WO2014143747A1 - Post-surgical adjustable intra-ocular lens - Google Patents

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, adjusting an optical power of an electro-active lens that is implanted in a wearer.

Description

Post-Surgical Adjustable Intra-Ocular Lens

Cross-References to Related Applications

[1] This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference herein in its entirety, pending United States Provisional Patent Application 61/790,135 (Attorney Docket 1149- 318), filed 15 March 2013.

Background

[2] Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are typically permanent, plastic lenses that are surgically

implanted inside of the eyeball to replace or supplement the eye's natural crystalline lens. They have been used in the United States since the late 1960s to restore vision to cataract patients, and more recently are being used in several types of refractive eye surgery.

[3] The natural crystalline lens provides about 17 diopters of the total 60 diopters of the

refractive power of a healthy eye. Further, a healthy crystalline lens provides adjustable focusing when deformed by the muscular ciliary body that circumferentially surrounds the crystalline lens. As the eye ages, the flexibility of the crystalline lens decreases and this adjustable focusing is diminished. Thus, the crystalline lens almost invariably loses flexibility with age, and often loses transparency with age due to cataracts or other diseases.

Summary

[4] Embodiments of the present invention include implantable ophthalmic devices and

methods of operating tune implantable ophthalmic devices. In one example, an implantable ophthalmic device comprises an electro-active intraocular lens configured to be implanted in an eye of a wearer. This lens may include a liquid crystal layer, a predetermined portion of which comprises a polymer and a plurality of rotatable electro- active molecules. Once the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the eye, the polymer can be cured to inhibit rotation of the plurality of electro-active molecules.

[5] In some cases, the polymer includes a photoreactive material that can be cured while the electro-active intraocular lens lens is implanted in the wearer by irradiating the polymer with a laser or other light source over a predetermined range of wavelengths of light. For instance, the polymer may be irradiated over the predetermined range of wavelengths of light at an energy density between approximately 10 microwatts and approximately 350 milliwatts.

[6] In some examples, the polymer can be liquefied while the lens is implanted in the wearer.

[7] While the electroactive intraocular lens lens is implanted in the wearer, the orientation of the rotatable electro-active molecules may be adjusted, e.g., by applying an

electromagnetic filed to the lens. The electroactive intraocular lens lens's optical power may also be adjusted while the lens is implanted in the wearer with a wireless controller (e.g., inductively or capacitively using electromagnetic radiation transmitted via an antenna or loop). For instance, the optical power of the electroactive intraocular lens lens may be adjusted to provide a better focus for the wearer than a pre-adjusted state of the lens. Once the optical power has been adjusted, the polymer may be re-cured.

[8] In some cases, the electro-active intraocular lens comprises a conventional fixed focus optic. The electroactive intraocular lens may also include an electro-active lens portion that comprises the liquid crystal layer. The polymer in the liquid crystal layer can be irreversibly curable.

[9] In certain examples of the electro-active intraocular lens, the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable layer, which may define a first optical power. The liquid crystal layer may also define a second curable layer that defines a second optical power. And the liquid crystal layer can define a light blocking zone.

[10] Alternatively, or in addition, the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer can define a first curable zone that defines a first optical power. The liquid crystal layer can also define a second curable zone that defines a second optical power. Depending on the implementation, the first curable zone may comprise a first photo-initiator that is triggered at a first wavelength, and the second curable zone may comprise a second photo-initiator that is triggered at a second wavelength.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[11] A wide variety of potential, feasible, and/or useful embodiments will be more readily understood through the herein-provided, non-limiting, non-exhaustive description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which:

[12] FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an electro-active IOL;

[13] FIG. 2 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an electro-active IOL;

[14] FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an electro-active IOL;

[15] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at section A-A of FIG. 1;

[16] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system;

[17] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an information device;

[18] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method; and

[19] FIG. 8 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an electro-active IOL.

[20] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an information device

Detailed Description

[21] Currently, when an intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted to correct vision, a desired postsurgical optical power is targeted and the IOL power is selected to achieve that.

However, in roughly two-thirds of the cases the desired optical power result is "missed" and the end result is an undesired final focus and/or optical power, and corrective lenses or additional surgery is required to provide the desired optical power. [22] Certain exemplary embodiments can provide an IOL with a layer of electro-active material, for example liquid crystal, which can be configured to act as a lens to contribute post-surgical adjustable optical power to the IOL. The IOL can have conventional optical power formed by conventional optics and/or non-conventional optical power formed by electro-active optics.

[23] The electro-active optics can be made with liquid crystal, and/or the liquid crystal can be mixed with an amount of polymer and/or other stabilizing material in an uncured state. The polymer and/or other stabilizing material can allow the electro-active molecules to rotate while in an uncured or partially cured state, and/or can inhibit the rotation of the electro-active molecules in a cured state.

[24] When the IOL is initially implanted, the electro-active portion of the lens can have less than its full potential optical power switched on, and/or potentially can have zero of its potential optical power switched on. After implantation, the patient can be given time to heal, typically three to four weeks, and/or the implanted IOL can settle into its final resting location. During this period of settling, the optical power of the implanted IOL can change with respect to the focus of the image onto the retina due to axial and/or lateral shifting of the implanted IOL during the healing process. After the implanted IOL has stabilized, the patient can be given an eye test and/or various lenses can be placed in front of the eye to determine if a better focus can be achieved. Alternatively, the electro- active portion of the lens can be adjusted at this stage. If a better focus can be achieved, then the electro-active portion of the lens can be adjusted to the optical state that provides best focus, then frozen into that state by curing the polymer. The polymer, in turn, can trap the electro-active molecules in the desired orientation, providing the patient with optimal desired focus. Today's offering of IOLs include a variety of optical strategies to enhance vision. Some examples are a multi-focal lens that has two or more focus points to increase depth of focus, and mono-vision, where one eye is focused to close objects and the other is set to far focus. It is not known with certainty how each patient will respond to each of these treatments, and in some cases the response is negative. Since the optic involved is implanted inside of the eye, and it behaves differently from optics placed outside of the eye, it is not possible to simulate exactly the vision correction that each particular strategy may bring to the patient with the use of external test lenses used pre-surgically. If a "wrong choice" is made, it is too late and the risks of IOL

replacement are too high to correct the mistake by removing and replacing the IOL with an additional surgical procedure. This new invention solves this problem by allowing a number of optical strategies to be actually tested in real-world vision before making the choice. For example, mono vision could be first tried with left-eye-close-focus and right- eye-far-focus, then reversed with left-eye-far-focus and right-eye-close focus to determine if the brain adapts better to one eye versus the other in this condition. With regard to multi-focal, the amount of focus distribution and amount of optical power applied to each zone of focus could be tried at various levels while the patient is observing real world objects to determine which optical configuration is best. The patient could try not only variations of the existing optical strategies, but also complete different strategies before deciding. For example, they could try both the multi-focal strategy and the mono-vision strategy before deciding. Prior to this invention, these options were not possible and the irreversible decision had to be made before surgery.

[25] The electro-active lens can be driven by power, for example electricity that creates

electric fields, which in turn can reorient the electro-active molecules, which can change their index of refraction. In some cases, it can be desirable to have continuous ability to adjust the optical power of the implanted IOL on demand, but this can require a very complex device that creates and/or stores electric power and/or provide internal management of the lens and its related circuitry. Moreover, because it is an implanted device, such a device probably must have an extremely long functional life, which can be problematic. In some cases, it can be desireable to have a simpler, more reliable device that can provide the ability to fine tune the implanted IOL to compensate for optical shift caused by healing only once, or perhaps several times, then have it remain in that state for long periods of time. Certain exemplary embodiments can provide such a device, which is explained in the following paragraphs.

[26] The IOL can be created by a combination of a conventional, fixed focus optic coupled to an adjustable electro-active lens portion, or it can be created by an adjustable electro- active lens alone.

[27] The electro-active material can be a liquid crystal, for example a Merck MLC-2140, mixed with a minority quantity by weight of 10% or less of a stabilizing polymer such as Merck RM-257, along with a photo-curing initiator. Advances in material sciences might provide pre-mixed formulations of electro-active materials and stabilizing polymers, so the mixing of liquid crystal and stabilizing polymers are non-limiting examples only.

[28] The stabilizing polymer can be of a type that is cured-once-only, or can be a reversible or time-limited-cure type that can be re-liquified and cured two or more times. The stabilizing polymer can be a partially curable type, allowing a second optical correction to be performed, or a third, fourth, etc.

[29] Partial areas of the lens can be cured by directing the curing energy to a localized area, for example introducing spherical aberration by adjusting the outer periphery or the central section only, or blocking curing energy from being applied to a localized area, also for example for introducing spherical aberration in the central or peripheral sections, leaving other areas available for further tuning and/or changing the optical power at a later time. In such an exemplary case, the central section could be created with one optical power, and the peripheral section created with a second optical power, creating a multi-focal lens that increases depth of focus. Multiple layers can be used such that one layer can be tuned at one time and another layer tuned later, where each layer provides its own optical power. An exemplary method to accomplish this can be to have each layer doped with a photo-initiator that triggers at a different wavelength, for example one layer at 350 nm and another at 405 nm, then during curing at 350 nm the second 405 nm layer will not be cured at that time, but later when 405 nm wavelength is used for curing. For example, FIG. 1 shows an IOL with no liquid-crystal-induced optical power changes yet made. FIG. 2 shows an after-cure condition indicating zone 2100 having one optical power, and zone 2200 having a second optical power, and in total the entire IOL 2000 having a multi-focal optical power that is concentric. FIG. 3 shows another example of an optical possibility where zone 3100 is different from zone 3200, but the final optical power is non-concentric.

[30] The electro-active and polymer materials can be mixed and encapsulated into the IOL between two or more substrates known to those skilled in the art of designing ophthalmic and electro-active optics. The inner surfaces of the substrates can have a substantially transparent coating that is conductive to electricity. An example of such a coating can be indium tin oxide. The inner surfaces of the substrates can, but are not necessarily required, to have a coating to promote the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules. If high alignment forces in the unpowered state are required to achieve best-possible optical clarity in the unpowered state, then an alignment coating can be used. An example of such a coating is polyimide, rubbed in the desired alignment direction. The conductive electrical coating can be micro -patterned, for example as explained in United States Patent 8066853 (the relevant portion of which (e.g., that portion describing micro- patterning of conductive electrical coatings of IOL' s) is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety)) to serve dual duty as the alignment layer. If some optical degradation in the unpowered state can be tolerated to gain simpler manufacturing processes, then no alignment coating is necessarily required.

[31] The substantially transparent electrical coating can be patterned in concentric rings, each ring or each nth ring connected to an electrical input connection, each of which connections can be at a different voltage, thereby allowing a voltage gradient to be created in the lens, which can create a gradient in the index of refraction of the lens, which in turn can create optical power. Alternatively, a single coating on each inside surface of the substrates can be utilized and other means to create gradients in the index of refraction can be utilized, for example Fresnel structures, pocket shapes, and/or variable resistive layers, such as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication US 201 1/10025955, the relevant portion of which (e.g., that portion describing gradients in indices of refraction and that portion describing variable resistive layers) is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[32] The electrical energy required to drive the liquid crystal into the desired orientation can be derived from one or more batteries located within the device, and/or via a wireless power transmission scheme. An example of a wireless transmission scheme can be for a receiving antenna to be included into the IOL, and when a power-transmitting antenna is placed near the receiving antenna, electrical power can be induced in the receiving antenna. Such antennas can be loop shaped, and/or such antennas can utilize inductive power transfer. A single channel of wireless transfer can be used, or multiple channels (each operating at a different wireless frequency, or each having its own loop separately located from each other) of wireless power transfer can be used. If multiple concentric rings of electrode structures are used, two or more channels of wireless transfer can be used not only to transfer the power required, but to control the voltage gradient as well, without the use of an internal controller. For example, as shown in U.S. Patent

Application Publication US 2011/10025955 (the relevant portion of which (e.g., that portion describing supplying control power to every nth electrode) is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), independent buss lines can supply control power to every nth electrode, but each buss line can be connected to a single circuit with multiple outputs. In the current exemplary embodiment, , buss lines providing control power can be each connected to their own independent antenna, and each independent antenna can provide exclusive power to its exclusively connected buss line. Less channels of wireless power transfer than electrode rings can be used by relying upon resistors located between electrode rings, such as shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication US 201 1/10025955 (the relevant portion of which (e.g., that portion describing relying upon resistors located between electrode rings) is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). The desired voltage gradient profile within the liquid crystal can be created by creating a

corresponding voltage gradient profile in the two or more transmitting antennas. For example, if three control signals A, B, and C are needed, and A must be 2 volts, C must be 3 volts, and D must be 4 volts, then the transmitting antenna that is in communication with the receiving antenna connected to control signal A can transmit the required amount of energy to achieve the desired 2 volts in control channel A. Since control channel B requires 50% more voltage than control channel A, approximately 50% more energy can be transmitted by antenna B than by antenna A, and 100% more than antenna A for antenna C communicating with channel C. The actual amounts of energy to be transmitted can be affected by the signal loss across the line of communication between the antenna and receiver and/or by any circuitry losses, and such details are known to those skilled in the art of radio frequency design.

[33] The voltage gradient can be created by a controller ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), which can draw power from the battery and/or the antennas and/or convert that power to the required voltage signals for the lens. The ASIC can be in wireless communication with an outside controller to allow control of the optical power of the implanted IOL to be performed externally.

[34] An exemplary configuration of the system while it is being used during tuning can be for the patient to wear a transmitting antenna structure on their face around their eye, and/or mounted instead within a spectacle frame or in a phoropter. The transmitting antennas can be connected to a power source that can be varied to achieve the required voltage gradient profile within the implanted IOL.

[35] An exemplary method of curing the polymer can be to mix within the polymer a photo- initiator that activates at a certain wavelength, then irradiate the IOL with the wavelength of light tuned to the photo-initiator. Typical wavelengths for photoinitiators are in the UV to the blue light spectrum, but can also be in any wavelength desired, including the near IR and IR. Some of the UV spectrums, particularly the UVA and UVB

wavelengths, can be harmful to the internal structures of the eye, so a light blocking coating or layer can be applied to, attached to, and/or placed adjacent to the IOL at some place behind the IOL relative to the flow of light after the polymer layer and/or before the structures of the eye that are to be protected. Currently, non-limiting, exemplary, energy densities required for curing can be "tens of microwatts" to "tens of milliwatts" (e.g., 10 microwatts per cm2 to 350 milliwatts per cm2, including all values and subranges therebetween), but it is anticipated that the advances in polymer curing materials will continue to be made so these energy densities are non-limiting examples only. Curing can be initiated by other methods as well, such as heat and/or other forms of radiation and/or mechanical stimulation, such as ultrasound energy.

[36] Another exemplary method of curing can be to power the pre-implanted or implanted IOL to a certain optical power, then cure only a portion of it, then after that portion is cured, power the pre-implanted or implanted IOL to a different optical power then cure another portion of it, resulting in an optical power gradient.

[37] The electrode rings can be non-symetrical to include optical powers more complex than simple symmetrical spherical powers only. Non-limiting examples of such non- symetrical optical powers are cylinder, prism, coma and, trefoil, and any other optical power defined in the Zernike table.

[38] FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an electro-active IOL 1000, as described herein.

[39] FIG. 2 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of electro-active IOL 2000, which can comprise a first electro-active zone 2100 and a second electro-active zone 2200.

[40] FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of electro-active IOL 3000, which can comprise a first electro-active zone 3100 and a second electro-active zone 3200.

[41] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at section A- A of FIG. 1. IOL 1000 can comprise a conventional optic 4105 (in this example conventional optic 4105 is closer to the retina than the other layers), a light blocking portion 4110, a first substrate 41 15, and first conductive layer 4120, a first alignment layer 4125, a first liquid crystal portion 4130, a second alignment layer 4135, a second conductive layer 4140, a second substrate 4145, a third conductive layer 4150, a third alignment layer 4155, a second liquid crystal portion 4160, a fourth alignment layer 4165,a fourth conductive layer 4170, and/or a third substrate 4175. Any of conductive layers 4120, 4140, 4150, and/or 4170 can be patterned.

[42] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 5000, which can comprise an IOL 5100 that can be communicatively coupled via a network 5500 to a remote controller in one or more information devices 5200, 5300, 5400. An exemplary information device 5400 can have a user interface 5420 and/or a memory 5440.

[43] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 6000. At activity 6100, an IOL can be implanted in the eye of a wearer. At activity 6200, the IOL can be irradiated, At activity 6300, a polymer in a liquid crystal portion of the IOL can be liquefied. At activity 6400, a molecular orientation of the liquid crystal can be adjusted. At activity 6500, an optical power of the IOL can be changed. At activity 6600, the polymer can be cured. [44] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an information device 7000, which in certain operative embodiments can comprise, for example, an ASIC in IOL 5100, and/or a remote controller 5200, 5300, 5400 of FIG. 5. Information device 7000 can comprise any of numerous transform circuits, which can be formed via any of numerous communicatively-, electrically-, magnetically-, optically-, fluidically-, and/or mechanically-coupled physical components, such as for example, one or more network interfaces 7100, one or more processors 7200, one or more memories 7300 containing instructions 7400, one or more input/output (I/O) devices 7500, and/or one or more user interfaces 7600 coupled to I/O device 7500, etc.

[45] In certain exemplary embodiments, via one or more user interfaces 7600, such as a

graphical user interface, a user and/or wearer can view a rendering of information related to operating, testing, modifying, and/or adjusting an electro-active IOL as described herein.

[46] FIG. 8 is a schematic of an exemplary IOL 8000, with receiving antennas 8110, 8120, 8130, and 8140 connected via buss lines 8210, 8220, 8230, and 8240, respectively, to optical zones 8310, 8320, 8330, and 8340, respectively, whereby a certain electrical power is transmitted to antenna 81 10 resulting in an optical change in optical zone 8310, and a larger electrical power is transmitted to antenna 8120 than that of antenna 8110 resulting in a larger optical power change in optical zone 8320 than that of optical zone 8310, and an even larger electrical power is transmitted to antenna 8130 than that of antenna 8120 resulting in a larger optical power change in optical zone 8330 than that of optical zone 8320, and a larger still electrical power is transmitted to antenna 8140 than that of antenna 8130 resulting in a larger optical power change in optical zone 8340 than that of optical zone 8330, whereby a positive optical power is created in the IOL 8000 because of the optical gradient created by the electrical gradient influence upon the liquid crystal.

[47] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 9000. At activity 9300, an IOL can be implanted in the eye of a wearer. At activity 9400, a molecular orientation of the liquid crystal can be adjusted. At activity 9500, an optical power of the IOL can be changed. At activity 9600, the polymer can be cured.

[48] Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments are described herein, textually and/or graphically, including the best mode, if any, known to the inventor(s), for implementing the described subject matter by persons having ordinary skill in the art. Any of numerous possible variations (e.g., modifications, augmentations, embellishments, refinements, and/or enhancements, etc.), details (e.g., species, aspects, nuances, and/or elaborations, etc.), and/or equivalents (e.g., substitutions, replacements, combinations, and/or alternatives, etc.) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent upon reading this document to a person having ordinary skill in the art, relying upon his/her expertise and/or knowledge of the entirety of the art and without exercising undue experimentation. The inventor(s) expects skilled artisans to implement such variations, details, and/or equivalents as appropriate, and the inventor(s) therefore intends for the described subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, as permitted by law, the described subject matter includes and covers all variations, details, and equivalents of that described subject matter.

Moreover, as permitted by law, every combination of the herein described characteristics, functions, activities, substances, and/or structural elements, and all possible variations, details, and equivalents thereof, is encompassed by the described subject matter unless otherwise clearly indicated herein, clearly and specifically disclaimed, or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

[49] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided

herein, is intended merely to better illuminate one or more embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any described subject matter unless otherwise stated. No language herein should be construed as indicating any described subject matter as essential to the practice of the described subject matter.

[50] Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this document, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, or clearly contradicted by context, with respect to any claim, whether of this document and/or any claim of any document claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

[51] there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular described characteristic, function, activity, substance, or structural element, for any particular sequence of activities, for any particular combination of substances, or for any particular interrelationship of elements;

[52] no described characteristic, function, activity, substance, or structural element is

"essential";

[53] any two or more described substances can be mixed, combined, reacted,

separated, and/or segregated;

[54] any described characteristics, functions, activities, substances, and/or structural elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;

[55] any described activity can be performed manually, semi-automatically, and/or automatically;

[56] any described activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in multiple jurisdictions; and

[57] any described characteristic, function, activity, substance, and/or structural

element can be specifically excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of structural elements can vary.

[58] The use of the terms "a", "an", "said", "the", and/or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of any claims presented herein or in any document claiming priority hereto) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.

[59] The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. [60] When any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value and each separate subrange defined by such separate values is incorporated into and clearly implied as being presented within the specification as if it were individually recited herein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, even implicitly, unless otherwise stated, that range necessarily includes all values therebetween, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc.

[61] When any phrase (i.e., one or more words) described herein or appearing in a claim is followed by a drawing element number, that drawing element number is exemplary and non-limiting on the description and claim scope.

[62] No claim of this document or any document claiming priority hereto is intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC 1 12 unless the precise phrase "means for" is followed by a gerund.

[63] Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, United States patent

application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety to its fullest enabling extent permitted by law yet only to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein.

[64] Within this document, and during prosecution of any patent application related hereto (including any patent application claiming priority hereto) any reference to any claimed subject matter is intended to reference the precise language of the then-pending claimed subject matter at that particular point in time only.

[65] Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this document, and any provided definitions of the phrases used herein, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. The scope of subject matter protected by any claim of any patent that issues based on this document is defined and limited only by the precise language of that claim (and all legal equivalents thereof) and any provided definition of any phrase used in that claim, as informed by the context of this document.

Definitions

[66] When the following terms are used substantively herein, the accompanying definitions apply. These terms and definitions are presented without prejudice, and, consistent with the application, the right to redefine these terms via amendment during the prosecution of this application or any application claiming priority hereto is reserved. For the purpose of interpreting a claim of any patent that claims priority hereto, each definition in that patent functions as a clear and unambiguous disavowal of the subject matter outside of that definition.

[67] a - at least one.

[68] aberration - one or more limitations and/or defects in an optical component, such as a lens and/or mirror, that is contacted by a plurality of light rays, such limitations and/or defects preventing the light rays from converging at one focus and potentially due to, e.g., the optical component comprising one or more surfaces that are not perfectly planar, such as one or more spherical surfaces.

[69] acquire - to obtain, get, import, receive, and/or gain possession of.

[70] acquisition - the act and/or result of acquiring.

[71 ] across - from one side to another.

[72] activity - an action, act, step, and/or process or portion thereof.

[73] adapted to - suitable, fit, and/or capable of performing a specified function.

[74] adapter - a device used to effect operative compatibility between different parts of one or more pieces of an apparatus or system.

[75] adjust - to change so as to match, fit, adapt, conform, and/or be in a more

effective state.

[76] align - to adjust substantially into a proper orientation and/or location with

respect to another thing.

[77] and/or - either in conjunction with or in alternative to.

[78] any - one, some, every, and/or all without specification.

[79] apparatus - an appliance or device for a particular purpose

[80] associate - to join, connect together, and/or relate.

[81] at least - not less than, and possibly more than.

[82] auto-focus - a system in a camera that automatically adjusts the lens so that the object being photographed is in focus, often using a time delay associated with reflecting infrared light off of the object to estimate the distance of the object from the camera.

[83] automatic - performed via an information device in a manner essentially

independent of influence and/or control by a user. For example, an automatic light switch can turn on upon "seeing" a person in its "view", without the person manually operating the light switch.

[84] beam of light - a projection of light radiating from a source.

[85] beginning - a starting point.

[86] best - surpassing all others in excellence, achievement, and/or quality; most excellent.

[87] between - in a separating interval and/or intermediate to.

[88] Boolean logic - a complete system for logical operations.

[89] border - to be located and/or positioned adjacent to an outer edge, surface, and/or extent of an object.

[90] bound - (n) a boundary, limit, and/or further extent of; (v) to limit an extent.

[91 ] bus - an electrical conductor that makes a common connection between a

plurality of circuits.

[92] by - via and/or with the use and/or help of. [93] camera - a device often comprising a lightproof enclosure having an aperture with a lens through which a still and/or moving image of an object is focused and recorded on a photosensitive film, plate, tape, and/or or sensor coupled to an electronic and/or optical memory device (e.g., RAM, EEPROM, flash memory, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc.).

[94] camera-to-object (CTO) distance - a measure of the physical separation

between an identified portion of a camera and an object being photographed by that camera.

[95] can - is capable of, in at least some embodiments.

[96] capture - to sense, receive, obtain, enter, store, and/or record information and/or data in memory.

[97] cause -to bring about, provoke, precipitate, produce, elicit, be the reason for, result in, and/or effect.

[98] change - (v.) to cause to be different; (n.) the act, process, and/or result of

altering or modifying.

[99] circuit - a physical system comprising, depending on context: an electrically conductive pathway, an information transmission mechanism, and/or a communications connection, the pathway, mechanism, and/or connection established via a switching device (such as a switch, relay, transistor, and/or logic gate, etc.); and/or an electrically conductive pathway, an information transmission mechanism, and/or a communications connection, the pathway, mechanism, and/or connection established across two or more switching devices comprised by a network and between corresponding end systems connected to, but not comprised by the network.

[100] co-operate - to work, act, and/or function together and/or in harmony, as opposed to separately and/or in competition.

[101] command - a signal that initiates an activity and/or operation defined by an

instruction.

[102] compare - to examine in order to note similarities and/or differences in relation to something else.

[103] complete - to provide required and/or requested information.

[104] composite - made of diverse materials and/or information, each of which is

identifiable, at least in part, in the final product.

[105] comprising - including but not limited to.

[106] concentric - having a common central axis.

[107] conductor - an electrically conductive material and/or component adapted to apply a voltage to an electro-active material.

[108] configure - to make suitable or fit for a specific use or situation.

[109] connect - to join or fasten together.

[110] contact - to physically touch and/or come together.

[I l l] containing - including but not limited to .

[112] contiguous - neighboring and/or adjacent.

[113] contrast - a difference in brightness between the light and dark areas of a picture, such as a photographic and/or video image.

[114] controller - a device and/or set of machine-readable instructions for performing one or more predetermined and/or user-defined tasks. A controller can comprise any one or a combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software. A controller can utilize mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, magnetic, optical, informational, chemical, and/or biological principles, signals, and/or inputs to perform the task(s). In certain embodiments, a controller can act upon information by manipulating, analyzing, modifying, converting, transmitting the information for use by an executable procedure and/or an information device, and/or routing the information to an output device. A controller can be a central processing unit, a local controller, a remote controller, parallel controllers, and/or distributed controllers, etc. The controller can be a general-purpose

microcontroller, such the Pentium IV series of microprocessor manufactured by the Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California, and/or the HC08 series from Motorola of Schaumburg, Illinois. In another embodiment, the controller can be an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that has been designed to implement in its hardware and/or firmware at least a part of an embodiment disclosed herein.

[115] convert - to transform, adapt, and/or change.

[116] corresponding - related, associated, accompanying, similar in purpose and/or position, conforming in every respect, and/or equivalent and/or agreeing in amount, quantity, magnitude, quality, and/or degree.

[117] couple - to join, connect, and/or link by any known approach, including

mechanical, fluidic, acoustic, electrical, magnetic, and/or optical, etc. approaches.

[118] coupleable - capable of being joined, connected, and/or linked together.

[119] coupling - linking in some fashion.

[120] create - to bring into being.

[121] data - distinct pieces of information, usually formatted in a special or

predetermined way and/or organized to express concepts, and/or represented in a form suitable for processing by an information device.

[122] data structure - an organization of a collection of data that allows the data to be manipulated effectively and/or a logical relationship among data elements that is designed to support specific data manipulation functions. A data structure can comprise meta data to describe the properties of the data structure. Examples of data structures can include: array, dictionary, graph, hash, heap, linked list, matrix, object, queue, ring, stack, tree, and/or vector.

[123] define - to establish the outline, form, and/or structure of.

[124] deposit - to put, lay, place, position, and/or set down; and/or to fasten, fix, and/or secure.

[125] depth of focus - a distance over which an image plane can be displaced while a single object plane remains in acceptably sharp focus; approximately the same as the camera-to-object distance.

[126] detection - an act of sensing or perceiving.

[127] determine - to find out, obtain, calculate, decide, deduce, ascertain, and/or come to a decision, typically by investigation, reasoning, and/or calculation.

[128] device - a machine, manufacture, and/or collection thereof.

[129] different - changed, distinct, and/or separate.

[130] diffraction - the bending of a light ray in passing an edge formed by contiguous opaque and transparent edges. [131] digital - non-analog and/or discrete.

[132] display - (v.) to visually render, (n.) a visual representation of something and/or an electronic device that represents information in visual form.

[133] distance - a measure of physical separation.

[134] diverge - to go or extend in different directions from a common point.

[135] each - every one of a group considered individually.

[136] edge - a periphery, border, and/or boundary.

[137] elapsed - passed and/or having passed by.

[138] electric - powered by electricity.

[139] electrically - of, relating to, producing, or operated by electricity.

[140] electrically coupled - connected in a manner adapted to allow a flow of

electricity therebetween.

[141] electro-active - a branch of technology concerning the interaction between

various properties and electrical and/or electronic states of materials and/or involving components, devices, systems, and/or processes that operate by modifying the certain properties of a material by applying to it an electrical and/or magnetic field. Sub-branches of this technology include, but are not limited to, electro-optics.

[142] electro-active element - a component that utilizes an electro-active effect, such as an electro-active filter, reflector, lens, shutter, liquid crystal retarder, active (i.e., non-passive) polarity filter, electro-active element that is movable via an electro-active actuator, and/or conventional lens movable by an electro-active actuator.

[143] electro-optic - a branch of technology concerning the interaction between the electromagnetic (optical) and the electrical (electronic) states of materials and/or involving components, devices, systems, and/or processes that operate by modifying the optical properties of a material by applying to it an electrical field.

[144] electrode - an electrically conducting element that emits and/or collects electrons and/or ions and/or controls their movement by means of an electric field applied to it.

[145] emanate - to emit, radiate, and/or shine.

[146] estimate - (n) a calculated value approximating an actual value; (v) to calculate and/or determine approximately and/or tentatively.

[147] etch - to wear away the surface of material (such as a metal, glass, etc.) by

chemical action, such as the action of an acid.

[148] far - a CTO distance of at least approximately 3 or more meters.

[149] field - a region of space characterized by a physical property, such as

gravitational or electromagnetic force or fluid pressure, having a determinable value at every point in the region.

[150] field of view - a range of space over which a camera can obtain an image and/or the angle between two rays passing through the perspective center (rear nodal point) of a camera lens to the two opposite sides of the format.

[151] first - an initial element in a set.

[152] flat - having a substantially planar major face and/or having a relatively broad surface in relation to thickness or depth.

[153] focal depth - the image-side conjugate of depth of field. [154] focus - to cause energy and/or light to concentrate and/or converge.

[155] form - to produce, make, create, generate, construct, and/or shape.

[156] Fresnel lens - a thin optical lens comprising concentric rings of segmental lenses.

[157] from - used to indicate a source.

[158] further - in addition.

[159] generate - to create, produce, give rise to, and/or bring into existence.

[160] gradient - a rate of change with respect to distance of a variable quantity.

[161] greater than - larger and/or more than.

[162] grid - a network of lines, real or conceptual, that cross each other to form a series of regular shapes.

[163] haptic - involving the human sense of kinesthetic movement and/or the human sense of touch. Among the many potential haptic experiences are numerous sensations, body-positional differences in sensations, and time -based changes in sensations that are perceived at least partially in non-visual, non-audible, and non- olfactory manners, including the experiences of tactile touch (being touched), active touch, grasping, pressure, friction, traction, slip, stretch, force, torque, impact, puncture, vibration, motion, acceleration, jerk, pulse, orientation, limb position, gravity, texture, gap, recess, viscosity, pain, itch, moisture, temperature, thermal conductivity, and thermal capacity.

[ 164] having - including but not limited to.

[165] highest - greatest in an ordering.

[166] human-machine interface - hardware and/or software adapted to render

information to a user and/or receive information from the user; and/or a user interface.

[ 167] illuminate - to provide and/or brighten with light.

[168] image - an at least two-dimensional representation of an object, entity, and/or phenomenon. Multiple images can be presented in a predetermined and timed sequence to recreate and/or produce an appearance of movement.

[169] impinge - to collide and/or strike.

[ 170] including - including but not limited to.

[171] index of refraction - a measure of the extent to which a substance slows down light waves passing through it. The index of refraction of a substance is equal to the ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to its speed in that substance. Its value determines the extent to which light is refracted when entering or leaving the substance.

[172] indium tin oxide - a solid solution of indium(III) oxide (In203) and tin(IV) oxide (Sn02), typically 90% In203, 10% Sn02 by weight, that is typically transparent and colorless in thin layers and can serve as a metal-like mirror in the infrared region of the electro-magnetic spectrum. It is a widely used transparent conducting oxide due to its electrical conductivity and optical transparency. Thin films of indium tin oxide are most commonly deposited on surfaces by electron beam evaporation, physical vapor deposition, and/or a range of sputter deposition techniques.

[173] individually - of or relating to a distinct entity.

[174] information device - any device capable of processing data and/or information, such as any general purpose and/or special purpose computer, such as a personal computer, workstation, server, minicomputer, mainframe, supercomputer, computer terminal, laptop, wearable computer, and/or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), mobile terminal, Bluetooth device, communicator, "smart" phone (such as an iPhone-like and/or Treo-like device), messaging service (e.g., Blackberry) receiver, pager, facsimile, cellular telephone, a traditional telephone, telephonic device, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and/or peripheral integrated circuit elements, an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a hardware electronic logic circuit such as a discrete element circuit, and/or a programmable logic device such as a PLD, PLA, FPGA, or PAL, or the like, etc. In general any device on which resides a finite state machine capable of implementing at least a portion of a method, structure, and/or or graphical user interface described herein may be used as an information device. An information device can comprise components such as one or more network interfaces, one or more processors, one or more memories containing instructions, and/or one or more input/output (I/O) devices, one or more user interfaces coupled to an I/O device, etc.

[175] initialize - to prepare something for use and/or some future event.

[176] initiation - a preparation for subsequent activities.

[177] input/output (I/O) device - any device adapted to provide input to, and /or

receive output from, an information device. Examples can include an audio, visual, haptic, olfactory, and/or taste-oriented device, including, for example, a monitor, display, projector, overhead display, keyboard, keypad, mouse, trackball, joystick, gamepad, wheel, touchpad, touch panel, pointing device, microphone, speaker, video camera, camera, scanner, printer, switch, relay, haptic device, vibrator, tactile simulator, and/or tactile pad, potentially including a port to which an I/O device can be attached or connected.

[178] install - to connect or set in position and prepare for use.

[179] instructions - directions, which can be implemented as hardware, firmware, and/or software, the directions adapted to perform a particular operation and/or function via creation and/or maintenance of a predetermined physical circuit.

[180] insulating - having a substantial resistance to the flow of electrical current.

[181] layer - a continuous and relatively thin material, region, stratum, course, lamina, coating, and/or sheet having one or more functions. Need not have a constant thickness.

[182] lens - a piece of transparent substance, often glass and/or plastic, having two opposite surfaces either both curved or one curved and one plane, used in an optical device for changing the convergence and/or focal point of light rays;

and/or an optical device that transmits light and is adapted to cause the light to refract, concentrate, and/or diverge. A lens can be an ophthalmic lens, such as a spectacle lens, an intra ocular lens, and/or a contact lens.

[183] light - electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within a range of

approximately 300 nanometers to approximately 1000 nanometers, including any and all values and subranges therebetween, such as from approximately 400 to approximately 700 nm, from the near infrared through the long wavelength, far infrared, and/or from the ultraviolet to X-rays and/or gamma rays.

[184] light source - a device adapted to emit light responsive to an applied electrical current. [185] liquid - a body of matter that exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow, little or no tendency to disperse, and relatively high incompressibility, including pumpable and/or flowable slurries and/or suspensions.

[186] liquid crystal - any of various liquids in which the atoms or molecules are

regularly arrayed in either one dimension or two dimensions, the order giving rise to optical properties, such as anisotropic scattering, associated with the crystals.

[187] locate - to place, set, find, and/or situate in a particular spot, region, and/or

position.

[188] location - a place where, and/or substantially approximating where, something physically exists.

[189] logic gate - a physical device adapted to perform a logical operation on one or more logic inputs and to produce a single logic output, which is manifested physically. Because the output is also a logic-level value, an output of one logic gate can connect to the input of one or more other logic gates, and via such combinations, complex operations can be performed. The logic normally performed is Boolean logic and is most commonly found in digital circuits. The most common implementations of logic gates are based on electronics using resistors, transistors, and/or diodes, and such implementations often appear in large arrays in the form of integrated circuits (a.k.a.,

IC's, microcircuits, microchips, silicon chips, and/or chips). It is possible, however, to create logic gates that operate based on vacuum tubes,

electromagnetics (e.g., relays), mechanics (e.g., gears), fluidics, optics, chemical reactions, and/or DNA, including on a molecular scale. Each electronically- implemented logic gate typically has two inputs and one output, each having a logic level or state typically physically represented by a voltage. At any given moment, every terminal is in one of the two binary logic states ("false" (a.k.a., "low" or "0") or "true" (a.k.a., "high" or "1"), represented by different voltage levels, yet the logic state of a terminal can, and generally does, change often, as the circuit processes data. . Thus, each electronic logic gate typically requires power so that it can source and/or sink currents to achieve the correct output voltage. Typically, machine-implementable instructions are ultimately encoded into binary values of "0"s and/or "l"s and, are typically written into and/or onto a memory device, such as a "register", which records the binary value as a change in a physical property of the memory device, such as a change in voltage, current, charge, phase, pressure, weight, height, tension, level, gap, position, velocity, momentum, force, temperature, polarity, magnetic field, magnetic force, magnetic orientation, reflectivity, molecular linkage, molecular weight, etc. An exemplary register might store a value of "01101100", which encodes a total of 8 "bits" (one byte), where each value of either "0" or "1" is called a "bit" (and 8 bits are collectively called a "byte"). Note that because a binary bit can only have one of two different values (either "0" or "1"), any physical medium capable of switching between two saturated states can be used to represent a bit. Therefore, any physical system capable of representing binary bits is able to represent numerical quantities, and potentially can manipulate those numbers via particular encoded machine-implementable instructions. This is one of the basic concepts underlying digital computing. At the register and/or gate level, a computer does not treat these "0"s and "l"s as numbers per se, but typically as voltage levels (in the case of an electronically-implemented computer), for example, a high voltage of approximately +3 volts might represent a "1" or "logical true" and a low voltage of approximately 0 volts might represent a "0" or "logical false" (or vice versa, depending on how the circuitry is designed). These high and low voltages (or other physical properties, depending on the nature of the implementation) are typically fed into a series of logic gates, which in turn, through the correct logic design, produce the physical and logical results specified by the particular encoded machine-implementable instructions. For example, if the encoding request a calculation, the logic gates might add the first two bits of the encoding together, produce a result "1" ("0" + "1" = "1"), and then write this result into another register for subsequent retrieval and reading. Or, if the encoding is a request for some kind of service, the logic gates might in turn access or write into some other registers which would in turn trigger other logic gates to initiate the requested service.

[190] logical - a conceptual representation.

[191] machine-implementable instructions - directions adapted to cause a machine, such as an information device, to perform one or more particular activities, operations, and/or functions via forming a particular physical circuit. The directions, which can sometimes form an entity called a "processor", "kernel", "operating system", "program", "application", "utility", "subroutine", "script", "macro", "file", "project", "module", "library", "class", and/or "object", etc., can be embodied and/or encoded as machine code, source code, object code, compiled code, assembled code, interpretable code, and/or executable code, etc., in hardware, firmware, and/or software.

[192] machine-readable medium - a physical structure from which a machine, such as an information device, computer, microprocessor, and/or controller, etc., can store and/or obtain one or more machine-implementable instructions, data, and/or information. Examples include a memory device, punch card, player-piano scroll, etc.

[ 193] manually - employing human energy.

[194] match - to mirror, resemble, harmonize, fit, correspond, and/or determine a

correspondence between, two or more values, entities, and/or groups of entities.

[195] material - a substance and/or composition.

[196] may - is allowed and/or permitted to, in at least some embodiments.

[197] memory device - an apparatus capable of storing, sometimes permanently,

machine-implementable instructions, data, and/or information, in analog and/or digital format. Examples include at least one non-volatile memory, volatile memory, register, relay, switch, Random Access Memory, RAM, Read Only Memory, ROM, flash memory, magnetic media, hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical media, optical disk, compact disk, CD, digital versatile disk, DVD, and/or raid array, etc. The memory device can be coupled to a processor and/or can store and provide instructions adapted to be executed by processor, such as according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[198] method - one or more acts that are performed upon subject matter to be

transformed to a different state or thing and/or are tied to a particular apparatus, said one or more acts not a fundamental principal and not pre-empting all uses of a fundamental principal.

[199] middle - a CTO distance within a range of approximately 0.7 to approximately 1.3 meters.

[200] millisecond - a one-thousandth of a second.

[201] more - a quantifier meaning greater in size, amount, extent, and/or degree.

[202] near - a CTO distance of less than approximately 0.2 meters.

[203] network - a communicatively coupled plurality of nodes, communication

devices, and/or information devices. Via a network, such nodes and/or devices can be linked, such as via various wireline and/or wireless media, such as cables, telephone lines, power lines, optical fibers, radio waves, and/or light beams, etc., to share resources (such as printers and/or memory devices), exchange files, and/or allow electronic communications therebetween. A network can be and/or can utilize any of a wide variety of sub-networks and/or protocols, such as a circuit switched, public-switched, packet switched, connection-less, wireless, virtual, radio, data, telephone, twisted pair, POTS, non-POTS, DSL, cellular, telecommunications, video distribution, cable, radio, terrestrial, microwave, broadcast, satellite, broadband, corporate, global, national, regional, wide area, backbone, packet-switched TCP/IP, IEEE 802.03, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Token Ring, local area, wide area, IP, public Internet, intranet, private, ATM, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Wi-Fi, BlueTooth, Airport, IEEE 802.11 , IEEE 802.1 la, IEEE 802.1 lb, IEEE 802.1 lg, X-10, electrical power, 3G, 4G, multi-domain, and/or multi-zone sub-network and/or protocol, one or more Internet service providers, one or more network interfaces, and/or one or more information devices, such as a switch, router, and/or gateway not directly connected to a local area network, etc., and/or any equivalents thereof.

[204] network interface - any physical and/or logical device, system, and/or process capable of coupling an information device to a network. Exemplary network interfaces comprise a telephone, cellular phone, cellular modem, telephone data modem, fax modem, wireless transceiver, communications port, Ethernet card, cable modem, digital subscriber line interface, bridge, hub, router, or other similar device, software to manage such a device, and/or software to provide a function of such a device.

[205] non-overlapping - not extending over or covering a part of.

[206] object - a discrete thing that is real, perceptible, and tangible.

[207] offset - in a location near to but distinguishable from a given point or area.

[208] opposing - opposite; against; being the other of two complementary or mutually exclusive things; placed or located opposite, in contrast, in counterbalance, and/or across from something else and/or from each other.

[209] optical - of or relating to light, sight, and/or a visual representation.

[210] orientation - a position relative to a reference.

[211] other - a different and/or distinct entity and/or not the same as already mentioned and/or implied.

[212] outside - beyond a range, boundary, and/or limit; and/or not within.

[213] overlap - to extend over and cover a part of. [214] packet - a generic term for a bundle of data organized in a specific way for transmission, such as within and/or across a network, such as a digital packet- switching network, and comprising the data to be transmitted and certain control information, such as a destination address.

[215] perceptible - capable of being perceived by the human senses.

[216] perpendicular - intersecting at or forming substantially right angles; and/or substantially at a right angle with respect to an axis.

[217] phase - a relationship in time between successive states and/or cycles of an

oscillating and/or repeating system (such as an alternating electric current, one or more light waves, and/or a sound wave) and: a fixed reference point; the states of another system; and/or the cycles of another system.

[218] photograph - (n) an image created by collecting and focusing reflected

electromagnetic radiation. The most common photographs are those created of reflected visible wavelengths, producing permanent records of what the human eye can see. (v) to record an image.

[219] photographic - pertaining to the recording of an image.

[220] photolithography - a process whereby metallic foils, fluidic circuits, and/or printed circuits can be created by exposing a photosensitive substrate to a pattern, such as a predesigned structural pattern and/or a circuit pattern, and chemically etching away either the exposed or unexposed portion of the substrate.

[221] photon - a particle representing a quantum of light and/or other electromagnetic radiation, the particle having zero rest mass and carrying energy proportional to the frequency of the radiation.

[222] physical - tangible, real, and/or actual.

[223] physically - existing, happening, occurring, acting, and/or operating in a manner that is tangible, real, and/or actual.

[224] plurality - the state of being plural and/or more than one.

[225] point - (n.) a defined physical and/or logical location in at least a two- dimensional system and/or an element in a geometrically described set and/or a measurement or representation of a measurement having a time coordinate and a non-time coordinate, (v.) to indicate a position and/or direction of.

[226] portion - a part, component, section, percentage, ratio, and/or quantity that is less than a larger whole. Can be visually, physically, and/or virtually distinguishable and/or non-distinguishable.

[227] position - to put in place or position.

[228] power - a measure of an ability of a vision system, eye, lens, and/or lens-assisted eye, to refract, magnify, separate, converge, and/or diverge; and/or a general term that may refer to any power such as effective, equivalent, dioptric, focal, refractive, surface, and/or vergence power.

[229] pre- - a prefix that precedes an activity that has occurred beforehand and/or in advance.

[230] predetermined - established in advance.

[231 ] prior - before and/or preceding in time and/or order.

[232] probability - a quantitative representation of a likelihood of an occurrence.

[233] processor - a machine that utilizes hardware, firmware, and/or software and is physically adaptable to perform, via Boolean logic operating on a plurality of logic gates that form particular physical circuits, a specific task defined by a set of machine-implementable instructions. A processor can utilize mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, magnetic, optical, informational, chemical, and/or biological principles, mechanisms, adaptations, signals, inputs, and/or outputs to perform the task(s). In certain embodiments, a processor can act upon information by manipulating, analyzing, modifying, and/or converting it, transmitting the information for use by machine-implementable instructions and/or an information device, and/or routing the information to an output device. A processor can function as a central processing unit, local controller, remote controller, parallel controller, and/or distributed controller, etc. Unless stated otherwise, the processor can be a general-purpose device, such as a

microcontroller and/or a microprocessor, such the Pentium family of

microprocessor manufactured by the Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California. In certain embodiments, the processor can be dedicated purpose device, such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that has been designed to implement in its hardware and/or firmware at least a part of an embodiment disclosed herein. A processor can reside on and use the capabilities of a controller.

[234] programmatically - of, relating to, or having a program and/or instructions.

[235] project - to calculate, estimate, or predict.

[236] provide - to furnish, supply, give, and/or make available.

[237] quality - a characteristic, attribute, trait, and/or property.

[238] radial - pertaining to that which radiates from and/or converges to a common center and/or has or is characterized by parts so arranged or so radiating.

[239] receive - to get as a signal, take, acquire, and/or obtain.

[240] recommend - to suggest, praise, commend, and/or endorse.

[241] record - (v) to gather, capture, store, and/or preserve information on a tangible medium.

[242] reduce - to make and/or become lesser and/or smaller.

[243] region - an area and/or zone.

[244] render - to, e.g., physically, chemically, biologically, electronically, electrically, magnetically, optically, acoustically, fluidically, and/or mechanically, etc., transform information into a form perceptible to a human as, for example, data, commands, text, graphics, audio, video, animation, and/or hyperlinks, etc., such as via a visual, audio, and/or haptic, etc., means and/or depiction, such as via a display, monitor, electric paper, ocular implant, cochlear implant, speaker, vibrator, shaker, force-feedback device, stylus, joystick, steering wheel, glove, blower, heater, cooler, pin array, tactile touchscreen, etc.

[245] repeatedly - again and again; repetitively.

[246] request - to express a desire for and/or ask for.

[247] resolution - a degree of sharpness of an image.

[248] ring - a substantially toroidal object that can be imagined as having been

generated by rotating a closed loop (e.g., ellipse, circle, irregular curve, polygon, etc.) about a fixed line external to the loop.

[249] scene - a place where action occurs and/or where an object of interest is present; something seen by a viewer; and/or a view and/or prospect. [250] second - an element following a first element in a set.

[251] select - to make a choice or selection from alternatives.

[252] selection - (v.) the act of choosing and/or selecting and/or an assortment of things from which a choice can be made, (n.) a choice.

[253] sensor - a device adapted to automatically sense, perceive, detect, and/or measure a physical property (e.g., pressure, temperature, flow, mass, heat, light, sound, humidity, proximity, position, velocity, vibration, loudness, voltage, current, capacitance, resistance, inductance, magnetic flux, and/or electro-magnetic radiation, etc.) and convert that physical quantity into a signal. Examples include position sensors, proximity switches, stain gages, photo sensors, thermocouples, level indicating devices, speed sensors, accelerometers, electrical voltage indicators, electrical current indicators, on/off indicators, and/or flowmeters, etc.

[254] separated - not touching and/or spaced apart by something.

[255] server - an information device and/or a process running thereon, that is adapted to be communicatively coupled to a network and that is adapted to provide at least one service for at least one client, i.e., for at least one other information device communicatively coupled to the network and/or for at least one process running on another information device communicatively coupled to the network. One example is a file server, which has a local drive and services requests from remote clients to read, write, and/or manage files on that drive. Another example is an e- mail server, which provides at least one program that accepts, temporarily stores, relays, and/or delivers e-mail messages. Still another example is a database server, which processes database queries. Yet another example is a device server, which provides networked and/or programmable: access to, and/or monitoring, management, and/or control of, shared physical resources and/or devices, such as information devices, printers, modems, scanners, projectors, displays, lights, cameras, security equipment, proximity readers, card readers, kiosks, POS/retail equipment, phone systems, residential equipment, HVAC equipment, medical equipment, laboratory equipment, industrial equipment, machine tools, pumps, fans, motor drives, scales, programmable logic controllers, sensors, data collectors, actuators, alarms, annunciators, and/or input/output devices, etc.

[256] set - a related plurality.

[257] sharpness - acuteness and/or distinctness.

[258] sharpness - acuteness.

[259] signal - (v) to communicate; (n) one or more automatically detectable variations in a physical variable, such as a pneumatic, hydraulic, acoustic, fluidic, mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, chemical, and/or biological variable, such as power, energy, pressure, flowrate, viscosity, density, torque, impact, force, frequency, phase, voltage, current, resistance, magnetomotive force, magnetic field intensity, magnetic field flux, magnetic flux density, reluctance, permeability, index of refraction, optical wavelength, polarization, reflectance, transmittance, phase shift, concentration, and/or temperature, etc., that can encode information, such as machine-imp lementable instructions for activities and/or one or more letters, words, characters, symbols, signal flags, visual displays, and/or special sounds, etc., having prearranged meaning. Depending on the context, a signal and/or the information encoded therein can be synchronous, asynchronous, hard real-time, soft real-time, non-real time, continuously generated, continuously varying, analog, discretely generated, discretely varying, quantized, digital, broadcast, multicast, unicast, transmitted, conveyed, received, continuously measured, discretely measured, processed, encoded, encrypted, multiplexed, modulated, spread, de-spread, demodulated, detected, de-multiplexed, decrypted, and/or decoded, etc.

[260] solid angle - a three-dimensional angle, formed by three or more planes

intersecting at a common point. Its magnitude is measured in steradians, a unitless measure. The corner of a room forms a solid angle, as does the apex of a cone; one can imagine an indefinite number of planes forming the smooth round surface of the cone all intersecting at the apex. Solid angles are commonly used in photometry.

[261] special purpose computer - a computer and/or information device comprising a processor device having a plurality of logic gates, whereby at least a portion of those logic gates, via implementation of specific machine-implementable instructions by the processor, experience a change in at least one physical and measurable property, such as a voltage, current, charge, phase, pressure, weight, height, tension, level, gap, position, velocity, momentum, force, temperature, polarity, magnetic field, magnetic force, magnetic orientation, reflectivity, molecular linkage, molecular weight, etc., thereby directly tying the specific machine-implementable instructions to the logic gate's specific configuration and property(ies). In the context of an electronic computer, each such change in the logic gates creates a specific electrical circuit, thereby directly tying the specific machine-implementable instructions to that specific electrical circuit.

[262] special purpose processor - a processor device, having a plurality of logic gates, whereby at least a portion of those logic gates, via implementation of specific machine-implementable instructions by the processor, experience a change in at least one physical and measurable property, such as a voltage, current, charge, phase, pressure, weight, height, tension, level, gap, position, velocity, momentum, force, temperature, polarity, magnetic field, magnetic force, magnetic orientation, reflectivity, molecular linkage, molecular weight, etc., thereby directly tying the specific machine-implementable instructions to the logic gate's specific configuration and property(ies). In the context of an electronic computer, each such change in the logic gates creates a specific electrical circuit, thereby directly tying the specific machine-implementable instructions to that specific electrical circuit.

[263] spherical - of, relating to, and/or having a shape approximating that of a sphere.

[264] store - to place, hold, and/or retain data, typically in a memory.

[265] structure - something made up of a number of parts that are held and/or put together in a particular way.

[266] sub-circuit - a circuit that serves as a portion of another circuit.

[267] substantially - to a great extent and/or degree.

[268] substrate - an underlying material, region, base, stratum, course, lamina, coating, and/or sheet.

[269] sufficiently - to a degree necessary to achieve a predetermined result.

[270] support - to bear the weight of, especially from below. [271] surface - the outer boundary of an object and/or a material layer constituting and/or resembling such a boundary.

[272] switch - (n.) a mechanical, electrical, and/or electronic device that opens and/or closes circuits, completes and/or breaks an electrical path, and/or selects paths and/or circuits; (v.) to: form, open, and/or close one or more circuits; form, complete, and/or break an electrical and/or informational path; alternate between electrically energizing and de-energizing; select a path and/or circuit from a plurality of available paths and/or circuits; and/or establish a connection between disparate transmission path segments in a network (or between networks); (n) a physical device, such as a mechanical, electrical, and/or electronic device, that is adapted to switch.

[273] switching speed - the time required to change from one CTO distance to another.

[274] system - a collection of mechanisms, devices, machines, articles of manufacture, processes, data, and/or instructions, the collection designed to perform one or more specific functions.

[275] that - a pronoun used to indicate a thing as indicated, mentioned before, present, and/or well known.

[276] time - a measurement of a point in a nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.

[277] transform - to change in measurable: form, appearance, nature, and/or character.

[278] transmit - to send as a signal, provide, furnish, and/or supply.

[279] transparent - clear; characterized by conveying incident light without reflecting or absorbing a substantial portion of that light; and/or having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.

[280] unique - separate and distinct.

[281] upon - immediately or very soon after; and/or on the occasion of.

[282] user interface - any device for rendering information to a user and/or requesting information from the user. A user interface includes at least one of textual, graphical, audio, video, animation, and/or haptic elements. A textual element can be provided, for example, by a printer, monitor, display, projector, etc. A graphical element can be provided, for example, via a monitor, display, projector, and/or visual indication device, such as a light, flag, beacon, etc. An audio element can be provided, for example, via a speaker, microphone, and/or other sound generating and/or receiving device. A video element or animation element can be provided, for example, via a monitor, display, projector, and/or other visual device. A haptic element can be provided, for example, via a very low frequency speaker, vibrator, tactile stimulator, tactile pad, simulator, keyboard, keypad, mouse, trackball, joystick, gamepad, wheel, touchpad, touch panel, pointing device, and/or other haptic device, etc. A user interface can include one or more textual elements such as, for example, one or more letters, number, symbols, etc. A user interface can include one or more graphical elements such as, for example, an image, photograph, drawing, icon, window, title bar, panel, sheet, tab, drawer, matrix, table, form, calendar, outline view, frame, dialog box, static text, text box, list, pick list, pop-up list, pull-down list, menu, tool bar, dock, check box, radio button, hyperlink, browser, button, control, palette, preview panel, color wheel, dial, slider, scroll bar, cursor, status bar, stepper, and/or progress indicator, etc. A textual and/or graphical element can be used for selecting, programming, adjusting, changing, specifying, etc. an appearance, background color, background style, border style, border thickness, foreground color, font, font style, font size, alignment, line spacing, indent, maximum data length, validation, query, cursor type, pointer type, autosizing, position, and/or dimension, etc. A user interface can include one or more audio elements such as, for example, a volume control, pitch control, speed control, voice selector, and/or one or more elements for controlling audio play, speed, pause, fast forward, reverse, etc. A user interface can include one or more video elements such as, for example, elements controlling video play, speed, pause, fast forward, reverse, zoom-in, zoom-out, rotate, and/or tilt, etc. A user interface can include one or more animation elements such as, for example, elements controlling animation play, pause, fast forward, reverse, zoom-in, zoom-out, rotate, tilt, color, intensity, speed, frequency, appearance, etc. A user interface can include one or more haptic elements such as, for example, elements utilizing tactile stimulus, force, pressure, vibration, motion, displacement, temperature, etc.

[283] variable-focus - having the quality of adjustable focus in a single specified optic.

[284] vary - to change, alter, and/or modify one or more characteristics and/or

attributes of.

[285] via - by way of and/or utilizing.

[286] voltage - (a.k.a., "potential difference" and "electro-motive force" (EMF)) a difference in electrical potential between any two conductors of an electrical circuit and/or a quantity, expressed as a signed number of Volts (V), and measured as a signed difference between two points in an electrical circuit which, when divided by the resistance in Ohms between those points, gives the current flowing between those points in Amperes, according to Ohm's Law.

[287] wavefront - a surface containing points affected in substantially the same way by a wave at a substantially predetermined time.

[288] weight - a value indicative of importance.

[289] when - at a time and/or during the time at which.

[290] wherein - in regard to which; and; and/or in addition to.

[291 ] which - what particular one or ones.

[292] with - accompanied by.

[293] with respect to - in relation to and/or relative to.

[294] without - lacking.

Note

[295] Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter are described herein, textually and/or graphically, including the best mode, if any, known to the inventor(s), for implementing the claimed subject matter by persons having ordinary skill in the art. Any of numerous possible variations (e.g., modifications, augmentations, embellishments, refinements, and/or enhancements, etc.), details (e.g., species, aspects, nuances, and/or elaborations, etc.), and/or equivalents (e.g., substitutions, replacements, combinations, and/or alternatives, etc.) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent upon reading this document to a person having ordinary skill in the art, relying upon his/her expertise and/or knowledge of the entirety of the art and without exercising undue experimentation. The inventor(s) expects skilled artisans to implement such variations, details, and/or equivalents as appropriate, and the inventor(s) therefore intends for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, as permitted by law, the claimed subject matter includes and covers all variations, details, and equivalents of that claimed subject matter. Moreover, as permitted by law, every combination of the herein described characteristics, functions, activities, substances, and/or structural elements, and all possible variations, details, and equivalents thereof, is encompassed by the claimed subject matter unless otherwise clearly indicated herein, clearly and specifically disclaimed, or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

[296] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided

herein, is intended merely to better illuminate one or more embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any claimed subject matter unless otherwise stated. No language herein should be construed as indicating any non-claimed subject matter as essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter.

[297] Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this document, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, or clearly contradicted by context, with respect to any claim, whether of this document and/or any claim of any document claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

[298] there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular described characteristic, function, activity, substance, or structural element, for any particular sequence of activities, for any particular combination of substances, or for any particular interrelationship of elements;

[299] no described characteristic, function, activity, substance, or structural element is

"essential";

[300] any two or more described substances can be mixed, combined, reacted,

separated, and/or segregated;

[301] any described characteristics, functions, activities, substances, and/or structural elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;

[302] any described activity can be performed manually, semi-auto matically, and/or automatically;

[303] any described activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in multiple jurisdictions; and

[304] any described characteristic, function, activity, substance, and/or structural

element can be specifically excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of structural elements can vary.

[305] The use of the terms "a", "an", "said", "the", and/or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. [306] The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.

[307] When any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that

number or range is approximate. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value and each separate subrange defined by such separate values is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values therebetween, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc.

[308] When any phrase (i.e., one or more words) appearing in a claim is followed by a drawing element number, that drawing element number is exemplary and non-limiting on claim scope.

[309] No claim of this document is intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC 112 unless the precise phrase "means for" is followed by a gerund.

[310] Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, United States patent

application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety to its fullest enabling extent permitted by law yet only to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other definitions, statements, and/or drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein. Any specific information in any portion of any material that has been incorporated by reference herein that identifies, criticizes, or compares to any prior art is not incorporated by reference herein.

[31 1] Within this document, and during prosecution of any patent application related hereto, any reference to any claimed subject matter is intended to reference the precise language of the then-pending claimed subject matter at that particular point in time only.

[312] Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this document, other than the claims themselves and any provided definitions of the phrases used therein, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. The scope of subject matter protected by any claim of any patent that issues based on this document is defined and limited only by the precise language of that claim (and all legal equivalents thereof) and any provided definition of any phrase used in that claim, as informed by the context of this document.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:

an electro-active intraocular lens configured to be implanted in an eye of a wearer, the electro-active intraocular lens comprising a liquid crystal layer, a predetermined portion of the liquid crystal portion comprising a polymer and a plurality of rotatable electro-active molecules, the polymer configured to be cured to inhibit rotation of the plurality of electro-active molecules.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is configured to be liquefied while the

electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein an orientation of the plurality of rotatable electro-active molecules is configured to be adjusted while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein an optical power of the electro-active intraocular lens is configured to be adjusted while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein an optical power of the lens is configured to be adjusted so as to provide a better focus for the wearer than a pre-adjusted state of the electro-active intraocular lens while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer,

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is configured to be re-cured while the

electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer so as to adjust an optical power of the electro-active intraocular lens.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the electro-active intraocular lens comprises a fixed focus optic.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the electro-active intraocular lens comprises a fixed focus optic and an electro- active lens portion that comprises the liquid crystal layer.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the electro-active intraocular lens comprises an electro-active lens portion that comprises the liquid crystal layer.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the polymer is irreversibly curable.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable layer.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein: the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable layer that defines a first optical power.

The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable layer that defines a first optical power, and

the liquid crystal layer defines a second curable layer that defines a second optical power.

The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable zone that defines a first optical power.

The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable zone that defines a first optical power, and

the liquid crystal layer defines a second curable zone that defines a second optical power.

The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable zone that comprises a first photo-initiator configured to trigger at a first wavelength, the liquid crystal layer defining a second curable zone that comprises a second photo-initiator configured to trigger at a second wavelength.

The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the liquid crystal layer defines a light blocking zone.

A method comprising:

in a predetermined portion of a liquid crystal layer of an electro-active intraocular lens that is implanted in an eye of a wearer, the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer comprising a polymer and a plurality of rotatable electro-active molecules, the polymer configured to be cured to inhibit rotation of the plurality of electro-active molecules, curing the polymer.

The method of claim 18, further comprising:

while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer, irradiating the polymer with a predetermined range of wavelengths of light.

The method of claim 18, further comprising:

while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer, irradiating the polymer with a predetermined range of wavelengths of light and at an energy density between approximately 10 microwatts and approximately 350 milliwatts.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising: while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer, liquefying the polymer.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer, adjusting an orientation of the plurality of rotatable electro-active molecules.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer, adjusting an optical power of the electro-active intraocular lens.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer, adjusting an optical power of the lens to provide a better focus for the wearer than a pre-adjusted state of the electro-active intraocular lens.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

while the electro-active intraocular lens is implanted in the wearer, re-curing the polymer after adjusting an optical power of the electro-active intraocular lens.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the electro-active intraocular lens comprises a conventional fixed focus optic.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the electro-active intraocular lens comprises a conventional fixed focus optic and an electro-active lens portion that comprises the liquid crystal layer.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the electro-active intraocular lens comprises an electro-active lens portion that comprises the liquid crystal layer.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the polymer is irreversibly curable.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable layer.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable layer that defines a first optical power.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable layer that defines a first optical power, the liquid crystal layer defining a second curable layer that defines a second optical power.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable zone that defines a first optical power.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable zone that defines a first optical power, the liquid crystal layer defining a second curable zone that defines a second optical power.

The method of claim 18, wherein:

the predetermined portion of the liquid crystal layer defines a first curable zone that comprises a first photo-initiator configured to trigger at a first wavelength, the liquid crystal layer defining a second curable zone that comprises a second photo-initiator configured to trigger at a second wavelength.

36. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer defines a light blocking zone.

37. A device configured to perform the method of any of claims 18-36.