Additive Spectacle Lens with Interleaved Grids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectacle lenses suffer from macroscopic spatial separation of near and far regions, astigmatic distortions, discontinuous optical surfaces, cosmetically unattractive edges, and restricted design freedom due to their production methods, which limit their aesthetic appeal and functionality, especially in varifocal and multifocal designs.
Innovation Solution
A spectacle lens with a first partial grid and a second partial grid arranged within one another, produced using additive manufacturing methods like multijet or polyjet printing, where the grids penetrate each other to create a three-dimensional structure that optimizes light path and eliminates the need for visible bifocal regions and progression channels, allowing for customized dioptric power distribution without macroscopic separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional spectacle lenses are produced using traditional manufacturing methods, then production efficiency is maintained, but macroscopic spatial separation of near and far regions occurs, causing astigmatic distortions and discontinuous optical surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The spectacle lens is divided into multiple discrete volume elements (voxels) arranged in grid patterns, where each voxel can be independently manufactured with precise optical properties. This segmentation allows for continuous optical surfaces while maintaining production efficiency through modular manufacturing approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional lens surface manufacturing to three-dimensional volume element assembly. By arranging voxels in three-dimensional space with precise spatial coordinates, the method achieves continuous optical surfaces and eliminates astigmatic distortions that plague conventional methods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional bifocal or varifocal lens designs are used, then functional requirements for multiple vision distances are met, but visible edges and progression channels create cosmetically unattractive appearances
Solution Approach 1:
Each volume element is assigned specific optical properties (refractive index, curvature) tailored to its local position and function. This allows different regions of the lens to provide different dioptric powers for near, intermediate, and far vision without creating visible boundaries or progression channels between regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple focal regions are nested within the same macroscopic viewing area by arranging volume elements with different optical properties in three-dimensional space. The near, intermediate, and far vision zones are interleaved at the voxel level, allowing all focal points to be accessed through a single continuous viewing surface without visible segmentation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additive manufacturing methods are used to create penetrating grid structures, then design freedom and optical optimization are enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex three-dimensional arrangements of volume elements are pre-planned and digitally modeled before manufacturing. Computer-aided design software calculates optimal voxel positions and optical properties in advance, allowing the complex structure to be manufactured systematically layer-by-layer using additive manufacturing techniques, thereby reducing actual manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes variable parameters such as refractive index, volume element size, spacing, and orientation to achieve different optical effects. By changing these parameters across the lens structure, diverse optical functions are obtained without requiring fundamentally different manufacturing processes for each region.
Data Source
AI summary
A spectacle lens, which is manufactured by additive manufacturing, includes interspersing first volume elements and second volume elements. The first and second volume elements are arranged on the grid points of a geometric grid to form a first sub-grid and a second sub-grid, respectively. The first sub-grid forms the first part of the spectacle lens having a dioptric effect for vision for a first object distance and the second sub-grid forms the second part of the spectacle lens having a dioptric effect for vision for a second object distance, which differs from the first object distance.