Patent Description:
Electronic devices are sometimes configured to be worn by users. For example, head-mounted devices are provided with head-mounted structures that allow the devices to be worn on users' heads. The head-mounted devices may include optical systems with lenses. The lenses allow displays in the devices to present visual content to users.

Head-mounted devices typically include lenses with fixed shapes and properties. If care is not taken, it may be difficult to adjust these types of lenses to optimally present content to each user of the head-mounted device. <CIT> discloses fluidic adaptive lens devices, and systems employing such lens devices such as eyeglasses and zoom lens systems, along with methods of fabricating and operating such lens devices. <CIT> discloses several embodiments of personal display systems that comprise modular and extensible features to affect a range of user/wearer/viewer experiences. <CIT> discloses a mechanical lens including a rigid chamber, a first transparent window located to close one end of the chamber, a flexible transparent membrane window located to close another end of the chamber, and a transparent fluid having an index of refraction, wherein the flexible transparent membrane window is along an optical path of light received through said first transparent window, the chamber is filled with said fluid, and a curvature of said flexible transparent membrane window is responsive to a pressure of said transparent fluid. <CIT> discloses a variable optical system comprising a variable optical assembly including a plurality of deformable layers, selectively operable to vary at least one of: an optical property of at least one of the layers, a physical property of at least one of the layers, and an optical performance of the assembly, while maintaining a constant mass in each layer, wherein each layer has an optical function. <CIT> discloses a liquid lens system having a housing with an opening extending through the housing encompassing an in general constant volume, wherein a membrane is arranged across the opening separating the opening into a first and a second chamber filled with a first and a second fluid each having a different or the same index of refraction, and the membrane is attached to an annular holding means, and an actuator is interconnected to the membrane directly or indirectly to change the optical behavior of the membrane. <CIT> discloses a system with a set of fluid chambers lying consequently on an optical axis between a pair of covers, wherein the chambers are separated from each other by two flexible membranes, and a fluid channel is discharged into the chambers, where the pressure of the fluid is influenceable, and is transparent, wherein a control unit controls the respective pressure or volume of the fluid that fills the fluid chambers. <CIT> discloses relevant prior art.

A system according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

Electronic devices may include displays and other components for presenting content to users. The electronic devices may be wearable electronic devices. A wearable electronic device such as a head-mounted device may have head-mounted support structures that allow the head-mounted device to be worn on a user's head.

A head-mounted device may contain a display formed from one or more display panels (displays) for displaying visual content to a user. A lens system may be used to allow the user to focus on the display and view the visual content. The lens system may have a left lens module that is aligned with a user's left eye and a right lens module that is aligned with a user's right eye.

The lens modules in the head-mounted device may include lenses that are adjustable. For example, fluid-filled adjustable lenses may be used to adjust the display content for specific viewers.

A schematic diagram of an illustrative system having an electronic device with a lens module is shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, system <NUM> may include one or more electronic devices such as electronic device <NUM>. The electronic devices of system <NUM> may include computers, cellular telephones, head-mounted devices, wristwatch devices, and other electronic devices. Configurations in which electronic device <NUM> is a head-mounted device are sometimes described herein as an example.

As shown in <FIG>, electronic devices such as electronic device <NUM> may have control circuitry <NUM>. Control circuitry <NUM> may include storage and processing circuitry for controlling the operation of device <NUM>. Circuitry <NUM> may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry <NUM> may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, graphics processing units, application specific integrated circuits, and other integrated circuits. Software code may be stored on storage in circuitry <NUM> and run on processing circuitry in circuitry <NUM> to implement control operations for device <NUM> (e.g., data gathering operations, operations involved in processing three-dimensional facial image data, operations involving the adjustment of components using control signals, etc.). Control circuitry <NUM> may include wired and wireless communications circuitry. For example, control circuitry <NUM> may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as cellular telephone transceiver circuitry, wireless local area network (WiFi®) transceiver circuitry, millimeter wave transceiver circuitry, and/or other wireless communications circuitry.

During operation, the communications circuitry of the devices in system <NUM> (e.g., the communications circuitry of control circuitry <NUM> of device <NUM>), may be used to support communication between the electronic devices. For example, one electronic device may transmit video and/or audio data to another electronic device in system <NUM>. Electronic devices in system <NUM> may use wired and/or wireless communications circuitry to communicate through one or more communications networks (e.g., the internet, local area networks, etc.). The communications circuitry may be used to allow data to be received by device <NUM> from external equipment (e.g., a tethered computer, a portable device such as a handheld device or laptop computer, online computing equipment such as a remote server or other remote computing equipment, or other electrical equipment) and/or to provide data to external equipment.

Device <NUM> may include input-output devices <NUM>. Input-output devices <NUM> may be used to allow a user to provide device <NUM> with user input. Input-output devices <NUM> may also be used to gather information on the environment in which device <NUM> is operating. Output components in devices <NUM> may allow device <NUM> to provide a user with output and may be used to communicate with external electrical equipment.

As shown in <FIG>, input-output devices <NUM> may include one or more displays such as display <NUM>. In some configurations, display <NUM> of device <NUM> includes left and right display panels (sometimes referred to as left and right portions of display <NUM> and/or left and right displays) that are in alignment with the user's left and right eyes, respectively. In other configurations, display <NUM> includes a single display panel that extends across both eyes.

Display <NUM> may be used to display images. The visual content that is displayed on display <NUM> may be viewed by a user of device <NUM>. Displays in device <NUM> such as display <NUM> may be organic light-emitting diode displays or other displays based on arrays of light-emitting diodes, liquid crystal displays, liquid-crystal-on-silicon displays, projectors or displays based on projecting light beams on a surface directly or indirectly through specialized optics (e.g., digital micromirror devices), electrophoretic displays, plasma displays, electrowetting displays, or any other suitable displays.

Display <NUM> may present display content for a computer-generated reality such as virtual reality content or mixed reality content.

A physical environment refers to a physical world that people can sense and/or interact with without aid of electronic systems. Physical environments, such as a physical park, include physical articles, such as physical trees, physical buildings, and physical people. People can directly sense and/or interact with the physical environment, such as through sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell.

In contrast, a computer-generated reality (CGR) environment refers to a wholly or partially simulated environment that people sense and/or interact with via an electronic system. In CGR, a subset of a person's physical motions, or representations thereof, are tracked, and, in response, one or more characteristics of one or more virtual objects simulated in the CGR environment are adjusted in a manner that comports with at least one law of physics. For example, a CGR system may detect a person's head turning and, in response, adjust graphical content and an acoustic field presented to the person in a manner similar to how such views and sounds would change in a physical environment. In some situations (e.g., for accessibility reasons), adjustments to characteristic(s) of virtual object(s) in a CGR environment may be made in response to representations of physical motions (e.g., vocal commands).

A person may sense and/or interact with a CGR object using any one of their senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example, a person may sense and/or interact with audio objects that create 3D or spatial audio environment that provides the perception of point audio sources in 3D space. In another example, audio objects may enable audio transparency, which selectively incorporates ambient sounds from the physical environment with or without computer-generated audio. In some CGR environments, a person may sense and/or interact only with audio objects. Examples of CGR include virtual reality and mixed reality.

A virtual reality (VR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs for one or more senses. A VR environment comprises a plurality of virtual objects with which a person may sense and/or interact. For example, computer-generated imagery of trees, buildings, and avatars representing people are examples of virtual objects. A person may sense and/or interact with virtual objects in the VR environment through a simulation of the person's presence within the computer-generated environment, and/or through a simulation of a subset of the person's physical movements within the computer-generated environment.

In contrast to a VR environment, which is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs, a mixed reality (MR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to incorporate sensory inputs from the physical environment, or a representation thereof, in addition to including computer-generated sensory inputs (e.g., virtual objects). On a virtuality continuum, a mixed reality environment is anywhere between, but not including, a wholly physical environment at one end and virtual reality environment at the other end.

In some MR environments, computer-generated sensory inputs may respond to changes in sensory inputs from the physical environment. Also, some electronic systems for presenting an MR environment may track location and/or orientation with respect to the physical environment to enable virtual objects to interact with real objects (that is, physical articles from the physical environment or representations thereof). For example, a system may account for movements so that a virtual tree appears stationery with respect to the physical ground. Examples of mixed realities include augmented reality and augmented virtuality.

An augmented reality (AR) environment refers to a simulated environment in which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over a physical environment, or a representation thereof. For example, an electronic system for presenting an AR environment may have a transparent or translucent display through which a person may directly view the physical environment. The system may be configured to present virtual objects on the transparent or translucent display, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. Alternatively, a system may have an opaque display and one or more imaging sensors that capture images or video of the physical environment, which are representations of the physical environment. The system composites the images or video with virtual objects, and presents the composition on the opaque display. A person, using the system, indirectly views the physical environment by way of the images or video of the physical environment, and perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. As used herein, a video of the physical environment shown on an opaque display is called "pass-through video," meaning a system uses one or more image sensor(s) to capture images of the physical environment, and uses those images in presenting the AR environment on the opaque display. Further alternatively, a system may have a projection system that projects virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment.

An augmented reality environment also refers to a simulated environment in which a representation of a physical environment is transformed by computer-generated sensory information. For example, in providing pass-through video, a system may transform one or more sensor images to impose a select perspective (e.g., viewpoint) different than the perspective captured by the imaging sensors. As another example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically modifying (e.g., enlarging) portions thereof, such that the modified portion may be representative but not photorealistic versions of the originally captured images. As a further example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically eliminating or obfuscating portions thereof.

An augmented virtuality (AV) environment refers to a simulated environment in which a virtual or computer generated environment incorporates one or more sensory inputs from the physical environment. The sensory inputs may be representations of one or more characteristics of the physical environment. For example, an AV park may have virtual trees and virtual buildings, but people with faces photorealistically reproduced from images taken of physical people. As another example, a virtual object may adopt a shape or color of a physical article imaged by one or more imaging sensors. As a further example, a virtual object may adopt shadows consistent with the position of the sun in the physical environment.

There are many different types of electronic systems that enable a person to sense and/or interact with various CGR environments. Examples include head mounted systems, projection-based systems, heads-up displays (HUDs), vehicle windshields having integrated display capability, windows having integrated display capability, displays formed as lenses designed to be placed on a person's eyes (e.g., similar to contact lenses), headphones/earphones, speaker arrays, input systems (e.g., wearable or handheld controllers with or without haptic feedback), smartphones, tablets, and desktop/laptop computers. A head mounted system may have one or more speaker(s) and an integrated opaque display. Alternatively, a head mounted system may be configured to accept an external opaque display (e.g., a smartphone). The head mounted system may incorporate one or more imaging sensors to capture images or video of the physical environment, and/or one or more microphones to capture audio of the physical environment. Rather than an opaque display, a head mounted system may have a transparent or translucent display. The transparent or translucent display may have a medium through which light representative of images is directed to a person's eyes. The display may utilize digital light projection, OLEDs, LEDs, uLEDs, liquid crystal on silicon, laser scanning light source, or any combination of these technologies. The medium may be an optical waveguide, a hologram medium, an optical combiner, an optical reflector, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the transparent or translucent display may be configured to become opaque selectively. Projection-based systems may employ retinal projection technology that projects graphical images onto a person's retina. Projection systems also may be configured to project virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface.

Configurations in which display <NUM> is used to display virtual reality content to a user through lenses are described herein as an example.

Input-output circuitry <NUM> may include sensors <NUM>. Sensors <NUM> may include, for example, three-dimensional sensors (e.g., three-dimensional image sensors such as structured light sensors that emit beams of light and that use two-dimensional digital image sensors to gather image data for three-dimensional images from light spots that are produced when a target is illuminated by the beams of light, binocular three-dimensional image sensors that gather three-dimensional images using two or more cameras in a binocular imaging arrangement, three-dimensional lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors, three-dimensional radio-frequency sensors, or other sensors that gather three-dimensional image data), cameras (e.g., infrared and/or visible digital image sensors), gaze tracking sensors (e.g., a gaze tracking system based on an image sensor and, if desired, a light source that emits one or more beams of light that are tracked using the image sensor after reflecting from a user's eyes), touch sensors, buttons, force sensors, sensors such as contact sensors based on switches, gas sensors, pressure sensors, moisture sensors, magnetic sensors, audio sensors (microphones), ambient light sensors, microphones for gathering voice commands and other audio input, sensors that are configured to gather information on motion, position, and/or orientation (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses, and/or inertial measurement units that include all of these sensors or a subset of one or two of these sensors), fingerprint sensors and other biometric sensors, optical position sensors (optical encoders), and/or other position sensors such as linear position sensors, and/or other sensors. Sensors <NUM> may include proximity sensors (e.g., capacitive proximity sensors, light-based (optical) proximity sensors, ultrasonic proximity sensors, and/or other proximity sensors). Proximity sensors may, for example, be used to sense relative positions between a user's nose and lens modules in device <NUM>.

User input and other information may be gathered using sensors and other input devices in input-output devices <NUM>. If desired, input-output devices <NUM> may include other devices <NUM> such as haptic output devices (e.g., vibrating components), light-emitting diodes and other light sources, speakers such as ear speakers for producing audio output, and other electrical components. Device <NUM> may include circuits for receiving wireless power, circuits for transmitting power wirelessly to other devices, batteries and other energy storage devices (e.g., capacitors), joysticks, buttons, and/or other components.

Electronic device <NUM> may have housing structures (e.g., housing walls, straps, etc.), as shown by illustrative support structures <NUM> of <FIG>. In configurations in which electronic device <NUM> is a head-mounted device (e.g., a pair of glasses, goggles, a helmet, a hat, etc.), support structures <NUM> may include head-mounted support structures (e.g., a helmet housing, head straps, temples in a pair of eyeglasses, goggle housing structures, and/or other head-mounted structures). The head-mounted support structures may be configured to be worn on a head of a user during operation of device <NUM> and may support display(s) <NUM>, sensors <NUM>, other components <NUM>, other input-output devices <NUM>, and control circuitry <NUM>.

<FIG> is a top view of electronic device <NUM> in an illustrative configuration in which electronic device <NUM> is a head-mounted device. As shown in <FIG>, electronic device <NUM> may include support structures (see, e.g., support structures <NUM> of <FIG>) that are used in housing the components of device <NUM> and mounting device <NUM> onto a user's head. These support structures may include, for example, structures that form housing walls and other structures for main unit <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., exterior housing walls, lens module structures, etc.) and straps or other supplemental support structures such as structures <NUM>-<NUM> that help to hold main unit <NUM>-<NUM> on a user's face so that the user's eyes are located within eye boxes <NUM>.

Display <NUM> may include left and right display panels (e.g., left and right pixel arrays, sometimes referred to as left and right displays or left and right display portions) that are mounted respectively in left and right display modules <NUM> corresponding respectively to a user's left eye (and left eye box <NUM>) and right eye (and right eye box <NUM>).

Each display module <NUM> includes a display portion <NUM> and a corresponding lens module <NUM> (sometimes referred to as lens stack-up <NUM> or lens <NUM>). Lenses <NUM> may include one or more lens elements arranged along a common axis. Each lens element may have any desired shape and may be formed from any desired material (e.g., with any desired refractive index). The lens elements may have unique shapes and refractive indices that, in combination, focus light from display <NUM> in a desired manner. Each lens element of lens module <NUM> may be formed from any desired transparent material (e.g., glass, a polymer material such as polycarbonate or acrylic, a crystal such as sapphire, etc.).

Modules <NUM> may optionally be individually positioned relative to the user's eyes and relative to some of the housing wall structures of main unit <NUM>-<NUM> using positioning circuitry such as respective left and right positioners <NUM>. Positioners <NUM> may be stepper motors, piezoelectric actuators, motors, linear electromagnetic actuators, and/or other electronic components for adjusting the position of displays <NUM> and lens modules <NUM>. Positioners <NUM> may be controlled by control circuitry <NUM> during operation of device <NUM>. For example, positioners <NUM> may be used to adjust the spacing between modules <NUM> (and therefore the lens-to-lens spacing between the left and right lenses of modules <NUM>) to match the interpupillary distance IPD of a user's eyes.

In some cases, the distance between lens module <NUM> and display <NUM> is variable. For example, the distance between the lens module and the display any be adjusted to account for the eyesight of a particular user. An illustrative head-mounted device with a lens module <NUM> that can move relative to the display is shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, head-mounted device <NUM> (e.g., a display module <NUM> within the head-mounted device) may include a source of images such as pixel array <NUM>. Pixel array <NUM> may include a two-dimensional array of pixels P that emits image light (e.g., organic light-emitting diode pixels, light-emitting diode pixels formed from semiconductor dies, liquid crystal display pixels with a backlight, liquid-crystal-on-silicon pixels with a frontlight, etc.). In <FIG>, a catadioptric optical system is shown. A polarizer such as linear polarizer <NUM> may be placed in front of pixel array <NUM> and/or may be laminated to pixel array <NUM> to provide polarized image light. Linear polarizer <NUM> may have a pass axis aligned with the X-axis of <FIG> (as an example). A quarter wave plate <NUM> may also be provided on display <NUM>. The quarter wave plate may provide circularly polarized image light. The fast axis of quarter wave plate <NUM> may be aligned at <NUM> degrees to the pass axis of linear polarizer <NUM>. Quarter wave plate <NUM> may be mounted in front of polarizer <NUM> (between polarizer <NUM> and lens module <NUM>). If desired, quarter wave plate <NUM> may be attached to polarizer <NUM> (and display <NUM>).

Lens module <NUM> may include one or more lens elements such as lens element <NUM>. Lens element <NUM> is depicted as having a convex surface facing display <NUM> and a convex surface facing eye box <NUM>. This example is merely illustrative, and lens element <NUM> may have any desired shape (e.g., each surface of lens element <NUM> may be planar, convex, or concave). Lens element <NUM> may be a rigid lens element formed from glass, a polymer material such as polycarbonate or acrylic, a crystal such as sapphire, etc..

Optical structures such as partially reflective coatings, wave plates, reflective polarizers, linear polarizers, antireflection coatings, and/or other optical components may be incorporated into head-mounted device <NUM>. These optical structures may allow light rays from display <NUM> to pass through and/or reflect from surfaces in lens element <NUM>, thereby providing lens module <NUM> with a desired lens power.

For example, a partially reflective mirror (e.g., a metal mirror coating or other mirror coating such as a dielectric multilayer coating with a <NUM>% transmission and a <NUM>% reflection) such as partially reflective mirror <NUM> may be formed on lens element <NUM> (e.g., between the lens element and display <NUM>). Quarter wave plate <NUM> and reflective polarizer <NUM> may be formed on the opposing surface of lens element <NUM> (e.g., between lens element <NUM> and eye box <NUM>). Light such as light <NUM> may pass through the catadioptric lens. The example of a catadioptric lens shown in <FIG> is merely illustrative. In general, lens <NUM> module may have any desired optical structures (e.g., partially reflective coatings, wave plates, reflective polarizers, linear polarizers, antireflection coatings, etc.) at any desired locations within the lens module. Additional lens elements may be incorporated into lens module <NUM> and each lens element may have any desired shape.

As shown in <FIG>, head-mounted device <NUM> may include a positioner <NUM> for adjusting the distance <NUM> between lens module <NUM> (e.g., lens element <NUM>) and display <NUM>. Positioner <NUM> may include one or more stepper motors, piezoelectric actuators, motors, linear electromagnetic actuators, and/or other electronic components for adjusting the position of display <NUM>. Positioner <NUM> may be controlled by control circuitry <NUM> during operation of device <NUM> to adjust the position of display <NUM> relative to lens module <NUM>.

Adjusting the position of display <NUM> relative to lens module <NUM> may be useful for accounting for the eyesight of different users. Some users may have myopia (nearsightedness) whereas other users may have hyperopia (farsightedness). The vision of each user's eye may differ. Therefore, independently controlling the lens power of each lens module to account for the vision of the user may be desirable. Including positioner <NUM> in head-mounted device <NUM> to move the position of display <NUM> relative to lens module <NUM> may allow adjustment of the lens power of each lens module. However, the positioner may be more expensive than desired and may undesirably add excess weight to the head-mounted device. To allow adjustment of the lens module without including positioners to physically move the position of the display, an arrangement of the type shown in <FIG> and <FIG> may be used.

In <FIG>, a head-mounted device is shown where a fluid-filled adjustable gap is interposed between two lens elements for lens module tuning. As shown in <FIG>, similar to <FIG>, a display <NUM> with pixels P covered by a linear polarizer <NUM> and a quarter wave plate <NUM> may emit light. The light may be received by a lens module <NUM> that includes first and second lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> separated by a fluid-filled adjustable gap <NUM> (sometimes referred to as liquid-filled adjustable gap <NUM>). The thickness <NUM> of the fluid-filled adjustable gap <NUM> may be controlled by the amount of fluid in the gap. Adjusting the thickness of the fluid-filled adjustable gap may adjust the lens power of lens <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, fluid <NUM> may be stored in one or more fluid reservoirs <NUM>. Fluid <NUM> may be a liquid, gel, or gas with a pre-determined index of refraction (and may therefore sometimes be referred to as liquid <NUM>, gel <NUM>, or gas <NUM>). The fluid may sometimes be referred to as an index-matching oil, an optical oil, an optical fluid, an index-matching material, an index-matching liquid, etc. Lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may have the same index of refraction or may have different indices of refraction. Fluid <NUM> that fills gap <NUM> between lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may have an index of refraction that is the same as the index of refraction of lens element <NUM> but different from the index of refraction of lens element <NUM>, may have an index of refraction that is the same as the index of refraction of lens element <NUM> but different from the index of refraction of lens element <NUM>, may have an index of refraction that is the same as the index of refraction of lens element <NUM> and lens element <NUM>, or may have an index of refraction that different from the index of refraction of lens element <NUM> and lens element <NUM>. Lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be circular, may be elliptical, or may have any another desired shape.

One or more fluid controlling components <NUM> (sometimes referred to as liquid controlling components <NUM>) may be included in head-mounted device <NUM> to control the amount of fluid in fluid-filled gap <NUM> (and therefore the thickness of gap <NUM>). Fluid-filled gap <NUM> may sometimes be referred to as a fluid lens element or liquid lens element having a variable thickness. The fluid controlling components may be pumps that pump fluid from reservoirs <NUM> into fluid-filled gap <NUM>. The fluid controlling components may include other desired components to force liquid from the fluid reservoirs into gap <NUM>. For example, fluid controlling component <NUM> may include one or more stepper motors, piezoelectric actuators, motors, linear electromagnetic actuators, and/or other electronic components that apply a force to the fluid in the fluid reservoir (e.g., by pressing a membrane on the fluid in the fluid reservoir) to push the fluid into the gap.

One or more biasing components <NUM> may be included in the head-mounted device to apply a bias force to lens element <NUM> in direction <NUM>. Sufficient bias force may be applied to lens element <NUM> to maintain the desired thickness of gap <NUM> while allowing adjustment of the width of gap <NUM>. Biasing components <NUM> may include springs, piezoelectric actuators, motors, linear electromagnetic actuators, and/or other electronic components. The example of <FIG> of biasing components <NUM> being formed between lens element <NUM> and display <NUM> and applying the bias force in direction <NUM> is merely illustrative. If desired, one or more biasing components may be formed on the other side of the lens module (e.g., between lens element <NUM> and eye box <NUM>) and may apply a bias force to lens element <NUM> in the opposite direction as direction <NUM>. One or more of the lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., the lens element that does not receive the bias force) may be fixed (e.g., to support structure <NUM>-<NUM>).

In <FIG>, fluid-filled gap <NUM> has first and second opposing planar surfaces. This example is merely illustrative. If desired, the surfaces defining fluid-filled gap <NUM> may be curved (either towards eye box <NUM> or towards display <NUM>). Both lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be rigid lens elements formed from a transparent material such as glass, a polymer material such as polycarbonate or acrylic, a crystal such as sapphire, etc. Lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may have any desired shape (e.g., biconvex, plano-convex, positive meniscus, negative meniscus, plano-concave, biconcave, etc.).

In <FIG>, lens module <NUM> has been described as including first and second lens elements that are separated by a fluid-filled gap. However, lens module <NUM> may sometimes instead be described as a single split lens element with a variable thickness that is controlled by the thickness of the intervening fluid-filled gap.

<FIG> shows the head-mounted device of <FIG> in a state in which the fluid in fluid reservoirs <NUM> have been forced into fluid-filled gap <NUM>. Therefore, in <FIG>, the thickness <NUM> of fluid-filled gap <NUM> is greater than the thickness of the fluid-filled gap in <FIG>. Adjusting the thickness in this way may allow the lens power of lens module <NUM> to be adjusted. The thickness of fluid-filled gap <NUM> may vary by any desired amount. In other words, the difference between the minimum thickness of fluid-filled gap <NUM> and the maximum thickness of fluid-filled gap <NUM> may be between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters, between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters, greater than <NUM> millimeters, greater than <NUM> millimeters, greater than <NUM> millimeters, greater than <NUM> millimeters, greater than <NUM> millimeters, greater than <NUM> millimeters, greater than <NUM> millimeters, less than <NUM> millimeters, less than <NUM> millimeters, less than <NUM> millimeters, etc. The minimum achievable lens power of the adjustable lens module may be -<NUM> diopter (D), -8D, -6D, -4D, less than -1D, less than -3D, less than -5D, less than -7D, etc. The maximum achievable lens power of the adjustable lens module may be 10D, 8D, 6D, 4D, greater than 1D, greater than 3D, greater than 5D, greater than 7D, etc..

A smaller tunable range for lens module <NUM> may allow for faster tuning of the lens module. For example, if lens module <NUM> can be adjusted between -1D and 1D, the lens module can be tuned faster than if lens module <NUM> can be adjusted between -6D and 6D. If the lens module can be tuned fast enough, a multi-focal experience may be possible (with rapid switching between two different lens powers).

<FIG> shows a lens module according to the invention that may be used for astigmatism correction. As shown in <FIG>, lens module <NUM> may include a rigid divider <NUM> (sometimes referred to as a rigid lens element <NUM>) between tunable fluid chambers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. A first elastomeric membrane <NUM> may be formed on the left fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., facing the eye box) and a second elastomeric membrane <NUM> may be formed on the right fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., facing the display). Lens module support structures <NUM> may also help define the fluid chambers. Elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed from any desired material and may sometimes be referred to as flexible membranes, elastic membranes, elastomeric lens elements, flexible lens elements, elastic lens elements, etc..

Fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> is defined by rigid divider <NUM>, lens module support structures <NUM>, and elastomeric membrane <NUM>. Fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> has an inlet <NUM>-<NUM> formed in the lens module support structures. Fluid <NUM> from fluid reservoir <NUM> may be pumped or forced into the fluid chamber through inlet <NUM>-<NUM> by fluid controlling component <NUM>. Fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> is defined by rigid divider <NUM>, lens module support structures <NUM>, and elastomeric membrane <NUM>. Fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> has an inlet <NUM>-<NUM> formed in the lens module support structures. Fluid <NUM> from fluid reservoir <NUM> may be pumped into the fluid chamber through inlet <NUM>-<NUM> by fluid controlling component <NUM>.

Rigid divider <NUM> may be formed from glass or another desired transparent material. Elastomeric membrane <NUM>, the fluid in chamber <NUM>-<NUM>, divider <NUM>, the fluid in chamber <NUM>-<NUM>, and elastomeric membrane <NUM> (which may all be referred to as respective lens elements) may all have any desired refractive index. In other words, each lens element may have the same refractive index as an adjacent lens element or a different refractive index than an adjacent component. In one example, elastomeric membrane <NUM> and the fluid in chamber <NUM>-<NUM> may have the same refractive index. Elastomeric membrane <NUM> and the fluid in chamber <NUM>-<NUM> may have the same refractive index. The fluid in each fluid-filled chamber may sometimes be referred to as an index-matching oil, an optical oil, an optical fluid, an index-matching material, an index-matching liquid, etc. The fluid in chamber <NUM>-<NUM> may be the same type of fluid as the fluid in chamber <NUM>-<NUM>. Alternatively, different types of fluids may be used in chambers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

The amount of fluid in chambers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may determine the shape of the respective elastomeric membranes. For example, membrane <NUM> has a surface <NUM>-S with curvature that is dependent upon the amount of fluid in fluid-filled chamber <NUM>-<NUM>. Membrane <NUM> has a surface <NUM>-S with curvature that is dependent upon the amount of fluid in fluid-filled chamber <NUM>-<NUM>. The amount of fluid in each chamber may be independently controlled (e.g., by respective fluid controlling components) to control the lens module <NUM>.

According to the invention, to allow for correction of astigmatism in the user of head-mounted device <NUM>, elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM> have varying stiffness across the membranes. One or both of the membranes may have concentric stiffness variation for off-axis optical correction. One or both of the membranes has linear stiffness variation for astigmatic optical correction. By varying the stiffness across the membranes, the elastomeric membranes will be aspheric (because the more-stiff portions will be less displaced by the fluid in the fluid-filled chamber than the less-stiff portions). For example, elastomeric membrane <NUM> may be stiffer in the X-axis than in the Y-axis. In contrast, elastomeric membrane <NUM> may be stiffer in the Y-axis than in the X-axis. Instead, the opposite could be true (with elastomeric membrane <NUM> stiffer in the X-axis than in the Y-axis and elastomeric membrane <NUM> stiffer in the Y-axis than in the X-axis). Independently controlling these two membranes allows for astigmatism correction.

The varying stiffness profile of the two elastomeric membranes may be achieved in several different ways. In one example, the membrane stiffness profile may be achieved with a variable thickness. In other words, the membrane may have first portions that are thicker (and therefore stiffer) than second portions. Alternatively or in addition to having a variable thickness, the elastomeric membranes may have recesses that reduce stiffness. In other words, the elastomeric membranes may have a varying elastic modulus across the membrane. For example, laser grooving may create grooves in portions of the elastomeric membrane, making the elastomeric membrane less stiff in those portions. Any types of grooves or recesses may be formed in the elastomeric membrane. These features may sometimes be referred to as surface relief. Any desired techniques may be used to form the surface relief (e.g., laser grooving, nano-imprinting, etc.). Alternatively or in addition to having a variable thickness and/or surface relief, the elastomeric membrane may be formed from an anisotropic material. The anisotropic material may have a stiffness that varies when measured in different directions. Any desired anisotropic material may be used to form the elastomeric membranes (e.g., fiber-reinforced composite).

<FIG> shows how the fluid filled-chambers may be filled be different amounts to control the shapes of surfaces <NUM>-S and <NUM>-S. Fluid controlling components <NUM> may be controlled by control circuitry <NUM> (see <FIG>) to pump a selected amount of fluid into each fluid-filled chamber. Different amounts of fluid may be in each chamber for independent control of elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM>. In <FIG>, more fluid has been pumped into chamber <NUM>-<NUM> than into chamber <NUM>-<NUM> (resulting in surface <NUM>-S of elastomeric membrane <NUM> having more curvature than surface <NUM>-S of elastomeric membrane <NUM>). The fluid controlling components may be pumps that pump fluid from reservoirs <NUM> into fluid-filled chambers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. Fluid controlling components <NUM> may include one or more stepper motors, piezoelectric actuators, motors, linear electromagnetic actuators, and/or other electronic components that apply a force to the fluid in the fluid reservoir (e.g., by pressing a membrane on the fluid in the fluid reservoir) to push the fluid into the gap.

In an alternative embodiment, the amount of fluid in chambers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may be fixed. Rigid divider <NUM> may be moved between elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM> to control the curvature of the elastomeric membranes. For example, as the rigid divider is moved closer to elastomeric membrane <NUM>, elastomeric membrane <NUM> would exhibit more curvature and elastomeric membrane <NUM> would exhibit less curvature. Similarly, as the rigid divider is moved closer to elastomeric membrane <NUM>, elastomeric membrane <NUM> would exhibit more curvature and elastomeric membrane <NUM> would exhibit less curvature.

In <FIG>, rigid divider <NUM> is depicted as having planar surfaces. This example is merely illustrative. <FIG> shows an example of an illustrative lens module having a rigid divider with curved surfaces. As shown in <FIG>, the lens module <NUM> has the same structures as the lens module in <FIG>. However, in <FIG>, rigid divider <NUM> has curved surfaces. Rigid divider has first and second opposing surfaces <NUM>-S1 and <NUM>-S2. Surface <NUM>-S1 faces elastomeric membrane <NUM> and partially defines chamber <NUM>-<NUM>. Surface <NUM>-S2 faces elastomeric membrane <NUM> and partially defines chamber <NUM>-<NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, surfaces <NUM>-S1 and <NUM>-S2 may both be concave. However, this example is merely illustrative. In general, each of surfaces <NUM>-S1 and <NUM>-S2 may be either planar, concave, or convex. Additionally, the rigid divider <NUM> may have a dispersion (i.e., variation of refractive index versus wavelength) that is selected for achromatic correction. In this way, rigid divider <NUM> may serve as an achromatic lens element. Lens element <NUM> may be described as being color-corrected.

Instead of having a rigid lens element between two fluid-filled chambers (as shown in <FIG>, and <FIG>), a rigid lens element may face the eye box as shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, lens module <NUM> may include an elastomeric membrane <NUM> between tunable fluid chambers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. Rigid lens element <NUM> may be formed on the first fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., facing the eye box) and a second elastomeric membrane <NUM> may be formed on the second fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., facing the display). Lens module support structures <NUM> may also help define the fluid chambers.

Fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> is defined by rigid lens element <NUM>, lens module support structures <NUM>, and elastomeric membrane <NUM>. Fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> has an inlet <NUM>-<NUM> formed in the lens module support structures. Fluid <NUM>-<NUM> from fluid reservoir <NUM> may be pumped or forced into the fluid chamber through inlet <NUM>-<NUM> by fluid controlling component <NUM>. Fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> is defined by elastomeric membrane <NUM>, lens module support structures <NUM>, and elastomeric membrane <NUM>. Fluid chamber <NUM>-<NUM> has an inlet <NUM>-<NUM> formed in the lens module support structures. Fluid <NUM>-<NUM> from fluid reservoir <NUM> may be pumped into the fluid chamber through inlet <NUM>-<NUM> by fluid controlling component <NUM>.

Rigid lens element <NUM> may be formed from glass or another desired transparent material. Elastomeric membrane <NUM>, the fluid in chamber <NUM>-<NUM>, divider <NUM>, the fluid in chamber <NUM>-<NUM>, and elastomeric membrane <NUM> (which may all be referred to as respective lens elements) may all have any desired refractive index. In other words, each lens element may have the same refractive index as an adjacent lens element or a different refractive index than an adjacent component. Fluids <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG> may be different types of fluid with different refractive indices.

Similar to as shown in <FIG>, the amount of fluid in chambers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may determine the shape of the respective elastomeric membranes. For example, membrane <NUM> has curvature that is dependent upon the amount of fluid in fluid-filled chamber <NUM>-<NUM>. Membrane <NUM> curvature that is dependent upon the amount of fluid in fluid-filled chamber <NUM>-<NUM>. The amount of fluid in each chamber may be independently controlled (e.g., by respective fluid controlling components) to control the lens module <NUM>.

To allow for correction of astigmatism in the user of head-mounted device <NUM>, elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM> have varying stiffness across the membranes. One or both of the membranes may have concentric stiffness variation for off-axis optical correction. One or both of the membranes may have linear stiffness variation for astigmatic optical correction. By varying the stiffness across the membranes, the elastomeric membranes will be aspheric (because the more-stiff portions will be less displaced by the fluid in the fluid-filled chamber than the less-stiff portions). For example, elastomeric membrane <NUM> may be stiffer in the X-axis than in the Y-axis. In contrast, elastomeric membrane <NUM> may be stiffer in the Y-axis than in the X-axis. Instead, the opposite could be true (with elastomeric membrane <NUM> stiffer in the X-axis than in the Y-axis and elastomeric membrane <NUM> stiffer in the Y-axis than in the X-axis). Independently controlling these two membranes allows for astigmatism correction. As discussed in connection with <FIG>, elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM> may have varying thickness profiles, may have surface features for varying elastic modulus profiles, and/or may be formed from an anisotropic material to achieve the desired stiffness profile.

<FIG> shows how fluid filled-chambers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may be filled be different amounts to control the shapes of elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM>. Fluid controlling components <NUM> may be controlled by control circuitry <NUM> (see <FIG>) to pump a selected amount of fluid into each fluid-filled chamber. Different amounts of fluid may be in each chamber for independent control of elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM>. In <FIG>, more fluid has been pumped into chamber <NUM>-<NUM> than into chamber <NUM>-<NUM>. The fluid controlling components may be pumps that pump fluid from reservoirs <NUM> into fluid-filled chambers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. Fluid controlling components <NUM> may include one or more stepper motors, piezoelectric actuators, motors, linear electromagnetic actuators, and/or other electronic components that apply a force to the fluid in the fluid reservoir (e.g., by pressing a membrane on the fluid in the fluid reservoir) to push the fluid into the gap.

In <FIG>, rigid lens element <NUM> is depicted as having planar surfaces. This example is merely illustrative. <FIG> shows an example of an illustrative lens module having a rigid lens element with curved surfaces. As shown in <FIG>, the lens module <NUM> has the same structures as the lens module in <FIG>. However, in <FIG>, rigid lens element <NUM> has curved surfaces. Rigid lens element <NUM> has first and second opposing surfaces <NUM>-S1 and <NUM>-S2. Surface <NUM>-S1 faces eye box <NUM> whereas surface <NUM>-S2 faces elastomeric membrane <NUM> and partially defines chamber <NUM>-<NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, surface <NUM>-S1 may be concave and <NUM>-S2 may be convex. However, this example is merely illustrative. In general, each of surfaces <NUM>-S1 and <NUM>-S2 may be either planar, concave, or convex.

In <FIG>, fluids <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are depicted as being different types of liquids. However, if desired, chamber <NUM>-<NUM> may be instead be filled with air as shown in <FIG>. A pump such as pump <NUM> may control the air pressure in chamber <NUM>-<NUM> (sometimes referred to as a variable pressure air-filled chamber), which may control the shape of membrane <NUM>. In general, any of the fluid-filled chambers in the lens modules described herein may optionally include air or another gas instead of a liquid.

In the aforementioned examples, elastomeric membranes have been described as having a varying stiffness profile. In other words, the elastomeric membranes have a stiffness profile that varies across the membrane but does not change over time. This example is merely illustrative. If desired, elastomeric membranes may be provided in lens module <NUM> that have a stiffness profile that can be dynamically updated during operation of the head-mounted device.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of an elastomeric membrane with a tunable stiffness profile. As shown, elastomeric membrane <NUM> may be coupled to one or more actuators <NUM>. <FIG> is a top view showing how actuators <NUM> may surround the periphery of elastomeric membrane <NUM>. Each actuator may be attached to a respective portion of the elastomeric membrane. Each actuator may optionally move radially outwards away from the physical center <NUM> of elastomeric membrane <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a top view of the elastomeric membrane while being stretched by the actuators. As shown, a first actuator <NUM>-<NUM> may pull the membrane in direction <NUM>-<NUM>. A second actuator <NUM>-<NUM> on the opposite side of the membrane from actuator <NUM>-<NUM> may pull the membrane in direction <NUM>-<NUM> opposite direction <NUM>-<NUM>. The actuators pulling the membrane in this way effectively stretches the elastomeric membrane along the axis between the two actuators. Actuators may stretch the membrane by varying amounts. For example, a third actuator <NUM>-<NUM> may pull the membrane in direction <NUM>-<NUM> with a smaller amount of force than the first actuator pulls the membrane. A fourth actuator <NUM>-<NUM> on the opposite side of the membrane from actuator <NUM>-<NUM> may pull the membrane in direction <NUM>-<NUM> opposite direction <NUM>-<NUM>. Similarly, a fifth actuator <NUM>-<NUM> may pull the membrane in direction <NUM>-<NUM> with a smaller amount of force than the first actuator pulls the membrane. A sixth actuator <NUM>-<NUM> on the opposite side of the membrane from actuator <NUM>-<NUM> may pull the membrane in direction <NUM>-<NUM> opposite direction <NUM>-<NUM>. Having the actuators pull the membrane in this way results in a stiffness profile with a first region <NUM>-<NUM> that is stiffer than a second region <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> depicts each actuator as pulling the membrane in tandem with an actuator on the opposing side of the elastomeric membrane. This example is merely illustrative. Each actuator may be controlled individually to create any desired stiffness profile. Any desired number of actuators <NUM> may be attached to the elastomeric membrane to stretch the elastomeric membrane (e.g., more than <NUM>, more than <NUM>, more than <NUM>, more than <NUM>, more than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, between <NUM> and <NUM>, between <NUM> and <NUM>, etc.). Each actuator may be a piezoelectric actuator, a linear electromagnetic actuator, and/or any other desired electronic component for pulling on the elastomeric membrane.

In <FIG>, elastomeric membrane <NUM> is depicted as having actuators <NUM> for dynamically tuning the stiffness profile of the membrane. In other words, the elastomeric membrane <NUM> in any of the lens modules depicted in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> may optionally have this type of tunable membrane. This means that the shape of elastomeric membrane <NUM> may optionally be controlled by both the actuators <NUM> and the fluid in the fluid-filled chamber adjacent to the membrane. Elastomeric membrane <NUM> in any of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> may also optionally have this type of tunable membrane.

The example of dynamically tuning the shape of the membrane in a lens module using actuators that selectively stretch the membrane is merely illustrative. If desired, actuators may be included that selectively bend or compress the edge of the elastomeric membrane to dynamically adjust the shape of the elastomeric membrane.

<FIG> is a top view of an elastomeric membrane with actuators <NUM> around the circumference of the elastomeric membrane. Each actuator may be a piezoelectric actuator (e.g., formed from piezo ceramic on either side of a stainless steel substrate). The actuators may form a ring around the elastomeric membrane. Any desired number of actuators may be used to surround the elastomeric membrane (e.g., three, four, more than four, more than six, more than eight, more than ten, more than fifteen, more than twenty, more than fifty, less than fifty, less than thirty, less than fifteen, less than ten, less than six, between six and fifteen, etc.).

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of an elastomeric membrane that can be controlled by a piezoelectric actuator. As shown in <FIG>, piezoelectric actuator <NUM> includes first and second piezo ceramic layers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> on opposing sides of a stainless steel substrate <NUM> (sometimes referred to as substrate <NUM>). By including a piezo ceramic on both sides of the substrate, the piezoelectric actuator may be bent either away from the elastomeric membrane (as in <FIG>) or towards the elastomeric membrane (as in <FIG>). Because the piezoelectric actuator <NUM> in <FIG> has two active layers, it may sometimes be referred to as a piezoelectric bimorph. This example is merely illustrative, and a piezoelectric unimorph (that only bends in one direction) may be used to tune the shape of elastomeric membrane <NUM> if desired.

The piezoelectric bimorph <NUM> in <FIG> is a stainless-steel-based bimorph (with active layers formed on either side of a stainless steel substrate). However, this example is merely illustrative. If desired, the piezoelectric bimorph may instead be an adhesive-based bimorph. Active layers may be formed on either side of an adhesive layer (e.g., substrate <NUM> in <FIG> may be an adhesive layer instead of a stainless steel layer). In yet another alternative, the piezoelectric bimorph may be a sintered bimorph (with active layers attached together without an intervening adhesive layer).

As shown in <FIG>, each piezoelectric actuator <NUM> may be bent into a desired position to control the shape of elastomeric membrane <NUM>. The piezoelectric actuators may control the curvature of the elastomeric membrane and may optionally change the optical center of the elastomeric membrane (e.g., pressing only one half of the membrane may shift the optical center of the membrane away from the physical center of the membrane). As shown in <FIG>, the elastomeric membrane controlled by actuator <NUM> may be adjacent to a fluid-filled chamber (e.g., with fluid <NUM> in a chamber defined by structures <NUM> and rigid lens element <NUM>) that also contributes to shaping the elastomeric membrane. The elastomeric membrane <NUM> in any of the lens modules depicted in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> may optionally have an actuator that bends the edge of the membrane for membrane tuning. Elastomeric membrane <NUM> in any of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> may also optionally have this type of tunable membrane.

In <FIG>, piezoelectric actuators attached to the edge of the elastomeric membrane are bent to help tune the shape of the elastomeric membrane. However, other types of actuators may be used for edge compression of the elastomeric membrane for tuning the shape of the elastomeric membrane.

<FIG> is a top view of an elastomeric membrane with actuators <NUM> around the circumference of the elastomeric membrane. Each actuator may optionally be a voice coil actuator formed from voice coil structures (sometimes referred to as voice coil paddles) that are pulled together by a varying amount of force. The actuators may form a ring around the elastomeric membrane. Any desired number of actuators may be used to surround the elastomeric membrane (e.g., three, four, more than four, more than six, more than eight, more than ten, more than fifteen, more than twenty, more than fifty, less than fifty, less than thirty, less than fifteen, less than ten, less than six, between six and fifteen, etc.).

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of a lens module that includes an elastomeric membrane controlled by edge compression using voice coil actuators. As shown in <FIG>, the lens module has an elastomeric membrane <NUM> that, in combination with rigid lens element <NUM> and structures <NUM>, defines a chamber for fluid <NUM> (similar to as discussed in connection with <FIG> for example). Each voice coil actuator <NUM> may include a first voice coil structure (e.g., voice coil paddle) <NUM> on a first side of the elastomeric membrane and a second voice coil structure (e.g., voice coil paddle) <NUM> on a second side of the rigid lens element <NUM>. One of the voice coil structures may include a coil winding. The magnetic field attracting voice coil structures <NUM> and <NUM> to each other may be proportional to the current applied to the coil winding. Therefore, the voice coil structures may be controlled (e.g., by control circuitry <NUM>) to selectively compress the edges of the elastomeric membrane to shape the elastomeric membrane.

As shown in <FIG>, a voice coil actuator on one side of the elastomeric membrane may be compressed more than a voice coil actuator on the opposing side of the elastomeric membrane. This may shift the optical center (<NUM>) of the elastomeric membrane <NUM> relative to the physical center (<NUM>) of the elastomeric membrane. The optical center of the elastomeric membrane may be controlled to correspond with a user's gaze direction. Control circuitry <NUM> may obtain gaze detection information from a gaze detection sensor and/or other sensors in the head-mounted device (e.g. sensors <NUM>) and may control the optical center of elastomeric membrane <NUM> based on the sensor information.

Any of the tunable membranes herein may be tuned based on sensor information from sensors in the head-mounted device (e.g., based on gaze detection information from gaze detection sensors).

The elastomeric membrane <NUM> in any of the lens modules depicted in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> may optionally have a voice coil actuator that compresses the edge of the membrane for membrane tuning. Elastomeric membrane <NUM> in any of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> may also optionally have this type of tunable membrane.

If desired, a lens module of the type shown in <FIG> with voice coil actuators for edge compression may have a rigid structure in the physical center of the elastomeric membrane to help maintain a desired shape for the elastomeric membrane. <FIG> shows an embodiment for a lens module where fluid is formed between elastomeric membrane <NUM> and rigid lens element <NUM> (e.g., fluid <NUM> formed between the lens elements and in reservoirs <NUM>). Voice coil actuators <NUM> on the edges of the lens module may optionally compress the elastomeric membrane towards the rigid lens element. However, a rigid structure <NUM> with a spherically shaped upper surface may maintain a certain gap between the center of the elastomeric membrane and rigid lens element <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a similar arrangement as <FIG>. In <FIG>, fluid is formed between elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., fluid <NUM> formed between the lens elements and in reservoirs <NUM>). Voice coil actuators <NUM> on the edges of the lens module may optionally compress the elastomeric membranes towards each other. However, rigid structure <NUM> (e.g., located at the physical center of the lens module) may maintain a gap of a minimum thickness between the center of the two elastomeric membranes. One or more of elastomeric membranes <NUM> and <NUM> and rigid structure <NUM> may be formed integrally or the components may be formed separately.

In <FIG>, fluid reservoirs <NUM> are depicted at the periphery of the fluid-filled chamber with fluid <NUM>. It should be understood that the fluid-filled chamber may be defined by a flexible seal that extends around the periphery of the lens elements. As lens element <NUM> is bent, some of the fluid may be displaced from the volume between lens elements <NUM> and <NUM>. The displaced fluid may press outward on the flexible material that forms the seal (but may remain contained by the flexible material). In other words, the fluid reservoirs shown in <FIG> may be formed from displaced fluid that pushes on a flexible layer. This type of arrangement reduces the amount of force required to bend the lens elements and maintains a constant fluid volume present in the lens module.

In some of the aforementioned embodiments, elastomeric membrane <NUM> is depicted as being circular. This example is merely illustrative. Elastomeric membrane <NUM> (and any other lens element described herein) may be circular, may be elliptical, or may have any other desired shape.

In several of the aforementioned embodiments, tunable lenses are described that include elastomeric membranes. Each elastomeric membrane may be formed from a natural or synthetic polymer that has a low Young's modulus for high flexibility. For example the elastomeric membrane may be formed from a material having a Young's modulus of less than <NUM> GPa, less than <NUM> GPa, less than <NUM> GPa, etc..

Alternatively, in some embodiments a tunable lens may include an adjustable element (sometimes referred to as an adjustable lens element or tunable lens element) that is formed from a semi-rigid material instead of (or in addition to) an elastomeric material. The properties of the semi-rigid lens element may result in the semi-rigid lens element becoming rigid along a first axis when the semi-rigid lens element is bent along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of a lens module <NUM> that includes a semi-rigid lens element <NUM>. Semi-rigid lens element <NUM> may, in combination with lens module support structures <NUM> and rigid lens element <NUM>, define a chamber that is filled with fluid <NUM>.

Semi-rigid lens element <NUM> may be formed from a semi-rigid material that is stiff and solid, but not inflexible. The semi-rigid lens element <NUM> may, for example, be formed from a thin layer of polymer or glass. Lens element <NUM> may be formed from a material having a Young's modulus that is greater than <NUM> Gpa, greater than <NUM> GPa, greater than <NUM> GPa, greater than <NUM> GPa, greater than <NUM> GPa, etc. Lens element <NUM> may be formed from polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), acrylic, glass, or any other desired material. The properties of lens element <NUM> may result in the lens element becoming rigid along a first axis when the lens element is curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. This is in contrast to an elastomeric lens element, which remains flexible along a first axis even when the lens element is curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The properties of semi-rigid lens element <NUM> may allow the semi-rigid lens element to form a cylindrical lens with tunable lens power and a tunable axis.

As previously mentioned, fluid <NUM> may fill a chamber defined by semi-rigid lens element <NUM>, lens module support structures <NUM>, and lens element <NUM>. Lens element <NUM> may be a rigid lens element (e.g., a lens element formed from glass). Lens module support structures <NUM> may help define a chamber to hold fluid <NUM>. The lens module support structures may be formed from rigid or flexible (elastomeric) materials. Additional fluid reservoirs and fluid controlling components (e.g., pumps) may be included to control the amount of fluid in the chamber if desired.

Fluid <NUM> may be a liquid, gel, or gas with a pre-determined index of refraction (and may therefore sometimes be referred to as liquid <NUM>, gel <NUM>, or gas <NUM>). The fluid may sometimes be referred to as an index-matching oil, an optical oil, an optical fluid, an index-matching material, an index-matching liquid, etc. Lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may have the same index of refraction or may have different indices of refraction. Fluid <NUM> that fills the chamber between lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may have an index of refraction that is the same as the index of refraction of lens element <NUM> but different from the index of refraction of lens element <NUM>, may have an index of refraction that is the same as the index of refraction of lens element <NUM> but different from the index of refraction of lens element <NUM>, may have an index of refraction that is the same as the index of refraction of lens element <NUM> and lens element <NUM>, or may have an index of refraction that different from the index of refraction of lens element <NUM> and lens element <NUM>. Lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be circular, may be elliptical, or may have any another desired shape.

Actuators <NUM> may be included in lens module <NUM> to manipulate the position of lens elements such as semi-rigid lens element <NUM>. The actuators may be configured to push or pull a portion of the semi-rigid lens element to change the shape of the semi-rigid lens element. Any desired number of actuators may be included to manipulate the semi-rigid lens element (e.g., two actuators, three actuators, four actuators, six actuators, more than two actuators, more than four actuators, more than six actuators, more than ten actuators, less than ten actuators, etc.). Each actuator may be a piezoelectric actuator, a linear electromagnetic actuator, a voice coil actuator, and/or any other desired electronic component. Control circuitry in the electronic device may control the actuators to control the curvature of the semi-rigid lens element.

Lens module <NUM> may optionally include a load-spreading ring <NUM>. The load-spreading ring <NUM> may extend around the periphery of semi-rigid lens element <NUM>. The load-spreading ring may spread force applied to the semi-rigid lens element around the periphery of the semi-rigid lens element (instead of having the force be concentrated at the positions of the actuators). Load-spreading ring <NUM> may be formed from any desired material. For example, load-spreading ring <NUM> may be formed from a polymer material such as polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), or acrylic or the load-spreading ring may be formed from glass. Because the load-spreading ring is formed at the periphery of the lens module, the load-spreading ring may optionally be formed from an opaque material such as metal.

The thickness <NUM> of semi-rigid lens element <NUM> may be selected to be sufficiently thin to allow the semi-rigid lens element to flex when manipulated by actuators <NUM>. The semi-rigid lens element <NUM> may not be able to bend in the desired manner if the lens element is too thick. Thickness <NUM> may therefore be less than <NUM> millimeter, less than <NUM> millimeters, less than <NUM> millimeters, less than <NUM> millimeter, less than <NUM> millimeters, less than <NUM> millimeter, between <NUM> millimeter and <NUM> millimeters, etc..

Actuators <NUM> may be used to adjust the position of semi-rigid lens element <NUM> to impart a cylindrical lens power of a variable strength and orientation. <FIG> is a top view of lens module <NUM> showing how actuators <NUM> are distributed around the periphery of semi-rigid lens element <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, six total actuators (actuator <NUM>-<NUM>, actuator <NUM>-<NUM>, actuator <NUM>-<NUM>, actuator <NUM>-<NUM>, actuator <NUM>-<NUM>, and actuator <NUM>-<NUM>) are distributed around the periphery of the semi-rigid lens element. Each of the six actuators may be configured to push down or pull up on the semi-rigid lens element (i.e., to bias the semi-rigid lens element along the Z-axis in the positive Z-direction or the negative Z-direction).

Including six total actuators for manipulating the semi-rigid lens element may enable the selection of any desired cylindrical lens axis for lens element <NUM>. Herein, the term cylindrical lens axis will be used to refer to the axis along which the cylindrical lens has no optical power. It should be understood that the cylindrical lens has an additional axis that is perpendicular to the cylindrical lens axis along which the cylindrical lens has a maximum optical power. The position of the actuators around the periphery of semi-rigid lens element <NUM> shown in <FIG> enables any arbitrary cylindrical lens axis to be selected for the semi-rigid lens element.

For example, consider a scenario in which actuators <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are used to bias the semi-rigid lens element in the negative Z-direction. Meanwhile actuators <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may bias the semi-rigid lens element in the positive Z-direction. In other words, the portions of semi-rigid lens element <NUM> biased by actuators <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> will be higher (e.g., higher in the positive Z-direction) than the portions of semi-rigid lens element <NUM> biased by actuators <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>. The resulting cylindrical lens axis <NUM> of this biasing scheme is parallel to the X-axis.

In another scenario, actuators <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are used to bias the semi-rigid lens element in the positive Z-direction. Meanwhile actuators <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may bias the semi-rigid lens element in the negative Z-direction. In other words, the portions of semi-rigid lens element <NUM> biased by actuators <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> will be lower than the portions of semi-rigid lens element <NUM> biased by actuators <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>. The resulting cylindrical lens axis <NUM> of this biasing scheme is parallel to the Y-axis.

Biasing the semi-rigid lens element in the positive or negative Z-direction with various subsets of actuators to varying degrees may be used to modify the semi-rigid lens element to have the desired cylindrical lens axis. The degree to which the actuators are biased may control the maximum optical power imparted by the semi-rigid lens element.

It should be understood that the example of the actuators biasing the semi-rigid lens element in the positive and negative Z-direction is merely illustrative. If desired, every actuator may only be able to bias the semi-rigid lens element in one direction and may keep the semi-rigid lens element fixed when not biasing the semi-rigid lens element. The actuators may also bias the semi-rigid lens element in directions other than those parallel to the Z-axis. For example, the actuators may push or pull the semi-rigid lens element towards or away from the center of the semi-rigid lens element (similar to as discussed in connection with <FIG>, for example).

In the example of <FIG>, semi-rigid lens element <NUM> may be planar in its unbiased state. In other words, in the absence of any external influence from the actuators, the semi-rigid lens element <NUM> may be planar (e.g., parallel to rigid lens element <NUM>). This example, however, is merely illustrative. In other embodiments, the semi-rigid lens element may have an initial non-planar shape (e.g., a spherical lens shape or a spherical dome shape). Additionally, in the lens module shown in <FIG>, rigid lens element <NUM> may be interposed between the corresponding eye box and semi-rigid lens element <NUM>. In other words, rigid lens element <NUM> faces the user in <FIG>. However, a semi-rigid lens element may instead face the user (with the semi-rigid lens element being interposed between the eye box and the rigid lens element).

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of a lens module that includes a non-planar semi-rigid lens element. In <FIG>, semi-rigid lens element <NUM> faces the user (e.g., semi-rigid lens element <NUM> is interposed between eye box <NUM> and rigid lens element <NUM>). Actuators <NUM> may be used to manipulate the shape of the semi-rigid lens element <NUM> (as already discussed in connection with <FIG>). Lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may collectively be referred to as lens <NUM>.

Semi-rigid lens element <NUM> in <FIG> may initially have spherically shaped surfaces. The semi-rigid lens element may be a meniscus lens element having a spherically curved convex surface <NUM> and a spherically curved concave surface <NUM>. Rigid lens element <NUM> may also be a meniscus lens element having a spherically curved convex surface <NUM> and a spherically curved concave surface <NUM>. Without external bias force applied by actuators <NUM>, lens elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be parallel.

Actuators <NUM> may be used to manipulate the shape of semi-rigid lens element <NUM>. Similar to as shown in <FIG>, six actuators may be evenly distributed around the periphery of the non-planar semi-rigid lens element. This example is merely illustrative, and a different number of actuators may be used if desired (e.g., two actuators, three actuators, four actuators, more than two actuators, more than four actuators, more than six actuators, more than ten actuators, less than ten actuators, etc.).

The properties of lens element <NUM> may result in the lens element becoming rigid along a first axis when the lens element is curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Because of the initial spherical shape of the surfaces of lens element <NUM>, the lens element may have biconic surfaces when bent. A biconic surface may have different curvatures along two orthogonal axes.

The semi-rigid lens element introduces two orthogonal cylindrical lens powers when bent along a given axis (while the rigid lens element in the lens remains in a fixed position). The orthogonal cylindrical lens powers may have the same magnitudes or may have different magnitudes. In one example, the semi-rigid lens element may be bent and may have resulting cylindrical lens powers of +<NUM> diopter at <NUM>° and -<NUM> diopter at <NUM>°. According to the orthogonal cylinder transform, X diopters of <NUM>° cylindrical lens power is equal to X diopters of spherical lens power - X diopters of <NUM>° cylindrical lens power (e.g., +<NUM>. 25D CYL <NUM>° = +<NUM>. 25D SPHERE + -<NUM>. 25D CYL <NUM>°). Taking this rule into account, the equivalent total power of the bent semi-rigid lens element is <NUM> diopters of spherical lens power and -<NUM> diopters of <NUM>° cylindrical lens power.

An additional lens element may be included in the lens module to offset for the parasitic spherical lens power generated by lens <NUM> when semi-rigid lens element <NUM> is bent. <FIG> shows how spherical lens element <NUM> may be incorporated in lens module <NUM>. In the example described above, the spherical lens may be used to provide -<NUM> diopters of spherical lens power. As a result, the lens module would ultimately have -<NUM> diopters of <NUM>° cylindrical lens power.

Spherical lens element <NUM> may be dynamically adjusted to offset the parasitic spherical lens power associated with the given state of lens <NUM>. Spherical lens <NUM> may be any desired type of tunable spherical lens element.

<FIG> show how a non-planar semi-rigid lens element may be bent to have a biconic surface with different curvatures along two orthogonal axes. <FIG> shows non-planar semi-rigid lens element <NUM> in an initial state. In other words, <FIG> shows the semi-rigid lens element before actuators are used to bend the lens element. As shown, the lens element initially has an upper surface <NUM> that is spherically convex and a lower surface <NUM> that is spherically concave. In <FIG>, the lens element has a first meridian <NUM> (sometimes referred to as section <NUM> or contour <NUM>) along the Y-axis and second meridian <NUM> (sometimes referred to as meridian <NUM>) along the X-axis. In <FIG>, the radius of curvature of meridian <NUM> may be the same as the radius of curvature of meridian <NUM>. In other words, the curvature along orthogonal axes that intersect in the center of the lens element is the same.

In <FIG>, the non-planar semi-rigid lens element is shown in bent state. Actuators <NUM> have been used to bend the semi-rigid lens element along the Y-axis, for example. In this state, the upper and lower surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of the lens element may be biconic surfaces. The radius of curvature of meridian <NUM> may be different than the radius of curvature of meridian <NUM>. In the bent shape as shown in <FIG> (when used in combination with a rigid spherical lens element), two cylindrical lens powers may be produced (e.g., having different magnitudes). In combination with the spherical lens of <FIG>, a single cylindrical lens power along any desired cylindrical lens axis may be generated. Actuators <NUM> may selectively bend the non-planar semi-rigid lens element to determine the cylindrical lens axis.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, a tunable semi-rigid non-planar lens element is interposed between eye box <NUM> and rigid lens element <NUM>. Rigid lens element <NUM> is interposed between the tunable semi-rigid non-planar lens element and tunable spherical lens <NUM>. This example is merely illustrative. In general, lens module <NUM> may include any desired combination of tunable planar semi-rigid lens elements, tunable non-planar semi-rigid lens elements, rigid planar lens elements, rigid non-planar lens elements, tunable elastomeric lens elements, etc..

In one illustrative arrangement, a lens may include a tunable semi-rigid non-planar lens element that is interposed between eye box <NUM> and another tunable semi-rigid non-planar lens element. Fluid such as fluid <NUM> may fill a cavity between the two tunable semi-rigid non-planar lens elements. In another embodiment, the rigid lens element <NUM> in <FIG> may be replaced by a tunable planar semi-rigid lens element.

If desired, in some arrangements the semi-rigid lens elements shown in <FIG> may be used in combination with the aforementioned variable stiffness concepts (e.g., shown in <FIG>). As discussed in connection with <FIG>, a lens element may have a varying stiffness across the lens element to assist in astigmatism correction. A semi-rigid lens element as shown in <FIG> may have concentric stiffness variation for off-axis optical correction or linear stiffness variation for astigmatic optical correction. The varying stiffness profile of the semi-rigid lens element may be achieved by providing the semi-rigid lens element with a variable thickness, by providing recesses that selectively reduce stiffness, by forming the semi-rigid lens element from an anisotropic material, etc. In yet another possible arrangement, the semi-rigid lens element may be included in a lens module that also includes an elastomeric lens element that has a varying stiffness profile (e.g., a lens element of the type shown in <FIG>).

Ultimately, the number, orientation, and stack-up of lens elements incorporated into the lens module may depend on the design requirements of the particular electronic device. However, using lens elements of the type shown in <FIG> may provide improved field-of-view for the user of the electronic device and may require less eye relief than when other types of lenses are used. Using a tunable non-planar semi-rigid lens element (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) may have improved optical performance due to the surface of the lens having a more uniform distance to the eye box.

As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of information such as information from input-output devices. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, data may be gathered that includes personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID's, home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, username, password, biometric information, or any other identifying or personal information.

The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to deliver targeted content that is of greater interest to the user. Accordingly, use of such personal information data enables users to calculated control of the delivered content. Further, other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.

For instance, in the United States, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly.

Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to "opt in" or "opt out" of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example, users can select not to provide certain types of user data. In yet another example, users can select to limit the length of time user-specific data is maintained. In addition to providing "opt in" and "opt out" options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an application ("app") that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app.

De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data at a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods.

Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of information that may include personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing personal information data.

In accordance with an embodiment, a system, is provided that includes a head-mounted support structure, a display that emits light, a lens module supported by the head-mounted support structure that receives the light from the display, the lens module includes first and second fluid-filled chambers and first and second flexible membranes and control circuitry configured to control the lens module to adjust curvature of the first flexible membrane and curvature of the second flexible membrane.

In accordance with another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured to control a first amount of fluid in the first fluid-filled chamber and a second amount of fluid in the second fluid-filled chamber to adjust the curvature of the first flexible membrane and the curvature the second flexible membrane.

In accordance with another embodiment, the first flexible membrane has a first varying stiffness profile and the second flexible membrane has a second varying stiffness profile that is different than the first varying stiffness profile.

In accordance with another embodiment, the first flexible membrane has a varying thickness.

In accordance with another embodiment, the first flexible membrane has surface relief that varies the elastic modulus of the first flexible membrane.

In accordance with another embodiment, the first flexible membrane is formed from an anisotropic material.

In accordance with another embodiment, the lens module includes a rigid divider between the first and second fluid-filled chambers, the first fluid-filled chamber is at least partially defined by the rigid divider and the first flexible membrane and the second fluid-filled chamber is at least partially defined by the rigid divider and the second flexible membrane.

In accordance with another embodiment, the lens module includes a rigid lens element, the first flexible membrane is interposed between the first and second fluid-filled chambers, the first fluid-filled chamber is at least partially defined by the rigid lens element and the first flexible membrane and the second fluid-filled chamber is at least partially defined by the first flexible membrane and the second flexible membrane.

In accordance with another embodiment, the lens module includes actuators around a periphery of the first flexible membrane, the control circuitry is configured to control the actuators to dynamically adjust a shape of the first flexible membrane.

In accordance with an embodiment, a system, is provided that includes, a head-mounted support structure, a display that emits light a lens module supported by the head-mounted support structure that receives the light from the display, the lens module includes a flexible lens element with a periphery and a plurality of actuators around the periphery of the flexible lens element and control circuitry configured to control the plurality of actuators to dynamically adjust the flexible lens element.

In accordance with another embodiment, each actuator is configured to pull radially outward on the flexible lens element away from a center of the flexible lens element.

In accordance with another embodiment, the system includes a gaze detection sensor configured to obtain gaze information, the control circuitry is configured to control the actuators based on the gaze information.

In accordance with an embodiment, a system, is provided that includes, a head-mounted support structure, a display that emits light and a lens module supported by the head-mounted support structure that receives the light from the display, the lens module includes first and second flexible membranes, the first flexible membrane has a first varying stiffness profile and the second flexible membrane has a second varying stiffness profile that is different than the first varying stiffness profile.

In accordance with an embodiment, a system is provided that includes, a head-mounted support structure, a display that emits light and a lens module supported by the head-mounted support structure that receives the light from the display, the lens module includes a fluid-filled chamber, a semi-rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, and at least one actuator configured to selectively bend the semi-rigid lens element.

In accordance with another embodiment, the lens module includes a rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, fluid that fills the fluid-filled chamber is interposed between the semi-rigid lens element and the rigid lens element and the lens module includes lens module support structures that at least partially define the fluid-filled chamber.

In accordance with another embodiment, the lens module includes a rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, the rigid lens element and the semi-rigid lens element are parallel in a first state in which the semi-rigid lens element is not bent by the at least one actuator and the rigid lens element and the semi-rigid lens element are not parallel in a second state and the at least one actuator selectively bends the semi-rigid lens element in the second state.

In accordance with another embodiment, the lens module includes a rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber and the lens module further includes a tunable spherical lens and the rigid lens element is interposed between the tunable spherical lens and the semi-rigid lens element.

In accordance with another embodiment, the semi-rigid lens element is planar in a first state in which the semi-rigid lens element is not bent by the at least one actuator.

In accordance with another embodiment, the semi-rigid lens element has a spherically convex surface and a spherically concave surface in a first state in which the semi-rigid lens element is not bent by the at least one actuator and the lens includes a tunable spherical lens that is configured to offset a parasitic spherical lens power generated by the semi-rigid lens element in a second state in which the semi-rigid lens element is bent by the at least one actuator.

In accordance with another embodiment, the at least one actuator includes six actuators that are evenly distributed around a periphery of the semi-rigid lens element and the lens module includes a load-spreading ring that extends around the periphery of the semi-rigid lens element.

In accordance with another embodiment, the semi-rigid lens element is formed from a material that has a Young's modulus greater than <NUM> GPa.

In accordance with an embodiment, a system is provided that includes, a head-mounted support structure, a display that emits light and a lens module supported by the head-mounted support structure that receives the light from the display, the lens module includes first and second lens elements separated by a liquid-filled gap with an adjustable thickness.

In accordance with another embodiment, the lens module includes a partially reflective mirror interposed between the first lens element and the display, a quarter wave plate, the second lens element is interposed between the quarter wave plate and the liquid-filled gap and a reflective polarizer, the quarter wave plate is interposed between the reflective polarizer and the second lens element.

In accordance with another embodiment, the first and second lens elements form a catadioptric lens and the catadioptric lens has a thickness that depends upon the adjustable thickness of the liquid-filled gap.

In accordance with another embodiment, the system includes a reservoir that holds liquid that fills the liquid-filled gap, a pump that controls the amount of liquid in the liquid-filled gap and a biasing component that biases the first lens element towards the second lens element.

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>), comprising:
a head-mounted support structure (<NUM>);
a display (<NUM>) that emits light and that is supported by the head-mounted support structure;
a lens module (<NUM>) supported by the head-mounted support structure that receives the light from the display, wherein the lens module comprises first and second fluid- filled chambers (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) and first and second flexible membranes (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the first flexible membrane has linear stiffness variation in a first direction, and wherein the second flexible membrane has linear stiffness variation in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; and
control circuitry (<NUM>) configured to control the lens module to adjust curvature of the first flexible membrane and curvature of the second flexible membrane.