Title:
AN ADJUSTABLE FLUID-FILLED LENS ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/055787
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
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. At least one face of the membrane may be coated with a hard coating, for example, a cross-linked polyurethane acrylate with a nanoparticulate silica filler to afford scratch resistance. By applying the coating to a pre-tensioned membrane, "settling" relaxation of the tension in the membrane causes compression of the coating which counteracts the tension in the membrane to alleviate the bi-axial line tension applied by the membrane to a peripheral supporting structure that holds the membrane around its edge.
Inventors:
STEVENS ROBERT EDWARD (GB)
JACOBY THOMAS (GB)
BEAN DEREK PAUL FORBES (GB)
GUEST WILLIAM (GB)
NISPER JON (US)
WORSLEY TOM (GB)
KUMAR ASHUTOSH (GB)
VAN RENSBURG RICHARD WILHELM JANSE (GB)
CROSSLEY PETER LEE (GB)
STELLA RITA (GB)
JACOBY THOMAS (GB)
BEAN DEREK PAUL FORBES (GB)
GUEST WILLIAM (GB)
NISPER JON (US)
WORSLEY TOM (GB)
KUMAR ASHUTOSH (GB)
VAN RENSBURG RICHARD WILHELM JANSE (GB)
CROSSLEY PETER LEE (GB)
STELLA RITA (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2016/000173
Publication Date:
July 13, 2017
Filing Date:
September 28, 2016
Export Citation:
Assignee:
ADLENS LTD (GB)
International Classes:
G02B3/12; G02B3/14; G02C7/08
Domestic Patent References:
| WO1999047948A1 | 1999-09-23 | |||
| WO2012021688A1 | 2012-02-16 | |||
| WO2013144592A1 | 2013-10-03 | |||
| WO2013143630A1 | 2013-10-03 | |||
| WO2013158295A1 | 2013-10-24 |
Foreign References:
| US20080207846A1 | 2008-08-28 | |||
| US8111464B2 | 2012-02-07 | |||
| US8254034B1 | 2012-08-28 | |||
| US7256943B1 | 2007-08-14 | |||
| US20110085131A1 | 2011-04-14 | |||
| US5371629A | 1994-12-06 | |||
| US20040156983A1 | 2004-08-12 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
CRUMP, Julian, Richard, John (GB)
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