Systems, devices, and methods for embedding a diffractive element in an eyeglass lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10955669-B2
Application number	US-201816038437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2018
Priority date	Jul 18, 2017
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for embedding a diffractive element in an eyeglass lens are described. A method of embedding a diffractive element in an eyeglass lens includes applying a protective layer to a diffractive element, applying an interface layer to the protective layer, and applying a lens layer to the interface layer. The interface layer and the lens layer are each comprised of a resin material that hardens when cured. The interface layer is of a shape and thickness that adheres well to the protective layer after the interface layer is cured. The lens layer is of a shape and thickness that achieves the desired component shape of the lens after the lens layer is cured.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An eyeglass lens for use in a wearable heads-up display, the eyeglass lens comprising:
a diffractive element having a world-side and an eye-side;
a world-side protective layer physically coupled to the world-side of the diffractive element;
an eye-side protective layer physically coupled to the eye-side of the diffractive element;
a first world-side resin layer physically coupled to the world-side protective layer, the first world-side resin layer having a world-side and an eye-side;
a second world-side resin layer physically coupled to the world-side of the first world-side resin layer;
a first eye-side resin layer physically coupled to the eye-side protective layer, the first eye-side resin layer having a world-side and an eye-side; and
a second eye-side resin layer physically coupled to the eye-side of the first eye-side resin layer, wherein each of the first world-side resin layer, the first eye-side resin layer, the second world-side resin layer, and the second eye-side resin layer includes a respective thermally-annealed resin layer.

2. The eyeglass lens of claim 1 wherein the world-side protective layer includes a world-side surface and an eye-side surface, and wherein the world-side surface of the world-side protective layer has a higher surface energy than the eye-side surface of the world-side protective layer.

3. The eyeglass lens of claim 1 wherein the eye-side protective layer includes an eye-side surface and a world-side surface, and wherein the eye-side surface of the eye-side protective layer has a higher surface energy than the world-side surface of the eye-side protective layer.

4. The eyeglass lens of claim 1 wherein the diffractive element is comprised of a photopolymer material.

5. The eyeglass lens of claim 1 wherein the world-side protective layer and the eye-side protective layer are both comprised of a polycarbonate material.

6. The eyeglass lens of claim 1 wherein each of the first world-side resin layer, the first eye-side resin layer, the second world-side resin layer, and the second eye-side resin layer includes a respective cross-linked acrylic resin material.

7. The eyeglass lens of claim 1 wherein the diffractive element includes at least one hologram.

8. The eyeglass lens of claim 1 wherein the diffractive element is curved.

9. A wearable heads-up display (WHUD) comprising the eyeglass lens of claim 1 , and further comprising a support structure that in use is worn on a head of a user, an image source carried by the support structure, and wherein the eyeglass lens is carried by the support structure and positioned within a field of view of an eye of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user.

10. An eyeglass lens for use in a wearable heads-up display, the eyeglass lens comprising:
a diffractive element having a world-side and an eye-side;
a world-side protective layer physically coupled to the world-side of the diffractive element;
an eye-side protective layer physically coupled to the eye-side of the diffractive element;
a first world-side resin layer physically coupled to the world-side protective layer, the first world-side resin layer having a world-side and an eye-side;
a second world-side resin layer physically coupled to the world-side of the first world-side resin layer;
a first eye-side resin layer physically coupled to the eye-side protective layer, the first eye-side resin layer having a world-side and an eye-side; and
a second eye-side resin layer physically coupled to the eye-side of the first eye-side resin layer, wherein each of the first world-side resin layer, the first eye-side resin layer, the second world-side resin layer, and the second eye-side resin layer includes a respective cross-linked acrylic resin material.

11. The eyeglass lens of claim 10 wherein the world-side protective layer includes a world-side surface and an eye-side surface, and wherein the world-side surface of the world-side protective layer has a higher surface energy than the eye-side surface of the world-side protective layer.

12. The eyeglass lens of claim 10 wherein the eye-side protective layer includes an eye-side surface and a world-side surface, and wherein the eye-side surface of the eye-side protective layer has a higher surface energy than the world-side surface of the eye-side protective layer.

13. The eyeglass lens of claim 10 wherein the diffractive element is comprised of a photopolymer material.

14. The eyeglass lens of claim 10 wherein the world-side protective layer and the eye-side protective layer are both comprised of a polycarbonate material.

15. The eyeglass lens of claim 10 wherein each of the first world-side resin layer, the first eye-side resin layer, the second world-side resin layer, and the second eye-side resin layer includes a respective thermally-annealed resin layer.

16. The eyeglass lens of claim 10 wherein the diffractive element includes at least one hologram.

17. The eyeglass lens of claim 10 wherein the diffractive element is curved.

18. A wearable heads-up display (WHUD) comprising the eyeglass lens of claim 10 , and further comprising a support structure that in use is worn on a head of a user, an image source carried by the support structure, and wherein the eyeglass lens is carried by the support structure and positioned within a field of view of an eye of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Fransson Nils Johan
• Caliston Eric J
• Weber Arnett
• Fowler Michael A T
• Tsen Robin W
• Ihmels Darren

Classifications

• G02C7/022 Primary

  Ophthalmic lenses having special refractive features achieved by special materials or material structures (G02C7/049 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B1/041

  Lenses · CPC title

• G06F3/017

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• G02B27/0176

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G02B5/1852

  using mechanical means, e.g. ruling with diamond tool, moulding · CPC title