Screen embedded reading glasses - a revolutionary optical technology that eliminates the need for reading glasses while using digital devices.

Project Information

VISION_GLASS

Grant agreement ID: 190135455

DOI

10.3030/190135455

Project closed

EC signature date 24 January 2023

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 May 2025

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 1 287 525,00

EU contribution

€ 899 304,00

Coordinated by

PHONEOPTIKA LTD
Israel

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VISION_GLASS (Screen embedded reading glasses - a revolutionary optical technology that eliminates the need for reading glasses while using digital devices.)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Digital screens surround us everywhere; thus, it is no coincidence a person spends around 7 hours a day looking at one. For studying, working, or entertainment, these screens can cause frustration for people with visual conditions such as presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision). They are also related to the alarming increase of myopia in children who use prolonged screen time. According to WHO, at least 2.2 billion people globally have a near or distant Vision Impairment (VI); among them, more than 1 billion suffer from presbyopia, posing an enormous global annual financial burden of around €24.22B (According to WHO). VI also impacts people’s quality of life, often facing lower workforce rates and productivity. Daily, most individuals with VI must constantly wear and remove one or more pairs of glasses, which, besides being irritating, can potentially put their safety at risk in situations such as driving while following their navigator or doing manual jobs requiring digital screens.
VISION_GLASS is a groundbreaking technology enabling farsighted users to utilize digital screens without reading glasses. This thin optical film, when applied to a mobile phone screen, provides sharp images for users who require reading glasses. Unlike traditional solutions, VISION_GLASS corrects vision at the display level, revolutionizing screen production and eyeglass retailing. With its introduction, farsighted users can now purchase our solution as an add-on film for their frequently used displays like smartphones and navigation systems.
VISION_GLASS is highly versatile, significantly reducing the risk of becoming near-sighted. Vision_Glass will reduce the dramatic increase of myopia among children who actively use digital displays for many hours per day for a long time; this is due to the fact that with our optical film, the display is conceived by the user's eye as if it was seen from far away, and by projecting the image in the eye in infinity it reduces the need of an eye to adjust to see the close object. Vision_Glass also provides safer and more inclusive working conditions for visually impaired workers who will now see digital displays as clearly as possible without reading Glasses. Our goal is to distribute our product globally to enhance the well-being of adults and children wearing reading glasses while also increasing the safety of car drivers and workers who rely on reading glasses.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the 1st period, our focus was the following three missions:
1. Choosing the resin for manufacturing the Micro Lens array (MLA) layers of Vision Glass.
2. Find and develop cost-effective alignment tools.
3. Update the system modeling Zemax tool to produce a final specification for the manufacturing Modifying Zemax tool.
Choosing the resin for manufacturing the Micro Lens array (MLA) layers of Vision Glass - Vision Glass is a cutting-edge technology incorporating Micro Lens Arrays (MLA) with distinct High Refraction Index (HRI) and Low Refraction Index (LRI) resins. Our comprehensive analysis of commercially available resins, focusing on critical criteria such as refractive index, clarity, handling complexity, elasticity, curing time, cost, and availability, forms the foundation of our decision-making process.
Integrating a specialized Dynamic Link Library (DLL) with Zemax enhances our ability to optimize Vision Glass system parameters, focusing on improving image quality. Our analysis delves into various resin systems, yielding insights into image quality, optical spot sizes, and ray trace characteristics across radial distances.
Identified promising combinations guide ongoing efforts to fine-tune and advance the Vision Glass system for optimal performance and quality. Three optimized systems perform well, while System 4's inferior performance is attributed to its smaller Delta_n value between High Refraction Index (HRI) and Low Refraction Index (LRI) resins.
Further examination reveals that systems with a higher disparity between HRI and LRI values tend to perform better. Despite this, we opt to initiate film production using parameters from one of the analyzed systems due to our film manufacturer's experience and a desire to minimize risk. Transition to another system may be considered in the future if needed.
Streamline alignment tools: Due to the complex nature of our solution involving Micro-optical elements, precise alignment within specified tolerances is vital during production. While many alignment techniques exist, few meet our accuracy requirements.
Two approaches stand out: one involves marking fiducials on the film for layer alignment and using pressure techniques for seamless matching between layers. This method suits mass production scenarios. Alternatively, a sophisticated approach integrates fiducials with precise illumination and camera systems to detect misalignments and adjust the master dynamically for enhanced precision, ideal for complex production needs.
Currently, we employ illumination and a camera system, with modifications underway to meet our requirements, delayed until June 2024.
Update Zemax modeling tool: Zemax, a renowned optical design software, plays a crucial role in analyzing our Vision-Glass product's performance. Custom modifications, including a Dynamic Link Library (DLL), enable precise simulation and specification of production parameters, overcoming Zemax's standard limitations.
The DLL addresses specific design requirements not supported by Zemax, which are crucial for achieving optimal performance and quality standards for Vision-Glass. These enhancements are pivotal in finalizing production specifications, ensuring our product meets the highest performance and quality standards.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Vision_GLASS represents a groundbreaking vision correction solution that revolutionizes vision improvement by targeting the source (the display) rather than the end-user, transforming display screen production and eyeglass retailing industries. With VISION_GLASS, farsighted users can now access our solution as an add-on film for the displays they commonly use, including smartphones and navigation systems. The manufacturing process for our solution is intricate, requiring state-of-the-art optics and manufacturing capabilities. Its impact on various use cases offers substantial market opportunities, such as:
1. Eliminating the dependence on reading glasses for individuals over 40 years old
2. Decreasing the risk of Myopia development in children who spend prolonged periods viewing mobile phones.
3. Providing visually impaired workers with safer and more inclusive working conditions, enabling clear viewing of digital displays without the need for reading glasses.
4. Significantly reducing safety risks for car drivers, particularly during navigation.
Vision_Glass has the potential to enhance quality of life across diverse demographics, making it a compelling solution in the market.
The application of Micro Lens has been an area of intense research, yet achieving satisfactory results has proven challenging due to its complexity. Until now, no one has successfully overcome these hurdles.
Our optical solution stands out for its uniqueness, and our collaboration with leading precision manufacturing institutes has enabled us to surpass the current state of the art. This partnership empowers us to advance the boundaries of previously thought impossible.