US5138494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable focal length lens
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-05-07
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Granted: 1992-08-11
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Expires: 2010-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A variable focal length lens, for use in spectacles, which includes one or two rigid lenses to provide the wearer's distance correction, and a liquid filled lens bounded by a distensible stretched elastomeric membrane to provide a variable near addition. The liquid, which has a fixed volume, is stored in the field of view between the elastomeric membrane and one of the rigid lenses. Variation of the optical power of the liquid filled lens in one embodiment is achieved by displacement of the outer periphery of the stretched elastomeric membrane. In a second embodiment, both the optical power and the prismatic power of the liquid lens is varied by changing the angle between the membrane support and the rigid lens.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Kurtin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:52
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/12; G02B3/14; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/08; G02C7/081; G02C7/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A variable focal length lens which comprises: a first rigid lens; a membrane support comprised of a second rigid lens spaced from said first rigid lens; flexible sealing means extending between said first rigid lens and said membrane support allowing relative motion between said first rigid lens and said membrane support; a transparent elastomeric membrane outboard of said membrane support, and positioned across the fields of view of said rigid lenses and sealed around its periphery to said membrane support; a transparent liquid filling the space between said first rigid lens and said membrane; means for ducting said transparent liquid from one side of said second rigid lens to the other; and means for varying the spacing between said membrane support and said first rigid lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A variable focal length lens which comprises: a first rigid lens; a membrane support comprised of a second rigid lens spaced from said first rigid lens; flexible sealing means extending between said first rigid lens and said membrane support allowing relative motion between said first rigid lens and said membrane support; a transparent elastomeric membrane outboard of said membrane support, and positioned across the fields of view of said rigid lenses and sealed around its periphery to said membrane support; a transparent liquid filling the space between said first rigid lens and said membrane; means for ducting said transparent liquid from one side of said second rigid lens to the other; and means for varying the spacing between said membrane support and said first rigid lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for varying the spacing between said membrane support and said first rigid lens varies the spacing between the periphery of said first rigid lens and the periphery of said membrane support, the variation in spacing not being the same at all points around the periphery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 1 wherein said membrane is fabricated from saran.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 1 where said means for ducting comprises holes through said second rigid lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 1 where tension in said membrane creates a force tending to separate said first rigid lens and said membrane support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
A variable focal length lens which comprises: a first rigid lens; a membrane support spaced from said first rigid lens; flexible sealing means extending between said first rigid lens and said membrane support allowing relative motion between said first rigid lens and said membrane support; a transparent membrane positioned across the field of view of said first rigid lens and sealed around its periphery to said membrane support; a transparent liquid filling the space between said first rigid lens and said membrane; and means for varying the angle between a plane through said membrane support and a plane through said first rigid lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A variable focal length lens which comprises: a first rigid lens; a membrane support spaced from said first rigid lens; flexible sealing means extending between said first rigid lens and said membrane support allowing relative motion between said first rigid lens and said membrane support; a transparent membrane positioned across the field of view of said first rigid lens and sealed around its periphery to said membrane support; a transparent liquid filling the space between said first rigid lens and said membrane; and means for varying the angle between a plane through said membrane support and a plane through said first rigid lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 6 where said angle is variable between a first value and a second value, and both the optical power and the prismatic power of said variable focal length lens vary as said angle is varied.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 6 where said membrane is an elastomer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 8 where said elastomer is saran.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 6 where said membrane support is in the form of an annular ring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 6 where said membrane support is in the form of a second rigid lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
119 words
A variable focal length lens which comprises: a first rigid lens; a membrane support comprised of a rigid annular rim spaced from said first rigid lens; flexible sealing means extending between said first rigid lens and said membrane support allowing relative motion between said first rigid lens and said membrane support; a transparent elastomeric membrane positioned across the field of view of said first rigid lens and sealed around its periphery to said membrane support; a transparent liquid filling the space between said first rigid lens and said membrane; and means for varying the spacing between said membrane support and said first rigid lens, the variation in said spacing not being the same at all points around the periphery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
A variable focal length lens which comprises: a first rigid lens; a membrane support comprised of a rigid annular rim spaced from said first rigid lens; flexible sealing means extending between said first rigid lens and said membrane support allowing relative motion between said first rigid lens and said membrane support; a transparent elastomeric membrane positioned across the field of view of said first rigid lens and sealed around its periphery to said membrane support; a transparent liquid filling the space between said first rigid lens and said membrane; and means for varying the spacing between said membrane support and said first rigid lens, the variation in said spacing not being the same at all points around the periphery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 12 wherein said membrane is fabricated from saran.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 12 and further including pivoting means between said membrane support and said first rigid lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 14 and further including means for applying a force between said membrane support and said first rigid lens remote from said pivoting means to cause said membrane support to pivot with respect to said first rigid lens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
110 words
A variable focal length lens which comprises: a rigid lens; a membrane support spaced from said rigid lens; flexible sealing means extending between said rigid lens and said membrane support allowing relative motion between said rigid lens and said membrane support; a transparent elastomeric membrane positioned across the field of view of said rigid lens and sealed around its periphery to said membrane support; a transparent liquid filling the space between said rigid lens and said membrane forming a liquid lens; and means for causing relative motion between said membrane support and said rigid lens whereby the optical power of said liquid lens changes, and simultaneously its prismatic power changes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
110 words
A variable focal length lens which comprises: a rigid lens; a membrane support spaced from said rigid lens; flexible sealing means extending between said rigid lens and said membrane support allowing relative motion between said rigid lens and said membrane support; a transparent elastomeric membrane positioned across the field of view of said rigid lens and sealed around its periphery to said membrane support; a transparent liquid filling the space between said rigid lens and said membrane forming a liquid lens; and means for causing relative motion between said membrane support and said rigid lens whereby the optical power of said liquid lens changes, and simultaneously its prismatic power changes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 16 and further including pivoting means joining said membrane support and said rigid lens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A variable focal length lens as recited in claim 17 and further including means for applying a force between said membrane support and said rigid lens remote from said pivoting means to cause said membrane support to pivot with respect to said rigid lens.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-11 | 1996-02-10 | 1996-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-11 | 2000-02-10 | 2000-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-11 | 2004-02-10 | 2004-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |