Method and apparatus to project image on retina at various focal depths utilizing flexible substrate containing optical array

Abstract

The current invention relates to the method to achieve artificial vision with using flexible substrate based light emitting arrays, or optical passage arrays, to project image upon the retina of a human eye. Further, it relates to the method to detect the real-time focal length change of the eye-lens and modify the flexible substrate curvature and distance from the eye to vary global angle configurations of light beams that go into the eye to produce images on the retina at various focus depth of the eye to achieve re-focusable artificial vision.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to project an image on the retina of a viewer's eye comprising:
 an array of optical devices being disposed upon a substrate, with each of the optical devices being capable of outputting a light beam;   wherein said light beam has directionality and enters the eye through the eye-lens to project a point within said image on the retina; and   wherein at least a set of said light beams change their directions following a change of the focus depth or focus direction of the eye.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said optical devices are any of: reflective mirrors or prisms, light emitting devices, and light passage components. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said reflective mirrors or prisms reflect an incoming light into the said eye. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein an incoming light passes through said light passage components by entering said light passage components at a first end and exiting said light passage components from a second end, whereas the first end terminates at the surface of said substrate opposing said eye and the second end terminates at the surface of said substrate facing said eye. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said light passage components have partial reflective coating on said first and second ends. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3  and  claim 4 , wherein said incoming light is produced by any of: light emitting diode (LED), laser diode, solid or gas based laser, fluorescent lamp, and halogen lamp. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said light emitting devices can be any of: LED including organic light emitting diode (OLED), and laser diode. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the direction of at least one of said light beams output from at least one of said optical device is adjusted by an actuation mechanism that is attached to said optical device, whereas the actuation mechanism is based on any of: Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS), magnetic force, piezoelectric effect, electrostatic force, capacitive force, or thermally induced shape change. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one light beam shaping component is in immediate proximity to at least one of said optical device to modify said light beam output from the optical device, whereas the light beam shaping components can be any of: optical crystal, optical waveguide, optical fiber, and optical aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the direction of said light beam output from said optical device is adjusted by an actuation mechanism that is attached to said light beam shaping component, and the actuation mechanism is based on any of: MEMS, magnetic force, piezoelectric effect, electrostatic force, capacitive force, or thermally induced shape change. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said substrate has an adjustable curvature, whereas a set of said light beams change their directions through the substrate curvature change. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said light beams are projected in directions that are normal to the substrate surface when said substrate curvature changes. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said substrate curvature change is by an electrically controlled mechanism that is based on any one or any combination of: MEMS, magnetic force, piezoelectric effect, thermally induced shape change, memory alloy, artificial muscle, and air pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is supported by a housing structure that is stationary relative to the eye, whereas said housing structure is on the opposing side of the substrate relative to the eye. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said array of optical devices are disposed upon said substrate in the form of a two-dimensional matrix. 
     
     
         16 . A method to project an image on the retina of a viewer's eye comprising:
 an array of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) being disposed upon a flexible substrate having an adjustable curvature, with each of the OLED being capable of outputting a light beam;   wherein said light beam has directionality and enters the eye through the eye-lens to project a point within said image on the retina; and   wherein the curvature of said substrate changes following a change of the focus depth or focus direction of the eye, whereas at least a set of light beams change their directions with said curvature change.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said directionality of said light beam is achieved by passing the light beam through a light beam shaping component is in immediate proximity to said OLED, whereas the light beam shaping components can be any of: optical crystal, optical waveguide, optical fiber, and optical aperture. 
     
     
         18 . A method to project an image on the retina of a viewer's eye comprising:
 an array of light passage components (LPCs) being embedded within a flexible substrate having an adjustable curvature, with each LPC having a first end terminating at a first surface of the substrate and a second end terminating at a second surface of the substrate;   an incoming light entering the LPC from the second end and exiting from the first end in the form of a light beam with sufficient directionality;   wherein said light beam enters the eye through the eye-lens to project a point within said image on the retina; and   wherein the curvature of said substrate changes following a change of the focus depth or focus direction of the eye, whereas at least a set of light beams change their directions with said curvature change.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 4  and  claim 18 , wherein said light passage components can be any of: micro optical waveguides, optical fiber sections, or micro optical lens 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  claim 16  and  claim 18 , wherein at least one optical component exists between said substrate and the eye, whereas said light beams pass through said optical component before entering the eye, whereas the optical component can be any of: optical lens, mirrors, prisms, optical filters, optical polarizers, and optical shutters.