Dyed Optical Lens for Outward Color Shift With Eye Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical lenses that incorporate semi-reflective elements to differentiate inward and outward colors fail to appear colored to observers while allowing the observer to see the wearer's eyes and skin, and often require complex manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

An optical element with a dye composition that ensures a significant difference in chroma between light transmitted inward and outward, leveraging skin reflectance and double passage of light through the lens, using absorptive dyes to achieve a distinct color perception for the wearer and observer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a semi-reflective element is added to differentiate inward and outward colors, then the color differentiation is improved, but the lens does not appear colored to observers and the eyes/skin visibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor differentiationVSAvoidlens structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by using a dye composition with specific absorptive dyes that create different chroma values for inward and outward light transmission. The dye is configured to provide a first chroma for light transmitted to the wearer and a second chroma for light transmitted to the scene after skin reflection, with an absolute difference greater than 6. This achieves color differentiation without requiring semi-reflective elements or complex multi-layer structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Manufacturing precision

If a mirror is added to create different reflected and transmitted light colors, then color differentiation is improved, but the observer cannot see the eyes and skin around the eyes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor differentiationVSAvoideyes and skin visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses selective absorption by dye molecules to create different chroma values for light traveling in opposite directions. The dye composition is specifically configured to allow the observer to see the wearer's eyes and skin while still achieving significant color differentiation (absolute difference > 6 between first and second chroma). This eliminates the need for mirrors that would block visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple layers of tinted material and mirror are superimposed, then color differentiation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor differentiationVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves color differentiation using a single dye composition layer rather than multiple superimposed layers of tinted material and mirror. The dye composition comprises at least one absorptive dye configured to provide the required chroma difference, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the ability to differentiate inward and outward colors with an absolute chroma difference greater than 6.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Manufacturing precision

If a tinted optical lens is used to provide different inward and outward colors, then color differentiation is improved, but the color perception by the wearer is significantly altered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor differentiationVSAvoidcolor perception accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a dye composition specifically configured to provide different chroma values for inward and outward light transmission. The first chroma (light to wearer) and second chroma (light to scene) are differentiated with an absolute difference > 6, while the dye composition is selected to minimize alteration of the wearer's color perception of the actual scene, achieving both differentiation and perceptual accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The optical element allows the wearer to view a scene with less altered color perception while appearing colorful to an observer, maintaining visibility of the eyes and skin, and can be manufactured efficiently without complex manufacturing steps.

Implementation Method 1

the optical element comprises a dye composition comprising at least one absorptive dye

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS20260023273A1Lens cosmetic appearance customization from variable skin reflectance

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL(COMPAGNIE GENERALE D OPTIQUE)

AI summary

The disclosure relates to an optical element intended to be worn in front of an eye of a human wearer. The optical element includes a dye composition configured so that, when the optical element is worn by a wearer having a given skin reflectance and is illuminated by a light source from a scene: —a first light beam is transmitted by the optical element towards the wearer, the first light beam having a first chroma; —a second light beam is transmitted by the optical element towards the scene after being reflected by the skin of the wearer, the second light beam having a second chroma; and —the absolute difference between the second chroma and the first chroma is greater than 6.