Spectacle Lens Patterning via Selective Plasma Contact Angle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for applying patterns on spectacle lenses, such as laser engraving or fogging marks, are vulnerable to counterfeiting and require complex processes, making it difficult to create sophisticated and secure patterns.
Innovation Solution
A method involving selective plasma treatment to alter the contact angle of a spectacle lens substrate, followed by applying a hard coating composition, to form a pattern that is invisible or semi-invisible under certain light conditions, providing enhanced adhesion differences and preventing easy reproduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser engraving or fogging marks are used to create patterns on spectacle lenses, then the pattern can be applied on finished lenses with coated surfaces, but the method is vulnerable to counterfeiting and the process is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies plasma treatment to create low contact angle surfaces on specific regions of the lens substrate before any coating is applied. This preliminary modification of surface properties enables selective adhesion of hard coating composition, creating secure patterns that are integrated into the lens manufacturing process itself rather than applied as a separate finishing step, thereby preventing counterfeiting while maintaining process simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates regions with different contact angle properties on the lens surface through selective plasma treatment. These local variations in surface energy (low contact angle in pattern regions versus high contact angle in non-pattern regions) enable selective adhesion of the hard coating composition, allowing complex anti-counterfeiting patterns to be formed without requiring complex masking or multiple processing steps
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional marking methods are used on finished spectacle lenses, then the lens coating is already complete, but the pattern can be easily reproduced by copycats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the lens substrate surface properties through plasma treatment before applying the hard coating composition. By creating low contact angle regions on the uncoated lens substrate, the pattern is embedded into the lens manufacturing process itself, making it impossible for copycats to reproduce the pattern on finished lenses without access to the specialized plasma treatment equipment and process knowledge
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface energy parameters of the lens substrate by creating regions with different contact angles through plasma treatment. This parameter modification occurs at the molecular level on the lens surface, creating permanent differences in adhesion properties that are integrated into the lens structure itself, thereby providing secure anti-counterfeiting protection while maintaining ease of manufacture through a single-step coating process
3Manufacturing precision
If selective plasma treatment is applied to create low contact angle surfaces, then adhesion differences are enhanced for pattern formation, but the process requires precise control of surface properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies plasma treatment selectively to specific regions of the lens substrate to create local variations in contact angle. This local modification of surface properties generates strong adhesion differences between pattern and non-pattern regions, enabling high manufacturing precision for pattern formation. The process uses standard plasma treatment equipment with controlled exposure to create the desired surface energy distribution without requiring complex additional control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the contact angle parameter of the lens substrate surface through plasma treatment to achieve the desired adhesion characteristics. By adjusting plasma treatment parameters (power, duration, gas composition), the contact angle can be precisely controlled to create the optimal difference between treated and untreated regions, achieving high pattern selectivity while using standard process control methods
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
The method allows for the creation of secure, complex patterns that are difficult to counterfeit and can serve as optical elements for myopia or hyperopia control, without altering the lens's surface properties or requiring additional masking steps.
Implementation Method 1
selective plasma treatment to alter the contact angle of a spectacle lens substrate
Implementation Method 2
providing a hard coating composition to the spectacle lens substrate... enhanced adhesion differences
Data Source
AI summary
A method for applying a pattern on a spectacle lens substrate is disclosed. The method produces a low contact angle surface on a preselected part of a surface of the spectacle lens by plasma treating a preselected part of an uncoated surface of the spectacle lens substrate. Subsequently, a hard coating composition and optionally a primer coating composition are applied to the spectacle lens substrate.