Standardized Spectacle Lens Surfaces for Mass Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional progressive lenses require individual surface design adjustments based on varying prescriptions and user-specific parameters, leading to differences in imaging properties and fitting, making mass production challenging and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Designing spectacle lenses with eye-side and object-side surfaces that maintain identical target specifications for first lines of sight across multiple users, using standardized viewing angles and coordinates to ensure consistent optical performance regardless of individual prescriptions and user parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If progressive lenses are designed with individual surface adjustments for different prescriptions and user parameters, then imaging properties and fitting are optimized for each user, but manufacturing complexity and production efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lens design into standardized modular components (eye-side surface, object-side surface, progression zone, distance zone, near zone) that can be independently optimized and then assembled into customized lenses. This allows maintaining imaging quality while simplifying the design process through standardized building blocks rather than completely custom surfaces for each prescription.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by defining target specifications (spherical power, astigmatism, cylinder axis) at penetration points and using viewing angles as standardized parameters. Instead of customizing entire surface geometries for each user, the system adjusts optical parameters at key points while maintaining standardized viewing angle references, thereby reducing design complexity while preserving imaging properties.
2Reliability
If progressive lenses are customized for each user based on individual parameters, then vision quality is optimized, but manufacturing precision requirements and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining standardized target specifications and viewing angles before the actual lens manufacturing. The eye-side and object-side surfaces are designed with predetermined optical characteristics at standardized penetration points, allowing manufacturers to produce lenses with consistent precision by following established specifications rather than calculating custom surfaces for each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating standardized reference surfaces and target specifications that can be replicated across different lenses. Instead of manufacturing completely unique surfaces for each prescription, the system copies standardized optical patterns and parameter sets, reducing the precision burden on individual manufacturing processes while maintaining vision quality through consistent replication of proven designs.
3Manufacturing precision
If individual parameters like pupillary distance and frame angle are considered in lens design, then fitting accuracy is improved, but design time and production efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by allowing the standardized lens design to adapt to individual user parameters through adjustable positioning. The standardized eye-side and object-side surfaces can be positioned and oriented according to individual pupillary distance, frame angle, and other parameters, enabling the system to maintain fitting accuracy while avoiding the time-consuming process of redesigning entire lenses for each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses universality by creating a standardized lens design that serves multiple users with different prescriptions and parameters. The standardized surfaces and viewing angles provide a universal base that can be applied across different individuals, with only minor adjustments needed for fitting, thereby dramatically improving production efficiency while maintaining accuracy through the universal applicability of the design.
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
Enables the production of spectacle lenses that provide consistent vision for multiple users with the same viewing angles, allowing for identical target specifications at penetration points, thereby simplifying manufacturing and ensuring uniform optical performance across different prescriptions and user configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The refractive index of a progressive lens increases in what is known as a transition or progression zone, gradually increasing from the far to the near range.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a series of spectacle lenses (12, 44), each spectacle lens (12, 44) of said series comprising a surface (16, 46) facing the eye and a surface facing the object. According to the invention: the surface (16, 46) facing the eye and/or the surface facing the object of each spectacle lens (12, 44) is designed in such a way that when the spectacle lenses (12, 44) are in position in front of the eye (10) of the respective wearer, nominal variables (f(x1, y1), f(x'1, y'1), g (φ1, ψ1)) at the intersection points (32) of first lines of sight (30) are essentially identical with each respective surface (16, 46) facing the eye or the object of the spectacle lenses (12, 44) that is used; each first line of sight (30) is a predetermined line on the eye side, said line intersecting the central point (24) of the pupil and an optical rotational point (20) of the respective eye (10) and all first lines of sight (30) have a predetermined identical visual angle (φ1, ψ1) on the eye side; and the nominal variables (f(x1, y1), f(x'1, y'1), g (φ1, ψ1)) for each intersection point (32) of the respective spectacle lens (12, 44) in the series consist of the following: a maximum permissible difference between a predefined value of a spherical refractive power and the actual value of a spherical refractive power when the lenses are worn and/or a maximum permissible difference between a predefined value of an astigmatism and an actual value of an astigmatism when the lenses are worn and/or a maximum permissible difference between a predefined value of a cylinder axis and an actual value of a cylinder axis when the lenses are worn. The invention also relates to a method for producing a spectacle lens (12, 44).