Method for manufacturing eyeglass lens with pattern

Abstract

To provide a method for manufacturing an eyeglass lens with a pattern on at least one of the front surface and the back surface of the eyeglass lens.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a spherical lens 11 in which a silhouette image 1 is provided as a pattern on at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of an eyeglass lens manufactured based on frame shape information of an eyeglass frame 3 worn by a user. A lens manufacturing side receives pattern information of the silhouette image 1 specified by the user and then manufactures the spherical lens 11 with the silhouette image 1 provided on at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the lens based on the pattern information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens in which a pattern is provided on at least one of the front and back surfaces of the eyeglass lens. [Background technology]

[0002] Techniques for placing a design (mark) on a portion of the front or back surface of a lens have been proposed. Patent Document 1 is an example of such a technique for placing a design (mark). Patent Document 1 describes a technique for placing a hidden mark, called a permanent mark, on the lens surface of an uncut lens 1 of a progressive-power eyeglass lens. Hidden marks are marks that are provided in a predetermined position on the lens surface of an eyeglass lens in accordance with JIS standards so that they are not noticeable to the user wearing the eyeglasses. The information in the hidden marks is additional information such as information on the lens manufacturer and type, alignment reference marks, and information on the addition power of progressive power lenses, and while Patent Document 1 uses a laser to print characters and the like, other methods are also available, such as marking with a very fine needle, imprinting and transferring the marks on a mold used to form the lens, and processing the lens surface with chemicals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-053227 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, hidden marks are used solely for the convenience of manufacturers who process and manufacture lenses, not for the benefit of eyeglass wearers or those who use eyeglasses. Conventional wisdom has traditionally dictated that lens surfaces should not be designed with geometrical patterns that would obstruct the view, such as marks, in order to ensure as wide a field of view as possible. Therefore, hidden marks, as described above, are formed so as not to be visible to the user. Under such prior art, even if a user wanted to design their preferred image on the lens surface of their eyeglasses, manufacturers did not anticipate such processing, and there was no way to realize a desired design, even if the user desired one. Therefore, there was a need for technology that would allow users to instruct manufacturers to place their desired image on the lens surface in a way that would not obstruct their field of view. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, Means 1 is a method for manufacturing patterned eyeglass lenses in which a pattern is provided on at least one of the front and back surfaces of eyeglass lenses manufactured based on frame shape information of the eyeglass frame worn by the user, and when pattern information of the pattern specified by the user is sent to the lens manufacturing side, the lens manufacturing side manufactures patterned eyeglass lenses in which the pattern is provided on at least one of the front and back surfaces of the lens based on the pattern information. With this method, the design information of the design specified by the user is sent to the lens manufacturer, and based on that design information and frame shape information, the lens manufacturer can apply the design to at least one of the front and back surfaces of the lens to be attached to the eyeglass frame.

[0006] A "design" is a pattern that appears on the lens surface and is separated from the rest of the lens surface. The concept of design content includes, for example, letters, logotypes, and symbols. The design may be formed, for example, by coloring the lens surface with a paintbrush or brush, or by processing the lens surface to create recesses or protrusions. In other words, when recesses or protrusions are created, they will have depressions or protrusions that follow the outline of the design. The recesses or protrusions may be colored, but they do not have to be. For protrusions, a separate member may be attached to the lens surface. The "design information" may be stored as digital data, for example, and may be sent from the user to the lens manufacturer via a PC over the Internet, or may be sent in the form of a stick memory such as an SD card that can carry digital data, or may be passed to the lens manufacturer as information printed on paper, for example. "Frame shape information" refers to frame shape data acquired by an imaging device such as a digital camera. The frame shape data may be sent as digital data from the user to the lens manufacturer via a computer over the Internet, or it may be sent in the form of a stick memory such as an SD card that can transport digital data. The frame shape information may also be provided to the lens manufacturer as information on a drawing of the frame shape on paper.

[0007] In addition, in the means 2, the design sent by the user to the lens manufacturer is designed by simplifying the original content. Since the designs are relatively small when applied to eyeglass lenses, they are easier to process by simplifying the original content when placing them on the narrow lens surface. Examples of original content include photographs, paintings, logotypes, and manga drawn by the user. Methods for expressing designs include binarization and dithering. To create a design, you can use image software with photo editing functions to process the photo data. For example, you can do the following: (i) For example, from a photo containing various objects as the source content, select only the objects you want to use as a pattern. (b) Smoothing the contours of the object. (C) Monochromatize the color The processed photographic data is saved as pattern data. Alternatively, if no image software is used, the pattern may be drawn by hand, and the image may be converted into digital data using an imaging device such as a digital camera and saved. Alternatively, the hand-drawn pattern itself may be used. In addition, in means 3, the designed design is represented by a silhouette or outline. This is because a silhouette or outline is a suitable method for expressing a photograph when it is simplified and designed. In particular, simplified designs are suitable for expression as a silhouette or outline. In addition, in means 4, the design is created by dithering the original content. This is because digital data can be easily simplified and stylized using dithering. Dithering is a technique for expressing brightness by changing the density of dots, which allows gray (i.e., shades of light and dark) to be expressed by changing the density of dots. In addition, in means 5, the design is sent to the lens manufacturing side from either the user or the optician. This is because the design information can be specified by either the user or the eyeglass store.

[0008] In addition, in means 6, the lens manufacturing side is notified of the pattern information together with position information that determines the position where the pattern is to be placed within the eyeglass frame and phase information that determines the phase of the rotation direction of the pattern, and when the lens manufacturing side manufactures eyeglass lenses based on the lens information and the frame shape information, the lens manufacturing side forms the pattern on the lens surface based on the pattern information, position information, and phase information. The user only needs to communicate the pattern information, position information, and phase information along with frame shape information to the lens manufacturer, and the lens manufacturer will combine this information and lens information to perform unique processing according to the user's eyes. Therefore, for example, if the user has astigmatism, the user does not need to take the trouble to communicate the relationship between the astigmatism axis direction and the eyeglass frame, which reduces the hassle for the user. "Lens information" refers to information required by the user for eyeglass lenses, such as spherical power, astigmatism power, astigmatism axis direction, interpupillary distance, eye point position, prism, etc. The "position information" includes, for example, the frame shape, size, and the user's eye point position on the frame, and the position is determined by this information. In addition, in means 7, a pattern placement inappropriate area where the pattern cannot be placed is provided in an area near the center of the lens surface, and if the pattern overlaps with the pattern placement inappropriate area, the pattern is not placed in the pattern placement inappropriate area. This prevents the design from being placed in a portion that would interfere with the use of the eyeglasses, and prevents the function of the eyeglass lenses from being impaired. To check whether a pattern overlaps an inappropriate pattern placement area, an operator may visually check whether the pattern overlaps the inappropriate pattern placement area. This may be done by the user, the lens manufacturer, or both. Alternatively, instead of visual check, image software may be used to automatically check whether the area where the pattern is displayed on the coordinate system matches the inappropriate pattern placement area.

[0009] In addition, in means 8, the pattern is a recess formed on at least one of the front and back surfaces of the lens, and the recess is engraved on either the front or back surface of the lens by laser processing. For example, this is because recesses that form a pattern can be directly formed on the lens surface using a processing machine capable of fine processing, such as an excimer laser or UV laser. The "recess" is a portion that is slightly recessed from the lens surface on which the pattern is formed. The bottom surface of the recess may be curved in the same way as the surrounding curved surface, or may be flat or roughened. The recess should be located near the edge, away from the central region including the optical center used as an eyeglass lens, and is particularly preferably located near the ear.

[0010] In addition, in means 9, the pattern is a recess formed on at least one of the front and back surfaces of the lens, and a dyed colored surface including the recess is formed on the surface on which the recess is formed, and the colored surface is polished so as not to reach the bottom surface of the recess, so that the colored pattern portion remains only in the recess. This is a form in which the pattern is formed as a recess in the lens surface, and the recess is further colored. By dyeing the surface on which the recess is formed and polishing the colored surface, it is possible to color only the recess. When the recesses are colored, the recesses that form the pattern on the lens surface are colored as a recessed pattern that is discontinuous from the lens surface on which the recesses are formed, thereby providing a lens with excellent decorativeness. Since not only the bottom surface of the recesses but also the inner peripheral wall surface of the recesses are colored, the pattern has an emphasized outline and a three-dimensional feel, unlike simple masking. The recesses are preferably formed by laser processing. The recesses that form the pattern on the lens surface may be formed using a processing machine capable of fine processing, such as an excimer laser or UV laser, or may be molded using a mold with convex portions corresponding to the intended shape of the recesses. The depth of the recesses is preferably 20 μm or more. This is because the thickness of the plastic lens at which the dyed surface is removed during polishing is generally about 20 μm, and so by making the depth of the recesses 20 μm or more, it is possible to prevent the recesses from disappearing during the polishing process. Polishing is performed to remove the colored portion of the lens surface other than the recessed portion. For example, if the recessed portion is formed on a lens surface with a set lens power, polishing should be performed to an extent that does not affect the change in lens power. Here, both the front and back surfaces of the lens may be dyed in different colors to form colored surfaces, and at least one of the colored surfaces on which the recesses are formed may be polished so as not to reach the bottom of the recesses, leaving the colored pattern only in the recesses. It is also preferable that the dyeing of the colored surface is carried out by sublimation dyeing. Sublimation dyeing is advantageous because it allows dyeing only the front or back surface of the lens without the need for a mask. Sublimation dyeing is a dyeing method in which a sublimable dye-containing ink is applied to a substrate such as glass or paper, the coated surface and the surface of the lens to be dyed (either the back or front) are spaced apart and placed opposite each other below the lens, and the substrate is heated to sublimate the sublimable dye and dye the surface of the lens to be dyed.

[0011] In addition, in the tenth means, when a hard coating film is formed on the lens surface, the hard coating film is also formed on the recessed portion. Forming a hard coating film on the lens surface is advantageous for protecting the lens, but it is also advantageous to form a hard coating film in the recesses, especially when colored patterned portions remain in the recesses. The hard coat film is generally formed by, for example, immersing or applying a hard coat liquid for coating, followed by evaporating the solvent by a known method. The hard coat film is preferably composed of an organosiloxane resin and inorganic oxide fine particles. It is also preferable to provide an anti-reflection film on the dyed lens hard coat film, which can be formed by known methods such as vapor deposition and ion sputtering. In addition, in the eleventh means, when an anti-reflection film is formed on the lens surface, the anti-reflection film is also formed on the recessed portion. The anti-reflection film may be provided on a dyed lens hard coat film. The anti-reflection film is preferably formed by a known vapor deposition method or ion sputtering method. The anti-reflection layer is a multi-layer structure film based on optical theory. The film material may be: Common inorganic oxides such as SiO, SiO2, Al2O3, Y2O3, Yb2O3, CeO2, ZrO2, Ta2O5, and TiO2 can be used. Anti-reflection coatings are formed by depositing thin films of these materials with different properties in the order of low refractive index and high refractive index layers using well-known methods (e.g., vapor deposition) according to standard techniques. It is preferable to place the low refractive index layer on top.

[0012] The inventions described in each of the above means can be combined in any way. For example, it is possible to combine all or part of the configuration of the invention described in means 1 with at least part of the configuration of at least one invention from means 2 onwards. In particular, it is preferable to combine the invention described in means 1 with at least part of the configuration of at least one invention from means 2 onwards. Furthermore, any configuration may be extracted from the inventions described in means 1 to 11 and combined with the extracted configurations. The applicant of the present application intends to obtain rights to inventions including these configurations. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the pattern information of the design specified by the user is sent to the lens manufacturing side, and based on the pattern information and frame shape information, the lens manufacturing side can provide the pattern on at least one of the front and back surfaces of the lens to be attached to the eyeglass frame. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] (a) is a silhouette drawing of a dog as the design object, and (b) is a contour drawing of the same design object. [Figure 2] The silhouette of Figure 1(a) is inscribed in an ellipse. [Figure 3] A diagram of the template used when superimposing a pattern object image and an eyeglass frame image on a monitor. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for identifying the position coordinates of a silhouette image on the template of FIG. 3. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a pattern object image and an eyeglass frame image are superimposed on a template displayed on a monitor. [Figure 6] (a) is a cross-sectional view of a plastic lens with colored surfaces formed on both the front and back sides by sublimation dyeing, (b) shows the back side of the plastic lens in (a) after being polished, and (c) shows the spherical lens attached to an eyeglass frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A specific embodiment of the method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) In the first embodiment, a user takes a photograph of a design object and brings it to an eyeglass store, where the photograph is processed into a simplified design, and the processed design is then sent to the manufacturer. While the following describes a single-vision lens as an example, it may also be applied to progressive-power lenses. 1. User Preparation (1) The user uses an imaging device with a photographing function, such as a digital camera or smartphone, to capture an image of a pattern object, such as a landscape, animal, or still life, that will form the basis of the pattern, and saves the captured image data. (2) The user processes the captured image data into image data using, for example, known image processing software with a photo editing function on his / her own computer device. The processing is carried out as follows. A) The user cuts out the pattern object that will be the basis of the design using image data based on a photograph they have taken. Here, image processing is performed to leave only the dog from a photo of a "dog running in a park" taken by the user. Specifically, an image of the "dog" pattern object is selected, and the contrast of colors close to the dog's color is determined from the image based on brightness and other factors, and processing is performed to cut out parts with different contrast. In this embodiment, image processing is performed to leave only the dog, and then dithering is performed to create the design. In practice, image processing software is displayed on the monitor of a computer device, and the above processing is instructed using a mouse or other operating means. The following processing is similar. (b) Because the resulting pattern object has a fine outline, a smoothing process is performed on the outline to simplify it for easier processing. Smoothing is a process that averages out a certain area including the outline of the pattern object to smooth out any irregularities. This eliminates the fine protrusions of the pattern object, resulting in a shape that is easy to process onto the lens surface (first simplification). C) After or at the same time as B), image processing is performed to make the pattern object monochromatic (second simplification). The colors to be used may be decided at this stage, or the final decision may be made at the optician's shop as this is a tentative decision. After or simultaneously with steps d) and c), the pattern object is processed by selecting at least one of two modes: silhouette image 1, in which the inside of the outline is filled in as shown in Figure 1(a) (filling is shown by diagonal lines in the illustration), or outline image 2, in which the outline of the pattern object is left as a line, as shown in Figure 1(b). Image data of either of the pattern objects that has been determined and processed is saved. This is called the confirmed pattern data. In the illustrations in the following explanation, silhouette image 1 will be used.

[0016] 2. Preparation at the eyeglass store In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the user directly brings the finalized design data to an eyeglass store. The user selects and purchases the desired eyeglass frame 3 at the eyeglass store, and then instructs the placement of the silhouette image 1 within the eyeglass frame using the eyeglass frame 3 and the finalized design data. Specifically, this is carried out as follows. (1) A user selects and purchases the desired eyeglass frame 3 at an eyeglass store, and the eyeglass store takes a photograph of the eyeglass frame 3 using an imaging device such as a digital camera or smartphone to convert the frame shape into image data (frame shape data). At this time, the frames for both the left and right eyes are photographed simultaneously to identify the horizontal line of the eyeglass frame 3. (2) The user's spherical power, astigmatism power, astigmatism axis direction, and interpupillary distance are measured as lens information. In addition, the user is made to wear the selected eyeglass frame 3 to measure the user's eye point position (height). (3) Silhouette 1 is a single color, but the color sample will be shown at the eyeglass store and the final color will be decided.

[0017] (4) Using the frame shape data and the final design data provided by the user, an image synthesis process is performed to synthesize the image of the silhouette image 1 onto the image of the eyeglass frame 3. This is done by using known image processing software with an image synthesis function at the eyeglass store, which is displayed on the monitor of a computer device and the process is performed using a mouse or other operating means. Specifically, the process is performed as follows: A) As shown in Figure 2, the eyeglass store uses the functions of image processing software to create an ellipse 4 inscribed with silhouette image 1, making it possible to display ellipse 4 together with silhouette image 1. The center of ellipse 4, where the major and minor axes intersect, is taken as the center of gravity P of the pattern. The state in which the major axis direction is horizontal is taken as the reference angle direction, and the rotation angle (phase of the rotation direction) of silhouette image 1 is calculated as the number of degrees the major axis direction has rotated from the reference angle direction with center of gravity P of the pattern as the center, and the phase of silhouette image 1 is determined from this angle. (b) During image synthesis, the image of template 5 shown in Figure 3 is displayed on the monitor, and the silhouette image 1 and frame shape are positioned by overlapping them on the template 5. Templates 5 are designed to represent the perfectly circular shape of a so-called round lens before it is processed into the frame shape. Multiple templates 5 are prepared for different round lens sizes (e.g., φ60, φ8, etc.). The center TO of template 5 corresponds to the optical center O of round lens 10, and concentric circles 6 with a diameter of 3 cm are placed around the optical center O. The area inside the concentric circles 6 is considered an area where design placement is not appropriate. During synthesis, silhouette image 1 must be positioned so that it does not overlap this area (concentric circles 6). A number of concentric ring-shaped circular scales 7 are placed around the outside of the concentric circles 6 at 5 mm intervals. The circular scales 7 are assigned addresses a, b, c, etc., starting from the center of the template 5, and the circular scales 7 indicate the linear distance from the center TO in 5 mm increments. The spacing of the scales 7 can be adjusted as needed. The horizontal line H passing through the center TO indicates an angle direction of 0 degrees, and as shown in Figure 4, for example, when the center of gravity P of the pattern is at a certain angle on a circle of a certain circular scale 7d, the angle θ between the horizontal line H and the line segment Q passing through the center O and the center of gravity P of the pattern is calculated, and the position of the center of gravity P of the pattern is determined (positioned) by the angle θ and the length of the line segment Q.

[0018] c) The user, or the optician at the user's direction, arranges the eyeglass frame image and silhouette image 1 on the image of template 5 on the monitor so that they are superimposed on each other. The frame image is arranged so that the eyepoint position is aligned with the center TO of template 5, and silhouette image 1 is arranged so that it does not overlap with the area where pattern placement is inappropriate. Figure 5 shows an example of images combined in this way. As shown in Figure 5, the combined image data in which the eyeglass frame 3 and the dog pattern object of silhouette image 1 are arranged on template 5 is temporarily saved. This allows the positional information and phase information of silhouette image 1 relative to eyeglass frame 3 to be obtained. At this time, the Silhouette Image 1 image is enlarged or reduced as needed to position it, but it is displayed with the line thickness and dot size that will actually be drawn. In other words, if the image size of the fixed pattern data used is small but it is enlarged relative to the frame image, the outline of Silhouette Image 1 will become blurred, which will cause problems for the manufacturer's processing. Furthermore, even if the size is too small, it will also cause problems for the manufacturer's processing. Therefore, the line thickness and dot size must be at least a specified value. For example, the line thickness should be 0.200 mm or more, and the dot size should be 0.200 mm or more in diameter. (5) The optician sends the created composite image data to the manufacturer along with the user's lens information, size information of the eyeglass frame 3, bridge width information, and color information of the silhouette image 1. The size information and bridge width information are transmitted as information engraved on the eyeglass frame 3. The transmission method can be via the Internet, or the data can be saved on a stick memory such as an SD card and handed over. Although not directly related to the present invention, the user also selects the lens material and whether or not to use a color coating, and this information is also transmitted from the optician to the manufacturer.

[0019] 3. Lens processing at the manufacturer The manufacturer produces a plastic round lens 10 based on the user's lens information, imprints a design on the round lens 10, and processes the round lens into a so-called spherical lens that corresponds to the selected eyeglass frame 3. (1) Round lens molding process The manufacturer cuts the semi-finished lens based on the user's lens information from the eyeglass store to produce the round lens 10. Here, it is assumed that the rear surface of the lens is processed based on the lens information. (2) Laser processing of patterns The manufacturer identifies the position of the design based on the position information (position data), phase information (phase data), and eyeglass frame shape information (frame shape data) from the composite image data received from the eyeglass store, and processes the lens surface using an excimer laser (not shown). The manufacturer aligns the center TO of the transmitted composite image data with the optical center O of the round lens 10, uses the horizontal line H as the reference for the horizontal direction, identifies the coordinate position of the center of gravity P of the design of the silhouette image 1 based on the circular scale 7 and angle θ, and engraves it based on the image of the silhouette image 1 projected onto the round lens 10. In this case, if the user does not have astigmatic power, there is no need to consider the astigmatic axis direction, and the silhouette image 1 can be processed (engraved) based on the position information of the silhouette image 1. However, if the user has astigmatic power, the processing position must be determined taking into account the astigmatic axis direction. The following explanation will be given assuming that the user has set astigmatic power. Since the composite image data sent from the eyeglass store merely indicates the position of the silhouette image 1 relative to the eyeglass frame, the manufacturer must consider the phase of the position of the silhouette image 1 relative to the round lens 10 based on the user's astigmatic axis information. In other words, as shown in Figure 6(a), the round lens 10 is rotated by the astigmatic axis angle μ with the horizontal line H as the reference, and processed based on the converted coordinate data after that rotation.

[0020] (3) Dyeing The round lens 10 with the silhouette image 1 engraved in step (2) is dyed with dye on its surface using a known sublimation dyeing method. The color is determined based on the color information provided by the eyeglass store. In sublimation dyeing, the round lens 10 is placed on top of paper soaked in dye or a substrate coated with dye, and the dye is transferred to the underside of the round lens 10 in a vacuum atmosphere. The round lens 10 is then heated to fix the dye. (4) Polishing process This is a step of polishing and removing the surface side of the round lens 10 whose surface has been dyed in step (3). The round lens 10 is polished using a polishing pad in a known polishing device. The amount of polishing is adjusted appropriately to about 10 to 30 μm so that the engraved silhouette 1 is not lost by polishing. Preferably, it is 20 μm or more. By polishing in this manner, coloring remains only in the recesses of the engraved silhouette 1, and a colored silhouette 1 is formed on part of the round lens 10.

[0021] (5)Glass processing process This is the process of cutting the polished round lens 10 obtained in step (4) to form a so-called sphere-shaped lens 11 that matches the shape of the ring-shaped mounting portion of the eyeglass frame 3. The coordinates of the center O are aligned with the optical center O of the round lens 10, and the horizontal direction is based on the horizontal line H. The shape of the inner circumference of the eyeglass frame 3 is measured using known means based on the distance from the optical center to the inside of the frame to determine a processing line, and processing is then performed using known means along that processing line. During processing, a bevel is formed on the outer circumference of the sphere-shaped lens 11 to fit it into the eyeglass frame 3. In this case, if the user does not have astigmatism, there is no need to consider the astigmatism axis direction. Therefore, if the processing line is placed and processed based on the horizontal line H, taking into account the eye point position based on the composite image data, the silhouette image 1 will fit within the eyeglass frame 3 as per the composite image data. However, in this embodiment 1, since the user has an astigmatic power, the processing position must be determined taking into account the astigmatic axis direction. Therefore, the manufacturer processes the round lens 10 while taking into account the phase of the position of the silhouette image 1 relative to the round lens 10 based on the astigmatic axis information. In other words, as shown in Figure 6(b), the round lens 10 is rotated by the astigmatic axis angle μ around the horizontal line H, just like the silhouette image 1, so that the silhouette image 1 is positioned in the eyeglass frame according to the composite image data, and then the round lens 11 is manufactured by taking into account the astigmatic axis direction by performing edge processing based on the converted coordinate data after that rotation. 4. Delivery of spherical lenses from the manufacturer to the eyeglass store The manufactured spherical lens 11 is subjected to a process for forming a hard coating film by a known means, and also to a process for forming an anti-reflection film by a known means, and then shipped to an eyeglass store, where it is mounted in an eyeglass frame 3 selected by the user at the eyeglass store, as shown in Figure 6(c). The spherical lens 11 is mounted in the eyeglass frame 3 by rotating it by an astigmatism axis angle μ, taking into account the astigmatism axis, as shown in Figure 6(c). This positions the spherical lens 11 so that it is aligned with the user's astigmatism axis when the user wears the glasses, and the silhouette image 1 is positioned in the position specified by the user within the eyeglass frame 3. The hard coating film and anti-reflection film are also applied within the recessed portion of the engraved silhouette image 1.

[0022] With the above configuration, the first embodiment provides the following effects. (1) When a user wishes to place the silhouette image 1 they have brought in at a desired position on the eyeglass frame of their choice, they can send the position data and phase data of the silhouette image 1 along with the shape data of the eyeglass frame to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer can deliver a ball-shaped lens 11 with the design engraved in the desired position.The eyeglass store can then provide the user with eyeglasses with the ball-shaped lens 11 attached to the eyeglass frame. (2) When creating composite image data for placing Silhouette Image 1 in the eyeglass frame, the inappropriate pattern placement areas for placing Silhouette Image 1 are indicated, allowing the user (or the eyeglass store worker) to visually prevent the pattern from being placed in an undesirable position on the eyeglass lens. Also, there will be no need to receive a reply from the manufacturer stating that "we cannot manufacture eyeglass lenses with a pattern in such a position." (3) A user can use a simplified silhouette image 1 of a photographic data that the user has taken, for example. Because the silhouette image 1 is simplified, it can be used as a silhouette image 1 that must be expressed in a small shape because the area in which the pattern is formed is limited, such as in the case of eyeglass lenses. (4) Even if the user has set the astigmatism power, the user and the eyeglass store only need to consider the position data and phase data of the silhouette image 1 in relation to the shape data of the eyeglass frame in an N-dimensional relationship. The manufacturer corrects the phase of the round lens by taking into account the astigmatism axis, eliminating the hassle for the user and the eyeglass store.

[0023] (Embodiment 2) The second embodiment is a variation of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the user himself / herself performs "2. Preparation at the eyeglass store" in the first embodiment in "1. User preparation" and transmits the information to the manufacturer. In this case, the user himself / herself purchases the eyeglass frames 3, takes an image of the eyeglass frames 3 to obtain frame shape data, and then performs image synthesis processing to synthesize the image of the silhouette image 1 onto the image of the eyeglass frames 3 using the frame shape data and the finalized design data in the same manner as described above. The user then sends the composite image data to the manufacturer along with the user's lens information, size information and bridge width information of the eyeglass frame 3, and color information of the silhouette image 1 from the reception screen of the manufacturer's internet hope page. As a result, the lens 11 engraved with the silhouette image 1 is produced by the manufacturer without going through an eyeglass store, as in embodiment 1. The produced lens 11 can be sent to the user, or the user can pick it up by visiting the manufacturer. When the user visits the manufacturer, the lens 11 can be attached to the eyeglass frame 3 brought in by the manufacturer. (Embodiment 3) The third embodiment is also a variation of the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, in the first embodiment, "1. Preparation by the user" is carried out by the user himself to create silhouette image 1, but the user may bring the image data to an eyeglass store, which may then process the image data to create silhouette image 1 in "2. Preparation at the eyeglass store," and the eyeglass store may then create the finalized pattern data.

[0024] The above-described embodiment has been described merely as a specific embodiment for illustrating the principles and concepts of the present invention. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The present invention can also be embodied in the following modified forms, for example. The base of the design object does not have to be image data captured by a digital camera or the like. For example, it can be a picture drawn by hand by the user. It is also possible to capture the hand-drawn picture with a scanner or the like and use it as image data to create the final design data. In the first embodiment, the template 5 uses the concentric circular scale 7, but this is just an example, and the coordinates for specifying the coordinate position of the center of gravity P of the pattern may use, for example, an xy coordinate system. In the first embodiment, the template 5 defines the inner area of ​​the concentric circle 6 having a diameter of 3 cm as the pattern placement inappropriate area, but this size can be changed as appropriate. In the above-mentioned first embodiment, an ellipse 4 is used to determine the center of gravity P of the pattern, but any ellipse other than the ellipse 4 can be used as long as the pattern object can be inscribed and the center of gravity can be determined. For example, the pattern object may be inscribed in a rectangular shape, and the position where the diagonals intersect may be taken as the center of gravity P of the pattern. The present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiments. The components of each embodiment and variation may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment or variation may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the Summary of the Invention, or any component embodying any component described in the Summary of the Invention. The present invention also intends to obtain rights to these by filing an amendment or divisional application of this application. Furthermore, the applicant intends to obtain rights to the overall design or partial design by filing a conversion application to a design application. The drawings depict the entire device in solid lines, but they also include partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, a partial design may be a partial design for a part of the device, or a partial design may be included for a part of the device regardless of the part. A partial design may be a part of the device, or a part of that part. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 1...Silhouette image as a design, 2...Outline image as a design, 3...Eyeglass frame, 11...Glass-shaped lens as an eyeglass lens with a design.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens, in which a pattern is provided on at least one of the front and back surfaces of an eyeglass lens manufactured based on frame shape information of an eyeglass frame worn by a user, This method for manufacturing patterned eyeglass lenses is characterized in that pattern information of the design designated by the user is sent to the lens manufacturing side, and the lens manufacturing side manufactures patterned eyeglass lenses having the design on at least one of the front and back surfaces of the lens based on the pattern information.

2. 2. The method for manufacturing patterned eyeglass lenses according to claim 1, wherein the design sent by the user to the lens manufacturing side is a simplified design of the original content.

3. 3. The method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens according to claim 2, wherein the stylized design is represented by a silhouette or an outline.

4. 4. The method for manufacturing patterned eyeglass lenses according to claim 3, wherein the pattern is created by dithering original content.

5. 2. The method for manufacturing patterned eyeglass lenses according to claim 1, wherein the design is sent to the lens manufacturing side from either the user or an eyeglass store.

6. A method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lens manufacturing side is notified of position information that determines the position where the pattern is to be placed within the eyeglass frame and phase information that determines the phase of the rotation direction of the pattern together with the pattern information, and when the lens manufacturing side manufactures eyeglass lenses based on the lens information and the frame shape information, the lens manufacturing side forms the pattern on the lens surface based on the pattern information, the position information, and the phase information.

7. A method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a pattern placement inappropriate area where the pattern cannot be placed is provided in an area near the center of the lens surface, and if the pattern overlaps with the pattern placement inappropriate area, the pattern is not placed in the pattern placement inappropriate area.

8. The method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pattern is a recess formed on at least one of the front and back surfaces of the lens, and the recess is engraved on either the front or back surface of the lens by laser processing.

9. The method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens according to claim 8, characterized in that a dyed colored surface including the recess is formed on the surface on which the recess is formed, and the colored surface is polished so as not to reach the bottom surface of the recess, leaving only the colored pattern portion in the recess.

10. The method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pattern is a recess formed on at least one of the front and back surfaces of the lens, and the method is characterized in that a dyed colored surface including the recess is formed on the surface on which the recess is formed, and the colored surface is polished so that it does not reach the bottom surface of the recess, leaving only the colored pattern portion in the recess.

11. 11. The method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens according to claim 10, wherein when a hard coating film is formed on the lens surface, the hard coating film is also formed on the recessed portion.

12. 11. The method for manufacturing a patterned eyeglass lens according to claim 10, wherein when an anti-reflection film is formed on the lens surface, the anti-reflection film is also formed on the recessed portion.

Images