Transitions Optical, Inc.

Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc.

Eric M King

Kevin J Stewart

Cletus N Welch

Anil Kumar

Lawrence G Anderson

Randy E Daughenbaugh

James P Colton

Robert W Walters

Truman F Wilt

David T McKeough

Carol L Knox

Kevin W Seybert

Jessica A Hoch

An electroactive optical device that includes an optical substrate; a layer that includes an electroactive material capable of linearly polarizing electromagnetic radiation; at least two transparent electrodes, spaced one from the other, and each independently in contact with the layer containing the electroactive material; a source capable of applying an electric potential between the at least two electrodes; and a birefringent layer. Electromagnetic radiation transmitting through the device includes a first polarization state in the absence of an electrical potential between the at least two electrodes and the electromagnetic radiation transmitting through the device includes a second polarization state that is different from the first polarization state, in the presence of an electrical potential between the at least two electrodes. The electroactive optical device is operable to circularly polarize or elliptically polarize transmitted radiation.

Electroactive optical device

The present invention relates to optical elements, such as ophthalmic elements, including a substrate, a compatiblizing coating that optionally includes a dendritic polymer on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate and a functional organic coating, such as, but not limited to, an alignment coating, a photochromic coating, or an aligned liquid crystal coating, in contact with at least a portion of the compatiblizing coating opposite the substrate. The present invention also relates to compatiblizing coating compositions of dendritic polymers that may be used to form compatiblizing coatings on the surface of an optical element, and methods of making optical elements using the compatiblizing coatings.

Optical elements comprising compatiblizing coatings and methods of making the same

Describes a photochromic article, e.g., an ophthalmic photochromic plastic article, such as a lens, in which the article includes (1) a rigid substrate, e.g., polymeric substrate, such as a thermoset or thermoplastic substrate, (2) a photochromic polymeric coating appended to at least one surface of the substrate, the photochromic polymeric coating containing a photochromic amount of at least one photochromic material, e.g., spirooxazine, naphthopyran and/or fulgide, and (3) a film comprising a maleimide derivative coherently appended to the photochromic coating. Describes also the aforedescribed photochromic article having an abrasion-resistant coating affixed to the maleimide derivative-containing film, e.g., an abrasion-resistant coating comprising an organo silane; and describes further a photochromic article having an antireflective coating affixed to the abrasion-resistant coating.

Photochromic optical article

Describes an article, e.g., an optical article such as a lens, in which the article includes (a) a rigid substrate, e.g., a transparent ophthalmic substrate, such as a thermoset or thermoplastic substrate, having at least one surface suitable for accommodating a photochromic coating, and (b) a transparent photochromic coating comprising dendritic polymeric acrylate, e.g., polyester acrylate, on at least a portion of said surface of the substrate, the coating comprising a photochromic amount of at least one photochromic material, e.g., an organic photochromic material.

Photochromic article

Describes a photochromic article, e.g., an ophthalmic photochromic plastic article, such as a lens, in which the article includes (1) a rigid substrate, e.g., a transparent substrate such as a glass or organic polymeric substrate, as for example, a thermoset or thermoplastic substrate, (2) a photochromic polymeric coating appended to at least a portion of at least one surface of the substrate, the photochromic polymeric coating containing a photochromic amount of at least one organic photochromic material, e.g., spirooxazine, naphthopyran, diarylethene and/or fulgide, and (3) a thermally cured transparent thermoset polymeric coating superposed on, e.g., coherently appended to, the photochromic coating, the thermally cured polymeric coating being harder than the photochromic polymeric coating. Describes also the aforedescribed photochromic article having an abrasion-resistant coating affixed to the thermally cured polymer coating, e.g., an abrasion-resistant coating comprising an organo silane; and a photochromic article having an antireflective coating affixed to the abrasion-resistant coating.

Describes a multifocal optical article, e.g., an ophthalmic article such as a lens, in which the article includes (1) a rigid optical substrate, e.g., a transparent polymeric substrate, such as a thermoset or thermoplastic substrate, adapted to possess at least one light influencing property on at least a portion of at least one surface of the substrate, e.g., a photochromic and/or polarizing layer, and (2) a multifocal layer of an optical quality material on said substrate having the light influencing property. Describes also the aforedescribed optical article having an abrasion-resistant coating on the multifocal layer, e.g., an abrasion-resistant coating comprising an organo silane. A method for preparing the multifocal optical article comprising curing optical quality material between a multifocal mold and a preform comprising an optical substrate possessing the light influencing property is also described.

Photochromic multifocal optical article

Describes a photochromic plastic article, e.g., an ophthalmic photochromic article, such as a lens, in which the article includes (1) a rigid substrate, e.g., polymeric substrate, such as a thermoset or thermoplastic substrate, (2) a photochromic polymeric coating appended to at least one surface of the substrate, the photochromic polymeric coating containing a photochromic amount of at least one photochromic material, e.g., spirooxazine, naphthopyran and/or fulgide, and (3) a dendritic polyester acrylate film coherently appended to the photochromic coating. Describes also the aforedescribed photochromic article having an abrasion-resistant coating affixed to the dendritic polyester acrylate film, e.g., an abrasion-resistant coating comprising an organo silane; and a photochromic article having an antireflective coating affixed to the abrasion-resistant coating.

Described is a polymerizable composition of a photochromic amount of at least one photochromic compound, at least one material having at least one carbonate group and at least one hydroxyl group, and at least one monoisocyanate containing material having at least one unsaturated group. The polymerizable composition optionally contains copolymerizable monomers. Also described are photochromic polymerizates, e.g., photochromic optical elements such as ophthalmic lenses, prepared from the polymerizable composition of the present invention.

Photochromic polymerizable compositions

Described is a coating composition adapted to enhance the adhesion of a polymeric coating or film applied to a substrate. The coating composition is interposed between the substrate and the polymeric coating and comprises (a) at least one coupling agent, partial hydrolysates thereof or mixtures thereof in a concentration greater than 25 weight percent, based on the weight of the total composition, and (b) an adhesion enhancing amount of an epoxy-containing material having at least two epoxy groups. The coating composition is substantially free of photochromic materials and colloidal particles chosen from silica, alumina or mixtures thereof. Also described is a process for using the coating composition and articles coated with the composition and additional coatings and films which can be photochromic.

Adhesion enhancing coating composition, process for using and articles produced

Described is a photochromic article that includes a substrate and at least a partial coating of an at least partially cured polymerizable composition of a photochromic amount of at least one photochromic compound, at least one material having at least one carbonate group and at least one hydroxyl group, and at least one monoisocyanate containing material having at least one unsaturated group. Also described are photochromic optical elements such as ophthalmic lenses, prepared from an optical element substrate coated with the photochromic polymerizable composition.

Articles having a photochromic polymeric coating

Described are articles having a photochromic poly(meth)acrylic coating The coatings exhibit a Fischer microhardness of from 50 to 150 Newtons per mm and improved photochromic performance properties, i.e., the formation of darker activated colors and faster rates of photochromic activation and fade when irradiated with ultraviolet light.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Eric M King