Automated Eyeglasses Lens Faceting via Image Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing eyeglasses lens processing apparatuses face challenges in accurately and efficiently faceting lenses due to manual setting difficulties, leading to inconsistent quality and requiring significant time and labor.

Innovation Solution

A processing control data acquiring apparatus that automatically acquires target lens shape, facet shape, and curve information, generating faceting control data to facilitate precise and efficient lens faceting by analyzing demonstration lens images and curve information, allowing for automated setting and improved accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual setting is used for faceting, then the operator can perform the faceting operation, but it is difficult to estimate the shape of the lens after faceting and accurately perform the setting, leading to poor quality and requiring time and labor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefaceting accuracyVSAvoidsetting difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical setting operations with an automated image processing system. The control portion automatically acquires images of the lens, detects facet lines through image processing algorithms, and generates faceting control data without manual intervention. This substitution eliminates the difficulty of manual shape estimation while maintaining high precision through automated detection algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses image copying and processing to represent the lens geometry. By capturing images of the lens and creating digital representations through image processing, the system can analyze and determine facet lines without physical manual measurement. The copied image data serves as the basis for automated faceting control, improving both accuracy and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If manual setting is used for faceting, then the operator can perform the operation, but it takes time and labor to set the faceting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefaceting efficiencyVSAvoidsetting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces time-consuming manual setting operations with automated image processing. The control portion automatically captures lens images, processes them to detect facet lines, and generates control data without human intervention. This automation dramatically reduces the time and labor required for faceting setup while increasing productivity through rapid automated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically acquiring its own control data. The control portion independently captures images, processes them through image processing algorithms, and generates faceting control data without requiring external manual input. This self-service capability eliminates the time and labor previously needed for manual setting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If manual setting is used for faceting, then the operator can perform the operation, but the quality of the lens after faceting may not be good due to difficulty in estimating shape

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens quality consistencyVSAvoidsetting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces unreliable manual shape estimation with automated image processing. The control portion objectively detects facet lines from lens images using processing algorithms, eliminating human error and subjectivity. This substitution ensures consistent, reliable lens quality by base faceting control on precise automated detection rather than manual judgment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates accurate digital copies of the lens geometry through image capture and processing. These copied image representations provide an objective basis for determining facet lines, ensuring consistent and reliable results. The digital copy allows for precise measurement and analysis that maintains quality consistency across different lenses and operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3575033B1Processing control data acquiring apparatus, processing control data acquiring method and processing control data acquiring program
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 NIDEK CO LTD
  • EP3575033B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3575033B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3575033B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A processing control data acquiring apparatus acquires processing control data for processing an eyeglasses lens. The processing control data acquiring apparatus includes a first shape information acquiring portion that acquires target lens shape information of eyeglasses, a second shape information acquiring portion that acquires facet shape information of a demonstration lens which is faceted, and a processing control data acquiring portion that acquires faceting control data for forming at least one flat surface on a lens surface of the eyeglasses lens based on the target lens shape information and the facet shape information. The second shape information acquiring portion detects the eyeglasses facet shape information from the demonstration lens.