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: A system for marking a coated optical article (10) having at least one first mark (18) on a surface of a substrate (20) of the coated optical article (10) includes at least one mark (18) identification device having at least one electromagnetic radiation source (111) configured to irradiate at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (20) having the at least one first mark (18) with electromagnetic radiation (119A, 123). The at least one mark (18) identification device further includes at least one imaging device configured to receive a portion of the electromagnetic radiation (119A, 123) reflected from the surface of the substrate (20) having the least one first mark (18) and determine a position of the at least one first mark (18) on the surface of the substrate (20). The system further includes at least one marking device configured for marking the coated optical article (10) with at least one second mark (180) based on the position of the at least one first mark (18).

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 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: 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 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: A method of forming an optical element which includes an electrochromic apodized aperture having variable light transmittance through a clear aperture area in response to an applied electrical current is disclosed. The apodized aperture includes a body including an area defining the clear aperture area wherein a fluid containment area substantially overlapping the clear aperture area, and includes at least one fill passage extending from the fluid containment area to at least one fill port outside of the clear aperture area; an electrochromic fluid within the fluid containment area substantially overlapping the clear aperture area and having variable light transmittance in response to an applied electrical current; a cover attached with the electrochromic fluid between the cover and body; electrical contacts electrically coupled to the electrochromic fluid for supplying electrical current thereto; and at least one passage seal in each said fill passage positioned outside of the clear aperture area.

Abstract: An optical mechanism for a camera having a camera aperture includes an indexing stage movable between at least two distinct positions. At least a first fixed diameter apodized aperture is mounted on the stage and configured to be aligned with the camera aperture in one of the distinct positions of the indexing stage, and wherein the first fixed diameter apodized aperture is not aligned with the camera aperture in the other of the distinct positions of the indexing stage. The stage can include multiple fixed diameter apodized apertures of distinct effective diameters each of which can be selectively aligned with the camera aperture. The mechanism includes an actuator for moving the stage between each of said distinct positions. Methods for mass producing the fixed diameter apodized aperture are disclosed using dye diffusion into optical elements via various methods, and various casting and molding formation techniques.

Abstract: An optical mechanism for a camera having a camera aperture includes an indexing stage movable between at least two distinct positions. At least a first fixed diameter apodized aperture is mounted on the stage and configured to be aligned with the camera aperture in one of the distinct positions of the indexing stage, and wherein the first fixed diameter apodized aperture is not aligned with the camera aperture in the other of the distinct positions of the indexing stage. The stage can include multiple fixed diameter apodized apertures of distinct effective diameters each of which can be selectively aligned with the camera aperture. The mechanism includes an actuator for moving the stage between each of said distinct positions. Methods for mass producing the fixed diameter apodized aperture are disclosed using dye diffusion into optical elements via various methods, and various casting and molding formation techniques.

Abstract: Provided is a photochromic optical article including: (a) an optical substrate; (b) a thermally reversible photochromic material; and (c) reversible thermochromic material capable of at least partially filtering UV/visible light at or below room temperature and becoming less capable of filtering UV/visible light at temperatures greater than room temperature. The reversible thermochromic material (c) is operable for filtering light in the range of from 300 to 450 nanometers.

Abstract: An optical element includes an electrochromic apodized aperture having variable light transmittance through a clear aperture area in response to an applied electrical current. The apodized aperture includes an aperture body including an area defining the clear aperture area, the body having a fluid containment area substantially overlapping the clear aperture area, and includes at least one fill passage extending from the fluid containment area to at least one fill port outside of the clear aperture area; an electrochromic fluid within the fluid containment area substantially overlapping the clear aperture area and having variable light transmittance in response to an applied electrical current; a cover attached with the electrochromic fluid between the cover and body; electrical contacts electrically coupled to the electrochromic fluid for supplying electrical current thereto; and at least one passage seal in each said fill passage positioned outside of the clear aperture area.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical element which includes an electrochromic apodized aperture having variable light transmittance through a clear aperture area in response to an applied electrical current is disclosed. The apodized aperture includes a body including an area defining the clear aperture area wherein a fluid containment area substantially overlapping the clear aperture area, and includes at least one fill passage extending from the fluid containment area to at least one fill port outside of the clear aperture area; an electrochromic fluid within the fluid containment area substantially overlapping the clear aperture area and having variable light transmittance in response to an applied electrical current; a cover attached with the electrochromic fluid between the cover and body; electrical contacts electrically coupled to the electrochromic fluid for supplying electrical current thereto; and at least one passage seal in each said fill passage positioned outside of the clear aperture area.

Abstract: Provided is an optical element with an electrochromic apodized aperture having variable light transmittance in response to the amplitude of an applied voltage. The apodized aperture includes (i) a first substrate having a planar inner surface and an outer surface, (ii) a second substrate having an outer surface and a non-planar inner surface opposing and spaced from the planar inner surface of the first substrate, wherein each of the planar inner surface of the first substrate and the non-planar inner surface of the second substrate has an at least partial layer of transparent conductive material thereover; and (iii) an electrochromic medium disposed between the planar inner surface of the first substrate and the non-planar inner surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: Described are aqueous compositions of an effective amount of at least one photosensitive material and at least one polymerizable component that are adapted to at least partially form photosensitive microparticles or at least partially crosslinked photosensitive polymeric microparticles. The photosensitive polymeric microparticles are made of integral surface and interior domains wherein at least one of the surface and/or interior domains is photosensitive. Also described are aqueous dispersions of such microparticles, ways of producing such microparticles and photosensitive articles such as optical elements that incorporate the photosensitive polymeric microparticles.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical elements comprising a photochromic linear polarizing element and a birefringent layer that circularly or elliptically polarizes transmitted radiation. The photochromic linear polarizing element comprises a substrate and either: (1) a coating comprising an aligned, thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound having an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in an activated state, and being operable for switching from a first absorption state to a second absorption state in response to actinic radiation, to revert back to the first absorption state in response to thermal energy, and to linearly polarize transmitted radiation in at least one of the two states; or (2) an at least partially ordered polymeric sheet connected to the substrate; and a thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with the polymeric sheet and has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in the activated state.

Abstract: The present invention provides composite optical elements including a photochromic linear polarizing element and a birefringent layer such that composite optical element circularly or elliptically polarizes transmitted radiation. The photochromic linear polarizing element is formed from (i) an at least partially ordered polymeric sheet; and (ii) a reversible photochromic-dichroic material that is at least partially aligned with the polymeric sheet and has an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in the activated state. The birefringent layer includes a polymeric coating or a polymeric sheet connected to the photochromic linear polarizing element.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell including a first substrate having a first surface; a second substrate having a second surface, wherein the second surface of the second substrate is opposite and spaced apart from the first surface of the first substrate so as to define a region; and within the region defined by the first surface and the second surface, a liquid crystal material adapted to be at least partially ordered and at least one thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound adapted to be at least partially aligned and having an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in an activated state.

Abstract: The present invention provides composite optical elements including a photochromic linear polarizing element and a birefringent layer such that composite optical element circularly or elliptically polarizes transmitted radiation. The photochromic linear polarizing element is formed from (i) an at least partially ordered polymeric sheet; and (ii) a reversible photochromic-dichroic material that is at least partially aligned with the polymeric sheet and has an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in the activated state. The birefringent layer includes a polymeric coating or a polymeric sheet connected to the photochromic linear polarizing element.

Abstract: Provided is a photochromic optical articleincluding: (a) an optical substrate; (b) a thermally reversible photochromic material; and (c) reversible thermochromic material capable of at least partially filtering UV/visible light at or below room temperature and becoming less capable of filtering UV/visible light at temperatures greater than room temperature.

Abstract: Provided is a photochromic optical article including: (a) an optical substrate; (b) a thermally reversible photochromic material; and (c) reversible thermochromic material capable of at least partially filtering UV/visible light at or below room temperature and becoming less capable of filtering UV/visible light at temperatures greater than room temperature. The reversible thermochromic material (c) is operable for filtering light in the range of from 300 to 450 nanometers.