EP1004049A1 - Verres enduits pour lunettes de soleil - Google Patents

Verres enduits pour lunettes de soleil

Info

Publication number
EP1004049A1
EP1004049A1 EP98951105A EP98951105A EP1004049A1 EP 1004049 A1 EP1004049 A1 EP 1004049A1 EP 98951105 A EP98951105 A EP 98951105A EP 98951105 A EP98951105 A EP 98951105A EP 1004049 A1 EP1004049 A1 EP 1004049A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lens
optical lens
light absorbing
wafer
coating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98951105A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1004049A4 (fr
Inventor
Brandon Yip
Colin James Hall
Frank Arnold Samson
Brian Douglas Adams
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Carl Zeiss Vision Australia Holdings Ltd
Original Assignee
Sola International Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sola International Pty Ltd filed Critical Sola International Pty Ltd
Publication of EP1004049A1 publication Critical patent/EP1004049A1/fr
Publication of EP1004049A4 publication Critical patent/EP1004049A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
    • B29D11/00865—Applying coatings; tinting; colouring
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B1/00—Optical elements characterised by the material of which they are made; Optical coatings for optical elements
    • G02B1/10—Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements
    • G02B1/11—Anti-reflection coatings
    • G02B1/113—Anti-reflection coatings using inorganic layer materials only
    • G02B1/115—Multilayers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B1/00—Optical elements characterised by the material of which they are made; Optical coatings for optical elements
    • G02B1/10—Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements
    • G02B1/14—Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
    • G02C7/00—Optical parts
    • G02C7/10—Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses
    • G02C7/108—Colouring materials
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
    • G02C2202/00—Generic optical aspects applicable to one or more of the subgroups of G02C7/00
    • G02C2202/16—Laminated or compound lenses

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to optical articles bearing a light absorbing coating.
  • optical articles according to the present invention are preferably employed in the preparation of articles such as optical lenses, including spectacle lenses, including sunglass lenses, visors, shields, glass sheets, protective screens, and the like.
  • Sunglasses generally serve to attenuate transmitted light, but aside from the level of light transmittance, there are other features that distinguish different sunglass lenses, such as material, transmitted colour, scratch resistance, reduction of side glare, ultra-violet transmittance, cosmetic appearance etc. Coatings may be applied to enhance the performance of sunglass lenses. Such coatings might include scratch resistant coatings, hydrophobic coatings for easier cleaning, anti-reflection coatings on the concave surface for reducing side glare or "mirror" ' (or “interference") coatings for producing fashionable lens colours.
  • General purpose sunglass lenses should meet certain standard specifications, including luminous transmittance, traffic signal recognition and UV transmittance (e.g. ANSI Z80.1 -1995).
  • sunglass lenses In addition to their performance characteristics, sunglass lenses should be simple and economical to produce in a reliable manner.
  • the preferred method for producing sunglass lenses is dependent on the material involved.
  • a light-attenuating material is either incorporated into the substrate material or applied over its surface in a process known as "tinting".
  • glass lenses are often tinted by introducing coloured additives to the molten glass, and similarly polycarbonate lenses are injection-moulded from pre-coloured plastic granules.
  • a disadvantage associated with this method of production is that for economical reasons, very large batches of coloured raw material must be purchased , limiting flexibility in the range of tint colours that can be offered in the sunglass lens product.
  • prescription sunglass lenses with highly varying thickness will also exhibit non- uniform transmittance when coloured in this way.
  • Hard resin lenses are usually dipped in a hot, liquid dye which is imbibed into the plastic.
  • This process also has disadvantages, such as difficulty in achieving tint uniformity, poor colour reproducibility and its requirement that if the lens has a scratch resistant coating, it must be semi-permeable to allow imbibation of the dye molecules, hence compromising the scratch resistance.
  • a reflective mirror coating is desired, the tinted substrate is then cleaned and coated in an evaporative box coater.
  • Such multi-stage processes are both time-consuming and expensive.
  • United States Patent No. 5,770,259 (Parker and Soane) describes a method for tinting sunglass lenses using a curable primer containing a tinting agent. Vacuum deposition allows the light absorbing coating to be applied in a relatively fast, clean, flexible and controllable manner.
  • United States Patent No. 3679291 (Apfel and Gelber) describes a metal-dielectric multi-layer coating that is light absorbing and has an asymmetric reflectance, being anti-reflective from one side and with strong colour on the other side.
  • Corrective sunglass lenses are often dispensed using "semi-finished blanks" - lenses that have a pre-moulded front surface and a back surface that must be ground and polished to satisfy the individual wearer's corrective prescription.
  • tinting and the deposition of further lens coatings must be performed after surfacing the lens, resulting in a long and labour-intensive process to produce and deliver the sunglass lenses.
  • One means to simplify, and accelerate lens delivery is to employ a wafer lamination scheme, where front and back lens wafers spanning a large range of optical powers are simply glued together to produce a lens of virtually any desired prescription.
  • the optical dispenser need only maintain an inventory of wafers and a lamination unit.
  • the use of fast curing glues allows lenses to be produced in only minutes. Additional performance enhancing coatings may be applied to the wafers at the factory, so that the dispenser may provide the desired product features immediately, simply by selecting the appropriate wafers from his inventory.
  • Matrix ® -type, liquid bath tinting is not a desired option - it is a low yield process involving significant handling and possible distortion of fragile wafers. Such tinted lenses may also exhibit poor abrasion and scratch resistance and variable depth of colour.
  • an optical lens including an optically clear lens element; and a light absorbing coating on the front surface of the lens that attenuates transmitted light; has a coloured or colourless reflection as seen from the front of the sunglass lens; and is anti-reflective as seen from the eye side of the lens.
  • one or more surfaces of an optical lens is coated with a light absorbing coating.
  • This light absorbing coating may be applied to either the outside surface of the lens or an inside surface of a lens wafer (where it is protected from scratching once the wafers are laminated) as discussed below.
  • the light absorbing coating may preferably serve three purposes at once - to attenuate transmitted light, effectively providing the sunglass 'lint," to produce a reflected colour that is of pleasing appearance and to reduce or minimise back reflections seen by a wearer of the sunglass lenses.
  • the light absorbing coating may function as a mirror coating.
  • the tinting and mirror coating processes may be combined into one with this coating.
  • the deposited coating may exhibit much improved adhesion and thus improved abrasion resistance.
  • the light absorbing coating is an asymmetric reflectance, light absorbing coating including a plurality of overlapping light absorbing and generally transparent layers, and wherein the thickness and/or number of the respective layers are selected to provide an anti-reflective effect on the eye side of the optical lens and a desired colour on the other side of the lens.
  • coloured or colourless reflection we mean that light from a white fluorescent source is reflected from the surface of the optical lens to an observer such that the reflected light is coloured or white respectively.
  • asymmetric reflectance we mean that the multi-layer coating renders the lens anti-reflective when viewed from one side of the coating and exhibits a selected colour or colourless reflection when viewed from the other side.
  • the optically clear lens element may be a sunglass lens, ophthalmic lens element, visor or the like.
  • a sunglass lens is preferred.
  • ophthalmic lens element we mean all forms of individual refractive optical bodies employed in the ophthalmic arts, including, but not limited to, lenses, lens wafers and semi-finished lens blanks requiring further finishing to a particular patient's prescription.
  • the ophthalmic lenses may be formed from a variety of different lens materials, and particularly from a number of different polymeric plastic resins.
  • a common ophthalmic lens material is diethylene glycol bis (allyl carbonate). Lens materials with higher refractive indices are now growing in popularity. One such material is a CR39 (PPG Industries).
  • Other high index lens materials are based on acrylic or allylic versions of bisphenols or allyl phthalates and the like.
  • Other examples of lens materials that may be suitable for use with the invention include other acrylics, other ailylics, styrenics, polycarbonates, vinylics, polyesters and the like.
  • the light absorbing coating may be formed from overlapping light absorbing and generally transparent layers, as discussed above. Desirably the light absorbing coating is formed from alternating transparent and absorbing layers.
  • the number and/or thickness of the light absorbing and generally transparent layers may be selected to provide an eye side anti-reflective coating utilising suitable computer software.
  • the combination of light absorbing and transparent layers may be selected to provide a bright, coloured reflection when viewed from the front of the lens at the same time.
  • a mirror type coating may be produced.
  • the transparent layers may be formed from any suitable optically clear material.
  • the transparent layers may be formed of a dielectric material.
  • the dielectric layers may be formed from metal oxides, fluorides or nitrides.
  • Metal oxides which may be used for forming transparent layers include one or more of SiO, SiO 2 , ZrO 2 , AI 2 O 3 , TiO, TiO 2 , Ti 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 , MgO, Ta 2 O 5 , CeO 2 and HfO 2 .
  • Fluorides which may be used include one or more of MgF 2 , AIF 3 , BaF 2 , CaF 2 , NasAIF ⁇ , Ta 2 O 5 , and Na 5 AI 3 Fl ⁇ 4 .
  • Suitable nitrides include Si 3 N 4 and AIN.
  • a silica (SiO 2 ) material is preferred.
  • the first deposited layer may be a silica layer followed by alternating light absorbing and generally transparent, preferably silica, layers.
  • the transparent dielectric layers may be substantially thicker than the light absorbing or metallic layers.
  • the first layer may be of approximately 10 to 75 nm, preferably approximately 25 to 60 nm. This first layer may provide significant improvement in the abrasion resistance of the multi-layer coating.
  • the generally transparent layers within the body of the light absorbing coating may be relatively thick.
  • the thicknesses may be such as to generate interference effects which substantially cancel out internal reflections.
  • Thicknesses of for example from approximately 20 nm to 100 nm, preferably approximately 25 nm to 85 nm may be used.
  • the light absorbing layers of the light absorbing coating may be formed from any suitable material. Metals, metal oxides or nitrides may be used.
  • a metallic layer may be selected to provide a generally neutral, e.g. grey transmission.
  • a silver-coloured metal e.g. Niobium (Nb), Chromium (Cr), Tungsten (W), Tantalum (Ta), Tin (Sn), Palladium (Pd), Nickel (Ni) or Titanium (Ti) or mixtures thereof may be used.
  • the thickness of the light absorbing layers is such as to attenuate transmitted light.
  • the light absorbing or metallic layers may generally be of a substantially reduced thickness relative to the transparent or dielectric layers.
  • the light absorbing layers may be from approximately 1 nm to 10 nm, preferably approximately 2 nm to 5 nm in thickness.
  • the light absorbing coating may include a total of 4 to 12 alternating light absorbing-generally transparent layers, preferably 6 to 8 alternating layers.
  • An additional primer layer may be included, as discussed above.
  • the resultant coating may exhibit a silver (colourless) mirror-type appearance.
  • the light absorbing coating may be modified to produce a different colour coating.
  • a metallic oxide e.g. silica or niobium oxide coating may be applied.
  • a combination of dielectric top coatings may be applied.
  • a silica top coat may be added to modify colour and additionally enhance abrasion resistance.
  • the light absorbing coating includes alternating layers of a dielectric material and a metallic material; the dielectric material being selected from one or more of SiO, SiO 2 , ZrO 2 , AI 2 O 3 , TiO, TiO 2 , Ti 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 , MgO, Ta 2 O 5 , CeO 2 and HfO 2 , MgF 2 , AIF 3 , BaF 2 , CaF 2) Ta 2 O 5 and Na 5 AI 3 Flu; and Si 3 N 4 and AIN; and the metallic material is selected from the metals, metal oxides or nitrides of one or more of Niobium (Nb), Chromium (Cr), Tungsten (W), Tantalum (Ta), Tin (Sn), Palladium (Pd), Nickel (Ni) or Titanium (Ti).
  • the dielectric material being selected from one or more of SiO, SiO 2 , ZrO 2 , AI 2 O 3 , TiO, TiO
  • the light absorbing coating includes alternating layers of silica (SiO 2 ) and chromium metal.
  • the light absorbing coating includes an additional titanium dioxide layer or layers of such a thickness to provide a desired colour to the optical lens.
  • the light absorbing coating includes alternating layers of silica and niobium metal.
  • the light absorbing coating includes an additional niobium oxide (Nb 2 Os) and/or silica (SiO 2 ) layer of such thicknesses to provide a desired colour to the optical lens.
  • Nb 2 Os niobium oxide
  • SiO 2 silica
  • the light absorbing coating further includes compatible dielectric layers of suitable thickness to provide a desired colour to the optical lens.
  • the optical lens may further include one or more additional coatings.
  • a multi-coated optical lens including an optical article; and a light-absorbing coating deposited on at least one surface of the optically clear article; the light-absorbing coating including a plurality of overlapping light absorbing and generally transparent layers, and wherein the thickness and/or number of the respective layers being selected to provide an anti-reflective effect on the eye side of the optical lens and a desired colour on the other side of the optical lens, and an optically clear secondary coating which provides a desirable optical and/or mechanical property to the optical article.
  • the optically clear secondary coating may preferably underlay or overlay the light absorbing coating.
  • the secondary coating may be of any suitable type.
  • the secondary coating may be one or more of an anti-reflective, abrasion resistant, or impact- resistant coating.
  • An abrasion-resistant coating is preferred.
  • the combination of an abrasion resistant coating and an anti-reflective coating is particularly preferred.
  • An abrasion-resistant (hard) coating including an organosilicone resin is preferred.
  • a typical organosilicone resin that is suitable for use in the present invention has a composition comprising one or more of the following: 1 ) organosilane compounds with functional and/or non-functional groups such as glycidoxypropy! trimethoxy silane;
  • solvents such as water, alcohols, and ketones
  • Abrasion resistant coats of acrylic, urethane, melamine, and the like may also be used. These materials, however, frequently do not have the good abrasion resistant properties of organo-silicone hard coatings.
  • the abrasion-resistant (hard) coating may be coated by conventional methods such as dip coating, spray coating, spin coating, flow coating and the like or by newer methods such as Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition. Coating thicknesses of between approximately 0.5 and 10 microns are preferred for abrasion and other properties.
  • the secondary abrasion resistant coating may be applied to the front and/or rear lens surfaces.
  • the abrasion resistant coating may be of the type described in United States Patent 4,954,591 to the Applicants, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • one or both surfaces of the optical article may be subjected to a surface treatment to improve bondability and/or compatibility of the light absorbing and/or secondary coating.
  • the surface treatment may be selected from one or more of the group consisting of plasma discharge, corona discharge, glow discharge, ionising radiation, UV radiation, flame treatment and laser, preferably excimer laser treatment.
  • a plasma discharge treatment is preferred.
  • the surface treatment alternatively or in addition, may include incorporating another bonding layer, for example a layer including a metal or metal compound selected from the group consisting of one or more of Chromium, Nickel, Tin, Palladium, Silicon, and/or oxides thereof.
  • the optical article may be a sunglass lens of the wrap-around or visor type, for example of the type described in International Patent Application PCT/AU97/00188 "Improved Single Vision Lens” to Applicants, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • a method for preparing an optical lens which method includes providing an optically clear lens element; and a light absorbing coating on the front surface of the lens that attenuates transmitted light; has a coloured or colourless reflection as seen from the front of the sunglass lens; and is anti-reflective as seen from the eye side of the lens; and depositing the light absorbing coating on a surface of the optical lens element.
  • the method further includes providing an optically clear lens element, a light absorbing material, and a generally transparent material; depositing overlapping layers of light absorbing material and generally transparent material on a surface of the optical lens element, the number and/or thickness of the respective layers being selected to provide a desired colour to the front surface of the optical lens and an anti-reflective effect on the eye side of the optical lens.
  • the light absorbing or metallic material and generally transparent or dielectric material are deposited as alternating layers.
  • the deposition step may be a vacuum deposition step.
  • the deposition step may be conducted in a coating apparatus.
  • a box coater or sputter coater may be used.
  • the light absorbing coating may preferably be formed on the surfaces of the substrate according to the process and the box coaters as described in the Italian Patent No. 1.244.374 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the various layers of the light absorbing coating may be deposited in subsquent steps utilising a vacuum evaporation technique and exposing the growing layers to a bombardment of a beam of ions of inert gas.
  • the deposition of the layers may be achieved at a low temperature (generally below 80°C), using an ion beam having a medium intensity (meaning the average number of ions that reach the substrate) included beween approximately 30 and 100 ⁇ A/cm2 and the energy included between approximately 50 and 100 eV.
  • a medium intensity meaning the average number of ions that reach the substrate
  • the optical article is maintained at an elevated temperature during the deposition of the various layers of the light absorbing coating.
  • the optically clear lens element includes a front lens wafer including a contact surface, a complementary back lens wafer, including a contact surface and the overlapping layers of light absorbing material and generally transparent material are deposited on a surface of the front and/or complementary back lens wafer.
  • a laminate adhesive may be applied to one or both contact surfaces, the front lens wafer and back lens wafer being brought into contact and the laminate so formed being subjected to a curing step to form a laminate optical lens.
  • an optical lens element including a lens wafer having a first lens surface; and a second lens surface, the first or second surface having deposited thereon a -light absorbing coating that attenuates transmitted light; has a coloured or colourless reflection as seen from the front of the sunglass lens; and is anti-reflective as seen from the eye side of the lens.
  • the light absorbing coating is an asymmetric reflectance light absorbing coating including a plurality of overlapping light absorbing and generally transparent layers; the thickness and/or number of the respective layers being selected to provide a desired colour to the optical lens element and an anti- reflective effect on the eye side of the lens element after lamination of the lens wafer.
  • the coated lens wafer may be a front surface wafer or a rear surface wafer. Where the coated lens wafer is a front surface wafer the light absorbing coating may be deposited on the first (front) or second (rear) lens surface thereof. Where the coated lens wafer is a rear surface wafer, the light absorbing coating is preferably deposited on the first (front) surface thereof.
  • a laminate optical lens including a front lens wafer including a contact surface; a complementary back lens wafer including a contact surface; and a light absorbing coating deposited on a contact surface, which light absorbing coating attenuates transmitted light; has a coloured or colourless reflection as seen from the front of the sunglass lens; and is anti-reflective as seen from the eye side of the lens.
  • the light absorbing coating includes a plurality of overlapping light absorbing and generally transparent layers; the thickness and/or number of the respective layers being selected to provide a desired colour to the laminate optical lens and an , anti-reflective effect on the eye side of the laminate optical lens, as discussed above.
  • the light absorbing coating provided may be protected by the optical lens wafers themselves and is thus virtually indestructible.
  • abrasion resistant and like coatings of the type described above may be applied to the external surfaces of the laminate optical article.
  • the laminate optical article may be fabricated in a manner similar to that described in International Patent Application PCT/AU96/00805, "Laminate Article", to Applicants, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the scratch resistant coating applied to the exterior of the wafers does not need to be semi- permeable (to allow passage of the tint molecules through to the substrate). Therefore, the most durable, non-tintable scratch resistant coatings may be applied and the final product is extremely durable.
  • the light absorbing coating is protected inside the laminate and cannot be scratched.
  • a sunglass wearer may be put at risk if he wears sunglasses which have been made using only the front or back wafer of the laminate. It may be necessary for a prescription sunglass manufacturer to ensure that non-laminated wafers are not mounted in sunglass frames for general use.
  • One way to achieve this end is to ensure that the lens wafers are visibly identified with a warning symbol as unsuitable for use, in such a way that after the wafers are laminated, the warning is no longer visible.
  • the current Matrix ® lens lamination system includes a warning symbol in the centre of the contact surface of each lens wafer - a roughened area of the surface that causes unacceptable disturbance of the wearer's vision and thus effectively prevents use of non-laminated wafers alone in spectacles.
  • the interface corresponding to the roughened surfaces optically disappears, so that the warning symbol is no longer visible. If the light absorbing coating is applied over such a roughened contact surface, it is visible from the front of the wafer.
  • the coating does not perform anti reflectively as designed.
  • the roughened surface causes substantial light scattering toward the wearer and significantly disturbs his vision, so much so that the front lens wafer would not conceivably be used in a non-laminated state as a sunglass lens.
  • the coating is antireflective when viewed from the rear - light scattering from the roughened surface is very weak and so the roughened area is invisible to the wearer.
  • the contact surface of the lens wafer is roughened in a cosmetically pleasing fashion, then not only are non laminated lens wafers clearly identified, but after the coated wafers are laminated, a logo that is visible from the front of the lens but yet does not disturb the wearer's vision results.
  • a contact surface of the front and/or back lens wafer bears a mark thereon, the mark being substantially visible from both sides of the wafer before lamination, but which becomes substantially invisible from the eye side of the finished laminate lens.
  • the mark on the contact surface is visible from the front of the laminated lens.
  • the light absorbing coating includes a silica top layer, the silica top layer bearing a mark visible prior to lamination, as discussed above.
  • the visible mark is rendered substantially invisible when the lens wafer is contacted with a laminate adhesive having a refractive index approximately equal to that of the silica layer.
  • An excimer laser or other etching technique can be applied to remove (or merely reduce the thickness of) the top silica layer of part of the coating in the form of a warning label, which will be very visible before the wafer is laminated.
  • glue will fill the depressions caused by the etching, and because the glue can be chosen to have a refractive index very close to that of silica, the etched markings will have no optical effect and hence disappear, making the laminated lens suitable for use.
  • a warning label may be deposited on top of the silica layer with a suitably index-matched material, for example an adhesive or polymer material.
  • a suitably index-matched material for example an adhesive or polymer material.
  • Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a sunglass lens according to the present invention with the light absorbing coating inside the laminate.
  • Figure 2 illustrates the attenuation of transmitted light through the sunglass lens of Figure 1 from a forward light source.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the attenuation of reflected light from the sunglass lens of Figure 1 from side glare.
  • Figure 4 illustrates the transmission spectra of a "black" laminated lens (see Table 1), as compared to a typical liquid-dye tinted hard resin sunglass lens.
  • Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of a laminated sunglass lens with semi-visible internal markings.
  • Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a sunglass lens according to the present invention with the light absorbing coating on the outside surface of the front wafer.
  • Figure 7 illustrates the attenuation of transmitted light through the sunglass lens of Figure 6 from a forward light source.
  • Figure 8 illustrates the attenuation of reflected light from the sunglass lens of Figure 6 from side glare.
  • Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment of a sunglass lens according to the present invention with the light absorbing coating on the outside surface of the back wafer.
  • Figure 10 illustrates the attenuation of transmitted light through the sunglass lens of Figure 9 from a forward light source.
  • Figure 11 illustrates the attenuation of reflected light from the sunglass lens of Figure 8 from side glare.
  • FIG 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a tinted optical lens according to the present invention.
  • the front and back lens wafers are hard resin plastic wafers from a commercial ophthalmic lens system (Sola International Matrix ® system).
  • the back lens wafer is supplied with its external surface pre-coated with a scratch resistant and anti-reflective coating.
  • the external surface of the front wafer is also treated with a scratch resistant coating.
  • the internal surfaces of both wafers are of uncoated hard resin.
  • a light absorbing coating with asymmetric reflectance is applied to the interface surface of the front wafer. (It may equally well be applied to the internal surface of the back wafer instead. Only the first case will be discussed for simplicity.)
  • the coating is designed so that when the wafers are laminated, neutral attenuation of transmitted light, an aesthetically pleasing colour when viewed from the front of the lens and anti-reflection from the wearer-side of the lens result, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Referring to Figure 3, it will be appreciated that possible reflections from surfaces behind the light absorbing coating do not contribute in any significant manner, because their intensity is severely reduced by the incident light having initially passed through the light absorbing coating. Such reflections are therefore not indicated in the figure.
  • the multi-layer light absorbing coatings consist of layers of absorbing materials and transparent dielectrics.
  • the layers of absorbing material provide the attenuation of transmitted light. The degree of attenuation is controlled by adjusting the total thickness of these layers. If the absorbing material has a neutral transmission spectrum (as do many metals), the transmission of the coating will also be neutral, which is highly desirable for a sunglass lens that does not distort colour vision.
  • the reflectance of the coating may be designed to have the required properties of a pleasing colour when viewed from the front of the lens and anti- reflection from the wearer side.
  • Table 1 lists the materials and layer thicknesses used in three differently coloured embodiments of the light absorbing coating.
  • the coatings were deposited using a commercial evaporative box coater (Satis 1200).
  • Table 1 Composition of three differently coloured embodiments of the light absorbing coating as deposited inside the laminated sunglass lens.
  • the sequence of layers is relative to a light ray entering the front surface of the optical lens.
  • Table 2 shows the optical performance of the sunglass lenses in transmittance.
  • the light absorbing coating has a quite neutral transmission, which provides excellent colour vision.
  • Table 3 shows the reflectance characteristics of the laminated sunglass lenses. As seen from the wearer-side reflectances, the sunglass lenses are indeed quite anti-reflective of side glare.
  • Example 1 In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Example 1 (with the light absorbing coating inside the laminate), it is possible to produce semi- visible markings or logos on the sunglass lenses, as shown in Figure 5.
  • By artificially roughening the surface of the wafer on the interface surface underneath the light absorbing coating for example by etching the mould from which the internal surface of the front wafer is cast in this case, patterns are created and embedded inside the lens after lamination.
  • the roughened surface is visible from the front of the sunglass lens, because from this side of the light absorbing coating, the reflectance is non-negligible, so light is scattered from the roughened surface.
  • the coating is anti-reflective, reflections from the roughened surface are extremely weak, so that the markings are almost impossible to see. Therefore the logo can even be placed in the optical centre of the lens without disturbing the wearer's vision.
  • EXAMPLE 3 EXAMPLE 3
  • Figure 6 shows another preferred embodiment of the sunglass lens.
  • the front and back lens wafers are hard resin plastic wafers from a commercial ophthalmic lens system (Sola International Matrix ® system).
  • the back wafer is supplied with its external surface pre-coated with a scratch resistant and anti- reflective coating.
  • the external surface of the front wafer is also treated with a scratch resistant coating.
  • the internal surfaces of both wafers are of uncoated hard resin.
  • the light absorbing coating with asymmetric reflectance is applied to the outside surface of the front wafer.
  • Table 4 lists the materials and approximate layer thicknesses used in four differently coloured embodiments of the light absorbing coating.
  • the coatings in this case were deposited using a thin film sputter deposition system.
  • Table 4 Composition of four differently coloured embodiments of the light absorbing coating as deposited on the outside surface of the front lens wafer.
  • Table 5 shows the optical performance of the sunglass lenses in transmittance.
  • Table 6 shows the reflectance characteristics of the laminated sunglass lenses. As seen from the wearer-side reflectances, the sunglass lenses are indeed quite anti-reflective of side glare.
  • the light absorbing coating is deposited on the outside surface of the back wafer as in Figure 9.
  • no additional anti- reflective coating is required to minimise all back reflections to the eye of the wearer, as seen in Figure 11. It will be appreciated that possible reflections from surfaces behind the light absorbing coating do not contribute in any significant manner, because their intensity is severely reduced by the incident light having initially passed through the light absorbing coating. Such reflections are therefore not indicated in the figure.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Eyeglasses (AREA)
  • Surface Treatment Of Optical Elements (AREA)
  • Optical Filters (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un verre optique qui comprend un élément verre optiquement transparent et un revêtement absorbeur de lumière sur une surface du verre qui atténue la lumière transmise. Le verre optique présente un reflet coloré ou incolore si on se place face à la partie frontale du verre pour lunettes de soleil et est antiréfléchissant pour la personne qui les porte.
EP98951105A 1997-10-21 1998-10-19 Verres enduits pour lunettes de soleil Withdrawn EP1004049A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPO995097 1997-10-21
AUPO9950A AUPO995097A0 (en) 1997-10-21 1997-10-21 Surface coating composition
PCT/AU1998/000868 WO1999021048A1 (fr) 1997-10-21 1998-10-19 Verres enduits pour lunettes de soleil

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1004049A1 true EP1004049A1 (fr) 2000-05-31
EP1004049A4 EP1004049A4 (fr) 2000-06-14

Family

ID=3804229

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98951105A Withdrawn EP1004049A4 (fr) 1997-10-21 1998-10-19 Verres enduits pour lunettes de soleil

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1004049A4 (fr)
AU (1) AUPO995097A0 (fr)
BR (1) BR9809060A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999021048A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (10)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6172812B1 (en) * 1997-01-27 2001-01-09 Peter D. Haaland Anti-reflection coatings and coated articles
GB2352961B (en) * 1999-08-13 2002-04-24 Visionary Ideas Ltd A visor insert or cover
AUPQ949600A0 (en) * 2000-08-17 2000-09-07 Sola International Holdings Ltd Anti-reflection coated lens
WO2002065171A2 (fr) * 2001-01-25 2002-08-22 Jax Holdings, Inc. Dispositif de filtre optique multicouche a couches minces
AT511012B1 (de) * 2011-01-18 2014-08-15 Josef Schauer Zur durchsicht geeignete scheibe
EP3118658B1 (fr) * 2014-03-14 2019-08-21 Hoya Lens Thailand Ltd. Lentille revêtue d'un miroir
BR102014018727A2 (pt) * 2014-07-29 2016-05-10 Fundação Universidade Fed De São Carlos dispositivo de ajuda perceptiva, processo de incorporação do filtro de luz no substrato e uso do dispositivo
EP3542956A1 (fr) 2018-03-23 2019-09-25 Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH Procédé de fabrication de lentilles de lunettes selon une ordonnance
EP4095570A1 (fr) * 2021-05-27 2022-11-30 Essilor International Lentille optique dotée d'un miroir asymétrique
WO2024127055A1 (fr) * 2022-12-16 2024-06-20 Essilor International Élément de lentille ophtalmique à structures de masquage

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US4462883A (en) * 1982-09-21 1984-07-31 Pilkington Brothers P.L.C. Low emissivity coatings on transparent substrates
US5054902A (en) * 1975-12-29 1991-10-08 King William J Light control with color enhancement
EP0677764A1 (fr) * 1994-04-12 1995-10-18 Domenico Orzi Dispositif à filtre optique
EP0691553A2 (fr) * 1994-07-07 1996-01-10 The Boc Group, Inc. Filtres à couches minces
WO1996018917A1 (fr) * 1994-12-13 1996-06-20 Asahi Glass Company Ltd. Ecran antireflet absorbant la lumiere

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US3679291A (en) * 1970-04-21 1972-07-25 Optical Coating Laboratory Inc Filter with neutral transmitting multilayer coating having asymmetric reflectance
US3990784A (en) * 1974-06-05 1976-11-09 Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. Coated architectural glass system and method
US4802755A (en) * 1987-04-06 1989-02-07 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Dual purpose sunglass lens having gold appearance and method of manufacture
US4793669A (en) * 1987-09-11 1988-12-27 Coherent, Inc. Multilayer optical filter for producing colored reflected light and neutral transmission
US5407733A (en) * 1990-08-10 1995-04-18 Viratec Thin Films, Inc. Electrically-conductive, light-attenuating antireflection coating
US5135298A (en) * 1990-09-12 1992-08-04 Feltman Francis L Sunglass lens
US5694240A (en) * 1994-06-24 1997-12-02 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Multilayer anti-reflective and ultraviolet blocking coating for sunglasses
US5729323A (en) * 1994-07-29 1998-03-17 Baush & Lomb Incorporated Light-absorbing and anti-reflective coating for sunglasses

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US5054902A (en) * 1975-12-29 1991-10-08 King William J Light control with color enhancement
US5054902B1 (en) * 1975-12-29 1998-06-23 William J King Light control with color enhancement
US4462883A (en) * 1982-09-21 1984-07-31 Pilkington Brothers P.L.C. Low emissivity coatings on transparent substrates
EP0677764A1 (fr) * 1994-04-12 1995-10-18 Domenico Orzi Dispositif à filtre optique
EP0691553A2 (fr) * 1994-07-07 1996-01-10 The Boc Group, Inc. Filtres à couches minces
WO1996018917A1 (fr) * 1994-12-13 1996-06-20 Asahi Glass Company Ltd. Ecran antireflet absorbant la lumiere

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
See also references of WO9921048A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR9809060A (pt) 2000-10-03
WO1999021048A1 (fr) 1999-04-29
AUPO995097A0 (en) 1997-11-13
EP1004049A4 (fr) 2000-06-14

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