Abstract: A flat or curved photochromic laminate structure and a plastic photochromic lens blank can be produced in a simple and efficient manner from relatively low-cost polymeric sheet materials. These laminates can be used to provide goggles, face shields, windows, window coverings, skylights, and optical lenses having efficient, uniform and high quality photochromic properties. The use of a polyesterurethane as the binder for the photochromic material has been found to improve the performance of the photochromic material. There may be a desire to have a protective exterior layer (e.g., an abrasion resistant layer) in combination with the lens system, but that may be provided in various methods. In the case of using the laminate in a goggle application, the laminate may be hard coated on one or both outer surfaces with an abrasion resistant coating, antireflective coating, and/or an anti-fog hard coating.

Abstract: A dichroic dye can be blended with a non-dichroic dye (melanin and melanin derivatives) and still maintain a commercially acceptable level of polarizing efficiency. Efficient polarizers exhibit polarizing efficiencies of greater or equal to 95% and the best are even greater than or equal to 98%. Since melanin has unique features with respect to absorption of wavelengths of light, melanin is very useful to have in combination with a polarizer that takes advantage of this absorption. The blending can be done by a mixture (preferably an aqueous mixture) of melanin and a dichroic dye in a ratio sufficient to achieve the desired color and polarizing effect.

Abstract: A flat or curved photochromic laminate structure and a plastic photochromic lens blank can be produced in a simple and efficient manner from relatively low-cost polymeric sheet materials. These laminates can be used to provide goggles, face shields, windows, window coverings, skylights, and optical lenses having efficient, uniform and high quality photochromic properties. The use of a polyesterurethane as the binder for the photochromic material has been found to improve the performance of the photochromic material. There may be a desire to have a protective exterior layer (e.g., an abrasion resistant layer) in combination with the lens system, but that may be provided in various methods. In the case of using the laminate in a goggle application, the laminate may be hard coated on one or both outer surfaces with an abrasion resistant coating, antireflective coating, and/or an anti-fog hard coating.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element that includes a thermoplastic power portion, the method including laminating a first thermoplastic sheet to one side of a functional film, laminating a second thermoplastic sheet to a second side of the functional film, and affixing either the first thermoplastic sheet or the second thermoplastic sheet to the power portion, with the other of the first or second thermoplastic sheets being open to atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element that includes a thermoplastic power portion, the method including laminating a first thermoplastic sheet to one side of a functional film, laminating a second thermoplastic sheet to a second side of the functional film, and affixing either the first thermoplastic sheet or the second thermoplastic sheet to the power portion, with the other of the first or second thermoplastic sheets being open to atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element that includes a thermoplastic power portion, the method including laminating a first thermoplastic sheet to one side of a functional film, laminating a second thermoplastic sheet to a second side of the functional film, and affixing either the first thermoplastic sheet or the second thermoplastic sheet to the power portion, with the other of the first or second thermoplastic sheets being open to atmosphere.

Abstract: A multi-focal lens with both a power portion and a functional portion, where the power portion imparts a majority of the optical power and magnification characteristics to the multi-focal lens and has a front side with both a main focal surface and a secondary focal surface that is discontinuous relative to the main focal surface and where the functional portion has a rear side that is shaped like the front side of the power portion with the rear side of the functional portion being affixed to the front side of the power portion.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element that includes a thermoplastic power portion, the method including laminating a first thermoplastic sheet to one side of a functional film, laminating a second thermoplastic sheet to a second side of the functional film, and affixing either the first thermoplastic sheet or the second thermoplastic sheet to the power portion, with the other of the first or second thermoplastic sheets being open to atmosphere.

Abstract: A multi-focal lens with both a power portion and a functional portion where the power portion imparts a majority of the optical power and magnification characteristics to the multi-focal lens and has a front side with both a main focal surface and a secondary focal surface that is recessed relative to the main focal surface and where the functional portion has a rear side that is shaped like the front side of the power portion with the rear side of the functional portion being affixed to the front side of the power portion.

Abstract: The present invention directed to antireflective coatings presents a new method for producing graded index films from alternating very thin layers of two materials with proper but differing indices. During deposition the thickness of each of the many layer pairs deposited can remain fairly uniform while the layer thickness of the two materials making up each pair is adjusted so that the resulting average index matches the index of the desired profile for that part of the total thickness. A two source evaporation deposition system is used and the two materials may be, for example, thallium iodide and lead fluoride.

Abstract: A method of providing non-birefringent cubic thallium iodide thin films on potassium chloride optical elements. The method of this invention is to deposit thin film alternating layers of thallium iodide and a buffer material such that a composite coating is obtained. The optic buffer material may be lead fluoride. The thallium iodide film made by the method of this invention is highly transparent, insoluble and non-scattering.