Transitions Optical, Inc.

Chenguang Li

Anil Kumar

Meng He

Ruisong Xu

Rachael L Yoest

Xiao-Man Dai

Peter C Foller

Jiping Shao

Henry Nguyen

Delwin S Jackson

William D Carpenter

Jennine M Frease

Hung Nguyen

The present invention relates to an optical article that includes, a mark that is positioned on and/or within the first surface of an optical substrate thereof, and a photochromic layer that includes at least one photochromic compound and which resides over at least a portion of the first surface. The mark includes a photoluminescent material. The first surface of the optical substrate is exposed to a source of actinic radiation, the photochromic compound has an activation time after exposure to the source of actinic radiation, and the mark luminesces and is visually observable during at least a portion of the activation time. The present invention also relates to: an optical article that includes, a mark that is positioned within the first surface of an optical substrate thereof, and at least one photochromic compound that is also positioned within the first surface; and methods of making such optical articles.

Optical article having a photoluminescent mark

Provided are phase-separating polymer systems including a cured polymeric liquid crystal matrix phase and a guest phase including at least one photoactive material where the guest phase separates from the matrix phase during the curing process. Optical elements, including ophthalmic elements and other articles of manufacture including the phase-separating polymer systems are also disclosed. Methods of forming a liquid crystal phase-separating photoactive polymer system are also described.

Alignment facilities for optical dyes

The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formula Ic, in which R-Rcan each independently be selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbyl (e.g., methyl); Land Lare each independently a divalent linking group, such as a bond or &#x2014;OC(O)&#x2014;R&#x2014;C(O)O&#x2014;, where Rcan be divalent hydrocarbyl (e.g., &#x2014;CHCH&#x2014;); each Land each Leach independently represent a flexible segment, such as divalent linear or branched C-Calkyl; each Land each Leach independently represent a rigid segment including, for example, optionally substituted phenylen-1,4-diyl groups; t and s are each independently from 1 to 4; m and p are each independently from 0 to 4 for each t, provided that the sum of m and p is at least 1 for each t; q and r are each independently from 0 to 4 for each s, provided that the sum of q and r is at least 1 for each s; and Eand Ecan each independently be hydrogen or hydrocarbyl. The present invention also relates to compositions, such as liquid crystal compositions, and articles, such as optical elements, that include the compound represented by Formula Ic.

Mesogenic stabilizers

The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formula I, In Formula I, Rand Rare each independently selected from hydrogen, and optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, provided that at least one of Rand Ris selected from optionally substituted hydrocarbyl (e.g., tertiary butyl); n is 0, 1 or 2, and each Ris independently selected from optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; Lis a divalent linking group, such as a bond or &#x2014;C(O)O&#x2014;; each Lindependently represents a flexible segment, such as divalent linear or branched C-Calkyl; each Lindependently represents a rigid segment including, for example, optionally substituted phenylen-1,4-diyl groups; t is from 1 to 4; m and p are each independently from 0 to 4 for each t, provided that the sum of m and p is at least 1 for each t; and E can be, for example, C-Caryl. The present invention also relates to compositions, such as liquid crystal compositions, and articles, such as optical elements, that include the compound represented by Formula I.

Provided are photochromic articles that include 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 absorbance of less than or equal to 0.1 at the wavelength of peak 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 can include a second photochromic compound that has an absorbance of less than 0.1 at the wavelength of peak absorbance of the underlying photochromic-dichroic compound. The photochromic articles provide, for example, a combination of linear polarizing properties, and reduced percent transmittance when in a colored or darkened state, such as when exposed to actinic light.

Polarizing photochromic articles

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.

The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formula Ia, in which each R-Rcan in each case be independently selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbyl (e.g., methyl); Ris a multivalent linking group, such as Lis a divalent linking group, such as a bond or divalent optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; each Lindependently represents a flexible segment, such as divalent linear or branched C-Calkyl; each Lindependently represents a rigid segment including, for example, optionally substituted phenylen-1,4-diyl groups; t is from 1 to 4; m and p are each independently from 0 to 4 for each t, provided that the sum of m and p is at least 1 for each t; and E can be hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl. The present invention also relates to compositions, such as liquid crystal compositions, and articles, such as optical elements, that include the compound represented by Formula Ia.

The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formula I, in which R-Rcan each independently be selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbyl (e.g., methyl); Lis a divalent linking group, such as a bond or &#x2014;OC(O)&#x2014;R&#x2014;C(O)O&#x2014;, where Rcan be divalent hydrocarbyl (e.g., &#x2014;CHCH&#x2014;); each Lindependently represents a flexible segment, such as divalent linear or branched C-Calkyl; each Lindependently represents a rigid segment including, for example, optionally substituted phenylen-1,4-diyl groups; t is from 1 to 4; m and p are each independently from 0 to 4 for each t, provided that the sum of m and p is at least 1 for each t; and E can be hydrogen or hydrocarbyl. The present invention also relates to compositions, such as liquid crystal compositions, and articles, such as optical elements, that include the compound represented by Formula I.

Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein provide phase-separating polymer systems including a cured polymeric liquid crystal matrix phase and a guest phase including at least one photoactive material where the guest phase separates from the matrix phase during the curing process. Optical elements, including ophthalmic elements and other articles of manufacture including the phase-separating polymer systems are also disclosed. Methods of forming a liquid crystal phase-separating photoactive polymer system are also described.

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Monroeville, PA, United States of America

Chenguang Li