Essilor International

Hao-Wen Chiu

Aref Jallouli

Haifeng Shan

Ronald A Berzon

Srinivasan Balasubramanian

Zbigniew Tokarski

Eric Begg

Shawn McDermott

Shannon Loiselle

Peiqi Jiang

Haipeng Zheng

Robert Alan Valeri

Pierre Fromentin

Leanirith Yean

Elliot French

Zeming Gou

Gary S Clark

Timothy E Herod

Ahmed Drammeh

Roger A Mayr

Harutsai Waipunya

Wilfred Houle

David Bracero

Srini Balasubramanian

Shawn Mcdermott

Ron Berzon

Matthew James Lockwood

Richard Neuzil

An ophthalmic lens including a substrate-independent adhesive primer for joining a functional element to a lens substrate. In particular, the ophthalmic lens includes at least one polymerized lens substrate including at least one thermoset monomer, a functional component including at least one thermoplastic layer, a surface of the at least one thermoplastic layer facing the polymerized lens substrate, and a primer coating deposited onto the surface of the at least one thermoplastic film facing the polymerized lens substrate.

Primer for ophthalmic lenses

A mold element () is fabricated () using a first mold () with which microstructures () are integrally formed in relief on the mold element (). A lens () is cast () using a second mold () that includes the mold element () such that the microstructures () are integrally formed on the lens ().

Casting a lens with surface microstructures

Disclosed are optical elements and the methods of producing the same. The optical element contains two or more near infrared absorbers mixed in an optical substrate, and one or more functional film disposed on the optical substrate. The method of producing the optical element comprises mixing two near infrared absorbers with different near infrared wavelengths absorption ranges and residual colors with a precursor of an optical substrate. The mixture is subsequently processed to produce an optical element that has broad near infrared wavelength absorption range, a high near infrared absorption level, and/or homogeneous color distribution.

Polarized lenses comprising mix of NIR dyes for broad NIR protection

The disclosure includes core-shell filament composition for additive manufacturing of ophthalmic lenses and ophthalmic lens components. The disclosure also includes a set of criteria for selecting core and shell thermoplastic combinations that exhibit high optical clarity, improved filament inter-strand diffusion, high inter-strand adhesion, and improved manufactured part strength when used in an additive manufacturing method like fused deposition modelling.

FDM 3D printing of optical lens with high clarity and mechanical strength

Disclosed herein is an injection molding method for making optical thermoplastic lenses using 3D—printed functional wafers. The method employs a variable injection molding cavity temperature that is heated to at least wafer Tg—10° C.

Injection overmolding with heat/cool cycling for making optical lenses using 3D-printed functional wafers

Disclosed are optical elements that contains two or more near infrared absorbers and methods of producing the same. Two near infrared absorbers with different near infrared wavelengths absorption ranges and residual colors are mixed with a precursor of an optical substrate. The resulting mixture is subsequently processed to produce optical elements that have a broad near infrared wavelength absorption range and a neutral residual color.

Optical element comprising mix of NIR dyes for broader NIR cut and better aesthetic

A system and method for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens is provided. The method involves preparing a cross-polarization cancelling optical film for an optical article comprising providing a film having at least a first section comprising a first edge, a second section comprising a second edge, and a predetermined color intensity; providing an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises at least a first roller and a second roller, wherein the first roller and the second roller are configured to stretch at least a portion of the film; and continuously and asymmetrically stretching at least a portion of the film using the apparatus, while substantially maintaining the color intensity of the film.

Method and system for producing a gradient polar film

Disclosed are methods for preparing partially polarized optical articles. A polarizing element is used to cover at least a portion of the front surface of an optical article to form a polarizing zone and a non-polarizing zone on the optical article. The optical article is then tinted to produce a gradual color transition between the polarizing zone and non-polarizing zone of the optical article.

Method for making a gradient color polar lens with a non-polar near vision zone

A method for producing an optical article having a Fresnel microstructure and an injection molding system for producing such an article. The method includes heating and cooling a mold and applying a pressure to a thermoplastic material during injection molding of the optical article to facilitate formation of the Fresnel microstructure.

High speed injection molding with heat/cool cycle for making optical articles

The present disclosure includes systems, apparatuses, and methods for an optical system. In some aspects, the systems and devices may produce a wafer for use in the manufacture of an optical article. The wafer includes a laminate having a first layer that includes a first matrix material having a lower surface and an upper surface opposite the lower surface and a second layer that includes a second matrix material, the second layer is coupled to the first layer and covers at least a portion of the lower surface or the upper surface. The first layer includes a first thickness at a central portion that is greater than a second thickness at an edge portion.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for edge sealing laminate wafers containing a soft deformable inner film

A method for injection molding of a weld line free minus power lens element comprises injecting a melt of thermoplastic material at a temperature higher than a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the thermoplastic material in an initial molding cavity delimited by two facing mold inserts, wherein the melt of thermoplastic material comprises at least one UV absorber. During the injecting, the two facing mold inserts are moved toward one another to define a final molding cavity whose volume is less than that of the initial molding cavity. After cooling and disassembling of the two facing mold inserts, the weld line free minus power lens element is recovered. One of the two facing mold inserts comprises a flat surface facing the initial molding cavity, thereby to form a flat surface on one side of the weld line free minus power lens element. The other of the two facing mold inserts comprises a convex surface facing the initial molding cavity, thereby to form a concave surface on an opposite side of the weld line free minus power lens element.

Method for injection molding weld line free minus power lens elements

A method for injection molding of a plus power lens element comprises injecting a melt of thermoplastic material comprising at least one UV absorber at a temperature higher than a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the thermoplastic material in an initial molding cavity delimited by two facing mold inserts. During the injecting, the two facing mold inserts are moved toward one another to define a final molding cavity whose volume is less than that of the initial molding cavity. After cooling and opening of the mold cavity, the plus power lens element is recovered. One of the two facing mold inserts comprises a flat surface facing the initial molding cavity, thereby to form a flat surface on one side of the plus power lens element, and the other of the two facing mold inserts comprises a concave surface facing the initial molding cavity, thereby to form a convex surface on an opposite side of the plus power lens element.

Method for injection molding plus power lens elements

Optical polymeric sheets with specific ranges of optical retardation, elastic modulus, and Shore A hardness were used to construct flexible polar patches. The polar patches conform to non-polarizing lenses of various diopter bases and provide polarizing efficiency that is comparable to regular polarizing lenses.

Temporary polar patches

Disclosed are polarized films containing specific light filters that block transmission of harmful electromagnetic radiation. Also disclosed are methods of producing said films as well as ophthalmic lenses having increased eye health.

Polarized films with specific light filters

Disclosed are systems and processes for generating a finished or semi-finished lens, such as a spectacle lens, from a lens blank that includes an intermediate functional layer. Some embodiments of the process involve locating the functional layer and positioning the lens blank according to the location of the functional layer. The location of the functional layer can be ascertained by measuring the thickness of one or more layers of the lens blank. The lens blank can be surfaced on one or both sides to form a finished or semi-finished lens. Other embodiments are also described.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Hao-Wen Chiu