With Polarization Patents (Class 351/159.56)
  • Patent number: 11809026
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ophthalmic lens (1) for a pair of sunglasses, said ophthalmic lens including at least one substrate (13), the lens (1) having a transmission spectrum such that: the transmittance at wavelengths shorter than 380 nm is lower than 1%; the spectrum includes a first transmittance maximum (MAX-1) having a transmittance higher than 8% between 390 nm and 420 nm; the spectrum includes a first transmittance minimum (MIN-1) between 426 nm and 440 nm; the transmittance between 450 nm and 500 nm is higher than 10%; the spectrum includes between 570 nm and 595 nm a second transmittance minimum (MIN-2); the spectrum includes between 590 nm and 620 nm a second transmittance maximum (MAX-2); the spectrum includes in the wavelength range comprised between 620 nm and 640 nm a third transmittance minimum (MIN-3); the transmittance at wavelengths longer than 640 nm is higher than 14%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: BNL EUROLENS
    Inventor: Sébastien Martins
  • Patent number: 11714220
    Abstract: A method of making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization. The method includes providing an optical element including a coating having at least one alignment zone. A dye composition is contacted with the coating. The dye composition includes at least one of: a dichroic dye, a photochromic-dichroic dye, or a combination thereof to diffuse at least a portion of the dye composition into the coating at a predetermined concentration gradient along at least a portion of the coating to provide the gradient tint and the gradient polarization. A kit for making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization. An optical article prepared from a method for making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Miller, Delwin S. Jackson, Anil Kumar, John S. Ligas, David John Park, Brian Smyth
  • Patent number: 11256014
    Abstract: An optical article that includes an optical element and an anisotropic coating layer formed over at least a portion of the optical element. The anisotropic coating layer can include a first light-influencing zone comprising at least one first anisotropic material and a second light-influencing zone comprising at least one second anisotropic material. The at least one of the first light-influencing zone and the second light-influencing zone further include at least one dichroic material and/or at least one photochromic-dichroic material such that the first light-influencing zone and the second light-influencing zone exhibit a different color property, a different photochromic-dichroic reversible change, a different amount of polarization, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Anil Kumar, David John Park, Brian Smyth, Delwin S. Jackson, Henry Nguyen, John S. Ligas, Linda K. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11243434
    Abstract: A system for uniform optical illumination of an image light provider in a smaller (compact) configuration than conventional implementations includes a lightguide having: a first external surface and a second external surface mutually parallel, and a first sequence of facets, at least a portion of which are: a plurality of parallel, partially reflecting, and polarization selective surfaces, at an oblique angle relative to the first and second external surfaces, and between the first and second external surfaces, and a front-lit reflective polarization rotating image modulator: deployed to spatially modulate light coupled-out from the first external surface, outputting reflected light corresponding to an image, and deployed such that the reflected light traverses the lightguide from the first external surface via the first sequence of facets to the second external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: LUMUS LTD.
    Inventors: Elad Sharlin, Yochay Danziger
  • Patent number: 11199653
    Abstract: A method of making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization. The method includes providing an optical element including a coating having at least one alignment zone. A dye composition is contacted with the coating. The dye composition includes at least one of: a dichroic dye, a photochromic-dichroic dye, or a combination thereof to diffuse at least a portion of the dye composition into the coating at a predetermined concentration gradient along at least a portion of the coating to provide the gradient tint and the gradient polarization. A kit for making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization. An optical article prepared from a method for making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Miller, Delwin S. Jackson, Anil Kumar, John S. Ligas, David John Park, Brian Smyth
  • Patent number: 11072135
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semi-finished lens that includes a blank formed in a first material having a first hardness, the blank having an outline, a first face and a second face configured to be surfaced so as to constitute a first optical face of the ophthalmic lens, and a top layer formed in a second material having a second hardness greater than the first hardness, the top layer having an outline, a first face and a second face, the second face of the top layer being arranged on the first face of the blank. The outline of the top layer is equal to or included in the outline of the blank, and satisfies to a predetermined dimensional selection criterion involving the final outline of the ophthalmic lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Padiou, Jeanne Marchal, Jonathan Saulny
  • Patent number: 10899094
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plastic lens includes: a step of putting a first curable composition over a forming surface of a first mold substrate having the forming surface for forming a lens surface; a step of spreading the first curable composition over the entire forming surface by pressing the composition with a film to form a first curable composition layer and separating the film from the first mold substrate by a predetermined distance through the formed first curable composition layer; a step of covering defined surfaces; a step of injecting a second curable composition into a defined location; a step of curing the first curable composition layer and the injected second curable composition; and a step of removing to obtain a plastic lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: HOPNIC LABORATORY CO., LTD., MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Aiiso
  • Patent number: 10871661
    Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein include lenses for eyewear with a molded wafer and a molded clear resin lens component integrated onto a surface of the molded wafer. The molded wafer can include an optical filter that enhances one or more properties of filtered light. The optical filter can be, for example, a contrast-enhancing, color-enhancing, and/or chroma-enhancing filter. The clear resin lens component can be shaped such that the lenses have optical power. In some embodiments, the molded wafer is integrated onto a surface of a polarizing wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Oakley, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Saylor, Benjamin J. Meunier
  • Patent number: 10513085
    Abstract: What is described is a method of manufacturing a lens (2) for spectacles, comprising the steps of providing a lens blank (1) made from plastic material, obtaining, by cutting the blank (1), a corresponding lens having a final shape and profile suitable for mounting in a mounting frame, removing material from the lens (2) in predetermined areas of the lens to produce a first lens portion (3), inserting the first lens portion (3) into a mould (4) for overmoulding, injecting material into the mould (4) to produce at least a second lens portion (5) overmoulded on the first lens portion (3), and removing the lens (2), in which the first and second lens portions (3, 5) are integrated with one another, from the mould (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Safilo Società Azionaria Fabbrica Italiana Lavorazione Occhiali S.p.A.
    Inventors: Nicola Belli, Luca Cadorin, Giorgio Manera, Afro Rossanese
  • Patent number: 10493486
    Abstract: A method of forming a photochromic segmented multifocal lens is described. The method involves, forming a segmented multifocal lens blank by molding, in which the segmented multifocal lens blank has a front surface and a rear surface. The front surface of the segmented multifocal lens blank includes a segmented optical power addition portion. The method further includes, grinding the rear surface of the segmented multifocal lens blank, thereby forming a segmented multifocal finished lens having a front surface and a rear surface. The front surface of the segmented multifocal finished lens includes the segmented optical power addition portion. The method additionally includes, forming a photochromic coating layer over at least a portion of the rear surface of the segmented multifocal finished lens. The photochromic coating layer includes at least one photochromic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Lynch, Frank M. Haley, Anu Chopra
  • Patent number: 10345623
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an optical filter configured to attenuate visible light in certain spectral bands. At least some of the spectral bands can include spectral features that tend to substantially increase the colorfulness, clarity, and/or vividness of a scene. In certain embodiments, eyewear incorporates an optical filter that enhances chroma within one or more spectral bands. In some embodiments, a wearer of the eyewear can perceive the increase in chroma when viewing at least certain types of scenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Oakley, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Scott McCabe, Ryan Saylor, Carlos D. Reyes
  • Patent number: 10061129
    Abstract: A display apparatus has a birefringent ocular having a first index of refraction for light having a first polarization axis and a second index of refraction, lower than the first index by at least 0.1, for light having a second polarization axis that is orthogonal to the first polarization axis, wherein the birefringent ocular defines an eye box for a viewer. An image source emits image-bearing light having the first polarization axis. A polarization beam splitter is disposed to reflect the image-bearing light of the first polarization axis toward the birefringent ocular and further disposed to transmit, from an object scene, light having the second polarization axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Kessler Optics and Photonics Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: David Kessler
  • Patent number: 9995850
    Abstract: A polarization control device includes a first wave plate having a first surface profile and a second wave plate having a second surface profile complementary to the first surface profile. The optical axis of the first wave plate is orthogonal to the optical axis of the second wave plate. The first wave plate and the second wave plate are positioned to align the first surface profile with the second surface profile and maintain a constant thickness across the polarization control device. The first wave plate and the second wave plate may control polarization rotation as a continuous function of transverse position across a pupil plane of an optical system. The first wave plate and the second wave plate are separated by a sufficiently small distance so as to limit wave front distortion below a selected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Maleev, Donald Pettibone
  • Patent number: 9857625
    Abstract: A polarizing plate and a display apparatus including the polarizing plate are provided. The polarizing plate includes a polarizer, a first protective film disposed on one surface of the polarizer with a first adhesive layer having a thickness less than 2.0 ?m being interposed, and a second protective film disposed on the other surface with a second adhesive layer having a thickness less than or equal to 2.0 ?m being interposed, the second protective film being a protective film to be arranged on a side of a cell for display relative to the first protective film in arrangement of the polarizing plate on the cell for display, and the first adhesive layer being smaller in thickness than the second adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kunai
  • Patent number: 9829742
    Abstract: A polarizing plate and a display apparatus including the polarizing plate are provided. The polarizing plate includes a polarizer, a first protective film disposed on one surface of the polarizer with a first adhesive layer having a thickness less than 2.0 ?m being interposed, and a second protective film disposed on the other surface with a second adhesive layer having a thickness less than or equal to 2.0 ?m being interposed, the second protective film being a protective film to be arranged on a side of a cell for display relative to the first protective film in arrangement of the polarizing plate on the cell for display, and the first adhesive layer being smaller in thickness than the second adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kunai
  • Patent number: 9709707
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to an optical article comprising: (a) a transparent optical polymer substrate, (b) a transparent intermediate abrasion-resistant coating obtained from at least one epoxysilane by a sol-gel process, and (c) a transparent outer coating comprising a polythiolene matrix obtained by curing a liquid monomer mixture comprising at least one polyfunctional thiol and at least one polyfunctional allyl monomer, said cured polythiol-ene matrix having a glass transition temperature comprised in the range from 40° C. to 70° C. and a thickness from 3.5 ?m to less than 10 ?m. It is also drawn to a method for preparing such an optical article and to a method for repairing scratches in such an optical article by heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE D'OPTIQUE)
    Inventor: Haipeng Zheng
  • Patent number: 9512005
    Abstract: In a method for producing a carbonaceous film in which a polymer film is wrapped around a core and is subjected to a heat treatment, material film surfaces during the carbonization step are prevented from fusion, whereby a long carbonaceous having a large area film is obtained. Fusion can be prevented by subjecting a polymer film to a heat treatment under a reduced pressure, and under a reduced pressure while allowing an inert gas to flow. The range of the pressure reduction is preferably ?0.08 MPa to ?0.01 kPa. It is preferred to carry out carbonization with the pressure reduced in the range of from ?0.08 MPa to ?0.01 kPa while allowing an inert gas to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Inada, Yasushi Nishikawa, Makoto Mishiro
  • Patent number: 9488338
    Abstract: Provided is a method for a yellow backlight, including the following steps of emitting blue light by a display device; and emitting yellow light into surroundings of the display device in a manner of refraction, reflection or a combination of reflection and refraction by at least one yellow light source to neutralize and decrease intensity of the blue light. The present invention further provides a system for a yellow backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Po-Kang Lin
  • Patent number: 9229247
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polarizing lens consisting, in order, of a polyamide mechanical substrate, a polyvinyl alcohol intermediate layer, and a cellulose triacetate outer layer. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: BNL EUROLENS
    Inventors: Didier Clerc, Sebastien Martins, Franck Ledien
  • Publication number: 20150146165
    Abstract: A polyurethane based high refractive index polarizing lens consisting of a polarizing film and a cured monomer mixture placed on both sides of said polarizing film, in which the polarizing film consists of a heated polyvinyl alcohol having a water content of 4.5% or less, and the cured monomer mixture comprises a polyisocyanate and a polythiol, has no problems such as the generation of bubbles, and has excellent adhesiveness. A manufacturing method for high refractive index polarizing lenses including a process for forming lens layers comprising a polyurethane based polymer formed from polyisocyanate and polythiol on both surfaces of a polarizing film, characterized by using a polarizing film whereof the water content is 4.5 wt % or less as the aforementioned polarizing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshimitu AIISO, Toshie TORII
  • Publication number: 20150036097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polarizing lens consisting, in order, of a polyamide mechanical substrate, a polyvinyl alcohol intermediate layer, and a cellulose triacetate outer layer. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Didier Clerc, Sebastien Martins, Franck Ledien
  • Patent number: 8936363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarizing lens molded by inserting a polarizing sheet bent into a sphere or an asphere after having an aromatic polycarbonate sheet bonded via an adhesive layer to both surfaces of a film with polarized nature into a mold, and injecting aromatic polycarbonate, wherein heat treatment at a temperature not less than a temperature of 50° C. lower than the glass transition point and less than the glass transition point for an appropriate time has been performed after injecting aromatic polycarbonate to approximate a designed value of the lens curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., MGC Filsheet Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terutaka Tokumaru, Katsunori Suzuki, Ken Shimomai, Masaki Yagoura, Kyousuke Nakamura, Akio Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 8911081
    Abstract: A nylon polarized lens includes a nylon material layer and a polarized film. The nylon material layer has four corners formed with positioning portions to position the polarized film. The nylon material layer has buffer grooves at two opposing end surfaces thereof. A moulding mold to manufacture a nylon polarized lens includes an upper die and a lower die. The lower die has a top surface which is an arc concave surface. Two opposing sides of the top surface of the lower die are formed with buffer flanges which are adapted to form buffer grooves of the nylon polarized lens. The top surface of the lower die is further formed with positioning portions to position the polarized film. The upper die has a bottom surface which is an arc convex surface. The upper die cooperates with the lower die to form a chamber for shaping the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Xiamen Hongtai Electronic Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Hsiang Chen
  • Patent number: 8894205
    Abstract: A polarized optical element comprising: an optical part made of polyurethane-based optical material; and a polarizing film integrally bonded to the optical part, wherein the polyurethane-based optical material comprises the reaction product of a liquid-phase material comprising: a) a liquid polyisocyanate or polyisocyanate prepolymer having a content of —NCO functional groups comprised between 5 and 50% by weight and an average functionality of 2 to 3, b) an isocyanate-reactive component comprising at least one organic compound containing at least two aromatic amine groups, and c) at least one organometallic catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intercast Europe S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Baiocchi, Federico Menta, Matteo Lagasi
  • Patent number: 8888282
    Abstract: An electronic vision-therapy apparatus includes a frame, a lens module and a control unit. The lens module includes first and second liquid crystal lenses. The control unit is for controlling the first and second liquid crystal lenses to cooperatively generate and display a light filtering pattern. The light filtering pattern has an opaque part and a plurality of transparent parts. The control unit configures a part of the first liquid crystal lens that corresponds to the opaque part to allow only light having a first polarization to pass therethrough, and configures a part of the second liquid crystal lens that corresponds to the opaque part to allow only light having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: National Taiwan Normal University
    Inventors: Jon-Chao Hong, Chao-Hsin Wu, Mei-Yung Chen
  • Publication number: 20140327870
    Abstract: A lens structure including a quarter wave plate layer and a linear polarizing plate layer is provided. When the linear polarizing plate layer is located at an outer side of the lens away from a viewer's eye, the polarizing axis of the linear polarizing plate layer is in a vertical direction. The lens structure can be used to make dual-purpose eyeglasses with sunglasses and 3D glasses functions. Any one of the quarter wave plate layer and the linear polarizing plate layer can be disposed at the outer side away from the user's eyes by adjusting the orientation of the lens of the present invention. When the linear polarizing plate layer is located at the outer side away from the user's eyes, the optical axis of the linear polarizing plate layer is in the vertical direction. Thus, the dual-purpose eyeglasses with both sunglasses and 3D glasses functions can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Wingyip Kenny Chow, Bin Zhong
  • Patent number: 8870373
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide single-lens type polarizing glasses which are optically sufficient in performance, and are rich in variety from a view point of design. Both of a polarizer of a right eye lens and a polarizer of a left eye lens can be two independent polarizing plates, both sides of which are protected with protective sheets, respective polarizing plates are bending-processed into a spherical, nonspherical or toric shape, and a backup resin is thermally adhered on the protective sheet on a concave side of the bending-processed polarizing plate to make a single-lens type polarizing lens, which is further prepared into single-lens type polarizing glasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Yamamoto Kogaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Aoyama, Koichiro Oka
  • Publication number: 20140293217
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a polarizing lens, including conducting curved surface processing to change a shape of a polarizing film into a shape of a curved surface, conducting heat treatment by heating polarizing film that has been processed into a curved surface to a heating temperature of equal to or higher than 105° C. but less than 150° C., assembling an upper mold, a lower mold, and a seal member to provide a casting mold having a cavity within which the polarizing film following heating treatment is positioned, upper and lower molds being positioned opposite each other to sandwich the polarizing film at a space therebetween, and seal member sealing space between the upper and lower molds, casting a curable composition into the cavity, curing curable composition to provide a polarizing lens within which a polarizing film is positioned, and separating polarizing lens thus provided from casting mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: HOYA LENS MANUFACTURING PHILIPPINES INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke Ogaya, Toshihiko Shimizu, Kenichi Tonouchi, Akinori Yamamoto, Masaki Ihara
  • Publication number: 20140232983
    Abstract: Provided is a spherical or aspherical polarized mirrored glasses lens that substantially prevents the appearance of reflections caused by reflection from the mirrored surface, has a high transmittance, and with the use of a colored absorption-polarization film layer, allows arbitrary selection of the color of the field of view of the sunglasses user and the color of the lens as seen by others. A polarized mirrored glasses lens is fabricated, said lens being characterized by having, in order from the light-incidence side, at least a reflection-polarization film layer and an absorption-polarization film layer, and further characterized in that: the transmission axes of said layers are aligned; and the light-incidence side is a convex spherical or aspherical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicants: MGC FILSHEET CO., LTD., MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Terutaka Tokumaru, Kazuhisa Mitsuhata
  • Patent number: 8770759
    Abstract: A projection display system includes a glasses system, a driving unit and a projection apparatus. The driving unit is electrically connected to the glasses system for repeatedly applying or removing a voltage to/from the glasses system. The projection apparatus includes an illumination system and a color wheel. The color wheel is in a transmission path of a light beam provided by the illumination system. The color wheel has a compensation zone and a plurality of color zones. When the color wheel is rotated, the compensation zone and the color zones sequentially pass through the light beam. The compensation zone has first, second and third sub compensation zones. A time for the first sub compensation zone passing through the light beam is substantially equal to a time for the third sub compensation zone passing through the light beam. A liquid crystal glasses and a control method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chin-Ku Liu, Sze-Ke Wang
  • Publication number: 20140176902
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of shuttering glasses are disclosed. One apparatus includes a first lens operable to blank for a first blocking time, wherein light passing through the first lens is polarized in a first orientation, a second lens operable to blank for a second blocking time, wherein light passing through the second lens is polarized in a second orientation, wherein the second orientation is different than the first orientation, and a controller for controllably setting at least one of the first blocking time and the second blocking time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: IpVenture, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Sweis, Vivian Liane Rice, David Chao, Zhiyang Guo
  • Publication number: 20140139802
    Abstract: A transparent optical element with dual light-polarizing effect comprises a first film forming a linear light-polarizer in a first surface portion of the element, and a second film forming a retarder plate within a second surface portion. The second surface portion is contained in the first surface portion. Such element may form an eyeglass adapted for providing stereoscopic vision by light polarization selection in the second surface portion, while providing protection against excessive light intensity in the first surface portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Essilor International (Companie Generale D'Optique)
    Inventors: Aref Jallouli, Philip Miller, Haifeng Shan
  • Publication number: 20140104564
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Insight Equit A.P.X., L.P.
    Inventors: Sujal Bhalakia, Thomas J. Moravec
  • Patent number: 8672478
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ophthalmic lens arrangement (10) comprising a polarizer (11) for polarizing light in a polarization axis; at least one lens cell (13) including a switchable light rotator; a lens member (15) having birefringence properties such that incident light encounters a first refractive index n on an ordinary axis or a second refractive index on an extraordinary axis according to the rotation of the incident light; and a sub lens member (17) having a refractive index n; characterized in that: the or each rotator is operable to rotate incident light by 0° or by 90°, and the polarizer is arranged such that the polarization axis coincides with either the ordinary axis or the extraordinary axis of the or each lens member. The invention further relates to an apparatus for and a method for demonstrating a plurality of optical functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Essilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
    Inventors: Thierry Bonnin, Benjamin Rousseau
  • Publication number: 20140055736
    Abstract: An improved lens with Rugate filter specifically designed to be worn in prescription and non-prescription glasses, contact lenses, intraocular lenses and sunglasses, and to provide protection against macular degeneration by reducing harmful visible blue light transmission and ocular photochemical damage. The lens at least includes a single lens layer with a Rugate filter deposited thereon to selectively block visible blue light. Other layers may be added including a polarizing layer, dielectric layer and/or color tint in a lens sandwich configuration, to additionally give a high degree of UVA and UVB protection, color contrast, and glare reduction. The Rugate filter is a stop band which yields an exceptional light transmission profile under all light conditions, thereby maximizing protection as well as clarity of vision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: HIGH PERFORMANCE OPTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Ishak
  • Patent number: 8651660
    Abstract: The present invention describes ophthalmic lens products comprising a multilayer wafer and an injection-molded polycarbonate inner portion. The multilayer wafer includes a dyed, photochromic or polarized layer between a tinted inner layer and an outer polymeric layer. The inner layer may be solid or gradient-tinted. The polycarbonate inner portion of the lens product is directly fused to the tinted inner layer of the multilayer wafer during injection molding. The invention further describes a method to produce a gradient-tinted polarized polycarbonate eyewear lens product by obtaining a multilayer wafer having an outer layer, an inner polycarbonate layer, and a polarized layer between the inner and outer layers, applying a gradient tint to the wafer's inner layer, placing the gradient tinted wafer within an injection-molding cavity, and injecting molten polycarbonate directly against the wafer's gradient-tinted layer to form the inner portion of the lens product and to fuse it to the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Younger MFG. Co.
    Inventors: Adam Ahmad Barzak, Andrew John McKenzie, David Mark Ambler
  • Publication number: 20140028970
    Abstract: A nylon polarized lens includes a nylon material layer and a polarized film. The nylon material layer has four corners formed with positioning portions to position the polarized film. The nylon material layer has buffer grooves at two opposing end surfaces thereof. A moulding mold to manufacture a nylon polarized lens includes an upper die and a lower die. The lower die has a top surface which is an arc concave surface. Two opposing sides of the top surface of the lower die are formed with buffer flanges which are adapted to form buffer grooves of the nylon polarized lens. The top surface of the lower die is further formed with positioning portions to position the polarized film. The upper die has a bottom surface which is an arc convex surface. The upper die cooperates with the lower die to form a chamber for shaping the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: Yu-Hsiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20130342808
    Abstract: An electronic vision-therapy apparatus includes a frame, a lens module and a control unit. The lens module includes first and second liquid crystal lenses. The control unit is for controlling the first and second liquid crystal lenses to cooperatively generate and display a light filtering pattern. The light filtering pattern has an opaque part and a plurality of transparent parts. The control unit configures a part of the first liquid crystal lens that corresponds to the opaque part to allow only light having a first polarization to pass therethrough, and configures a part of the second liquid crystal lens that corresponds to the opaque part to allow only light having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization to pass therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: National Taiwan Normal University
    Inventors: Jon-Chao Hong, Chao-Hsin Wu, Mei-Yung Chen
  • Publication number: 20130329184
    Abstract: The present invention describes ophthalmic lens products comprising a multilayer wafer and an injection-molded polycarbonate inner portion. The multilayer wafer includes a dyed, photochromic or polarized layer between a tinted inner layer and an outer polymeric layer. The inner layer may be solid or gradient-tinted. The polycarbonate inner portion of the lens product is directly fused to the tinted inner layer of the multilayer wafer during injection molding. The invention further describes a method to produce a gradient-tinted polarized polycarbonate eyewear lens product by obtaining a multilayer wafer having an outer layer, an inner polycarbonate layer, and a polarized layer between the inner and outer layers, applying a gradient tint to the wafer's inner layer, placing the gradient tinted wafer within an injection-molding cavity, and injecting molten polycarbonate directly against the wafer's gradient-tinted layer to form the inner portion of the lens product and to fuse it to the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Adam Ahmad Barzak, Andrew John McKenzie, David Mark Ambler
  • Publication number: 20130329185
    Abstract: A polarizing lens is constituted in succession by a mechanical support layer made of polycarbonate, the intermediate layer made of polyvinyl alcohol, and an outer layer made of cellulose triacetate. The invention also provides a method of fabricating such a lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: BNL EUROLENS
    Inventors: Didier Clerc, Franck Ledien
  • Patent number: 8596783
    Abstract: A light control system including a lens may also include a first portion carried by the lens to filter a first polarized light, and a first central region within the first portion. The light control system may further include a second portion carried by the lens to filter a second polarized light, and a second central region within the second portion. The first portion may not substantially be in series with the second portion, and the first central region may not be substantially in series with the second central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Cain Finley
  • Publication number: 20130271725
    Abstract: A color contrast enhancing sunglass lens includes a lens body and a multi-layer coating disposed on the lens body. The multi-layer coating includes a set of alternating layers formed of materials having different refractive indices and confines the transmission of visible light to a predetermined spectral profile having at least three high transmission bands that include blue, green and red bands and that have a maximum of spectral transmittance no less than 60%, three low transmission bands that include purple, cyan and yellow bands and that have a minimum of spectral transmittance no greater than 40%, and no spectral transmittance being less than 15% between 475 and 650 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: CORNERSTONE OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Chiou, Shih-Lung Huang
  • Patent number: 8556418
    Abstract: Curved lenses and methods for making curved lenses are described. One embodiment of a method of making a curved lens includes curving a lens blank made of a linear polarizer layer laminated together with a plurality of polymeric layers. The lens blank is curved by engendering rotational motion about a rotational axis of a roller having a forming surface thereon and lateral motion of a belt in contact with the forming surface. The lens blank is heated and pressed between the belt and the forming surface at a pressure, the pressure being supplied by tension on the belt. The pressure is maintained for a time sufficient to allow the lens blank to conform to the shape of the forming surface. Methods of the invention may be used to make curved lenses with different polarization properties and curvatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Polaroid Eyeware Ltd
    Inventors: Eric Boinard, Pascal Boinard
  • Publication number: 20130208239
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a polarized optical device and the resulting optical device. In the process, an optical device is coated with an adhesive. A PVA polarizing film is moistened to render it formable. The PVA polarizing film is laminated on to the adhesive coating so that the PVA polarizing film forms to the shape of the optical device. The film, adhesive, device ensemble is then heat annealed. The PVA polarizing film is then contacted with a boric acid solution to crosslink the PVA so that it can withstand use and further processing. A polarized optical device includes an adhesive disposed between an optical base element and a PVA polarizing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Peiqi Jiang, Bruce Keegan
  • Patent number: 8496328
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an optical article, comprising mixing fullerene with a thermoplastic resin powder, pelletizing the mixture using a multiaxial extruder, and injection-molding the pellets, wherein the fullerene is fullerene having a carbon number of 70 or a derivative thereof, and has an average particle diameter of 5 ?m or less. An object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing a lens suitable in sunglasses or anti-glare spectacles which reduces blue hazard, and by which a blue signal can be confirmed visually, and an optical filter, and an optical article which can cut at least a part of visible light of 380 to 500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Yamamoto Kogaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kobuchi, Nobutaka Takami, Shinya Kajiri
  • Patent number: 8474973
    Abstract: An infrared absorbing polarized eyeglass lens substrate includes a polarizing element including a polarizing film and a polyurethane resin material containing an infrared absorbing agent and covering both surfaces of the polarizing film, and an eyeglass lens substrate made of a polyurethane resin not containing an infrared absorbing agent and configured to be ground for adjusting lens power. The polarizing element is superposed on one side of the eyeglass lens substrate and integrated therewith by insert molding which accompanies polymerization reaction of the polyurethane resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Talex Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanichi Tamura, Shoichi Mitsuuchi, Kenzo Wada
  • Publication number: 20130141693
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an optical filter configured to attenuate visible light in certain spectral bands. At least some of the spectral bands can include spectral features that tend to substantially increase the colorfulness, clarity, and/or vividness of a scene. In certain embodiments, eyewear incorporates an optical filter that enhances chroma within one or more spectral bands. In some embodiments, a wearer of the eyewear can perceive the increase in chroma when viewing at least certain types of scenes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: OAKLEY, INC.
    Inventor: Oakley, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8419181
    Abstract: Curved lenses configured to decode three dimensional content and method of fabricating the same. The lenses comprise a polyvinylalcohol polarizer film or similar type of material laminated with triacetate or similar type material on one or both sides, wherein the polarizer film has a polarizing efficiency equal to or exceeding 99% and a transmittance percentage equal to or exceeding 35% and a retarder film (e.g., norbornene copolymer resin) laminated on a front surface of the polyvinylalcohol polarizer film laminated with triacetate and aligned to produce a desired circular polarization responsive to specified retardation wavelengths. Thermoforming and press polishing techniques may be used to fabricate/curve the blanks into lenses. The lenses (optical elements) may be used in an injection molding process to add thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: MEI 3D, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Johnson, James Pritts
  • Patent number: 8360574
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ophthalmic systems comprising a selective light wavelength filter, wherein said selective filter provides improved contrast sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: High Performance Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Ishak, Joshua N. Haddock, William Kokonaski, Dwight P. Duston, Venkatramani S. Iyer, Ronald D. Blum, Sean P. McGinnis, Michael B. Packard
  • Patent number: 8360575
    Abstract: A lens for eyeglasses includes a substrate and at least one carbon nanotube (CNT) film including a number of CNTs. The substrate includes a surface, or defines at least one cavity. The at least one CNT film is disposed on the surface of the substrate, or embedded in the at least one cavity of the substrate such that a part of light is absorbed by the CNTs of the CNT film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Bo Feng, Qun-Qing Li, Shou-Shan Fan