American Optical Corporation

Other

Nori Y Chu

Richard J Hovey

Elias Snitzer

Donald R Uhlmann

Peter G Piusz

Joseph T Fournier, Jr

Charles H Fuchsman

Laser protection is provided by utilizing certain organic polymers with carboxylic or sulfonic acid groups which exchange their protons with cupric or ferrous metal ions to form cupric or ferrous ion-containing polymers. In addition, laser protection is also provided utilizing organic polymers with functional groups which are capable of forming complexes with cupric or ferrous metal ions. The optical absorption of the metal ions (e.g., the transition metal and rare earth ions) in these two types of metal ion-containing polymers are similar to those in absorbing glasses and will provide absorption in the near IR portion of the spectrum (i.e., greater than 680 nm). Thus, metal ion-containing polymers can be as useful for laser eye protection as known absorbing glasses, while providing high visual transmittance and light weight.

Laser eye protective devices

Spirooxazine compounds are incorporated into a plastic host comprised of copolymers of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl acetate). This combination results in a photochromic composite which exhibits significantly improved temperature stability relative to the prior art.

Photochromic articles with thermally stable photocolorability

An organic photochromic composition comprising spiro [indoline-2,3'-[3H]-naphth [2,1-b] [1,4] oxazine] dye (spirooxazine dye) and unconventional ultraviolet stabilizers. The ultraviolet stabilizers improve the light fatigue resistance of the spirooxazine (S.O.) dye and will not hinder the photocolorability of the photochromic composition. The unconventional ultraviolet stabilizers belong to the class of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and excited state quenchers.

Photochromic composition resistant to fatigue

The organic photochromic composition of this invention comprises trifluoromethyl substituted spiro (indoline-2,3'-(3H) napth-(2,1-b)(1,4)oxazine) (SO) dyes. This new class of (SO) photochromic compounds has a more neutral color when subjected to ultraviolet light irradiation. When used with a photochromic plastic embodiment, these (SO) compounds give the plastic embodiment a high luminous transmittance in an unactivated state, which can be darkened significantly when subjected to ultraviolet light irradiation. When an ultraviolet stabilizer is used with the photochromic compositions of this invention, the light fatigue resistance of the (SO) dye is improved and it will not hinder the photocolorability of the photochromic composition.

Trifluoromethyl substituted spirooxazine photochromic dyes

The organic photochromic composition of this invention comprises spiro [indoline-2,3'-[3H]-naphth [2,1-b] [1,4] oxazine] (SO) dye and an unconventional ultraviolet stabilizer. The ultraviolet stabilizer improves the light fatigue resistance of the SO dye and will not hinder the photocolorability of the photochromic composition.

Organic photochromic materials comprising a photochromic dye and a resinous material can be stabilized with a protective coating which will protect them from deactivation by exposure to moisture, oxygen, various plastic host materials, reactive chemicals or even normal atmospheric conditions. Useful organic photochromic dyes include the spiropyrans, the spirooxazines, the metal dithizonates, the phenazines, the phenothiazines and other known photochromic compositions. Useful resinous materials include vinyl-type thermoplastics, cellulosic materials, polyesters, epoxy resins and aminoplast resins. The encapsulated photochromic materials of the invention comprise an organic photochromic dye in combination with an organic resinous material enclosed within an outer shell of an inorganic material and find use in the preparation of photochromic plastic films, sheets, ophthalmic lenses such as lenses for sunglasses and in camera lenses and filters.

Stabilized photochromic materials

Photochromic compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is halogen or lower alkoxy, and the other is hydrogen, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, or halogen and R.sub.5 is an alkyl of 2 to 10 carbons, and their use in lenses are disclosed.

Photochromic compounds

Photochromic compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is halogen or lower alkoxy, and the other is hydrogen, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, or halogen and their use in lenses are disclosed.

Light fatigue resistant, non-orange, photochromic mercury complexes of asymmetrical diarylthiocarbazones for use in making photochromic sunglass lenses, ski goggles, and the like. The compounds comprise the class of mono and bis mercury diarylthiocarbazonates wherein one aryl group is an aryl group substituted at the ortho position with an electron withdrawing group such as CF.sub.3 and the other aryl group is different from the first and can comprise variously substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or naphthyl groups.

Photochromic mercury complexes of asymmetrical diarylthiocarbazones

Photochromic plastic materials are disclosed which comprise a polymeric matrix containing a multiplicity of activated silver halide particles less than 1000 Angstroms in size. The matrix may contain a retained amount of plasticizer which optimizes the desirable photochromic properties and may be sealed to prevent loss of plasticizer. The materials are made by forming activated silver halide particles in the presence of a film forming polymer dissolved in a plasticizer and removing the plasticizer to produce a supple, shape-retaining element.

Silver halide activated photochromic plastics

Inorganic photochromic crystalline particles which are particularly useful in ophthalmic quality plastic host materials are formed for instance utilizing a silver halide crystal whose dimensions lie generally in the range between 30 Angstroms and 10,000 Angstroms. The surface of the silver halide crystal is coated with an inorganic material in an effective thickness to render the coating resistant to diffusion from within and to protect the crystal from interaction with host material. The stabilized coated particles can be introduced by known schemes into plastic host materials in order to form photochromic plastic articles useful in the preparation of films, sheets, filters for cameras, wall panels and ophthalmic lenses and other optical devices.

Organic photochromic materials comprise a photochromic pigment stabilized with a protective inorganic coating which serves to protect the pigments from deactivation by exposure to moisture, oxygen, various plastic host materials, reactive chemicals or even normal atmospheric conditions. Useful organic photochromic pigments include the anils, hydrazones, semicarbozones, osazones, sydnones, fulgides and others. Inorganic coatings comprising such materials as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, antimony oxide and silicon dioxide are useful in the preparation of photochromic plastic films, sheets, ophthalmic lenses such as lenses for sunglasses and in camera lenses and filters.

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Southbridge, MA, United States of America

Nori Y Chu