Adjustable fluid-filled lens assembly and method for assembling the same

• Main Authors: Kumar, Ashutosh, Worsley, Tom, Jacoby, Thomas, Stevens, Robert Edward, Bean, Derek Paul Forbes, Crossley, Peter Lee, Stella, Rita, Guest, William, Nisper, Jon, Van Rensburg, Richard Wilhelm Janse
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.07.2023
• Subjects: CONTACT LENSES; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCESIN A PLASTIC STATE; SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURESAS SPECTACLES; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A method of assembling an adjustable fluid-filled lens assembly comprising biaxially tensioning an elastomeric membrane to a surface tension of greater than 180 N/m, typically greater than 1000 N/m; thermally conditioning the tensioned membrane, e.g., for one hour at a temperature of about 80° C., to accelerate relaxation of the membrane; mounting the membrane to a peripheral support structure whilst maintaining the tension in the membrane; assembling the mounted membrane with one or more other components to form an enclosure with the membrane forming one wall of the enclosure; and thereafter filling the enclosure with a fluid. The membrane may be formed from an aromatic polyurethane, and the fluid may be a phenylated siloxane. In some embodiments, the membrane is able to hold a substantially constant surface tension of at least 180 N/m for a period of at least 12 months.