US 12,468,207 B2
Electro-active lenses with curved substrates having stepped or tiered surfaces
Anthony Van Heugten, Sarasota, FL (US)
Assigned to e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc., Sarasota, FL (US)
Filed by e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc., Sarasota, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/832,922.
Application 17/832,922 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/063527, filed on Dec. 7, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/944,483, filed on Dec. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0308392 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. G02F 1/29 (2006.01); G02F 1/1335 (2006.01); G02F 1/1343 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/29 (2013.01) [G02F 1/133526 (2013.01); G02F 1/134309 (2013.01); G02F 2201/122 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electro-active lens comprising:
a first curved substrate having an even surface;
a second curved substrate having a tiered surface opposite the even surface, each tier of the tiered surface having a height that does not increase with radius, the tiered surface having a first tier separated from the even surface by a first distance and a second tier farther from an optical axis of the electro-active lens than the first tier and separated from the even surface by a second distance greater than the first distance;
liquid-crystal material disposed between the even surface and the tiered surface and having a thickness that increases with distance from the optical axis of the electro-active lens;
a ground electrode disposed on one of the even surface or the tiered surface; and
a plurality of ring electrodes, disposed on the other of the even surface or the tiered surface, to apply a voltage across the liquid-crystal material, the plurality of ring electrodes including at least two ring electrodes for the first tier and at least two ring electrodes for the second tier.