Transitions Optical, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc.

Kevin J Stewart

Jane M Shaw

Michael Hatzakis

Jeffrey Donald Gelorme

Anu Chopra

Cletus N Welch

Edward D Babich

David F Witman

Eric M King

Dennis L Faler

Randy E Daughenbaugh

Forrest R Blackburn

Feng Wang

Shanti Swarup

James B O'Dwyer

Lawrence G Anderson

David B Knowles

Robert W Walters

Barry Van Gemert

Paul H Lamers

James P Colton

Steven Bowles

Elizabeth Ann Zezinka

Cathy A Taylor

Stephen D Straight

William D Carpenter

M Frank Haley

Jennine M Frease

Joseph David Turpen

Jeanine A Conklin

Yunyi Lu

Steven E Bowles

Anil Kumar

Pai-Hung Pan

Robert A Smith

Alan C Thomas

Carol L Knox

David John Park

Michael S Misura

William P Blackburn

Patrick M Brown

Michael B Levesque

Kevin M Golden

Joseph D Turpen

Cathy L Short

Joseph Turpen

Jennine Frease

William Carpenter

A method for preparing an optical element which colors in a non-uniform linear pattern is provided. The method includes (I) providing an optical element which previously has been treated with a photochromic composition containing at least one first photochromic material, the photochromic composition having an absorbance spectrum in the region of photochromic activation; (II) preparing at least one light-absorbing composition containing ultraviolet light absorber, a second photochromic material which is the same or different than the first photochromic material, or mixtures thereof, where the light-absorbing composition has an absorbance spectrum overlapping with that of the photochromic composition in the region of photochromic activation; (III) depositing the light-absorbing composition over the surface of the photochromic optical element in a controlled, predetermined pattern using an inkjet printing apparatus to provide a linearly gradient color pattern upon exposure to actinic radiation; (IV) and drying the composition. An optical element also is provided.

Method for preparing an optical element which colors in a non-uniform linear pattern

The present invention relates to an optical element that includes a mark (). The optical element has a first coating layer () over at least a portion of a surface of an optical substrate () having the mark () on the surface of the optical substrate, and one or more additional coating layers () over at least a portion of the first coating layer (). The first coating layer has a first refractive index, and the optical substrate and the mark may have a second refractive index. A difference between the first refractive index and the second refractive index has an absolute value of 0.02 to 0.24. At least one of the first coating layer () and the one or more additional coating layers () may be applied by a controlled deposition of a coating material in droplet form.

Optical element having a coating for enhanced visibility of a mark and method for making the optical element

The invention provides a multi-layer experiential optical device including at least one polymeric layer having a first side and an opposing second side, and having a light-influencing property; and a low tack pressure sensitive adhesive layer applied on at least a peripheral zone of the second side of the polymeric layer. The experiential optical device is reversibly adherent to an optical lens.

Experiential optical device

Described are various methods of producing non-aqueous dispersions of photosensitive polymeric microparticles, comprising: (a) preparing one or more aqueous dispersions of a polymerizable component, at least one of which contains a photosensitive material and, wherein the polymerizable components comprise at least one hydrophilic functional group and/or at least one hydrophobic functional group; (b) subjecting the dispersion of (a) to conditions sufficient to form microparticles; (c) at least partially polymerizing the polymerizable component; (d) combining the dispersion with an organic continuous phase comprising an organic solvent; (e) removing water from the dispersion such that the final water content of the non-aqueous dispersion is less than 30 percent by weight; wherein e) is performed before or after d); and (f) reacting any acid functional groups on the surface of the microparticles with a reactive material having at least one epoxy functional group, at least one thiocarbonylthio functional group, at least one alkoxyamine functional group, or at least one halide functional group.

Methods for producing photosensitive microparticles

Described are non-aqueous dispersions of photosensitive polymeric microparticles, comprising: a) an organic continuous phase comprising an organic solvent; and b) photosensitive polymeric microparticles dispersed in the organic continuous phase. The microparticles comprise an at least partially polymerized component having integral surface and interior domains, wherein the surface domain comprises a polymeric material that is solubilized by the organic solvent, the interior domain comprises a polymeric material that is insoluble in the organic solvent, and the surface domain and/or interior domain is photosensitive. Also described are methods of producing such non-aqueous dispersions, curable film-forming compositions containing them, and photosensitive coated substrates.

Methods for producing photosensitive microparticles, non-aqueous dispersions thereof and articles prepared therewith

Provided is a photochromic optical article including: (a) an optical substrate; (b) a thermally reversible photochromic material; and (c) reversible thermochromic material capable of at least partially filtering UV/visible light at or below room temperature and becoming less capable of filtering UV/visible light at temperatures greater than room temperature. The reversible thermochromic material (c) is operable for filtering light in the range of from 300 to 450 nanometers.

Photochromic optical articles prepared with reversible thermochromic materials

Described are aqueous compositions of an effective amount of at least one photosensitive material and at least one polymerizable component that are adapted to at least partially form photosensitive microparticles or at least partially crosslinked photosensitive polymeric microparticles. The photosensitive polymeric microparticles are made of integral surface and interior domains wherein at least one of the surface and/or interior domains is photosensitive. Also described are aqueous dispersions of such microparticles, ways of producing such microparticles and photosensitive articles such as optical elements that incorporate the photosensitive polymeric microparticles.

Methods for producing photosensitive microparticles, aqueous compositions thereof and articles prepared therewith

Provided is a photochromic optical articleincluding: (a) an optical substrate; (b) a thermally reversible photochromic material; and (c) reversible thermochromic material capable of at least partially filtering UV/visible light at or below room temperature and becoming less capable of filtering UV/visible light at temperatures greater than room temperature.

Described are optical elements made of a substrate and a curable film-forming composition applied to at least a portion of the substrate to form a coating thereon. The curable film-forming composition comprises:

Optical elements that include curable film-forming compositions containing blocked isocyanate adhesion promoters

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

Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein related to photochromic materials comprising the reaction product of (a) at least one ring-opening cyclic monomer, and (b) a photochromic initiator. Other non-limiting embodiments related to photochromic materials represented by: wherein S' comprises the at least one ring-opened cyclic monomer as set forth herein. Other non-limiting embodiments related to photochromic compositions, optical elements, and methods of inhibiting migration of a photochromic material in a polymeric material using the photochromic materials disclosed herein. Methods of making such photochromic materials, compositions, and optical elements are also disclosed.

Photochromic materials derived from ring-opening monomers and photochromic initiators

Describes a photochromic article, e.g., a plastic ophthalmic photochromic article, such as a lens, in which the article includes (1) a rigid substrate, such as a thermoset or thermoplastic polymeric 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) an acrylate-based film coherently appended to the photochromic coating, the acrylate-based film containing an adhesion promoting amount of an adhesion promoter, e.g., an aminoorganosilane, silane coupling agent, organic titanate coupling agent or organic zirconate coupling agent. Describes also the aforedescribed photochromic article having an abrasion-resistant coating affixed to the acrylate-based 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.

Photochromic optical article

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

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 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

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Murrysville, PA, United States of America

Kevin J Stewart