Optical Lens Electronic Component Embedding via Mechanical Reference

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of electronic components into optical lenses is challenging due to the small, thin, and flexible nature of edged lenses, making it difficult to handle and process them for embedding electronic elements without calibration or visual detection of specific zones.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a mechanical reference system and edging data to facilitate the embedding of electronic components into optical lenses, which includes providing a blocking piece and lens data for precise positioning and processing, allowing for operations in an edging device without calibration, and using 3D printing for embedding components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If electronic components are embedded after the edging process of a lens is finished, then the lens can be manufactured with standard edging processes, but the edged lens is difficult to handle for special processing like printing electronic components or adding electronic components in the lens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of edgingVSAvoidease of handling for electronic component embedding

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing a mechanical reference system on the optical lens blank before the edging process. This reference system enables subsequent electronic component embedding operations to be performed accurately on the edged lens without requiring recalibration or visual detection, thus resolving the handling difficulty while maintaining standard edging processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If electronic components are embedded after edging, then standard edging equipment can be used, but calibration and visual detection of particular zones are required which complicates the process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of edging equipmentVSAvoiddifficulty of locating zones for component embedding

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical reference system is established on the lens blank before edging, so that after edging the reference system remains on the edged lens and provides pre-identified zones for electronic component embedding. This eliminates the need for post-edging calibration or visual detection, reducing both device complexity and detection difficulty

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical reference system acts as an intermediary between the edging process and the electronic component embedding process. It provides a stable reference framework that connects the edging equipment output with the subsequent embedding operations, eliminating the need for complex detection and calibration systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3634731B1Method and system for manufacturing an optical lens having an electronic component

Publication Date: 2024.11.20 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL(COMPAGNIE GENERALE D OPTIQUE)

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AI summary

A method of manufacturing an optical lens (12) comprising at least one electronic component (14, 16), the method comprising: - providing (S2) a mechanical reference system on an optical lens blank, the optical lens blank being configured to be processed to form the optical lens; - providing (S4) edging data configured to be used to edge the optical lens blank to form the optical lens; - embedding (S6) the at least one electronic component in the optical lens based on edging data and on the mechanical reference system.