Mirrored Optical Coating Personalization by Ion Bombardment

The patent replaces the mechanical pad-printing mask system with an ion bombardment system. Instead of using mechanical pressure to remove coating material, ion beams are used to selectively etch the coating in predetermined patterns, eliminating the creep problem inherent in mechanical contact methods while maintaining precision and repeatability.

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of material removal from mechanical contact (pad-printing) to physical sputtering (ion bombardment). This parameter change enables precise control over coating thickness modification without the deformation issues that occur with mechanical pressing, thereby improving manufacturing precision while preserving personalization capability.

The patent replaces laser engraving (thermal field) with ion bombardment (physical field). The ion beam method removes coating material through physical sputtering rather than thermal ablation, avoiding the generation of microcracks and visual defects that compromise the reliability and lifetime of the optical article while still enabling personalized patterns.

The patent performs ion bombardment in a controlled vacuum environment, which prevents particle deposition on the treated optical article. This inert environment eliminates the contamination issue that would otherwise occur during laser engraving in atmospheric conditions, thereby maintaining both personalization capability and product reliability.

The patent applies segmentation by using masks or stencils that can be configured in different patterns to create personalized designs on otherwise standardized optical articles. The ion bombardment process is applied selectively to specific regions defined by these segmented masks, allowing customization without requiring complete redesign of the production process, thus maintaining cost efficiency while enabling personalization.

The patent employs preliminary action by applying masks or protective films to predetermined patterns on the optical articles before ion bombardment. These preliminary preparations define exactly where material removal will occur, enabling personalized designs to be created efficiently during standardized production cycles without requiring post-production customization steps.