Combiner Lens and Method of Making Thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020341295-A1
Application number	US-202016856353-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2020
Priority date	Apr 24, 2019
Publication date	Oct 29, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A combiner lens includes a first lens, a lightguide, and a second lens. The first lens includes a first lens body and a flange integrally formed with the first lens body. The first lens body and flange define a main cavity. The flange has a first joint surface. The lightguide is disposed at least partially in the main cavity. The second lens includes a second lens body positioned in stack with the lightguide and the first lens body. The second lens has a second joint surface in opposing relation to the first joint surface. The second lens is attached to the first lens by a joint formed between the first joint surface and the second joint surface.

First claim

1 . A combiner lens, comprising:
a first lens including a first lens body and a flange integrally formed with the first lens body, the first lens body and flange defining a main cavity, the flange having a first joint surface; a lightguide disposed at least partially in the main cavity; and a second lens including a second lens body positioned in stack with the lightguide and the first lens body, the second lens having a second joint surface in opposing relation to the first joint surface, the second lens attached to the first lens by a joint formed between the first joint surface and the second joint surface.

2 . The combiner lens of claim 1 , wherein the first joint surface and the second joint surface are oriented in at least one direction selected from a group consisting of: a vertical direction relative to a plane of the lightguide, and a slanted direction relative to a plane of the lightguide.

3 . The combiner lens of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the first joint surface and a first portion of the second joint surface in opposing relation to the first portion of the first joint surface are oriented in a first direction, and wherein a second portion of the first joint surface and a second portion of the second joint surface in opposing relation to the second portion of the first joint surface are oriented in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

4 . The combiner lens of claim 1 , wherein the first lens includes a first lens tab projecting from a periphery of the first lens body, wherein a first portion of the flange is integrally formed with the first lens body, and wherein a second portion of the flange is integrally formed with the first lens tab.

5 . The combiner lens of claim 4 , wherein the second portion of the flange and the first lens tab define a side cavity, wherein the side cavity is connected to the main cavity, wherein a first portion of the lightguide is disposed in the main cavity and a second portion of the lightguide is disposed in the side cavity, wherein the first portion of the lightguide carries an output coupler, and wherein the second portion of the lightguide carries an input coupler.

6 . The combiner lens of claim 5 , further comprising at least one optical function added to the second portion of the flange.

7 . The combiner lens of claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the flange includes a lip portion overhanging the first lens tab, and wherein the side cavity is defined between the lip portion and the first lens tab.

8 . The combiner lens of claim 7 , wherein the lip portion is optically transparent to permit transmission of light to the side cavity.

9 . The combiner lens of claim 7 , further comprising:
an aperture formed in the lip portion to permit transmission of light to the side cavity, and an optical element positioned in the aperture to steer light received at the aperture to the input coupler.

10 . The combiner lens of claim 7 , further comprising a mirror positioned relative to the side cavity to reflect light transmitted through the second portion of the lightguide back towards the second portion of the lightguide.

11 . The combiner lens of claim 7 , further comprising an access hole formed in the first lens body, the access hole connected to the side cavity.

12 . The combiner lens of claim 11 , further comprising a seal cap mounted at the access hole and a mirror coating applied to a surface of the seal cap exposed to the side cavity.

13 . The combiner lens of claim 7 , wherein the second lens includes a second lens tab projecting from the second lens body, wherein the first joint surface includes an inner peripheral surface of the lip portion, and wherein the second joint surface includes an outer peripheral surface of the second lens tab.

14 . The combiner lens of claim 1 , further comprising a seat formed on the first lens body or on the flange, the seat proximate a periphery of the first lens body, wherein the lightguide is mounted on the seat.

15 . The combiner lens of claim 14 , wherein a height of the seat relative to the stack formed by the first lens body, the lightguide, and the second lens is set to provide a gap between the first lens body and a major surface of the lightguide that opposes the first lens body.

16 . The combiner lens of claim 1 , further comprising a seat formed on the flange, wherein the second lens is mounted on the seat.

17 . The combiner lens of claim 16 , wherein a height of the seat relative to the stack formed by the first lens body, the lightguide, and the second lens is set to provide a gap between the second lens and a major surface of the lightguide that opposes the second lens.

18 . The combiner lens of claim 1 , wherein the flange is an annular flange.

19 . A wearable heads-up display, comprising:
a support frame having a frame front and at least one temple coupled to a side of the frame front; and a combiner lens mounted to the frame front, the combiner lens comprising:
a first lens including a first lens body and a flange integrally formed with the first lens body, the first lens body and flange defining a main cavity, the flange having a first joint surface;
a lightguide disposed at least partially in the main cavity; and
a second lens including a second lens body positioned in stack with the lightguide and the first lens body, the second lens having a second joint surface in opposing relation to the first joint surface, the second lens attached to the first lens by a joint formed between the first joint surface and the second joint surface.

20 . A method of making a combiner lens, comprising:
stacking a lightguide relative to a lens body of a first lens by disposing the lightguide in a cavity defined by the lens body of the first lens and a flange of the first lens; positioning a joint surface of a second lens in opposing relation to a joint surface of the flange by stacking the second lens relative to the lightguide and lens body of the first lens; and attaching the second lens to the first lens by forming a joint between the joint surface of the flange and the joint surface of the second lens.

Assignees

• North Inc

Inventors

• Adema Daniel Robert
• Choi Jaehong

Classifications

• G02C1/10

  Special mounting grooves in the rim or on the lens · CPC title

• G02B2027/0178

  Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C) · CPC title

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02C7/02 Primary

  Lenses; Lens systems {; Methods of designing lenses} · CPC title