Abstract: An apparatus and method for holding a mold assembly and molding an optical lens using the same. In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for holding a mold assembly, wherein the mold assembly includes a front mold, a back mold and a strip wrapping around the edges of the front mold and back mold to form a sleeve. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base. The second portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for holding a mold assembly and molding an optical lens using the same. In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for holding a mold assembly, wherein the mold assembly includes a front mold, a back mold and a strip wrapping around the edges of the front mold and back mold to form a sleeve. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base. The second portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for holding a mold assembly and molding an optical lens using the same. In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for holding a mold assembly, wherein the mold assembly includes a front mold, a back mold and a strip wrapping around the edges of the front mold and back mold to form a sleeve. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base. The second portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for holding a mold assembly and molding an optical lens using the same. In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for holding a mold assembly, wherein the mold assembly includes a front mold, a back mold and a strip wrapping around the edges of the front mold and back mold to form a sleeve. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base. The second portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for holding a mold assembly and molding an optical lens using the same. In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for holding a mold assembly, wherein the mold assembly includes a front mold, a back mold and a strip wrapping around the edges of the front mold and back mold to form a sleeve. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base. The second portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a lens using two molds that interconnect together so that their respective interior surfaces form the negative image of the lens to be cast therein. The molds are preferably made of plastic. A monomer fills the volume formed by the interior surfaces of the molds and is cured or polymerized to form a lens having desired dimensions and characteristics. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure. The abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b).

Abstract: A fluid-dispensing device and method of dispensing fluid comprising a container for holding the fluid, a housing having an interior in which a portion of the container is located, and a source for compressing a portion of the container disposed within the interior of the housing. When the container is compressed, the fluid exits the container to flow to a desired location. The methods of compressing the container to force the fluid out of its interior include, for example, a housing holding the container that is pressurized above atmospheric pressure; an expandable balloon positioned adjacent the container and inflated; and a plate driven by a cylinder to compress the container. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition comprising an effective amount of at least one tetrafunctional acrylate monomer. In one embodiment of the invention, a polymerizable composition is a compound comprising of at least 50 percent by weight of at least one tetrafunctional acrylate monomer, from 5 to 20 percent by weight of at least one modified bisphenol A epoxy diacrylate monomer, from 0 to 25 percent by weight of at least one acrylate monomer selected from aliphatic difunctional and polyfunctional acrylates, from 0 to 3 percent by weight of at least one UV absorber, and a source of free radicals. The lens-forming material resulted from the polymerizable composition is introduced to a lens mold with a mold cavity having a configuration conforming to the optical lens to be molded. A radiation energy source is used to cure the lens-forming material in the filled mold. The radiation energy source comprises a U-shaped UV light.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filling a mold for casting optical lens. Two molding shells and a closure member form a mold with a molding cavity. To fill the mold a fluid lens-forming material is introduced into the molding cavity through a casting opening formed in the closure member. Air is venting out during the filling process through a venting opening also formed in the closure member. Both the casting opening and the venting opening are located in the upper portion of the molding cavity but spaced apart from each other at an acute angle.

Abstract: A method for labeling an identification mark on a lens for inventory control. The identification mark is placed onto the facing inside surface of a mold by an ink jet printer and is remained there when the lens-forming liquid is cured. Once the lens is formed, but before the demolding, the identification mark is transferred from the mold to the lens. The identification mark contains information identifying the lens' properties such as the power of the lens and can be used for inventory control.

Abstract: A method for curing a lens-forming fluid, including exposing the lens-forming fluid to an ultra-violet light, wherein the exposure time is between twenty seconds and thirty minutes, which can completely cure the fluid. The exposure can occur by placing the lens-forming fluid intermediate a plurality of ultraviolet light sources, in which the intensity of the ultra-violet light is at least 1.2.times.10.sup.-2 watts per square centimeter at a wavelength of 350 nanometers. The lens-forming fluid preferably is a monomer. The prior art, in contrast, requires significantly longer exposure times to cure monomer or other lens-forming fluids.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a lens using a structure having a front mold, a rear mold, and a gasket having opposed ends and defining an axially extending bore in which the front and rear molds are disposed within the bore and spaced apart from each other therein, comprising a piston for axially moving within the bore of the gasket a selected one of the front mold or the rear mold relative to the other mold to a desired one of a plurality of axial separation distances between the molds. A needle also preferably also communicates with the bore of the gasket between the molds to provide fluid communication between the outer surface of the gasket and the bore to facilitate axial movement of the molds relative to each other. Another needle is used for injecting a desired amount of a lens-forming fluid into the bore of the gasket intermediate the front and rear molds, in which the fluid is cured to form the lens.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for casting lens without using a gasket that can be used to form all powers and geometric shapes of lenses. An elastomeric strip is used to wrap around the edges of two molds to form a sleeve-like structure, which in turn cooperates with the molds to form a molding cavity. Moreover, this sleeve-like structure does not crumple or shrink during the lens polymerization process. Instead, it allows the molds to slide axially within it to compensate for any shrinkage that occurs during the lens polymerization process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling a lens-forming structure, the structure having a front mold, a rear mold, and a gasket defining an axially extending bore, including a collet for supporting the gasket so that at least one of the front mold or the rear mold are insertable into the bore thereof, a robotic arm for inserting the front mold into the bore of the gasket, and a piston for inserting the rear mold into the bore of the gasket. The piston axially moves within the bore of the gasket a selected one of the front mold or the rear mold relative to the other mold to a desired one of a plurality of axial separation distances between the molds. Alternatively, the robotic arm can move the selected mold relative to the other mold.

Abstract: A color display that includes an array of pixels having a top side and an opposite bottom side. Each pixel includes a material having a first optical state exhibiting birefringence and a second optical state different from the first optical state. Each pixel also includes an element capable of driving the pixel to a selected one of the first optical state or the second optical state. A first selected group of pixels of the array has a first pair of axes of optical birefringence when each pixel of the first selected group is in the first optical state and at least a second selected group of pixels of the array has a second pair of axes of optical birefringence, different from the first pair of axes of optical birefringence, when each pixel of the second selected group is in the first optical state. A reflective layer is disposed adjacent the bottom side and a polarizing layer, having a predetermined polarity orientation, is disposed adjacent the top side.

Abstract: A gasket defining an axially extending bore therethrough, a front mold having a an edge circumscribing the front mold, wherein the edge is of a size to be complementarily received within at least a portion of the bore of the gasket so that the edge and the bore form a seal therebetween, and a rear mold having a rim circumscribing the rear mold, wherein the rim is sized to be complementarily received within at least a portion of the bore so that the rim and the bore form a seal therebetween. When the front mold and the rear mold are both disposed within the bore of the gasket, a volume is formed between the back surface of the front mold and the front surface of the rear mold and the interior surface of the gasket. A selected one of the front mold or the rear mold is axially and slidably movable within the bore relative to the other mold disposed within the bore to a desired one of a plurality of axial separation distances between the molds, whereby the volume is different for each separation distance.