Electrochromic Interferential Coating for Ophthalmic Lens Reflection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmic lenses lack the ability to modulate reflection across the visible, near-infrared, and harmful blue light regions while maintaining electrochromic properties and cosmetic effects, leading to limited market acceptance and inadequate protection against harmful light exposure.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic lens with a multilayered interferential coating, including an electrochromic stack, that can switch between antireflective and mirror states upon electrical potential application, providing controlled reflection modulation and protection in the near-infrared and blue light regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional antireflective coatings are applied to reduce light reflection and improve visibility, then the lens provides good cosmetic effect and visibility, but it lacks the ability to modulate reflection in different wavelength regions (visible, NIR, blue light) and provides inadequate protection against harmful light exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is divided into multiple functional layers, each targeting specific wavelength regions. The multilayer interferential coating includes layers with different optical properties that selectively reflect harmful blue light (400-450 nm) and near-infrared light (780-1400 nm) while maintaining antireflective properties in the visible region (380-780 nm) when not activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrochromic stack changes its optical parameters (refractive index, absorption coefficient) in response to electrical potential, enabling dynamic modulation of reflection. When activated by applying electrical potential, the coating transitions from an antireflective state to a mirror state, increasing reflection across multiple wavelength regions including visible, NIR, and blue light.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrochromic coatings are applied to provide dynamic light blocking capability, then the lens can modulate transmission, but it cannot simultaneously provide controlled reflection modulation and cosmetic effects across visible, NIR, and blue light regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrochromic materials with multilayer interferential coating materials to create a composite structure. The electrochromic stack (including electrochromic layer, ion conductor layer, and electrode layers) is integrated with dielectric layers of different refractive indices, creating a composite coating that provides both dynamic electrochromic modulation and wavelength-selective interferential reflection.
Solution Approach 2:
The multilayer interferential coating with electrochromic stack performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides antireflective properties in the visible region, blocks harmful blue light, reflects near-infrared light, and enables dynamic modulation through electrochromic effect. This multi-functional design addresses cosmetic effects, health protection, and adaptability in a single coating system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the lens provides comprehensive protection against harmful light and dynamic reflection modulation, then eye safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protective functions into a single integrated coating system. The multilayer interferential coating with electrochromic stack combines antireflective functionality, blue light blocking, NIR reflection, and dynamic electrochromic modulation into one unified structure, eliminating the need for separate coatings for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective functions are implemented through thin film coatings deposited on the lens surface. The multilayer interferential coating and electrochromic stack are applied as thin films (total thickness typically less than several micrometers), maintaining lens transparency and aesthetics while providing comprehensive protection and dynamic control.
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 lens effectively modulates reflection to enhance visibility and protect against harmful light, offering improved aesthetic appeal and eye safety by reversibly changing optical properties in response to electrical stimuli.
Implementation Method 1
an electrochromic stack (EC) part of said multilayered interferential stack or directly deposited onto said multilayered interferential stack so as to form a multilayered interferential coating
Implementation Method 2
a multilayered interferential coating, including an electrochromic stack, that can switch between antireflective and mirror states
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an ophthalmic lens comprising a transparent substrate with a front main face and a rear main face, at least one of said main faces being coated with a multilayered interferential stack (IF stack), comprising at least one HI layer having a refractive index higher than or equal 1.55 and at least one LI layer having a refractive index lower than 1.55, characterized in that an electrochromic stack (EC stack) is part of said multilayered interferential stack or is directly deposited onto said multilayered interferential stack, so as to form a multilayered interferential coating (IF coating).