Patents by Inventor Burkhard Dietrich

Burkhard Dietrich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11745452
    Abstract: A production line (PL) for the production of ophthalmic lenses (7) comprises a manufacturing module (MM), an inspection module (IM), and a packaging module (PP) in which the lenses identified by the inspection module (IM) as being acceptable are packed into primary packages. The manufacturing module (MM) comprises a plurality of manufacturing stations (300, 301, 302, 310, 320, 321, 322, 330, 331, 340, 341, 342, 350, 351, 352). At least one of these manufacturing stations (310; 320, 321, 322, 330, 331) is configured to apply a lens identification code (70, 71, 72) to the respective lens. The lens identification code (70, 71, 72) includes information indicative of the type of the respective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Biel, Karin Stoller, Daniel Kessler, Burkhard Dietrich, Jens Hof
  • Publication number: 20220082861
    Abstract: A production line (PL) for the production of ophthalmic lenses (7) comprises a manufacturing module (MM), an inspection module (IM), and a packaging module (PP) in which the lenses identified by the inspection module (IM) as being acceptable are packed into primary packages. The manufacturing module (MM) comprises a plurality of manufacturing stations (300, 301, 302, 310, 320, 321, 322, 330, 331, 340, 341, 342, 350, 351, 352). At least one of these manufacturing stations (310; 320, 321, 322, 330, 331) is configured to apply a lens identification code (70, 71, 72) to the respective lens. The lens identification code (70, 71, 72) includes information indicative of the type of the respective lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Roger Biel, Karin Stoller, Daniel Kessler, Burkhard Dietrich, Jens Hof
  • Patent number: 11215844
    Abstract: A production line (PL) for the production of ophthalmic lenses (7) comprises a manufacturing module (MM), an inspection module (IM), and a packaging module (PP) in which the lenses identified by the inspection module (IM) as being acceptable are packed into primary packages. The manufacturing module (MM) comprises a plurality of manufacturing stations (300, 301, 302, 310, 320, 321, 322, 330, 331, 340, 341, 342, 350, 351, 352). At least one of these manufacturing stations (310; 320, 321, 322, 330, 331) is configured to apply a lens identification code (70, 71, 72) to the respective lens. The lens identification code (70, 71, 72) includes information indicative of the type of the respective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Biel, Karin Stoller, Daniel Kessler, Burkhard Dietrich, Jens Hof
  • Patent number: 10661515
    Abstract: A casting mold (1) for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, in particular hard and soft contact lenses comprises a male mold half (2) having a generally convexly shaped male mold surface (20) and a female mold half having a generally concavely shaped female mold surface (30). Each of the male and female mold surfaces comprises a lens-forming surface (21, 31) which is encircled by a non lens-forming annular edge surface (22, 32). The lens-forming surface (21, 31) comprises a central optical zone (210, 310) and a non-optical peripheral zone (211, 311) surrounding the central optical zone. At least one of the male and female mold halves (2, 3) is provided with at least one permanent marking (10; 11; 12; 110, 111) which is arranged on a surface in the peripheral zone (211, 311) of the lens-forming surface (21, 31) and/or on the non lens-forming annular edge surface (22, 32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Hof, Burkhard Dietrich, Roger Biel
  • Patent number: 10232574
    Abstract: The present invention general related to a reusable mold and a method of using the mold to manufacture contact lenses. The mold comprises a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition, wherein the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface, wherein the cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded, wherein the lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by an actinic radiation, wherein at least one of the mold halves is a precision press molded mold made from an oxide glass selected from a group consisting of borosilicates glass and fluorophosphates glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventors: Alice Weimin Liu, Burkhard Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20190064541
    Abstract: A production line (PL) for the production of ophthalmic lenses (7) comprises a manufacturing module (MM), an inspection module (IM), and a packaging module (PP) in which the lenses identified by the inspection module (IM) as being acceptable are packed into primary packages. The manufacturing module (MM) comprises a plurality of manufacturing stations (300, 301, 302, 310, 320, 321, 322, 330, 331, 340, 341, 342, 350, 351, 352). At least one of these manufacturing stations (310; 320, 321, 322, 330, 331) is configured to apply a lens identification code (70, 71, 72) to the respective lens. The lens identification code (70, 71, 72) includes information indicative of the type of the respective lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Roger Biel, Karin Stoller, Daniel Kessler, Burkhard Dietrich, Jens Hof
  • Patent number: 9981436
    Abstract: The present invention general related to a method and a reusable mold for making a contact lens, comprising a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition. The first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface, wherein the cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. The lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by a UV radiation, wherein at least one of the mold halves is made from an oxide glass material having a UV transmission cut-off wavelength no less than 390 nm and a specific gravity higher than 3.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Alice Weimin Liu, Burkhard Dietrich
  • Patent number: 9864108
    Abstract: The present invention general related to a reusable mold for making a contact lens comprises a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a polymerizable and/or crosslinkable silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens-forming composition, and the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface. The cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. The reusable mold has at least one of the mold halves being made from an oxide glass comprising fluorine and/or fluoride. The mold made by oxide glass comprising fluorine and/or fluoride demonstrates improving mold cleanability with water based cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Norvartis AG
    Inventors: Alice Weimin Liu, Burkhard Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20160176133
    Abstract: The present invention general related to a reusable mold and a method of using the mold to manufacture contact lenses. The mold comprises a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition, wherein the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface, wherein the cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded, wherein the lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by an actinic radiation, wherein at least one of the mold halves is a precision press molded mold made from an oxide glass selected from a group consisting of borosilicates glass and fluorophosphates glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Alice Weimin Liu, Burkhard Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20160176134
    Abstract: The present invention general related to a method and a reusable mold for making a contact lens, comprising a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition. The first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface, wherein the cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. The lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by a UV radiation, wherein at least one of the mold halves is made from an oxide glass material having a UV transmission cut-off wavelength no less than 390 nm and a specific gravity higher than 3.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Alice Weimin Liu, Burkhard Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20160144579
    Abstract: A casting mold (1) for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, in particular hard and soft contact lenses comprises a male mold half (2) having a generally convexly shaped male mold surface (20) and a female mold half having a generally concavely shaped female mold surface (30). Each of the male and female mold surfaces comprises a lens-forming surface (21, 31) which is encircled by a non lens-forming annular edge surface (22, 32). The lens-forming surface (21, 31) comprises a central optical zone (210, 310) and a non-optical peripheral zone (211, 311) surrounding the central optical zone. At least one of the male and female mold halves (2, 3) is provided with at least one permanent marking (10; 11; 12; 110, 111) which is arranged on a surface in the peripheral zone (211, 311) of the lens-forming surface (21, 31) and/or on the non lens-forming annular edge surface (22, 32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Jens Hof, Burkhard Dietrich, Roger Biel
  • Publication number: 20150177422
    Abstract: The present invention general related to a reusable mold for making a contact lens comprises a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a polymerizable and/or crosslinkable silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens-forming composition, and the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface. The cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. The reusable mold has at least one of the mold halves being made from an oxide glass comprising fluorine and/or fluoride. The mold made by oxide glass comprising fluorine and/or fluoride demonstrates improving mold cleanability with water based cleaning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Alice Weimin Liu, Burkhard Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20110147958
    Abstract: This invention is directed to improved lens molds for the production of ophthalmic lenses, in particular colored contact lenses. The invention involves protective coatings for extended use and repair of reusable glass or quartz molds as well as for improved mold release and print-on-mold properties. The invention is also directed to a method of making the improved lens molds and their use in the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, in particular colored contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Giovanni Campanelli, Burkhard Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20080036105
    Abstract: This invention is directed to improved lens molds for the production of ophthalmic lenses, in particular colored contact lenses. The invention involves protective coatings for extended use and repair of reusable glass or quartz molds as well as for improved mold release and print-on-mold properties. The invention is also directed to a method of making the improved lens molds and their use in the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, in particular colored contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Giovanni Campanelli, Burkhard Dietrich