Abstract: A progressive ophthalmic lens is presented which is a linear composite of a hard lens design and a soft lens design resulting in a composite lens which combines features of the visual utility of a hard lens design with the visual comfort of a soft lens design.

Abstract: A laser discrimination filter based on temporal coherence is presented. This filter comprises a multilayer device with "thick" layers such that the optical thickness of each layer is greater than the coherence length of the ambient light, but still much smaller than the coherence length of the laser light of interest. Thus, the spectral response of the device of this invention becomes dependent on the degree of temporal coherence of the incident light. If white light strikes the filter, multi-beam interference will not occur because of its short coherence length. The device acts like a stack of partially reflecting mirrors. If the laser light strikes the filter, multi-beam interference will still take place because of the long coherence length of the laser light. This causes the device to have different transmitting characteristics for laser light and white light. Therefore, this device functions as a laser discrimination device.

Abstract: Plus and minus power ophthalmic spectacle lenses for the correction of distance vision incorporating a convex aspherical front surface are provided. The front surface of the invention is described mathematically as an inside-out conicoid. the inside-out conicoidal surface, when used in conjunction with a concave spherical or toroidal back surface, provides a lens having improved off-axis optical performance and reduced thickness and flatness characteristics relative to prior art lenses of the same back vertex power and refractive index.

Abstract: A laser sensor protector is provided comprising a nonlinear dynamic device which has a flat broad band reflectance covering the entire visible range in the on-state and allows for good optical quality and high transmittance (80-90) in the off-state. The device can be constructed using electro-optic materials or nonlinear optical materials. If electro-optical materials, i.e., those for which the refractive index can be controlled by an external field, or nonlinear optical materials, i.e, those for which the refractive index can be controlled by the light intensity, are used to construct the present invention, it is possible to achieve dynamic switching, that is, the device is clear in the off-state and it is highly reflective over a broad band in the on-state.

Abstract: A new method for making holographic notch filters in the near infrared spectral region is disclosed. This method utilizes lthe nonlinearity in the response function of holographic materials. When a holographic medium is exposed to two laser beams at different wavelengths, the nonlinearity in the response function causes the formation of notch reflections at wavelengths corresponding to the sum and difference frequencies of the exposing beams. The notch at the difference frequency can be in the NIR region by properly choosing the exposure wavelengths. This method is applicable to holographic filters on both flat and curved substrates.

Abstract: A protective optical device is disclosed. The device includes a transparent shield for protecting a portion of the wearers face and a device for mounting an ophthalmic lens in the transparent shield. The mounting device includes an aperture through the transparent shield, a wall surrounding the aperture and extending forwardly from the shield to a front edge, and a shoulder surrounding the front edge for securing an ophthalmic lens to the front edge. The device allows standard ophthalmic lens to be securely mounted in a protective shield and minimizes the number of lens surfaces of the device.

Abstract: Lenses are presented in occupational, dynamic activity and general purpose configurations, len lenses all being of compatible polar or bipolar progressive power design to form a series of progressive power lenses.

Abstract: Laser protection is provided by utilizing certain organic polymers with carboxylic or sulfonic acid groups which exchange their protons with cupric or ferrous metal ions to form cupric or ferrous ion-containing polymers. In addition, laser protection is also provided utilizing organic polymers with functional groups which are capable of forming complexes with cupric or ferrous metal ions. The optical absorption of the metal ions (e.g., the transition metal and rare earth ions) in these two types of metal ion-containing polymers are similar to those in absorbing glasses and will provide absorption in the near IR portion of the spectrum (i.e., greater than 680 nm). Thus, metal ion-containing polymers can be as useful for laser eye protection as known absorbing glasses, while providing high visual transmittance and light weight.

Abstract: A device for detecting hidden marks on progressive aspheric ophthalmic lens is disclosed. The device includes a housing, a light source within the housing, a magnifying lens mounted above the housing and a target element mounted within the housing between the light source and the magnifying lens. A progressive aspheric ophthalmic lens is supported by the housing at a position between the target element and the magnifying lens. A light beam is directed from the light source through the target element, the ophthalmic lens and the magnifying lens. The ophthalmic lens is then visually inspected through the magnifying lens against a background provided by the target element to detect the hidden marks.

Abstract: Spirooxazine compounds are incorporated into a plastic host comprised of copolymers of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl acetate). This combination results in a photochromic composite which exhibits significantly improved temperature stability relative to the prior art.

Abstract: A flexible mask goggle is presented comprising a flexible housing which receives an optically transparent lens. The housing includes a novel ventilation structure along the upper and lower surfaces thereof. On the upper surface, this ventilation structure comprises an array of spaced slots while the ventilation structure on the lower surface comprises two spaced groups containing similar spaced slots. Both the upper and lower vents permit direct airflow in and out of the goggle. In an important feature of the present invention, removable caps are snap locked over the upper and lower ventilation structure. These caps convert the otherwise direct airflow through the vents to an indirect airflow.

Abstract: Disclosed is an eyeglass frame and method of assembling such a frame which provides for quick and easy assembly. The eyeglass frame includes a lens supporting structure and at least one temple. For each temple the lens supporting structure includes a temple receiving member having a ramped slot. Each temple includes a means for supporting a pin so that the pin extends beyond the surfaces of the temple. In assembling the frame, the pin is aligned with slots in the temple receiving member of the lens supporting structure, and the temple is forced through these slots forcing the upper and lower walls of the temple receiving member apart until the pin is captured by a hole at the end of the ramped slots.

Abstract: A thin sheet of flexible material shaped like an inverted "T", is applied to the aspheric distance portion of a progressive-addition ophthalmic lens, to provide stable three-point contact for blocking the lens prior to second-side surfacing in the prescription laboratory.

Abstract: A snap-on filter for chemical cartridges is presented which includes a filter element comprising a perforated fiberglass prefilter bonded to a felt filter. The filter element is contained within a filter housing which snaps onto the chemical cartridge of a standard gas mask. The fiberglass prefilter is perforated to provide a passage way for fumes into the interior of the filter as well as the filter surface. The perforations increase the overall surface area of the prefilter for filtration. This feature enhances the efficiency and overall life of the filter element.

Abstract: An aligner bonder for joining parts of a miniature semiconductor component, for example, comprises supports for holding the parts with surfaces facing, positioning provisions for adjusting relative positions and inclinations of the parts and for bringing the facing surfaces together for bonding. A first inclined two-sided mirror directs light from a pair of illuminators to the surfaces. Images of the surfaces are diverted from the inclined reflective mirror faces to optical paths and then to video cameras. Individual video circuitry and illuminator adjustments permit adjustment of each video image. The images are combined in a single video image displayed on a monitor. The supports for the parts are positionally adjusted to bring the video images into alignment. To adjust parallelism, autocollimators and associated reference image cross hairs project reference images via another inclined two-sided mirror to the surfaces of the parts or parallel reference surfaces.