Two-Layer Prescription Eyewear Lens with Uniform Tint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional eyewear that provides both corrective prescriptions and light filtering or circadian modulation is unsuitable for users with corrective lenses, often resulting in color gradients and optical impairments due to uneven tint distribution and thickness issues in mineral glass lenses.

Innovation Solution

A two-layer lens design where a first layer with energy absorptive dyes is combined with a second clear layer, allowing for uniform color and thickness, enabling the polishing of a corrective prescription on the posterior surface without affecting the first layer, thus maintaining optical uniformity and reducing photophobic responses or modulating circadian cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mineral glass is used to provide both corrective prescription and light filtering, then the lens can be polished with a user's prescription, but color gradients and optical impairments occur due to uneven tint distribution and thickness variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprescription correction capabilityVSAvoiduniformity of tint distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The lens is divided into two separate layers: a first layer containing the light-filtering tint and a second layer providing the corrective prescription. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently for its specific function, eliminating the color gradient problem that occurs when both functions are combined in a single mineral glass layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite lens structure combining a tinted layer and a clear prescription layer. This composite approach allows the tint to be uniformly distributed in the first layer while the second layer provides precise optical correction without being affected by the tint, achieving both uniformity and prescription accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If mineral glass is made relatively thick to apply a range of different prescriptions, then the corrective prescription can be polished, but the Coke-bottle effect occurs causing optical impairment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of correctable prescriptionsVSAvoidCoke-bottle effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the prescription function into a dedicated second layer, the first layer can maintain uniform thickness optimized for tint distribution, while the second layer accommodates the prescription polishing. This eliminates the need to increase overall lens thickness to accommodate prescriptions, preventing the Coke-bottle effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If typical eyewear provides light filtering or circadian modulation, then photophobic responses are reduced, but the eyewear is not suitable for having a user's prescription polished therein

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotophobic response frequencyVSAvoidprescription correction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lens is segmented into a first layer for photophobic response reduction through uniform tint distribution and a second layer for prescription correction. This allows the eyewear to simultaneously provide both light filtering benefits and corrective vision, eliminating the need for users to wear two separate sets of eyewear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution provides eyewear with a user's prescription that reduces the frequency and severity of photophobic responses while maintaining uniform optical characteristics and avoiding the 'Coke-bottle effect', effectively addressing the limitations of existing technologies.

Implementation Method 1

The one or more dyes may be configured to absorb electromagnetic energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic energy absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS20240252038A1Prescription eyewear with photophobic response control and/or circadian cycle modulation capabilities

Publication Date: 2024.08.01 MATAP II LLC

AI summary

A lens blank includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has an anterior surface and a posterior surface and is formed a base material and one or more energy absorptive dyes generally uniformly dispersed throughout the base material. The one or more dyes are configured to absorb electromagnetic energy. The second layer is bonded or permanently attached to the posterior surface of the first layer and is formed of a generally clear base material.