Embedded Color Ink Contact Lens With Variable Thickness Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional contact lens patterns are limited in showing contrast, gradation, and three-dimensional effects, primarily relying on differences in size and color of color ink elements.
Innovation Solution
A contact lens with a color ink layer embedded in the lens body, featuring varying color ink membrane thicknesses and areas, and a manufacturing method involving molds and pad printing to create multicolor patterns with different ink concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional pad printing with uniform color ink elements is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the pattern visual effect (contrast, gradation, three-dimensional effect) is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the thickness of color ink layers at different locations within the lens body. Specifically, the color ink layer has different membrane thicknesses in different regions, creating local variations in ink concentration that produce contrast, gradation, and three-dimensional visual effects. This resolves the contradiction by enhancing pattern visual effect through localized thickness modifications without requiring complex multi-step manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension (thickness dimension) to the color ink layer beyond the traditional two-dimensional color and size variations. By controlling the membrane thickness of color ink elements in the third dimension (from 4μm to 316μm), the patent creates M*(1+n) units of color ink concentration, significantly enhancing pattern visual effects while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
2Manufacturing precision
If color ink elements with different sizes and colors are used, then pattern contrast can be achieved, but other visual effects (gradation, three-dimensional effect) cannot be broken through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the membrane thickness parameter of color ink layers. The color ink layer includes thicknesses ranging from 4μm to 316μm, creating multiple concentration levels (M*(1+n) units). This parameter variation enables diverse pattern designs with contrast, gradation, and three-dimensional effects, significantly improving both visual effect and design flexibility without complicating the manufacturing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple color ink layers with different thicknesses are embedded, then pattern contrast and three-dimensional effect are enhanced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the color ink layer with varying thicknesses in a lower mold before injecting the lens material. The color ink layer is prepared in advance with different membrane thicknesses (4μm to 316μm) corresponding to different concentration units, and then the lens material is injected to encapsulate it. This preliminary preparation simplifies the overall manufacturing process while achieving enhanced pattern visual effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the color ink layer into multiple sublayers with different thicknesses and colors. The color ink layer includes a first sublayer with a first color and a second sublayer with a second color, where each sublayer has different membrane thicknesses. This segmentation allows independent control of each layer's thickness and color properties, enabling complex visual effects while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction.
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 method enhances pattern contrast, gradation, and three-dimensional effects by embedding color ink layers with varying thicknesses and areas, providing stronger visual impact compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
solidifying the transparent plastic material into a lens body, so that the color ink layer is embedded in the lens body
Data Source
AI summary
A contact lens includes a lens body and a color ink layer. The color ink layer is embedded in the lens body and includes a plurality of color ink membrane thicknesses. The color ink membrane thicknesses are different from each other. The color ink layer includes a plurality of color ink elements, and the color ink elements include M types of areas, in which M is a natural number greater than one. The color ink layer further includes color ink membrane thicknesses from a first color ink membrane thickness to a (1+n)-th color ink membrane thickness, in which n is a natural number greater than zero. These color ink membrane thicknesses and the M types of areas form M*(1+n) units of color ink concentration, and the M*(1+n) units of color ink concentration forms a multicolor pattern in the lens body.