Patent ID: 12189212

The figures are of schematic nature and elements therein may be of different scale or positioned differently to improve readability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the description, which follows, the drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be shown in generalized or schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness or for informational purposes. In addition, although making and using various embodiments are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that as described herein are provided many inventive concepts that may be embodied in a wide variety of contexts. Embodiments discussed herein are merely representative and do not limit the scope of the invention.

Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to the various aspects of the disclosure such as an eyewear including a variable optical filter system, a method for adjusting a variable optical filter system of an eyewear, a method for controlling an eyewear including a variable optical filter system, a method of correction of the human visual system, and a computer program.

Embodiments and explanations thereof disclosed in connection with one embodiment may be applicable to other embodiments. For example, embodiments and explanations to the eyewear may be applicable to the method for adjusting, the method of controlling, or to the method of correction. In another example, details of the method for controlling and/or adjusting may apply to the embodiments of the eyewear which eyewear, such as the analysis module or the communication module, may be configured accordingly.

The term “eyewear”, according to various embodiments, may refer to an object to be wear on/in relation to the eye, for example spectacles.

The term “lens element”, for example the first lens element or the second lens element, according to various embodiments, may refer to a lens for an eyewear, which may or may not have corrective power.

The term “receptacle”, according to various embodiments, may refer to a means for receiving a lens element. For example a rim, or a strap, or a combination thereof.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

While the examples disclosed herein use the light illuminance, for example in incident illuminance or incident illuminance ranges, the skilled person in the art would understand that other physical quantities may be used, for example by carrying out the appropriate conversion between the illuminance and another form of intensity, such as a different luminous intensity, a radiant intensity, or a photocurrent of a photodetector.

FIG.1Ashows an eyewear100, including a frame110having an outer side112and an inner side114.FIG.1Bis a cross-section view of cross section A-A′ from the eyewear100ofFIG.1A. The frame110may include a first receptacle122and a second receptacle124. The eyewear100may include a first lens element126received in the first receptacle122, wherein the first lens element126comprises a variable optical filter structure130. According to some embodiments, the variable optical filter structure may include an electrochromic layer. Alternatively, the variable optical filter structure may include a liquid crystal layer. The frame110may include other elements, for example, the frame110may include a bridge connecting to the first receptacle122and the second receptacle124. The frame110may also include a pair of earpieces. The frame110may further include a power source116.

In one example, the liquid crystal layer may include at least one cell comprising a transparent liquid crystal formulation between two transparent supports, at least one (for example both) of the transparent supports comprises a transparent electrode. The liquid crystal layer may include a polarizer. According to one embodiment, the transparent liquid crystal formulation placed between the two transparent supports may be in phase organization which is dependent on the applied electrical field applied to the transparent electrode(s), so that for at least two different electrical fields, two different phase organizations may be obtained, which together with the polarizer, may provide at least two different optical states of the variable optical filter structure, for example at least two different neutral density filter states. Exemplary materials for the transparent liquid crystal formulation may include twisted nematic liquid crystal materials and/or further include dichroic dies, for example, as provided by AlphaMicron, Inc.

In one example, the electrochromic layer may include at least one cell comprising an electrochromic formulation between two transparent supports, at least one (for example both) of the transparent supports comprises a transparent electrode. Thus, the electrochromic layer and the transparent electrode(s) may be arranged as an arrangement of layers. According to one embodiment, the electrochromic formulation placed between the two transparent supports may include chemical redox states which are dependent on the applied electrical field (and correspondent current) applied to the transparent electrode(s), so that for at least two different electrical fields, two different redox states may be obtained, for which the electrochromic formulation has different absorption coefficients. The different absorptions may be used to provide at least two different optical states of the variable optical filter structure, for example at least two different neutral density filter states. The electrochromic layer may include solid and/or liquid layers. Further, an electrolyte may be included in at least one of the layers of the arrangement of layers. For example, the electrochromic layer may include a solid layer of WO3 and a conductive polymer layer, for example a polyaniline or a polyaniline derivative.

The eyewear100may include a light sensor140configured to detect incident light with an incident illuminance ILand provide a sensor signal SSenbased on the detected incident illuminance IL. For example, the light sensor140may be coupled to the frame110, for example, mechanically integrated in the frame110. The incident light may be the ambient light. According to some embodiments, the light sensor may be adapted to detect light illuminances at least in the range from 1 lux to 50000 lux.

The eyewear100may include an analysis module150for controlling an optical state of the variable optical filter structure130. The analysis module150may be any electronic circuit, for example, including a microcontroller. The electronic circuit may include analog and/or digital inputs and outputs. The analysis module150may be operably coupled to the light sensor140to receive the sensor signal SSenfrom the light sensor140, for example, the eyewear may include conductors which may electrically connect the light sensor140to the analysis module150. The analysis module150may be operably coupled to the variable optical filter structure130to provide a control signal Sctrlto the variable optical filter structure130, for example, the eyewear may include conductors which may electrically connect the analysis module150to the optical state of the variable optical filter structure130. The analysis module150may be configured to control the optical state of the variable optical filter structure130, thereby adjusting a target illuminance ratio TR which is dependent on the sensor signal SSen. The power source may be included in the analysis module.

The target illuminance ratio TR is the ratio between a first illuminance It1of light transmitted by the first lens element126from the outer side112to the inner side114of the frame110and a second illuminance It2of light transmitted from the outer side112to the inner side114of the frame110at a position of the second receptacle124. The direction of transmission of light is from the outer side112to the inner side114of the frame110as shown inFIG.1B. Thus, if a user is wearing the frame, the direction would be essentially in the direction of the user's eye.

The target illuminance ratio may be given by TR=It1/It2. The target illuminance ratio TR may be dimensionless, for example, due to the division of [lux]/[lux]. Given an incident light, e.g. detected in the form of illuminance IL, or a corresponding/converted value thereof, the analysis module150may determine a respective illuminance ratio for said given incident illuminance and determine the target illuminance ratio TR to provide a control signal Sctrlto the variable optical filter structure130so to obtain the desired first illuminance It1(for example using It1=TR·It2) of light transmitted by the first lens element126from the outer side112to the inner side114of the frame110. In some embodiments, the second illuminance It2, of light transmitted from the outer side112to the inner side114of the frame110at a position of the second receptacle124, may be equal or substantially equal to the incident illuminance IL, for example when the second receptacle124does not include any lens, or the second receptacle124includes a second lens element128which is essentially transparent. According to various embodiments, the target illuminance ratio TR is smaller than 1 and may be adjustable in a range from 0.0001 to 0.95.

FIG.2is an example of an eyewear100, in accordance with various embodiments, wherein the second lens element128includes a second variable optical filter structure132.

According to various embodiments, the eyewear100may further include a second lens element128received in the second receptacle124. In such case, the second illuminance It2is the illuminance of light transmitted by the second lens element128from the outer side112to the inner side114of the frame110.

According to various embodiments, the second lens element128may further include a second variable optical filter structure132. In such case, the analysis module150may be further operably coupled to the second variable optical filter structure132to provide a second control signal Sctrl2to the second variable optical filter structure132for controlling an optical state of the second variable optical filter structure132. The provision of a second variable optical filter structure allows for a higher dynamic range, and more freedom for adjusting the target interocular balance.

FIG.3Ashows a flowchart300showing how a control signal is provided by the functional relationship from the sensor signal, in accordance with some embodiments.

According to various embodiments, the analysis module may be configured to generate the control signal by applying a functional relationship F(x) including an incident illuminance IL(x=IL) as input variable, and wherein the incident illuminance ILor a correspondent value of the incident illuminance ILis provided by the sensor signal SSen. As shown inFIG.3A, a sensor signal SSenmay be provided, for example acquired by measuring the incident light, in a first step310, and the sensor signal SSenmay be provided to functional relationship F(x) in step330. The sensor signal SSenmay be in the unit of lux, thus representing the incident illuminance. Using the output of the functional relationship F(x), the control module may provide a control signal Sctrlin step340.

FIG.3Bshows a flowchart301showing how a control signal is provided by the functional relationship receiving an incident illuminance which may be converted from the sensor signal, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown inFIG.3B, a sensor signal SSenmay be provided, for example in the form of a photocurrent, for example acquired by measuring the incident light, in a first step310. The sensor signal SSenmay be converted to illuminance units in a step315, to represent the incident illuminance IL. Step315, may be carried out, for example, by the analysis module, and the analysis module may thus be configured accordingly. The incident illuminance ILmay be provided to functional relationship F(x) in step330. Using the output of the functional relationship F(x), the control module may provide a control signal Sctrlin step340.

Referring toFIGS.3A and3Bfor illustration purposes, various embodiments also relate to a method of controlling the eyewear, the method including: receiving the sensor signal from the light sensor by the analysis module, and providing a control signal from the analysis module to the variable optical filter structure, for controlling an optical state of the variable optical filter structure. The method further includes, controlling, by the analysis module, the optical state of the variable optical filter structure thereby adjusting a target illuminance ratio (TR) which is dependent on the sensor signal, wherein the target illuminance ratio (TR) is the ratio between a first illuminance (It1) of light transmitted by the first lens element from the outer side to the inner side of the frame and a second illuminance (It2) of light transmitted from the outer side to the inner side of the frame at a position of the second receptacle.

Various embodiments also concern a computer program comprising instructions to cause the eyewear according to various embodiments to execute the method steps of the method for controlling an eyewear and/or the method of correction.

According to various embodiments, the eyewear may further include a communication module configured to receive an electronic message including a set of adjustment data to adjust the analysis module.FIG.4is a schematic showing details of the communication module160and its connection to the analysis module150, in accordance with various embodiments.FIG.4shows a communication module160operably coupled to the analysis module150. The communication module160is configured to receive an electronic message162(MSG), which may contain a set of adjustment data DATA_CFG. The adjustment data DATA_CFG may be transmitted to the communication module160and serve as configuration for the communication module160, for example, the adjustment data DATA_CFG may include a table with a plurality of illuminance ratios (IR), wherein each illuminance ratio of the plurality of illuminance ratios may be associated to an incident illuminance range or a corresponding/converted value thereof.

The table may also be a single row or single column table of an output (such as illuminance ratios IR1 . . . IRn, for n greater than 2) for which the index n (which may be, e.g., a position in the table) may be the input (for example incident illuminance ranges IL1 . . . ILn). In another example, the associated incident illuminance ranges may be pre-defined in the analysis module150. In yet another example, the adjustment data DATA_CFG may include a table with a plurality of illuminance ratios and a plurality of associated incident illuminance ranges. Instead of, or in addition to, of a plurality of illuminance ratios (IR), the table could include a plurality of interocular imbalance ratios which may be converted, for example in a separate step, to a target illuminance ratio.

An illuminance ratio of the plurality of illuminance ratios may be determined, for example, as IR=1−(IOI+A); wherein IOI is Interocular Imbalance (a ratio with values 0≤IOI≤1, preferably 0<IOI<1), and A is a constant (for example 0≤A≤1), for example when 0 is zero target illuminance ratio may compensate out the interocular imbalance, when A is greater than 0, the target illuminance ratio may overcompensate the interocular imbalance.

Alternatively or in addition to the adjustment data DATA_CFG including a table with a plurality of illuminance ratios, the adjustment data DATA_CFG may include a table with a plurality of interocular imbalance ratios (e.g., each ratio for a different incident illuminance range), and the plurality of illuminance ratios may be determined from the interocular imbalance ratios.

The interocular imbalance may be determined for a subject with known methods, for example the using the dichoptic random dot task.

FIG.5Ashows an example of an analysis module150which is configured to control the optical state of the variable optical filter structure130with the control signal Sctrl. The analysis module is configured with a functional relationship F(x), which may for example include a configuration register CFG_REG. The configuration register CFG_REG may be configured with adjustment data DATA_CFG as previously described, and may include the illuminance ratios IR1 . . . IR4. While 4 illuminance ratios are shown, the disclosure is not limited thereto and the illuminance ratios may be IR1 . . . IRn, for n greater than 2, for example x=5. The configuration register CFG_REG may further include the incident illuminance ranges IL1 . . . IL4, alternatively or in addition, the incident illuminance ranges IL1 . . . IL4 may be an integral part of the analysis module150, for example pre-programmed in the table or included in the software's algorithm of the analysis module150. While 4 incident illuminance ranges are shown, the disclosure is not limited thereto and the incident illuminance ranges may be IL1 . . . ILn=y, for y greater than 2, for example y=n=5. Having a sensor signal SSenas input, for example in the form of an incident illuminance IL, the analysis module may determine into which one of incident illuminance ranges IL1, IL2, IL3, and IL4 the incident illuminance IL(the sensor signal SSenmay be converted into illuminance if necessary) is contained and provide a respective target illumination ratio. In the example ofFIG.5A, it is shown for illustration purposes, that IL∈[IL2], meaning that the ILis contained in the range IL2, which results in the target illumination ratio being determined to be equal to IR2. The target illumination ratio (e.g. IR2) may be further processed (157) so that the control signal Sctrlis generated, which control signal Sctrlmay be provided to the variable optical filter structure130. The further processing157, may be, for example, the transformation from a digital signal into an analog signal and/or signal amplification.

FIG.5Bshows exemplary values for the configuration register CFG_REG ofFIG.5A. InFIG.5B, the light intensity ranges are represented, for illustration purposes, as values between 0 and 1 (endpoints included), wherein 1 represents a maximum pre-determined illuminance, for example 50000 lux, and 0 represents the dark condition (without any light). InFIG.5Bthe exemplary ranges are as follows: IL1=]0.95,1]; IL2=]0.5,0.95]; IL3=]0.05,0.5], and IL4=[0.0,0.05]. The square brackets refer to the mathematical representation of intervals, wherein the square brackets include the end-points and the parenthesis does not include the end-points. Alternatively, the illuminance ranges ILx may include a single value, for example, IL1=1, IL2=0.9, IL3=0.1, and IL4=0.01, and the ranges associated with each value may be determined by an algorithm or circuit of the analysis module.

InFIG.5B, the illuminance ratios are represented, for illustration purposes, as IR1=0.9, IR2=0.8, IR3=0.7, and IR4=0.6. For an incident illuminance ILof 0.6, which is in the range of IL2 (]0.5,0.95]), the functional relationship F(x) determines the target illuminance ratio TR to be IR2 (0.8). The analysis module is configured to provide a corresponding control signal Sctrl, for example, by converting and/or amplifying an electronic signal corresponding to the determined target illuminance ratio IR.

According to the functional relationship F(x), if the incident illuminance ILis decreased, the target illuminance ratio TR becomes smaller. The target illuminance ratio TR may be smaller if the wearer is in a dark environment with a dark background light than if the wearer is in a bright light environment

The functional relationship F(x) is exemplified in several drawing as table, for example a correspondence table. The table may be a single row or single column table of an output (such as illuminance ratios IR1 . . . IRn, for n greater than 2) for which the index (also named as position or cell in the table) may be the input (for example incident illuminance ranges IL1 . . . ILn). The input may be further processed. The output may be further processed. The functional relationship F(x) (e.g. the table) may be implemented in software, for example in a program for a microcontroller. While the functional relationship F(x) is shown in the form of a table, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, the functional relationship F(x) may be implemented as a function according to a software algorithm, or for example with an analog electronic circuit.

FIG.6shows a flowchart of a method600for adjusting a variable optical filter system for an eyewear in accordance with various embodiments. The method600for adjusting a variable optical filter system may include providing, in a step610, an electronic message by a communication terminal. The communication terminal may be external to the eyewear. For example the communication terminal may be a computer terminal for which information can be input so that the electronic message with a set of adjustment data can be generated. The method600for adjusting a variable optical filter system may further include transmitting the electronic message from the communication terminal in a step612, and receiving the electronic message with a communication module of the eyewear in a step614(transmission and reception may occur essentially at the same time).

The method600for adjusting a variable optical filter system may further include, in a step616, configuring, with the set of adjustment data, a functional relationship between an incident illuminance and a target illuminance ratio (TR), wherein TR refers to the ratio between a first illuminance (It1) and a second illuminance (It2). The first illuminance (It1) is an illuminance of light transmitted by a first lens element of the eyewear, and the second illuminance (It2) is an illuminance transmitted at an eyewear's receptacle position for receiving a second lens element of the eyewear, as previously described. The eyewear may be an eyewear as described in the various embodiments herein.

According to various embodiments, the set of adjustment data may include data representing a plurality of interocular imbalance values for different illuminances. In this case, instead of transmitting the adjustment data DATA_CFG including a table with a plurality of illuminance ratios (as previous explained), the DATA_CFG may include a table with the plurality of interocular imbalance values for different illuminances and the corresponding illuminance ratios IR1 . . . IRn may be determined, for example, calculated, by the analysis module150.

According to various embodiments, the set of adjustment data may include at least one parameter of the functional relationship. For example, the parameters may be offset or an angular coefficient in the functional relationship. For example, the functional relationship may further include an amplification factor for the control signal Sctrl, as parameter.

The functional relationship may change for the eyewear wearer. The wearer with the eyewear may be measured periodically on the illuminance ratio TR at different level of incident illuminance ILas well as measured on the suppression of the interocular imbalance for the wearer. The adjustment data could be obtained based on the measurement results, which is used to adjust the functional relationship for the specific wearer.

According to some embodiments, the set of adjustment data comprises a second illuminance It2of the second lens element. For example, the second lens element may have a certain transmittance, for example an averaged transmittance over the visible range, which may be used by the analysis module, for example, as input variable in the functional relationship, for determining the corresponding target illuminance ratio and generating the control signal Sctrl. In one example, the second lens element may be a neutral density filter.

In the case where the transmittance of the second receptacle is substantially 1, for example, when no second lens element or a substantial transparent second lens element is included in the second receptacle, the second illuminance It2 of the second lens element (for example, illuminance incident on the respective eye (behind the second receptacle) of a subject wearing the eyewear) is essentially the same as the incident illuminance IL.

Various embodiments concern a method of correction of the human visual system, in particular for interocular sensory imbalance. The method of correction may use an eyewear, for example, an eyewear as described in accordance with various embodiments. With the eyewear in accordance to various embodiments, it is possible to penalize the good eye for different incident illuminances (e.g. different ambient light intensities) so that the interocular illuminance difference shifts the ocular dominance towards the other eye, which is the eye with higher illuminance Since the interocular imbalance is considered as a function of the incident illuminance, an improved correction can be provided to a subject, for example under diverse illuminance conditions, which may be effective, for example under bright sun, as well as under early morning or evening sunshine.