Optical Glass Coloring with Surface Treatment Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for coloring optical glasses do not effectively account for surface processing influences, leading to deviations from the target coloring, making precise and controlled color achievement challenging.

Innovation Solution

A process that records planned surface processing and target coloring, determines a residue coloring to account for surface processing impacts, and colors the optical glass with this residue coloring to achieve the target color, potentially eliminating the need for multi-stage coloring processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a multi-stage dyeing process is used to adjust coloration, then coloring precision can be improved, but device complexity and manufacturing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoloration precisionVSAvoidcoloring process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the planned surface treatment and calculating the required coloration compensation before the actual coloring process. The system determines what coloration is needed upfront, considering that surface treatments will alter the final appearance, thereby avoiding the need for multi-stage dyeing adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using a detection device to measure the actual coloration of the optical element and comparing it with the target coloration. This feedback information is used to adjust the coloring process parameters, enabling precise control of the final color appearance despite surface treatment influences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If surface treatment is applied after dyeing, then functional requirements can be met, but coloration deviation from target increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface treatment flexibilityVSAvoidcoloration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-calculating and compensating for the coloration changes that will be caused by surface treatments. The system determines the appropriate dyeing parameters in advance, considering the anticipated effect of subsequent surface treatments, thereby counteracting the expected color deviation before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of planned surface treatments and calculates the necessary coloration compensation before the actual coloring and surface treatment processes. This allows the coloring to be optimized upfront, ensuring the final appearance matches the target despite subsequent surface modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional coloring methods are used without considering surface treatment influences, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but coloration precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoloring process simplicityVSAvoidtarget coloration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically detect surface treatment plans, calculate appropriate coloration parameters, and control the coloring process without requiring manual intervention or complex multi-stage adjustments. The system serves itself by integrating detection, calculation, and control functions into a unified automated process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4501612A1Method and device for coloring optical glasses and glass system
Publication Date: 2025.02.05 RODENSTOCK GMBH
  • EP4501612A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4501612A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4501612A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method (1; 2) for coloring optical glass, in particular a spectacle lens, comprises detecting at least one planned surface treatment on at least one surface of the optical glass, by which the optical glass becomes a treated optical glass. A target color of the treated optical glass is detected. A reference color for the optical glass is determined, with which, as treated optical glass after the at least one planned surface treatment has been carried out, it will exhibit approximately the target color. The optical glass is then colored with the reference color.