Optical Lens Design Compensating Coating Refraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical lenses with complex designs face challenges in preventing or slowing down the progression of myopia or hyperopia due to coating thickness and refractive index variations, which affect light transmission and optical function, particularly in children during near vision tasks.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a coating lens transfer law is used to determine the design of the lens element, ensuring accurate optical function by measuring and compensating for optical characteristic errors, and a coating mold transfer law for producing molds that correct the shape of the lens element to maintain targeted optical functions post-coating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a coating layer is applied on the surface of the optical lens to provide anti-scratch and anti-reflective treatments, then the lens gains protective and optical properties, but the coating thickness and refractive index variations modify the optical function of optical elements placed on the lens surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective and optical propertiesVSAvoidoptical function accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-compensating for coating-induced optical modifications during the lens design phase. The design parameters of optical elements are adjusted in advance to account for the expected coating thickness and refractive index variations, ensuring that the final coated lens achieves the desired optical function without requiring post-coating adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the design parameters of optical elements based on the specific coating characteristics. The shape, position, or optical power of optical elements are tuned to compensate for the coating's effect, transforming the coating from a harmful factor into a controllable parameter that can be integrated into the overall optical design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the thickness of the coating layer is increased to improve protective properties, then the lens becomes more durable, but the optical function of optical elements is more significantly modified

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidoptical function accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses this contradiction by treating coating thickness as a known parameter in the design process. Rather than attempting to minimize coating thickness, the method incorporates the actual coating thickness into the optical design calculations, adjusting optical element parameters to achieve the desired net optical effect regardless of the coating's protective thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional treating methods are used on lenses with complex designs containing optical elements, then the lens surface can be treated, but the coating thickness heterogeneity modifies the optical function of optical elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface treatment capabilityVSAvoidoptical function uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by considering the spatial variation of coating thickness across different regions of the lens. The optical element parameters are locally adjusted based on the expected coating characteristics in their specific locations, allowing each optical element to compensate for its local coating environment and maintain uniform optical function across the entire lens surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This approach allows for the production of lenses that effectively prevent or slow down the progression of abnormal refractions while maintaining accurate optical performance and comfort for the wearer.

Implementation Method 1

the index of refraction of the coating layer covering optical elements may impact the light ray transmission and thus modify the optical function of said optical elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3717964B1Optical lens
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL(COMPAGNIE GENERALE D OPTIQUE)
  • EP3717964B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3717964B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3717964B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

Method implemented by computer means for determining a lens element, for example adapted for a wearer, the method comprising: - providing lens data indicating at least a shape of the lens element to be determined, the shape of the lens element corresponding to a shape of the holder and to at least a shape of the optical elements of the lens element, the shape of the optical elements being associated with a targeted optical function; - providing a transfer law associated with a coating process of a lens element comprising the optical elements, the coating process being associated with the coating element, the transfer law corresponding to transformations to apply to the shape of the surface of the lens element comprising the optical elements for compensating modifications of the targeted optical function of said optical elements induced by the coating process; and - determining the lens element based at least on the lens data and the transfer law.