Photochromatic Patents (Class 351/159.61)
  • Patent number: 11623419
    Abstract: A method of producing a photochromic resin body includes a first step, a second step and a third step. In the first step, a sublimable photochromic dye having sublimability is applied to a base body so as to obtain a function-adding base body. In the second step, the function-adding base body obtained in the first step is set to face a resin body, the function-adding base body is heated to sublimate the sublimable photochromic dye applied to the function-adding base body, and the sublimable photochromic dye is deposited on the resin body. In the third step, the resin body on which the sublimable photochromic dye is deposited in the second step is heated to fix the sublimable photochromic dye on the resin body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Inuzuka, Koji Abe, Takahisa Shibamoto
  • Patent number: 11302851
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the component comprises a light reflective housing. The housing comprises a matrix material of a light-transmittive plastic and particles of a glass ceramic embedded therein. The particles comprise a mean diameter of at least 5 ?m. The particles comprise a glass matrix and crystallites. A refractive index difference between the glass matrix and the crystallites is at least 0.5, and the crystallites exhibit a mean diameter between 20 nm and 0.5 ?m, inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventor: Claudia Jurenka
  • Patent number: 10976574
    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: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: OAKLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Brock Scott McCabe, Ryan Saylor, Carlos D. Reyes
  • Patent number: 10839609
    Abstract: An example device may include an electronic display configured to generate an augmented reality image element and an optical combiner configured to receive the augmented reality image element along with ambient light from outside the device. The optical combiner may be configured to provide an augmented reality image having the augmented reality image element located within a portion of an ambient image formed from the ambient light. The device may also include a dimmer element configured to selectively dim the portion of the ambient image in which the augmented reality image element is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jasmine Soria Sears, Alireza Moheghi, Oleg Yaroshchuk, Douglas Robert Lanman, Andrew Maimone, Kavitha Ratnam, Nathan Matsuda, Lu Lu, Nicholas Diorio, Mengfei Wang
  • Patent number: 10737976
    Abstract: A method for forming ion-exchanged regions in a glass article by contacting an ion source with at least one surface of the glass article, forming a first ion-exchanged region in the glass article by heating a first portion of the glass article with a laser, and forming a second ion-exchanged region in the glass article. Characteristics of the first ion-exchanged region may be different from characteristics of the second ion-exchanged region. A depth of the ion-exchanged region may be greater than 1 ?m. A glass article including a first ion-exchanged region, and a second ion-exchanged region having different characteristics from the first ion-exchanged region. The thickness of the glass article is less than or equal to about 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sean Matthew Garner, Ming-Jun Li, Xinghua Li
  • Patent number: 10537477
    Abstract: A snow goggle device includes a composite lens and a spectacle frame fastened to a periphery of the composite lens. The composite lens includes a multi-layer sheet, a protective sheet spaced apart from the multi-layer sheet, and a combining layer connecting the multi-layer sheet and the protective sheet. The multi-layer sheet includes an anti-UV layer, an anti-fog layer, and a photochromic layer, the latter two of which are respectively disposed on an inner surface and an outer surface of the anti-UV layer. The photochromic layer has an adjustable transmittance that is changed when a UV light travels through the photochromic layer. The anti-UV layer can reflect a UV light to the photochromic layer. The multi-layer sheet, the protective sheet, and the combining layer jointly define an air layer that is configured to slow down the transference of an outer temperature of the protective sheet to the multi-layer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ASWAN INTERNATIONAL CORP.
    Inventor: Tzer-An Hung
  • Patent number: 10025117
    Abstract: A functional dyed lens for spectacles is obtained by dyeing at least one of the surfaces of an undyed plastic lens, and in the functional dyed lens, a dyeing density defined as a difference in luminous transmittance from the undyed plastic lens is 2% or more but 4% or less, and a difference in average transmittance from the undyed plastic lens in a wavelength region of 530 nm to 570 nm is 3% or more but 5% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON-ESSILOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuka Takedomi, Yuko Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9891448
    Abstract: A tinted polarized lens for attenuating ambient light reducing glare and improving color discrimination for a user is disclosed. In some embodiments, the lens has uniform transmittance across the visible spectrum with selective filtering of light at 480 nm and 580 nm. In some embodiments, the lens may reduce light in the blue region of the spectrum while maintaining color discrimination. In some embodiments, the level of attenuation provided by the lens may vary based on the intensity of light present while maintaining selective filtering at 480 nm and 580 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Smith Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Carlson, Scott MacGuffie
  • Patent number: 9873819
    Abstract: A curable composition having excellent storage stability and capable of forming a cured product having excellent scratch resistance. The composition comprises a silsesquioxane monomer having a radically polymerizable group in the molecule and a content of a component having a molecular weight measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of not less than 10,000 of less than 9 mass % and a bifunctional polymerizable monomer represented by the following formula (1). (wherein B and B? are each an linear or branched alkylene group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, “c” is an average value of 1 to 20, when a plurality of B's are existent, B's may be the same or different, and R5 and R6 are each a hydrogen atom or methyl group).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Tokuyama Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutomo Shimizu, Katsuhiro Mori
  • Patent number: 9638938
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: EHS LENS PHILIPPINES, INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke Ogaya, Toshihiko Shimizu, Kenichi Tonouchi, Akinori Yamamoto, Masaki Ihara
  • Patent number: 9625740
    Abstract: A photochromic ophthalmic lens includes a photochromic substrate and a filter having at least one layer formed on the main front face of the lens. The filter has a total thickness ?700 nm and the front face has: an average UVA reflection factor over a range of wavelengths from 330 to 380 nanometers that is ?40%, for an incident angle between 0° and 15°, an average blue reflection factor over a range of wavelengths from 420 to 450 nanometers that is ?5%, for an incident angle between 0° and 15°, a spectral reflectivity curve for an incident angle between 0° and 15°, the reflectivity curve having a reflectivity maximum at a wavelength <435 nanometers, and a width at mid-height ?70 nanometers, and for an incident angle between 0° and 15°, ?spectral=1?[R0°-15° (480 nm)/R0°-15° (435 nm)], with ?spectral?0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE D'OPTIQUE)
    Inventors: Amelie Kudla, Helene Maury
  • Patent number: 9561684
    Abstract: A system and method for varying hologram visibility is disclosed herein. Specifically the system can comprise a shield. The shield can comprise a first layer and a second layer. The first layer can comprise a photochromic material having a dark state and a light state. The second layer can comprise a hologram that is less visible the first layer is in the light state. The method can comprise attaching a second layer to a first layer. The first layer can comprise a photochromic material having a dark state and a light state. The second layer can comprise a hologram. The hologram can be less visible when the first layer is in the light state than when the first layer is in the dark state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Seferino Rivera, III
  • Patent number: 9255879
    Abstract: A method of measuring a refractive index distribution includes steps of setting a plurality of different arrangements by a translation movement in a state where an object is arranged in first and second media having refractive indices different from a refractive index of the object, measuring transmissive wavefront of the object for each of media and each of the plurality of arrangements by reference light entering the object (S400), obtaining wavefront aberration corresponding to a difference between each transmissive wavefront and a reference transmissive wavefront (S500), obtaining refractive index distribution of the object by removing an influence of a shape error of the object using wavefront aberration of two media in which the object is arranged at the same position (S70), and obtaining refractive index distribution information of the object based on a plurality of refractive index distributions corresponding to the plurality of arrangements (S80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9069186
    Abstract: The present invention describes single-piece or multi-piece Rigid Inserts that may be included in an Ophthalmic Lenses or may comprise the Ophthalmic Lens, wherein the Rigid Insert may be formed through the processing of thin sheet material by thermoforming. Single piece annular Rigid Inserts may perform the function of providing a template for printed patterns to be included in Ophthalmic Lenses. Single piece full Rigid Inserts may perform the function of polarizing light or filtering light based on the properties of materials used to form the insert. Multi-piece Rigid Inserts may include activation and energization elements. The present invention also includes methods and apparatus for forming the Rigid Inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Pugh, Karson S. Putt, Edward R. Kernick, Douglas Lilac, Frederick A. Flitsch, Camille Higham, Sharika Snook
  • Publication number: 20150098058
    Abstract: An ophthalmic lens having a main front face and a main rear face includes: an element for cutting off ultraviolet (UV) light incident on the main front face of the ophthalmic lens; an anti-reflection coating on the main rear face of the ophthalmic lens, having a weighted average reflection factor in the UV region of less than or equal to 7%; and at least one element for at least partially blocking the blue light in the wavelength region from 400 to 460 nanometers, preferably from 420 to 450 nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE- D'OPTIQUE)
    Inventors: Francisco De Ayguavives, Helene Maury
  • Publication number: 20150098057
    Abstract: A photochromic polyurethane laminate that is constructed to solve certain manufacturing difficulties involved in the production of plastic photochromic lenses is disclosed. The photochromic laminate includes at least two layers of a resinous material and a photochromic polyurethane layer that is interspersed between the two resinous layers and which contains photochromic compounds. The polyurethane layer is formed by curing a mixture of a solid thermoplastic polyurethane, at least one isocyanate prepolymer, at least one photochromic compound, and a stabilizing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Xuzhi Qin, Hideyo Sugimura, Michael S. Boulineau
  • Publication number: 20150097855
    Abstract: A system for facilitating a consumer's selection of customized color-changing lenses for eyewear, or windows, captures a digital color image of at least the face of the consumer and displays that color image to the consumer on a video display while superimposing a pair of lenses over the eyes. The display simulates the color of the superimposed lenses when made of a selected photochromic or thermochromic material. The color of the superimposed lenses is changeable, in response to consumer-controlled inputs, over a range between (a) an initial color for the lenses when subjected to at least one of (i) a first predetermined temperature and (ii) a first predetermined light condition, and (b) a final color for said lenses when subjected to at least one of (i) a second predetermined temperature higher than said first predetermined temperature and (ii) a second predetermined light condition brighter than said first predetermined light condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: KILOLAMBDA TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Ido Dotan, Noam Gross, Ariela Donval, Doron Nevo, Moshe Oron
  • Publication number: 20150049303
    Abstract: The present invention provides a photochromic composite lens which includes a penetration layer located exteriorly, and a blocking layer located interiorly, and a transition layer located between the penetration layer and the blocking layer. A thickness of the transition layer can be adjusted in view of the field requirements. In addition, functional coatings, such as abrasive-proof coating, fog-free coating, refraction free coating, and other functional coatings can be coated onto the penetration layer and the blocking layer, respectively. With this, the photochromic composite lens can be configured by polycarbonate lens or lens made from other material. Scratches over the surfaces will not impair the intended function of transition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Wang Lee Chen Chang, Po-Ling Shiao, Mei-Chun Lai
  • Publication number: 20150022776
    Abstract: Photochromic spectacles which use solar energy as the power source include a frame, two lenses arranged in the frame, and a driving circuit. Each lens includes a substrate, an electrochromic film and a solar cell film. The solar cell is a transparent and outer film and absorbs infrared light and ultraviolet light from the sun, to convert the infrared and ultraviolet light to electrical power. The driving circuit is arranged on the frame and electrically connected with the electrochromic film and the solar cell, the driving circuit can be switched to apply or not to apply electrical power generated by the solar cell film to the electrochromic film to darken the spectacles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: PO-CHOU CHEN
  • Patent number: 8852274
    Abstract: A composite ophthalmic device comprising an ophthalmic structure, means or lens having a photo-shifting material deployed thereon or therewithin so as to up-shift or down-shift the amplitude, wavelength (or both) of incident radiation into the visible wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Vision Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Doraiswamy, Jensen Buck, Nahid Izadpanah
  • Patent number: 8845095
    Abstract: Described herein are devices, compositions, and methods for improving color discernment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Brett T. Harding, Sheng Li, Amane Mochizuki, David T. Sisk
  • Publication number: 20140268025
    Abstract: Ophthalmic eyewear is provided, comprising a frame and a spectacle lens having a filter and being disposed within the frame. The filter comprises a spectral characteristic that transmits red, green and blue light as mixed and emitted by an electronic display, while blocking substantially all broadband light other than the same bandwidths. Further ophthalmic eyewear is provided comprising a contact lens having a filter, wherein the filter comprises a spectral characteristic that transmits red, green and blue light as mixed and emitted by an electronic display, while blocking substantially all broadband light other than the same bandwidths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBAL OPHTHALMIC CONSULTANTS, LLC
    Inventor: Jerome A. Legerton
  • Patent number: 8814352
    Abstract: Method for producing a plastic film containing a compound absorbing ultraviolet radiation comprising (a) depositing an alcoholic solution of polyvinyl butyral on a transparent plastic support film, (b) evaporating the solvent from the alcoholic solution of polyvinyl butyral so as to form a polyvinyl butyral layer on the transparent support film, (c) printing the polyvinyl butyral layer with an ink absorbing ultraviolet radiation (UV absorber) in a pattern, (d) heating the transparent plastic support film, coated with the printed polyvinyl butyral layer so as to enable at least part of the UV absorber to pass from the polyvinyl butyral layer to the plastic support film, (e) removing the polyvinyl butyral layer, preferably by washing with a suitable solvent. The application also relates to the film obtained by this method and the use of this film for producing a photochromic element with a spatially non-uniform behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Essilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
    Inventors: Samuel Archambeau, Christian Bovet, Stephane Perrot
  • Publication number: 20140225049
    Abstract: The present invention provides ophthalmic devices comprising at least one photochromic material which is an indeno-fused naphthopyran having a pi-conjugation extending group bonded to the 11-position of the indeno-fused naphthopyran, the pi-conjugation extending group having at least one pendent halo-substituted group bonded thereto. The pi-conjugation extending group extends the pi-conjugation system of said indeno-fused naphthopyran. The 13-position of the indeno-fused naphthopyran is substantially free of spiro-substituents. The invention further provides photochromic materials of specified structure, photochromic compositions, photochromic articles and optical elements that include the photochromic materials. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to methods of making the ophthalmic devices comprising photochromic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Anu Chopra, Jun Deng, Beon-Kyu Kim, David B. Knowles, Frank F. Molock, JR., Victor A. Montes, Stephen D. Straight, Wenjing Xiao, Huayun Yu
  • Publication number: 20140198296
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a photochromic lens for eye glasses, which has a high refractive index and excellent light-controlling properties and has such a constitution that the weight and thickness of the lens can be reduced. [Solution] Provided is a photochromic lens for eye glasses, which is produced by polymerizing a polymerizable composition prepared by dissolving a photochromic compound into a monomer mixture comprising a first radically polymerizable monomer represented by general formula (I), a second radically polymerizable monomer represented by general formula (II) and divinylbenzene that has a purity of 50% or more and contains a divinylbenzene component and an ethylvinylbenzene component at a total content of 90% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichiro Kadowaki
  • Publication number: 20140146285
    Abstract: A photochromic curable composition comprising, as radically polymerizable component (A), a silsesquioxane component (A1) having a radically polymerizable group and a bifunctional radically polymerizable monomer (A2) represented by the following general formula (1), wherein a is a number of 0 to 30, and b is a number of 0 to 30 on condition that an average value of a+b is 2 to 30, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and A is a divalent organic group on condition that the number of carbon atoms is 1 to 20, and a photochromic compound (B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: TOKUYAMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Otani, Junji Takenaka, Junji Momoda, Shinobu Izumi
  • Patent number: 8736992
    Abstract: An impingement angle-independent wavelength-specific limiter includes a stack of wavelength-specific limiters configured to limit impinging light having a plurality of different wavelengths. The stack includes a plurality of wavelength-specific limiters. Each one of the plurality of wavelength-specific limiters is activated by a corresponding wavelength of the impinging light and is configured to limit the corresponding wavelength of the impinging light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: KiloLambda Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuval Ofir, Ariela Donval, Moshe Oron, Doron Nevo
  • Publication number: 20140125947
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plastic lens capable of suppressing deformation while having a photochromic film. A plastic lens according to the present invention is configured to include a plastic substrate formed in a meniscus shape with a concave surface and a convex surface, a photochromic film provided on the convex surface of the plastic substrate, and a stress compensation film provided on the concave surface of the plastic substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Imizu, Tomofumi Ohnishi, Hiroshi Ota, Terufumi Hamamoto
  • 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: 8697770
    Abstract: A method for making a hydrogel, photochromic contact lens including supplying a first lens composition comprising a contact lens monomer and a photochromic material to a front contact lens mold and supplying a second lens composition to said contact lens mold wherein the viscosity of said first composition is at least about 1000 cp greater than the viscosity of said second contact lens composition, and the makeup of said second composition matches the of said first composition to reduce strain between said compositions of the resulting lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Donnie J. Duis, Yongcheng Li, Leilani K. Sonoda, Holly L. Grammer
  • Publication number: 20140043586
    Abstract: To provide a photochromic composition which functions as an adhesive layer for bonding two optical sheets that are formed of a polycarbonate resin or the like, so that a laminate that is obtained by bonding two optical sheets with the composition being sandwiched therebetween has excellent adhesion, heat resistance and photochromic properties. In particular, to provide a photochromic composition which is capable of forming an adhesive layer that is not decreased in the adhesion between the optical sheets even in cases where the adhesive layer is in contact with hot water. Provided is a photochromic composition which contains a urethane polymer having a polymerizable group (component A) and a photochromic compound (component B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: TOKUYAMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Hiraren, Katsuhiro Mori, Yasutomo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8636359
    Abstract: A method of customizing vision correction including measuring optical aberration data of a patient's eye and calculating a lens definition based on the optical aberration data, wherein calculating the lens definition comprises calculating a correction of at least one low order aberration and at least one high order aberration and is based at least partly on the patient's pupil size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Essilor International (Compagnie General d'Optique)
    Inventors: Laurence Warden, Andreas W. Dreher, John Ferro, Jagdish M. Jethmalani, Shui T. Lai
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8545015
    Abstract: Provided are photochromic articles including a substrate, a primer layer that includes a first photochromic compound, and a photochromic-dichroic layer over the primer layer that includes a photochromic-dichroic compound. The first photochromic compound and the photochromic-dichroic compound each are selected such that the photochromic-dichroic compound has an unactivated state terminal minimum absorbance wavelength that is less than or equal to the unactivated state terminal minimum absorbance of the underlying first photochromic compound. The present invention also relates to such photochromic articles that further include a topcoat layer over the photochromic-dichroic layer, the topcoat layer including a second photochromic compound that has an unactivated state terminal minimum absorbance wavelength that is less than the unactivated state terminal minimum absorbance wavelength of the underlying photochromic-dichroic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Anil Kumar, Rachael L. Yoest, Chenguang Li, Delwin S. Jackson, Henry Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20130035760
    Abstract: A lens in accordance with the present invention includes an accommodating cell having two chambers with at least one chamber filled with optical fluid with the refractive index matching the refractive index of the accommodating element separating them. The accommodating element has a diffractive surface with surface relief structure that maintains its period but changes its height due a pressure difference between the chambers to redirect most of light that passes through the lens between different foci of far and near vision. The invention also includes a sensor cell that directly interacts with the ciliary muscle contraction and relaxation to create changes in pressure between the accommodating cell chambers that results in changing surface relief structure height and the lens accommodation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventor: Valdemar PORTNEY
  • Publication number: 20120327362
    Abstract: A composite ophthalmic device comprising an ophthalmic structure, means or lens having a photo-shifting material deployed thereon or therewithin so as to up-shift or down-shift the amplitude, wavelength (or both) of incident radiation into the visible wavelength range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Anand Doraiswamy, Jensen Buck, Nahid Izadpanah
  • Publication number: 20120242954
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photochromic optical article with reduced thermal dependency, comprising: (a) a transparent substrate, (b) a saturated photochromic layer having, in the activated state and at a temperature of 20° C. or greater, a relative transmission factor of less than 1% in the visible range, and (c) an anti-UV coating of plastic material at least partially covering the saturated photochromic layer, the said anti-UV coating containing at least one agent which absorbs UV radiation (anti-UV agent) and is distributed in a pattern consisting of a multitude of points, each having a surface area of less than 0.15 mm 2, the average distance between two neighbouring points lying between 0.5 and 2 mm and the ratio of the overall surface area of all the points to the total surface area of the anti-UV coating being such that the relative transmission factor of the optical article in the visible range in the activated state and at 20° C. or greater is at least equal to 5%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE D'OPTIQUE)
    Inventors: Samuel Archambeau, Christian Bovet, Jean-Paul Cano, Anthony Saugey
  • Publication number: 20120236255
    Abstract: A method for laminating a functional film on to an optical base element and a tri-layer adhesive system for use in the method. The tri-layer adhesive includes a first latex adhesive layer disposed on the functional film and a second latex adhesive layer disposed on the optical base element. An HMA layer is disposed in between the latex layers to form a tri-layer adhesive to permanently retain the functionalized film on the optical base element. The method includes first coating a latex adhesive on the functional film and second coating a latex adhesive on the optical base element. An HMA is then coated on to one of the dried latex adhesive layers. The film is hot pressed on to the optical base element with the HMA sandwiched in between the latex layers to form a laminated optical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Peiqi Jiang, Bruce Keegan
  • Publication number: 20120224139
    Abstract: Provided is a composite optical article including (a) a polymeric base layer comprising a sulfur-containing urethane-based material having a refractive index of at least 1.57; and (b) a polymeric outer layer cast over a surface of the base layer (a) comprising (i) a poly(urea-urethane) material having a refractive index of less than 1.57, and (ii) a photochromic compound and/or a static dye. The thickness of the base layer (a) is greater than the thickness of the outer layer (b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: PPG INDUSTRIES OHIO, INC.
    Inventor: William H. Retsch, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120218512
    Abstract: Method for producing a plastic film containing a compound absorbing ultraviolet radiation comprising (a) depositing an alcoholic solution of polyvinyl butyral on a transparent plastic support film, (b) evaporating the solvent from the alcoholic solution of polyvinyl butyral so as to form a polyvinyl butyral layer on the transparent support film, (c) printing the polyvinyl butyral layer with an ink absorbing ultraviolet radiation (UV absorber) in a pattern, (d) heating the transparent plastic support film, coated with the printed polyvinyl butyral layer so as to enable at least part of the UV absorber to pass from the polyvinyl butyral layer to the plastic support film, (e) removing the polyvinyl butyral layer, preferably by washing with a suitable solvent. The application also relates to the film obtained by this method and the use of this film for producing a photochromic element with a spatially non-uniform behaviour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE D'OPTIQUE)
    Inventors: Samuel Archambeau, Christian Bovet, Stephane Perrot
  • Patent number: 8231217
    Abstract: A transparent optical component (10) comprises at least one transparent set of cells (15) juxtaposed parallel to a surface of the component, each cell being separated by walls (18) parallel to the component surface, hermetically sealed and containing at least one substance having an optical property, and at least one absorbing coating (30), placed on the walls on one side extending parallel to said component surface. The optical component can be cut out along a predefined contour and optionally drilled. The invention also comprises a method for producing such optical component and its use for producing an optical element. The optical element may be a spectacle lens in particular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Essilor International (Compagnie Generale d'optique)
    Inventors: Jerome Ballet, Jean-Paul Cano
  • Publication number: 20120127425
    Abstract: The invention relates to one-piece lens made from optical material and including an outside part and an inside part, in which the inside parts comprises a surplus amount of the same optical material as the lens, for the purpose of cutting ophthalmic lenses, said surplus material being positioned close to the central part of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Alejandro Arturo Goebel Quintana