Curved retarder based optical filters and eyewear

Abstract

Curved polarization filters and methods of manufacturing thereof. One method includes laminating a planar polarization layer to a planar retarder layer at a predetermined orientation and bending the laminate to create a curved filter. The strain on the retarder layer results in stress-induced birefringence, and the predetermined orientation of the retarder substantially compensates for the stress-induced birefringence.

1 . A lens configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:
 a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or to the polymeric material layer to form a sheet,   said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization; and   wherein the lens is curved utilizing a thermoforming process to form said lens configured to decode three dimensional content.   
     
     
         2 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein said polarizing layer has a polarizing efficiency of 99.9% and a luminous transmittance of 38.8%. 
     
     
         3 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein the polymeric material layer is over the retarder layer. 
     
     
         4 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein said polymeric material layer includes cellulous acetate. 
     
     
         5 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein said polarizer layer is tinted with iodine crystals. 
     
     
         6 . The lens of  claim 1  wherein said retarder layer is polyvinyl alcohol or polycarbonate. 
     
     
         7 . The lens of  claim 1  further comprising a polarization angle set with respect to the retarder such that the retarder and the polarizer block light of one or the other of left-circular polarization or right-circular polarization. 
     
     
         8 . The lens of  claim 1  further comprising a retardation angle suitable for left-circular polarization. 
     
     
         9 . The lens of  claim 1  further comprising a retardation angle suitable for right-circular polarization degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The lens of  claim 1  further comprising a lens thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         11 . The lens of  claim 1  further comprising a designed retardation suitable for the retarder layer. 
     
     
         12 . A method of fabricating a curved lens configured to decode three dimensional content comprising: forming filters from sheets of material comprising:
 a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or the polymeric material, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization, and   wherein said filters have a predetermined alignment of a polarizing axis associated with said sheet;   heating the filters to a deformation temperature;   curving the filters using pressure; and   cooling the curved filters.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising utilizing a polarizing material having a polarizing efficiency of 99.9% and a luminous transmittance of 38.8%. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising using a polymeric material layer over the retarder layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising heating the filters to a deformation temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising a polarization angle set with respect to the retarder such that the retarder and the polarizer block light of one or the other of left-circular polarization or right-circular polarization. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising fabricating the lens to have a retardation angle suitable for left-circular polarization. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising fabricating the lens to have a retardation angle suitable for right-circular polarization. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising fabricating the lens to have a transmittance percentage of 38.8%. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising fabricating the lens to have a lens thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising fabricating the lens to have a designed retardation suitable for the retarder layer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising utilizing a polymeric layer as the retarder layer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising utilizing cellulous diacetate or polycarbonate-for the polymeric material layer. 
     
     
         24 . Eyeglasses comprising:
 a frame configured to retain a left lens and right lens;   said left lens comprising; a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or the polymeric material to form a sheet,   said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired left handed circular polarization; and   wherein a filter is curved utilizing a thermoforming process to form said lens configured to decode three dimensional content; and   said right lens comprising; a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or the polymeric material to form a sheet,   said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired right handed circular polarization; and   wherein a filter is curved utilizing a thermoforming process to form said lens configured to decode three dimensional content.   
     
     
         25 . The eyeglasses of  claim 24  wherein said left lens utilizes a retardation angle suitable for right-circular polarization. 
     
     
         26 . The eyeglasses of  claim 24  wherein said right lens utilizes a retardation angle suitable for left-circular polarization. 
     
     
         27 . A lens configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:
 a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or to the polymeric material to form a sheet,   said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization; and   wherein a filter is curved using a press into a lens configured to decode three dimensional content.   
     
     
         28 . The lens of  claim 27  wherein said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer have a combined thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         29 . A lens configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:
 a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or to the polymeric material to form a sheet,   said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization;   wherein a filter is curved using a press process into an optical element configured to decode three dimensional content.   
     
     
         30 . The lens of  claim 29  wherein said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer have a combined thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         31 . The lens of  claim 30  wherein said polarizing layer, polymeric layer, retarder layer and one or more thickness layers have a combined thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         32 . A method of fabricating a curved lens configured to decode three dimensional content comprising: forming filters from sheets of material comprising,
 a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or the polymeric material, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization, and   wherein said filters have a predetermined alignment of a polarizing axis associated with said sheet;   curving said filters into lenses by: applying high pressure with controlled heating from both sides of a polished mold.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising fabricating said lens with said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer having a combined thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising fabricating said lens with said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer having a combined thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising adding material to a thickness of a lens. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising fabricating said lens with said polarizing layer, polymeric layer, retarder layer and one or more injection molding layers having a combined thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         37 . Glasses configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:
 two lenses having:   a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or to the polymeric material to form a sheet,   said retarder layer configured to decode a desired circular polarization;   wherein a first filter is curved into a first lens and a second filter is curved into a second lens wherein together the first and second lens are able to decode three dimensional content; and   wherein the first and second lenses are configured such that light that is left-circular polarized is blocked by one of the first and second sheets and light that is right-circular polarized is blocked by the other of the first and second sheets.   
     
     
         38 . The glasses of  claim 37  wherein said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer have a combined thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         39 . The glasses of  claim 37  wherein said first and second lens in combination are configured to decode three dimensional content displayed on a computer or television monitor. 
     
     
         40 . Glasses configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:
 two optical elements having:   a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or to the polymeric material to form a sheet,   said retarder layer configured to decode a desired circular polarization;   wherein a first filter is curved into a first optical element and a second filter is curved into a second optical element;   wherein the first and second sheet are configured such that: light that is left-circular polarized is blocked by one of the first and second sheets and light that is right-circular polarized is blocked by the other of the first and second sheets.   
     
     
         41 . The glasses of  claim 40  wherein said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer have a combined thickness suitable for eyeglasses. 
     
     
         42 . The glasses of  claim 41  wherein said polarizing layer, polymeric layer, retarder layer and one or more thickness layers have a combined thickness suitable for eyeglasses. 
     
     
         43 . The glasses of  claim 40  wherein said pair of lenses is configured to decode three dimensional content displayed on a computer monitor. 
     
     
         44 . A method of fabricating curved lenses configured to decode three dimensional content comprising:
 providing filters from material comprising:   a polarizing layer laminated with a polymeric material layer on one or both sides;   a retarder layer laminated to a front of the polarizer layer directly or the polymeric material, said retarder layer aligned to decode a desired circular polarization,   wherein a first and second filter used to form a left and right lens are formed from first and second sheets configured such that light that is left-circular polarized is blocked by one of the first and second sheets and light that is right-circular polarized is blocked by the other of the first and second sheets,   curving said first and second filters into lenses by applying high pressure with controlled heating from both sides.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  further comprising fabricating said lens with said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer having a combined thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  further comprising adding a material to increase the thickness to said lenses. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45  further comprising fabricating said lens with said polarizing layer, polymeric layer and retarder layer and additional layers having a combined thickness suitable for stereoscopic eyewear.