Electrochromic Ophthalmic Device Curved Sealing Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wide peripheral seals in electrochromic ophthalmic devices reduce the useful field of vision and cause visual discomfort due to potential visibility of spacing elements, which can appear as white dots or scattering dots, compromising the aesthetic and functional integrity of the device.
Innovation Solution
The use of a sealing joint formed from cross-linked adhesive material with a controlled width, applied around curved transparent layers, eliminating the need for central spacing elements and ensuring mechanical strength and tightness of the electrochromic cell while maintaining a thin profile to avoid visibility and maintain optical clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a wide peripheral sealing joint is used to ensure mechanical strength and retention of transparent layers, then the cell structure is stable and airtight, but the useful field of view is reduced and visual comfort is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved inner faces to the transparent layers, which allows the cell to conform to the shape of the mount and achieve greater rigidity. This curvature enables the use of a narrower sealing joint while maintaining structural integrity, thereby preserving the useful field of view.
2Manufacturing precision
If spacers are placed in the center of the cavity to maintain constant spacing between layers, then the thickness is stable, but visible white spots or diffusing spots appear that impair vision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spacers from the center of the cell by using curved transparent layers that maintain constant spacing through their geometry alone. This extraction of the spacer elements eliminates the visible white spots or diffusing spots that would otherwise impair the wearer's vision.
3Area of stationary object
If a narrow sealing joint is used to preserve field of view, then visual comfort is improved, but mechanical resistance and airtightness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a cross-linked adhesive material for the sealing joint that provides both mechanical strength and airtightness. This composite approach ensures the cavity remains sealed and structurally sound even with a narrower sealing joint width, thus maintaining reliability while preserving the field of view.
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 solution provides an electrochromic ophthalmic device with improved mechanical strength, reduced visibility of the seal, and enhanced visual comfort by maintaining the electrochromic composition's integrity without compromising the field of vision, while allowing for variable or constant thickness within the cell to achieve desired transmission properties.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing joint formed from a cross-linked adhesive material
Implementation Method 2
the sealing joint being adapted to maintain the two transparent layers assembled with each other
Implementation Method 3
It is thus possible to vary the cell's light transmission value by applying an electric field between the electroconductive coatings
Implementation Method 4
two transparent layers having curved inner faces... offers greater rigidity and better conforms to the shape of a mount
Implementation Method 5
transparent electroconductive coatings are deposited on their inner faces
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to an ophthalmic device (1) which includes an electrochromic cell (3) comprising at least two transparent layers (4, 5) having curved inner surfaces (4a, 5a) and defining therebetween a closed recess (6) filled with an electrochromic composition (7), the recess (6) being defined peripherally by a sealing gasket (11) made from an adhesive material (20), the sealing gasket (11) being suitable for keeping the two transparent layers (4, 5) assembled together.