University of California has patented telescopic contact lens. Just wink to activate telescopic view and become a peeping tom.
The telescopic lens can be useful for various applications, including, for example, recreational sports, military field operations, and biomedical treatments.
The patent discloses a dual-vision contact lens worn in front of an eye to provide a first vision using light collected from the central region of the eye and [[Fig. 3B]] a second telescopic vision with a magnified image using light collected from the peripheral region of the eye.
The first vision in the central region of the eye can be a vision that is naturally formed by the human eye without modification or enhancement by the contact lens.
The second telescopic vision is formed by a completely different optical imaging system using a folded optical path to provide the magnified images for the telescopic vision.
This is how Catadioptric telescopes work.
The researchers at University of California have already achieved 3 times magnification. Fresnel lens might be used to achieve magnification of up to 8 to 10 times, which is close to what binoculars provide. Which is pretty amazing.
Patent Information:
US9,063,352
Telescopic contact lens
Inventors: Ford; Joseph E. (Solana Beach, CA), Tremblay; Eric (Fruitvale, CA)
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
Family ID: 45938936
Appl. No.: 13/878,987
Filed: October 11, 2011
PCT Filed: October 11, 2011
PCT No.: PCT/US2011/055850
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: June 24, 2013
PCT Pub. No.: WO2012/051223
PCT Pub. Date: April 19, 2012
Abstract
Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for implementing a telescopic contact lens. In one aspect, a telescopic contact lens includes an inner lens including optical apertures and aspheric reflectors, an outer lens of a biocompatible material, and a switching device that rapidly switches between normal and telescopic vision. The optical apertures of the inner lens includes a center aperture that allows light to pass through for normal vision and an annular aperture located on the periphery of the inner lens that allows light to enter for telescopic vision, The aspheric reflectors are configured between the annular aperture and the center aperture to reflect the light and magnify a visual image for telescopic vision.
