Patent EA-000629-B1 (EA)
Title: An optical apparatus and method adjusting thereof
IPC: G02B3/12
Filed: 1996-06-01
Abstract: 1. An optical apparatus (10) comprising: two liquid lenses (11A, 11B), a liquid pump (35) for adjusting the pressure of liquid in the or a cavity (20) of the lens, a closeable duct (24, 30, 39) for interconnecting the said cavity (20) and the pump (35) permitting the flow of liquid therebetween; and a closure for closing the duct when the pressure of liquid in the said cavity (20) attains a desired value, whereby to render the lens subsequently non-adjustable, characterized in that said closeable duct is formed by a flexible duct, and a frame (12) of spectacles has one or more recesses (37) for location of said flexible duct after closing the duct it formed. 2. An optical apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the closure includes a portion of the duct plastically deformable to close the duct. 3. An apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the said portion of the duct is plastically deformable when compressed. 4. An apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the said portion of the duct is plastically deformable when heated. 5. An apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the said portion of the duct is plastically deformable when subjected to ultrasonic excitation. 6. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the pump (35) is a positive displacement pump capable of increasing and decreasing the pressure of liquid in the said cavity (20). 7. An apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the pump (35) is a syringe. 8. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the closure includes a member retentively deformable to close the duct. 9. An apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein: (i) the said member includes a resiliently deformable bung (33) dosing the duct; and (ii) the pump (35) includes or is operatively connected to a further duct(34) capable of removably piercing the bung (33) to permit the flow of liquid between the pump (35) and the said cavity (20), the resilience of the bung (a) creating a liquid-tight seal about the further duct (34) when the further duct (34) pierces the bung (33), and (b) causing closure of the aperture pierced by the further duct (34) on removal thereof from the bung (33). 10. An apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein the further duct (34) is a hollow needle. 11. An apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein the retentively deformable member includes opposed, interior walls of the duct capable of sealingly adhering one to another on compression of the duct. 12. An apparatus according to Claim 11 including adhesive matter secured on the opposed, inner walls of the duct. 13. A pair of spectacles according to any preceding Claim wherein including a respective liquid pump (35) and a respective closeable duct for each lens. 14. A pair of spectacles according to any preceding Claim wherein a recess or each recess (37) is closeable to conceal the closed ducts. 15. A pair of spectacles according to any preceding Claim, wherein each lens includes a rigid, transparent cover for protecting a flexible membrane of the lens. 16. A pair of spectacles according to Claim 15 wherein each transparent cover (44, 45) has an optically corrective effect. 17. A pair of spectacles according to Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein the or each transparent cover (44, 45) has an optical filtering effect. 18. A pair of spectacles according to any preceding Claim, wherein the optical apparatus includes one or more compound, fluid lenses. 19. An optical apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein a fluid lens or more liquid lens (11a, 11b) thereof contains a predetermined quantity of liquid, the pump therefor being capable of in a limited range. 20. A method of adjusting a pair of spectacles correcting defective eyesight, comprising the steps of, in any practical order: (i) placing a pair of spectacles in front of a patient's eyes so that each of the patient's eyes receives light via a respective lens of the spectacles; (ii) obscuring the pupil of a first of the patient's eyes; (iii) operating the pump of the lens associated with the second of the patient's eyes until the said second eye sees an optimum clarity image; (iv) uncovering the pupil of the first eye; (v) obscuring the pupil of the patient's second eye; (vi) repeating steps (iii) and (iv), mutatis mutandis, with respect to the patient's second eye; and when adjusting the fluid pressure in each lens (11a, 11b) cavity is over the duct between sad lens and the pump (35)associated with it is closed and the pump is detached from the apparatus. 21. A method according to Claim 20 wherein comprising the further steps of: (vii) after closing, placing each duct in a recess (37) of the spectacles (10), and (viii) covering each recess (37).