ES2999656A1 - Screen protector with corrective lens function (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Screen protector with corrective lens function and method of obtaining it, designed to be placed on the screen of any mobile phone, in order to personalize diopters correcting the visual problems of each user, according to a transparent magnifying sheet resulting from combining a base in molded hydrogel with engraving of microstructures on its surface with which to adjust the refraction of light, anti-reflective surface coatings, plus transparent conductive coatings that maintain functionality on the touch screen, where the procedure for obtaining the base in molded hydrogel with engraving of microstructures on its surface, is carried out by heating the hydrogel base until reaching its softening point, then, at controlled temperature and pressure, it is pressed against the master mold to transfer the microstructures to its surface, finally, it is allowed to cool gradually. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Screen protector with corrective lens function

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The following invention, as expressed in the title of this specification, relates to a screen protector that also incorporates a corrective lens adapted to the specific needs of the mobile phone user.

The field of application of the present invention relates to the mobile telephony sector and its accessories.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It's well known that presbyopia is a consequence of aging. In fact, this difficulty with near vision usually begins around the age of 40-45 and manifests itself progressively. The ability to focus is lost, and vision begins to blur in intermediate or near vision. We find that if we move what we want to see further away at first, we can compensate somewhat for the difficulty in focusing. But as we age, there comes a time when, even if we move what we want to see further away, reading is no longer possible.

The cause of this loss of near vision is the crystalline lens, a natural lens found in the eye that becomes more rigid with age. "The crystalline lens modifies its curvature to allow for both distance and near vision. With age, this ability to modify the curvature is lost. Thus, it is no longer possible for it to modify for near vision, and the person begins to notice difficulties at that distance."

Thus, it's common to hold whatever we're reading about 30-35 centimeters away. When our near vision begins to deteriorate, we try to focus better and adjust our vision by moving things further away from us while we're reading, cooking, or otherwise viewing.

One of the most common ways to achieve near vision is with the help of glasses with positive lenses for near vision. This type of glasses includes diopters ranging from 0.50 or 1 diopter at age 45-46, when near vision begins to fade, rising to 2 at age 52, 2.5 diopters at age 55, and reaching a maximum of 3 diopters around age 60.

In another order of habits, humans of almost all ages and in all parts of the world have acquired the habit of being connected to their cell phones. In the case of people with vision problems, cell phone use is only compatible with reading glasses or glasses with very large font size. However, reading glasses are usually not carried around, as they are not required continuously. This also avoids the discomfort of carrying them and the risk of breakage or deterioration. For the reasons mentioned above, these reading glasses are more commonly kept in places where they are used constantly, such as at home, at work, etc.

Considering the state of the art in the matter, the following inventions are identified by their publication number and title respectively:

KR20040042474A, “Mobile Phone Blind”, a Korean invention that protects a portable sun-shading device for a mobile phone LCD screen to block light so that it is possible for a user to clearly see characters ■/WO2021040106A1 “Ar Device and Control Method Therefor” provides a worldwide patent for the projection of holograms from a mobile device viewable by special glasses making use of augmented reality techniques.

In terms of public domain disclosures, at least one vision-correcting screen protector is marketed, made of tempered glass that increases readability, reduces eye fatigue, and is anti-glare, compatible with some iPhone models.

In no case is a complete solution provided that is adaptable to any mobile device and the visual needs of any user in the terms described in this document.

In response to the problem described, it is necessary to identify a material or combination of materials with which to configure a transparent magnifying sheet designed to amplify text or images that resolves the following features:

^Base material made from optical polymers such as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, or hydrogel. Each material has specific advantages, with hydrogel being the most suitable due to its flexibility and low cost, especially if its optical properties are optimized through technical modifications.

^Amplification capability based on refractive properties; the material can manipulate incident light to magnify objects with a magnification ratio of up to threefold. This is achieved by designing surfaces with specific curvatures that redirect light in a controlled manner, simulating the optical behavior of magnifying glasses or traditional lenses. In the case of hydrogel, these properties are achieved by precisely molding optical microstructures into the surface of the material. ^Regarding flexibility requirements, hydrogel is naturally flexible and can conform to curved surfaces such as mobile phone screens, while materials such as PMMA and polycarbonate offer greater rigidity, making them more suitable for applications requiring mechanical stability.

^Material transparency is essential to ensuring a clear viewing experience. This is enhanced by the selection of low-dispersion polymers and anti-reflective surface treatments.

^Scratch Resistance, in this regard, although hydrogel is more prone to scratches than PMMA or polycarbonate, additional coatings can be applied to improve its durability.

^Lightness, where all materials considered have a low density, suitable for portable applications.

The selection of the base material must then balance cost, optical properties, flexibility and compatibility with touch screens, with the following materials being considered for this purpose:

PMMA (Polymethylmethacrylate)

This material is known for its high optical transparency and ability to incorporate diopters through precise molding processes. These processes involve the use of master molds designed with specific curvatures, based on prior optical simulations, to ensure uniformity and the required visual correction. Although it is stiffer than hydrogel, it is still malleable enough for customized optical applications.

It provides excellent optical clarity, good scratch resistance, and the ability to accurately reproduce specific optical properties, while its limitations include lower flexibility than hydrogel, higher cost, and less suitability for curved displays.

Polycarbonate (PC):

This material combines mechanical strength and good optical properties. Its use is common in safety lenses and industrial applications. However, for applications requiring complex microstructures, such as those needed for corrective lenses, polycarbonate can be more difficult to work with due to its rigidity and lower malleability. It is highly impact-resistant, lightweight, and provides good optical quality. However, its limitations include less ease in molding precise microstructures and its relatively high cost compared to hydrogel.

Modified Hydrogel

However, Modified Hydrogel stands out for its low cost and flexibility, characteristics that make it ideal for applications on curved surfaces, such as mobile phone screens. However, its optical use requires specific modifications, consisting of etching microstructures into its surface to adjust light refraction. These microstructures are created using technologies such as laser engraving, high-resolution 3D printing, or lithography, allowing for the customization of diopters to correct visual problems such as myopia or hyperopia.

Its advantages include being an economical, widely available, adaptable to curved screens, and lightweight material. Its limitations include less scratch resistance than other materials and requiring additional processing to achieve its optical properties. However, it is the most suitable option for the purposes described, due to its flexibility, low cost, and adaptability through technical modifications.

However, the "Screen Protector with Corrective Lens Function" provides the following advantages over the state of the art:

^Provides a practical, personalized solution that allows visually impaired users to interact with their mobile devices without the need for glasses. ^Optical innovation consisting of the incorporation of optical microstructures based on hydrogel or PMMA, which are widely available materials, adaptable to curved screens, and lightweight.

^The use of modified hydrogel guarantees an economical solution and, therefore, accessible to a wide variety of users.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

By way of explanation of the invention, the "Screen protector with corrective lens function" according to a screen protector for use designed to be placed on the screen of any mobile phone, in order to personalize diopters correcting visual problems such as myopia or hyperopia of each user, consisting of a transparent magnifying sheet designed to amplify text or images, as a result of combining the following elements:

A. A molding hydrogel base with microstructure engraving on its surface to adjust light refraction, using laser engraving, high-resolution 3D printing, or lithography technologies.

B. Anti-reflective, scratch-resistant and oleophobic coatings as surface treatments.

C. Transparent conductive coatings, based on indium tin oxide (ITO), that allow electrical interaction with the screen, ensuring touch screen compatibility.

For the purposes described above, regarding the production process, the hydrogel base is heated until it reaches its softening point, at which point it can be pressed against the master mold to transfer the microstructures to its surface. During this step, it is crucial to control both temperature and pressure to ensure there are no deformations or inconsistencies in the optical pattern. Once the pattern is transferred, the material is gradually cooled to solidify the microstructures and ensure optical stability, guaranteeing that the optical properties are evenly distributed across the entire surface of the protector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made and in order to help better understand the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

Figure 1.- Main plan view of the "Screen Protector with Corrective Lens Function" once attached to the screen of a conventional mobile phone with a diopter adapted to the needs of a user with presbyopia.

EXAMPLE OF PREFERRED REALIZATION

As a preferred embodiment, the "Screen Protector with Corrective Lens Function" can be made as shown in Figure 1, according to a screen protector for use designed to be placed on the screen of any mobile phone made of modified hydrogel to acquire personalized optical properties, in a variety of diopters according to master molds with different levels of correction (for example, -1.0, -2.0, 1.5) on which a coating is applied that protects against scratches and wear without altering the optical properties, in order to guarantee the durability of the material, based on the deployment of the following manufacturing sequence;

Optical Model

To design a vision-correcting protector, specialized software such as Zemax or Code V is required to generate the desired optical model. This optical model simulates how light interacts with the material's surfaces, allowing for the calculation and optimization of key parameters such as the refractive index, the path of light rays, and the required diopters. These calculations ensure that the design meets the optical specifications required for vision problems such as nearsightedness or farsightedness.

Molding and manufacturing

The molding and manufacturing process then begins with the creation of a master mold, designed with precise microstructures that reproduce the desired optical properties. This master mold is manufactured using lithography, laser engraving, or high-precision 3D printing. The hydrogel is heated to its softening point and pressed against the master mold to transfer the microstructures to its surface. During this step, it is crucial to control both temperature and pressure to ensure no deformations or inconsistencies in the optical pattern. Once the pattern is transferred, the material is gradually cooled to solidify the microstructures and ensure optical stability. This process ensures that the optical properties are evenly distributed across the entire surface of the protector.

Surface Treatments:

To improve the protector's functionality and durability, treatments such as anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and oleophobic coatings are applied. These coatings optimize the user experience by reducing glare and protecting the material from physical damage.

Touch Screen Compatibility.

Touch compatibility is ensured by transparent conductive coatings, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), which allow electrical interaction with the display.

Another option is to keep the protector thin enough (less than 0.5 mm) to avoid interfering with touch sensitivity. This feature distinguishes the proposed optical protector from conventional protectors, which lack adjustments to optimize both touch functionality and optical properties.

Quality Tests.

Before production, the protector undergoes refraction testing to validate the provided vision correction. These tests ensure that the diopters are accurate and uniform across the entire surface. Additionally, mechanical tests are performed to evaluate scratch resistance, durability under prolonged use, and the stability of optical properties under different environmental conditions, such as variations in temperature and humidity.

Alternatively, in applications where durability or optical clarity is a priority, they could be made using PMMA as the base material.

Finally, also as an alternative embodiment, the protector object of the present invention could be made in a thickness thin enough, less than 0.5 mm, so as not to interfere with the touch sensitivity, without the need to resort to transparent conductive coatings.

Likewise, the materials used to manufacture the various elements described, as well as the designs, shapes, dimensions, and/or technology used for the purposes described, may be subject to variation provided this does not imply a change in the essence of the invention. The terms used in this specification are to be understood in a broad, non-limiting sense.

Claims (2)

1. - Screen protector with corrective lens function, according to a screen protector for use designed to be placed on the screen of any mobile phone, in order to personalize diopters correcting the visual problems of each user, characterized by its configuration according to a transparent magnifying sheet as a result of combining the following elements: D. A molding hydrogel base with microstructure engraving on its surface to adjust light refraction, using laser engraving technologies, high-resolution 3D printing or lithography. E. Anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and oleophobic surface coatings. F. Transparent conductive coatings based on indium tin oxide (ITO) that maintain touchscreen functionality. 2. -Process for obtaining the molding hydrogel base with microstructure engraving on its surface of the "Screen protector with corrective lens function" according to the previous claim, characterized by being carried out by deploying the following sequence: A. Heating the hydrogel base until it reaches its softening point. B. Next, at a controlled temperature and pressure to ensure that there are no deformations or inconsistencies in the optical pattern, it is pressed against the master mold to transfer the microstructures to its surface. C. Once fully transferred, allow to cool gradually so that the microstructures solidify, ensuring optical stability.