Spectacle Lens Design Optimization via Prescription Grouping

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in designing spectacle lenses lies in determining suitable optimization conditions for individual prescription conditions, particularly for progressive power lenses with complex shapes, as existing methods require numerous optimization conditions and lengthy processes, making it difficult to achieve optimal optical performance within a limited development period.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system for designing spectacle lenses that classify prescription conditions into groups with similar optical characteristics, update optimization conditions based on real-time evaluations, and use a database to store and retrieve optimization conditions, allowing for progressive improvement of lens design to match individual prescription conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If optimization design is performed using many optimization conditions for each prescription condition, then the determination of suitable optimization conditions for individual prescription conditions is improved, but the development time and process complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimization condition determination accuracyVSAvoiddevelopment period
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the vast space of optimization conditions into a limited number of representative optimization condition sets. Instead of evaluating all possible conditions, the invention identifies and uses a small number of key optimization conditions that can represent multiple prescription conditions, thereby reducing the development time while maintaining accurate determination of suitable optimization conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-determining representative optimization condition sets that can be applied to multiple prescription conditions. Through advance simulation and evaluation, the invention establishes a library of optimization condition sets that can be directly applied to new prescriptions without requiring extensive new optimization work, thus reducing development time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If optimization design is performed for each individual prescription condition, then the optical performance accuracy is improved, but the process complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical performance accuracyVSAvoiddesign process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating optimization condition sets that serve multiple prescription conditions simultaneously. Each representative optimization condition set is designed to be universally applicable to a group of similar prescription conditions, reducing the need for separate optimization processes for each individual prescription while maintaining accurate optical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by adjusting key optimization parameters to create representative optimization condition sets that can adapt to different prescription conditions. By identifying the critical parameters that influence optical performance and systematically varying them, the invention generates a limited number of optimization condition sets that cover a wide range of prescription scenarios, simplifying the design process while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If numerous optimization conditions are used to design progressive power lenses, then the optical performance is improved, but the base curve determination and aberration control become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical performanceVSAvoidbase curve and aberration control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential optimization conditions from the vast space of possible conditions, identifying and separating the key parameters that most significantly influence base curve determination and aberration control. By focusing on these critical extracted parameters rather than all possible optimization conditions, the invention simplifies the control and measurement processes while maintaining reliable optical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2916164B1Method for designing spectacle lens, and system for designing spectacle lens
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 NIKON CORP
  • EP2916164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2916164B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2916164B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for designing a spectacle lens includes: a determination step of determining at least one optimization condition to be used in optimization design of a spectacle lens in accordance with a prescription condition for the spectacle lens; a design step of designing at least one prototype lens by the optimization design corresponding to the at least one optimization condition determined in the determination step; a selection step of selecting a prototype lens to be provided as the spectacle lens from the at least one prototype lens designed in the design step; and a recording step of performing update recording, at a database in which a plurality of optimization conditions respectively correlated with a plurality of prescription conditions are recorded, an optimization condition that is correlated with the prescription condition for the spectacle lens to an optimization condition used in the optimization design of the prototype lens selected in the selection step.