Goggles having microlenses and display element

Claim 1

Goggles having a display face plate and comprising (a) a first layer of transparent material having opposite surfaces, the material having its optical characteristics alterable under the influence of a changeable electric field applied thereacross: (b) arrays of electrodes formed on each of the surfaces for generating the electric field thereacross; (c) a third layer, spaced from the first layer and having opposite surfaces and an intermediate transparent polymer matrix therebetween in which micro-cavities are enclosed which serve as micro-lenses having optical axes perpendicular to the two third layer surfaces; (d) the micro-cavities made from a transparent material different from that of the polymer matrix and having refractive indices which is selectably changeable in response to changes in an electric field passing between the two third layer surfaces; (e) the material of the micro-cavities having the same refractive index as the matrix material for a first electric field value, and a greater refractive index than the matrix material for a second electric field value: (f) arrays of electrodes formed on each of the third layer surfaces for generating the electric field thereacross; (g) a second intermediate layer, of transparent polymer, existing between the first and third layers and fabricated from a transparent polymer; preselected electrodes of the first layer electrode arrays having a voltage impressed thereacross for forming a reference pattern in the first layer.