Abstract: Provided is a photochromic indolenapthtopyran having the core skeletal structure of Formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are each independently substituted or unsubstituted alkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted ether, substituted or unsubstituted thioether, amino, a nitrogen-containing heterocycle, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, —NHC(O)Ra, or —OC(O)Ra, wherein Ra is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, or substituted or unsubstituted arylthio; R4 is selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, allyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; and B and B? are each independently

Abstract: A method of determining the transmittance of a contact lens (200) includes the steps of obtaining a measurement of a first intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected by ocular surface (100) with an intensity measuring device (400), positioning the contact lens (200) in direct contact with the ocular surface (100), obtaining a measurement of a second intensity of electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the contact lens (200) that is reflected a region (110) of the ocular surface (100) that is covered by the contact lens (200) with the intensity measuring device (400); and calculating the transmittance using the measurements of the first intensity and the second intensity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include first, second, and third mesogens, in which the first and second mesogens are connected by a first linking group (-L1-), and the second and third mesogens are connected by a second linking group (-L2-), as represented by the following Formula (I), and as graphically illustrated by Formula (Ia) of FIG. 1 of the drawing: (Mesogen-1)-L1-(Mesogen-2)-L2-(Mesogen-3)??(I) At least one of Mesogen-1, Mesogen-2, or Mesogen-3 include at least four cyclic groups. The linking groups -L1- and -L2- are each free of mesogen properties (are each non-mesogenic) and each independently have an average chain length of at least 20 bonds. The mesogen compounds are optionally polymerizable. The present invention also relates to liquid crystal compositions that include such mesogen compounds, and to optical elements that include such mesogen compounds, such as in one or more mesogen-containing layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include a first mesogen (Mesogen-1) and a second mesogen (Mesogen-2) that are connected by a linking group (-L-), as represented by the following Formula (I): Mesogen-1, and optionally Mesogen-2, each independently include the following terminal group, where R is hydrogen, alkyl, or alkoxy. Mesogen-2 optionally includes a terminal group P—, which is selected from R, acrylate, methacrylate, trihalomethacrylate, oxirane, hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, and carboxylic acid ester. Mesogen-1 and Mesogen-2 together include a total of at least seven, or at least eight, cyclic groups. In some cases, Mesogen-1 and Mesengen-2 are the same. The present invention also relates to liquid crystal compositions that include such mesogen compounds, and to optical elements that include such mesogen compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to silole and germole fused ring photochromic compounds represented, with some embodiments, by the following Formula (Ia), (Ia) With reference to Formula (Ia): M includes Si or Ge; Ring A and Ring B each independently include aryl or heteroaryl; and the photochromic compound is a thermally reversible photochromic compound. The present invention also relates to photochromic compositions and photochromic articles, such as photochromic ophthalmic articles that include one or more photochromic compounds represented, with some embodiments, by Formula (Ia).

Abstract: A method of producing an optical article includes applying an imbibition composition having at least one dye onto at least a portion of at least one imbibable surface (45) of a substrate (20) to form a coated substrate (10). The method further includes irradiating at least a portion of the coated substrate with heat from a heat source (80) to form a heat gradient across the coated substrate (10) to diffuse the at least one dye into the imbibable surface to form an at least partially imbibed substrate having a dye concentration gradient corresponding to the heat gradient. The method further includes removing a residual component of the imbibition composition from the at least partially imbibed substrate. The dye concentration gradient forms a gradient pattern upon exposure to actinic radiation.

Abstract: Provided is a synthetic intermediate for the preparation of photochromic indolenaphthopyran compounds having the core skeletal structure of Formula (I): wherein m is 0 to 4, n is 0 to 4, R1 and R2 are each independently hydroxyl, cyano, (meth)acrylate, amino, halo, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, boronic ester, boronic acid, polyether, polyester, polycarbonate, polyurethane, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, ketone, aldehyde, ester, carboxylic acid, carboxylate, amide, carbonate, carbamate, urea, siloxane, alkoxysilane, or polysiloxane; R3 is substituted or unsubstituted 2-pyridyl or substituted or unsubstituted 2-quinolyl; and R4 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkoxymethyl, substituted or unsubstituted silyl, or acyl.

Abstract: A system for customization of a photochromic article (14) includes a container (12) having an interior (28). At least one actinic radiation source (34) is located in the interior (28) of the container (12). At least one deactivation radiation source (36) is located in the interior (28) of the container (12). A method of customizing a photochromic article (14) includes inserting a photochromic article (14) having at least one non-thermally reversible photochromic material into a container (12) having at least one actinic radiation source (34) and actuating the at least one actinic radiation source (34) to activate the at least one non-thermally reversible photochromic material.

Abstract: A method of determining outdoor characteristics of a photochromic optical article includes: determining environmental conditions for an area; positioning the optical article to face a first direction; determining a first incident irradiance on the optical article; determining a first surface temperature and first spectrum of the optical article; rotating the optical article to face a second direction; determining a second surface temperature and Full Characterization of Lens second spectrum of the optical article; determining a second incident irradiance on the optical article; and generating a prediction model of spectral transmission of the optical article. Further using environmental and climate conditions and to select a photochromic article most appropriate for an area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curable photochromic composition that includes: (a) a photochromic compound; and (b) a segmented polymer that includes active hydrogen groups, at least one first segment, and at least one second segment, in which, (i) each first segment independently includes a (meth)acrylic polymer segment, and (ii) each second segment independently includes at least one of, a polycarbonate segment, a polyester segment, a polyether segment, a polyurethane segment, and combinations of two or more thereof. The curable photochromic composition further includes (c) a curing agent having reactive functional groups that are reactive with the active hydrogen groups of the segmented polymer (a), in which the curing agent includes at least one of, a polyisocyanate, a polyisothiocyanate, and an aminoplast. The present invention also relates to photochromic articles that include at least one layer formed from the curable photochromic composition of the present invention.

Abstract: A photochromic compound including a core skeletal structure represented by the following Formula (I), wherein D is oxygen or sulfur; E is oxygen, sulfur, or NR2?; a is 0 or 1; R1 is hydrogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R2 and R2? are each independently selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl; and the photochromic compound is a thermally reversible photochromic compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photochromic indeno fused phenanthrenopyran compounds represented by the following Formula (I). With some embodiments, the photochromic compounds represented by Formula (I) include at least one lengthening group (e.g., R6 and/or R7 each independently being a lengthening group) and the compounds of the present invention are photochromicdichroic compounds. The present invention also relates to photochromic compositions and photochromic articles, such as photochromic ophthalmic articles that include one or more photochromic compounds represented by Formula (I).

Abstract: A method for imparting an optical element with at least one light influencing property in a gradient pattern. The method includes (a) providing an optical substrate having first and second surfaces; (b) depositing a first composition over the first surface of the optical substrate so as to provide a first treated surface region and an untreated surface region, the first composition including a material which provides a light influencing property; (c) depositing a second composition over the optical substrate of (b) to provide a second treated surface region over the untreated surface region and over a portion of the first treated surface region to form a first overlap region; and (d) spinning the optical substrate of (c) thereby providing the optical element having a light influencing property in a gradient pattern.

Abstract: A method of determining the transmittance of a transparent article (250) includes the steps of obtaining a measurement of a first intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted by reference surface (80) with an intensity measuring device (400), positioning the transparent article (250) over the reference surface (80), obtaining a measurement of a second intensity of electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the transparent article (250) that is reflected or emitted by a region (110) of the reference surface (80) that is covered by the transparent article (250) with the intensity measuring device (400); and calculating the transmittance using the measurements of the first intensity and the second intensity.

Abstract: A system and method for coating a lens (10) using a plurality of inkjet print bars (46) arranged in-line, includes generating, using at least one processor (54, 110) in communication with the plurality of inkjet print bars (46), at least one graphical user interface configured to facilitate the automation of the creation or selection of an image to be printed on a lens (10); generating a plurality of image layers based on the lens (10) geometry, target product, and number of print bars (46); and controlling, using the at least one processor (54, 110), at least two of the plurality of inkjet print bars (46) to print the image on the lens (10), such that each of the at least two inkjet print bars (46) prints at least one image layer of the plurality of image layers.

Abstract: A method of making an optical article having multiple light-influencing zones can include: forming an alignment coating layer having a first alignment region and a second alignment region over at least a portion of an optical element; applying at least one anisotropic material over the first alignment region and the second alignment region by an inkjet printing device; and applying at least one dichroic material and/or at least one photochromic-dichroic material over at least one of the first alignment region and the second alignment region to form a first light-influencing zone over the first alignment region and a second light-influencing zone over the second alignment region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarizing article that includes in order: (a) a substrate; (b) a first orientation facility having a first orientation direction; (c) a first polarized layer, that includes a first dichroic fixed-tint dye and a first liquid-crystal material, and which has a first polarization axis; (d) a second orientation facility having a second orientation direction; and (e) a second polarized layer that includes a second dichroic fixed-tint dye and a second liquid-crystal material, and which has a second polarization axis. The first and second polarization axes are oriented relative to each other at an angle of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°. The electromagnetic absorption spectra of the first and second dichroic fixed-tint dyes are different from each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element that includes a mark (18). The optical element has a first coating layer (22) over at least a portion of a surface of an optical substrate (20) having the mark (18) on the surface of the optical substrate, and one or more additional coating layers (24) over at least a portion of the first coating layer (22). The first coating layer has a first refractive index, and the optical substrate and the mark may have a second refractive index. A difference between the first refractive index and the second refractive index has an absolute value of 0.02 to 0.24. At least one of the first coating layer (22) and the one or more additional coating layers (24) may be applied by a controlled deposition of a coating material in droplet form.