Patents by Inventor Steve VanNoy

Steve VanNoy 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: 7717558
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a multifocal ophthalmic lens includes an optic and a plurality of diffractive zones disposes about an optical axis of the optic. At least two of the diffractive zones have different areas so as to cause broadening of optical energy profiles at a near focus and a far focus of the diffractive zones for generating an intermediate focus. A fraction of incident optical energy directed to the intermediate focus is different from a fraction of incident optical energy directed to at least one of the near or far foci.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Hong, Steve VanNoy, Xiaoxiao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090122262
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a multifocal ophthalmic lens includes an optic and a plurality of diffractive zones disposes about an optical axis of the optic. At least two of the diffractive zones have different areas so as to cause broadening of optical energy profiles at a near focus and a far focus of the diffractive zones for generating an intermediate focus. A fraction of incident optical energy directed to the intermediate focus is different from a fraction of incident optical energy directed to at least one of the near or far foci.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Xin Hong, Steve VanNoy, Xiaoxiao Zhang
  • Patent number: 7481532
    Abstract: In one aspect, a trifocal ophthalmic lens is disclosed that includes an optic having a surface that comprises at least one trifocal diffractive pattern and at least one bifocal diffractive pattern such that the bifocal pattern provides near and far vision and the trifocal pattern generates near, far, and intermediate vision. For example, the trifocal pattern can provide near, far, and intermediate foci such that the near and far foci are substantially coincident, respectively, with a near and a far focus of the bifocal pattern. In this manner, the trifocal and bifocal patterns collectively provide near, intermediate, and far foci (or focal regions) corresponding, respectively, to the near, intermediate and far vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Hong, Steve VanNoy, Xiaoxiao Zhang
  • Patent number: 7441894
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a trifocal ophthalmic lens is disclosed that includes an optic having at least one optical surface, and a plurality of diffractive zones that are disposed on a portion of that surface about an optical axis of the optic. At least two of those diffractive zones have different areas so as to cause broadening of optical energy profiles at a near and a far foci of the diffractive zones for generating an intermediate focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Alcon Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoxiao Zhang, Steve VanNoy, Xin Hong
  • Publication number: 20070182921
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a trifocal ophthalmic lens is disclosed that includes an optic having at least one optical surface, and a plurality of diffractive zones that are disposed on a portion of that surface about an optical axis of the optic. At least two of those diffractive zones have different areas so as to cause broadening of optical energy profiles at a near and a far foci of the diffractive zones for generating an intermediate focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Xiaoxiao Zhang, Steve VanNoy, Xin Hong
  • Publication number: 20070182924
    Abstract: In one aspect, a trifocal ophthalmic lens is disclosed that includes an optic having a surface that comprises at least one trifocal diffractive pattern and at least one bifocal diffractive pattern such that the bifocal pattern provides near and far vision and the trifocal pattern generates near, far, and intermediate vision. For example, the trifocal pattern can provide near, far, and intermediate foci such that the near and far foci are substantially coincident, respectively, with a near and a far focus of the bifocal pattern. In this manner, the trifocal and bifocal patterns collectively provide near, intermediate, and far foci (or focal regions) corresponding, respectively, to the near, intermediate and far vision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Xin Hong, Steve VanNoy, Xiaoxiao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20070171362
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of designing a diffractive ophthalmic lens (e.g., an intraocular lens (IOL)) that includes providing an optic having an anterior refractive surface and a posterior refractive surface, wherein the optic provides a far-focus power (e.g., in a range of about 18 to about 26 Diopters (D)). A truncated diffractive structure can be disposed on at least one of the surfaces for generating a near-focus add power (e.g., in a range of about 3 D to about 4 D). And the diffractive structure can be adjusted so as to obtain a desired distribution of optical energy between the near and far foci for a range of pupil sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Simpson, Mutlu Karakelle, Steve Vannoy, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xin Hong, Jihong Xie