support ring () between the hinge points. In some embodiments, the second wall () may be formed by or supported on a surface () of a rigid body (), and the support ringmay be mounted on the rigid body () by support pins () at the hinge points. Also disclosed is an augmented reality headset or helmet () comprising an augmented reality display module () comprising two such variable focusing power optical assemblies () arrange one in front of the other in optical alignment with a waveguide display () interposed therebetween.

Growing community of inventors

Eynsham, United Kingdom

Simon Peter Horrocks