Optical Component Cells Varying Sizes Diffraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of hermetically sealed cells in optical components for ophthalmic lenses can result in aesthetic and optical drawbacks, such as visual hindrance and iridescence, due to light diffraction and scattering by the cells, especially when cell sizes exceed 0.5 mm, impacting the transparency and attractiveness of the lenses.

Innovation Solution

The optical component features a set of cells of varying sizes, with larger cells in central zones for aesthetics and smaller cells in peripheral zones to minimize diffraction and scattering, allowing for optimized transparency and adaptability of optical functions, while maintaining hermetic sealing to prevent substance mixing and allow for liquid or gel forms that enhance optical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If large-sized cells are used in the optical component, then the optical function can be maintained and liquid/gel substances can be used, but the cells become visible and cause visual hindrance and aesthetic drawbacks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical functionVSAvoidvisual hindrance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating cell sizes based on their location within the optical component. Central zones contain larger cells that can accommodate liquid or gel optical substances, while peripheral zones contain smaller cells that minimize visual hindrance. This spatial differentiation allows each region to optimize its function according to local requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If small-sized cells are used to avoid visibility, then aesthetic appeal improves, but light diffraction and scattering cause iridescence and milky haze

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appealVSAvoidlight diffraction and scattering
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by creating different cell size zones: central zones with larger cells that reduce diffraction and scattering effects, and peripheral zones with smaller cells that maintain aesthetic appeal. This spatial variation in cell dimensions allows the system to simultaneously address both optical performance and aesthetic requirements in different regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If hermetically sealed cells are used to prevent substance mixing, then optical function stability is improved, but the cell structure itself causes visibility and aesthetic drawbacks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical function stabilityVSAvoidcell visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying cell sizes across different zones of the optical component. Central zones use larger cells that maintain reliable hermetic sealing for optical function stability, while peripheral zones use smaller cells that are less visible and cause fewer aesthetic drawbacks. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction between reliability and aesthetics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the optical component into multiple zones with different cell characteristics. By dividing the component into central and peripheral zones with differently sized cells, the system can simultaneously achieve hermetic sealing reliability in central areas and aesthetic appeal in peripheral areas, resolving the contradiction through spatial segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enhances the transparency and aesthetic appeal of optical elements by reducing cell visibility and light scattering, maintaining optical performance, and enabling the use of superior optical substances like photochromic liquids or gels, while allowing for customization of optical functions and adaptation to ametropy corrections.

Implementation Method 1

Each cell is hermetically sealed and contains a substance with an optical property

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHermetic sealing: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

These drawbacks of small-sized cells result from known mechanisms of light diffraction and/or scattering by the set of cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 3

These drawbacks of small-sized cells result from known mechanisms of light diffraction and/or scattering by the set of cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 4

photochromic liquids and gels have a higher speed of reaction than photochromic solids to variations in luminosity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotochromism: Photochromism

Data Source

PatentEP1904886B1Optical component with cells
Publication Date: 2018.11.07 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL(COMPAGNIE GENERALE D OPTIQUE)
  • EP1904886B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP1904886B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

An optical component (10) comprises a transparent set of cells (15 ; 25) juxtaposed in parallel to a surface of the component. Each cell is hermetically sealed and contains a substance with an optical property. The set of cells comprises cells of several sizes. The size of the cells can be varied between various locations of the surface of the component (10), for making it possible to cut out the component without altering its optical properties . Furthermore, the variation in size of the cells serves to prevent diffraction or scattering from being visible in certain zones of the component.