Lens unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11513368-B2
Application number	US-201916968119-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2019
Priority date	Feb 9, 2018
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

This lens unit comprises: a lens having a liquid crystal lens; a rim part that covers the peripheral edge section of the lens; a control unit that controls the liquid crystal lens; a conductive part that electrically connects the control unit and an electrode end section of the liquid crystal lens which is exposed at the peripheral edge section of the lens, and that is disposed between the rim part and the peripheral edge section of the lens; and a knob part that protrudes from the lens or rim part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optometric lens unit, comprising:
a lens comprising an electrical element;
a rim portion covering a peripheral edge portion of the lens;
a control unit for controlling the electrical element;
an electric power supply unit for supplying electric power to the electrical element;
a conductive portion being disposed between the rim portion and the peripheral edge portion of the lens and electrically connecting between an end portion of an electrode of the electrical element and the control unit, the end portion of the electrode being exposed to the peripheral edge portion; and
a knob portion protruding from the lens or the rim portion, and provided with the control unit,
wherein the optometric lens unit is configured to be attached to and detached from a frame member, and is attached to the frame member when the optometric lens unit is used.

2. The optometric lens unit according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive portion includes a conductive wire connected to the control unit, and a conductive piece for electrically connecting between the electrode end portion and the conductive wire.

3. The optometric lens unit according to claim 2 , wherein a plurality of the conductive pieces electrically connect between a plurality of electrode end portions and the conductive wires, respectively, and are disposed apart from each other in a direction along the peripheral edge portion of the lens.

4. The optometric lens unit according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of conductive pieces are insulated from each other.

5. The optometric lens unit according to claim 2 , wherein:
the rim portion comprises an opening in which the knob portion is disposed, and
the conductive piece is disposed to avoid the opening.

6. The optometric lens unit according to claim 2 , wherein an insulating member for insulating the conductive piece from the rim portion is disposed between the rim portion and the conductive portion.

7. The optometric lens unit according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the rim portion which is exposed to an outside is made of metal.

8. The optometric lens unit according to claim 1 , further comprising an operation portion provided on the knob portion and receiving an operation on the control unit.

9. The optometric lens unit according to claim 1 , wherein the knob portion has a hinge portion for rotating a tip portion of the knob portion relative to a root portion of the knob portion.

10. The optometric lens unit according to of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element is an optical element whose optical characteristics are changed by electrical control.

11. The optometric lens unit according to claim 10 , further comprising a wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication, wherein the wireless communication unit transmits and/or receives information related to control of the optical element.

12. The optometric lens unit according to claim 1 , wherein the electric power supply unit includes a rechargeable battery.

13. The optometric lens unit according to claim 12 , wherein the knob portion includes a charging terminal for charging the rechargeable battery.

14. The optometric lens unit according to claim 1 , wherein the electric power supply portion includes a non-contact electric power receiving section for receiving a non-contact electric power supply from an outside.

15. An optometric lens set, comprising:
at least one lens unit according to claim 1 ; and
a charging unit capable of charging with the lens unit accommodated therein.

16. The optometric lens unit according to claim 1 , wherein the knob portion is a portion that is gripped when the optometric lens unit is attached to the frame member.

Assignees

• Mitsui Chemicals Inc

Inventors

• Hikosaka Eiichiro
• Kan Ryuki
• Muramatsu Akihiro
• Aono Akifumi

Classifications

• H02J50/40

  using two or more transmitting or receiving devices (H02J50/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/02

  for charging batteries from AC mains by converters · CPC title

• G02F1/29

  for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection · CPC title

• G02C7/06

  bifocal; multifocal {; progressive (G02C7/041 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G02F1/294

  Variable focal length devices · CPC title