USPTO Patent Grant: Sag Compensation Deformable Lens

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Prosthetics (A61F)

Published March 17th, 2026

Detected March 22nd, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has granted Apple Inc. a patent (US12578511B1) for a sag compensation structure for deformable lenses. This structure aims to mitigate gravity-induced sag in deformable lens membranes, potentially improving optical performance in lens assemblies.

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What changed

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued patent grant US12578511B1 to Apple Inc. The patent covers a novel sag compensation structure designed to counteract the effects of gravity on deformable lens membranes. This structure may be integrated into lens assemblies, potentially including additional lenses to correct optical aberrations, and interfaces with fluids to provide the necessary compensation.

This patent grant is primarily an intellectual property notification and does not impose new regulatory obligations on medical device manufacturers or pharmaceutical companies. However, it signifies innovation in the field of deformable lenses and may influence future product development and patent strategies for companies operating in this space. Compliance officers should note this development for its potential impact on competitive landscapes and R&D direction.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Sag compensation for deformable lens

Grant US12578511B1 Kind: B1 Mar 17, 2026

Assignee

Apple Inc.

Inventors

Richard J. Topliss, James E. Pedder, Michael D. Simmonds

Abstract

Various embodiments include a sag compensation structure that may be used to compensate for gravity sag of a deformable lens membrane. In some embodiments, the sag compensation structure may be combined with a lens assembly comprising the deformable lens membrane. The sag compensation structure may include one or more sag compensation membranes that may interface with fluids to provide the gravity sag compensation. According to some embodiments, the lens assembly may include a lens that corrects for one or more optical aberrations of the deformable lens membrane. The sag compensation structure may be disposed between the deformable lens membrane and the lens that corrects for the optical aberration(s), in some embodiments.

CPC Classifications

G02B 3/12 G02B 3/14 G02B 3/0087 G02B 7/021 G02B 7/22 G02B 26/004 F04B 43/046 A61F 2/1635 A61F 2/1624 A61F 2/1613 A61F 2/1601 G02C 7/041 G02C 7/049 G02C 7/061 G02C 7/081 G02C 7/083 G02C 7/085 G02C 11/10