Ophthalmic Lens Sets Using One Semi-Finished Blank
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing lens manufacturing process requires a set of different semi-finished lens blanks, leading to increased storage and logistic costs.
Innovation Solution
A method to manufacture a set of ophthalmic lenses using only one type of semi-finished lens blank while meeting optical performance criteria, reducing inventory and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of semi-finished lens blanks are used to manufacture different ophthalmic lenses, then the range of optical prescriptions that can be satisfied is improved, but the storage and logistic costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a single type of semi-finished lens blank (with a flat front surface) to manufacture multiple different ophthalmic lenses serving various optical prescriptions. The flat front surface acts as a universal starting point that can be transformed into different lens designs (concave, convex, or flat back surfaces) to satisfy myopic, hypermetropic, and emmetropic prescriptions respectively, thereby eliminating the need to maintain separate inventories for different lens types.
2Quantity of substance
If a single type of semi-finished lens blank is used, then the storage and logistic costs are reduced, but the ability to meet diverse optical performance criteria deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying only the back surface of the universal flat-front semi-finished lens blank to create different optical prescriptions. The front surface remains flat and unchanged, while the back surface is customized with different curvatures (concave for myopia, convex for hypermetropia, or flat for emmetropia) to meet specific optical performance criteria for different wearer needs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple semi-finished lens blank types are maintained, then the manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the variability element from the semi-finished lens blank by isolating the back surface modification as the sole source of optical prescription differentiation. By removing the need to handle multiple types of semi-finished blanks with different front surface characteristics, the manufacturing process is simplified to focus only on back surface machining operations, thereby reducing process complexity while maintaining manufacturing flexibility.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6a~6b
AI summary
Set of ophthalmic lenses each ophthalmic lens of said set has at a point of optical reference a maximum power and each ophthalmic lens meets an optical performance criterion in standard wearing conditions, wherein the range of maximum powers of the set of ophthalmic lenses is greater than or equal to 10 D, and all the ophthalmic lenses of the set of ophthalmic lenses have been manufactured from a set of semi- finished lens blank, each semi- finished lens blank having the same base curve.