JPH07175090A - Electrochromic ophthalmic lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an EC(electrochromic) ophthalmic lens constituted so that an opaque and chromatic low resistance member such as a metal-plated member is prevented from becoming conspicuous due to projecting from a frame. CONSTITUTION:As for the electrochromic ophthalmic lens constituted so that a sealing lens 8 is made to adhere to the element surface of an element lens 1 provided with an electrochromic element consisting of at least an electrochromic layer 5 and a pair of transparent electrode layers 4 and 6 interposing the layer 5, the respective low resistance taking-out electrodes 2 and 3 of a pair of transparent electrode layers 4 and 6 are respectively provided at lens edge parts which are the lens edge part of the lens 1 and which are shielded by the spectacle frame A when the electrochromic spectacle lens is attached to the frame A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a lens having an electrochromic element (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as ECD) formed on its surface and has variable transmittance, and may be called electrochromic (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as EC). ) Concerning spectacle lenses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Eyeglass lenses such as sunglasses and fashion glasses are often worn for the purpose of protecting the eyes or wearing clothes. Since such a spectacle lens has a constant transmittance (low value), it is inconvenient because it becomes difficult to see when the surroundings are dark. Therefore, an EC spectacle lens having a variable transmittance using a lens having an ECD formed on its surface has been developed. A phenomenon in which a reversible electrolytic oxidation or reduction reaction occurs when a voltage is applied and the color is reversibly faded is called electrochromism. By using an EC substance exhibiting such a phenomenon, an ECD that is colored and erased by voltage operation is made, and this ECD is used as a light quantity control element (for example, an antiglare mirror or a light control lens) or a numeral display element using 7 segments. Attempts to use it have been made for over 20 years.

For example, an ECD (Japanese Patent Publication No. 52), in which a transparent electrode layer (cathode), a tungsten trioxide thin film (EC layer), an insulating film such as silicon dioxide, and an electrode layer (anode) are sequentially laminated on a glass substrate. -46098) is known as an all-solid-state ECD. When a voltage is applied to this ECD, the tungsten trioxide (WO ₃ ) thin film is colored blue. Then, when a reverse voltage is applied to the ECD, the blue color of the WO ₃ thin film disappears and becomes colorless. Although the mechanism of coloring / decoloring has not been clarified in detail, it is understood that a small amount of water contained in the WO ₃ thin film and the insulating film (ion conductive layer) controls the coloring / decoloring. . The coloring reaction equation is estimated as follows. ^{_{Cathode: H 2 O → H + +}} OH - WO 3 + nH + + ne - → H n WO 3 ( colorless) (blue) ^{anode: OH - → 1/2 H} 2 O + 1/4 O 2 ↑ + 1/2 e ⁻ Thus, the ECD is characterized in that the EC layer is colored and erased by applying a voltage between the pair of electrode layers. Therefore, it is possible to electrically control the transmittance of light passing through the ECD by coloring and erasing the EC layer.

An EC spectacle lens with variable transmittance using a lens in which this ECD is formed on a lens substrate (see FIG. 4)
Have already been proposed (JP-A-52-54455 and JP-A-53-3).
316, JP-A-54-54652, JP-A-57-26822). ECD
It is necessary to apply a voltage from an external power supply between the pair of electrode layers in order to drive (decolorize) the electrodes. Therefore, electrodes are taken out from each electrode layer. The electrode extraction is performed, for example, by providing a low resistance extraction electrode in a part of each electrode layer and electrically connecting the low resistance extraction electrode and an external power supply. For example, a plating electrode is provided as a pair of low resistance members on the end surface of the substrate on which the ECD is formed, and the electrode lead-out portions of each electrode layer are individually brought into contact with the pair of plated electrodes to form a low resistance lead-out electrode.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, the structure of a conventional EC spectacle lens has a plating electrode for taking out an electrode of an upper transparent electrode layer on the periphery of the lens 1 which is edged into a lens shape for spectacles. 2 and a lower transparent electrode layer, which is provided with a plating electrode 3 for electrode extraction, and further has a lower transparent electrode (ITO) layer 4, an EC layer 5, and an upper transparent electrode (ITO) layer 6 formed by mask vapor deposition. The structure was such that the sealing lens 8 was adhered by the stop resin 7.

Considering the case where the conventional EC spectacle lens having such a structure is framed in the spectacle frame A shown in FIG.
The cross section of the frame has the shape shown in FIG.
The lens 1 was held by the frame A while the plated electrodes 2, 3 on the lens were in contact with the frame A.

[0007]

Since the beveled portion (the chevron portion around the lens) of the conventional EC spectacle lens 1 is partly inserted into the frame A, a part of the plated electrodes 2 and 3 is formed. Was protruding from frame A (Fig. 4
(B) H part). Therefore, when wearing the spectacles, the plating protruding from the front of the spectacles is conspicuous and the appearance is unsightly.

An object of the present invention is opacity such as plating,
An object of the present invention is to provide an EC spectacle lens in which a colored low resistance member does not stick out from the frame and stand out.

[0009]

Therefore, the first aspect of the present invention is to provide a sealing lens on the element surface of an element lens provided with an electrochromic element comprising at least an electrochromic layer and a pair of transparent electrode layers sandwiching the electrochromic layer. In the electrochromic spectacle lens formed by bonding, a bevel portion of the element lens, when the electrochromic spectacle lens is attached to a spectacle frame, the bevel portion concealed by the frame, the pair of transparent electrode layers An electrochromic spectacle lens (claim 1) "is provided, in which each low-resistance take-out electrode is provided.

The second aspect of the present invention is that "a sealing lens is adhered to the element surface of an element lens provided with an electrochromic element including at least an electrochromic layer and a pair of transparent electrode layers sandwiching the electrochromic layer. In a degree electrochromic spectacle lens comprising a chromic lens and a degree lens adhered to the surface of the degreeless electrochromic lens, a bevel portion of the element lens, wherein the degree electrochromic spectacle lens is a spectacle frame. Electrochromic spectacle lens (claim 2), characterized in that each low-resistance take-out electrode of the pair of transparent electrode layers is provided in a bevel portion which is concealed by the frame when mounted on
I will provide a.

[0011]

According to the present invention, when the EC eyeglass lens is attached to the eyeglass frame, the bevel portion around the element lens is covered with the ECD when the EC eyeglass lens is concealed by the frame.
The low resistance extraction electrodes of the pair of transparent electrode layers were each provided. Therefore, unlike in the conventional case, an opaque and colored low-resistance take-out electrode such as a plated electrode sticks out from the frame and stands out, and the appearance is not unsightly.

Since the protrusion of the low-resistance take-out electrode from the frame is much more noticeable in the bevel portion on the opposite side than in the bevel portion on the wearer side, the low resistance of the opposite-side bevel portion is low. Only the extraction electrode may be hidden by the frame (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The low-resistance take-out electrode according to the present invention can be formed by, for example, a plating method or a vacuum thin film forming method (evaporation, ion plating, sputtering, etc.). According to the vacuum thin film forming method, the low resistance extraction electrode can be formed on the end surface of the lens in a short time, which is preferable. Therefore, the process time of forming the extraction electrode can be shortened to about 1/6 of that in the case of forming by the plating method, and the delivery time of the EC spectacle lens can be shortened.

Further, according to the vacuum thin film forming method, the number of steps of forming the extraction electrode is 1/5 of that in the case of forming by the plating.
And the number of processes can be significantly reduced. Therefore, the cost for forming the extraction electrode can be reduced by 50 to 70%, and the cost reduction effect is large, which is preferable. The laminated structure of the ECD according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but as the structure of the solid type ECD, for example, 4 layers such as electrode layer / EC layer (narrow definition) / ion conductive layer / electrode layer are used.
A five-layer structure such as a layer structure, electrode layer / reducing coloring type EC layer (narrow definition) / ion conductive layer / reversible electrolytic oxidation layer / electrode layer can be mentioned.

The material of the transparent electrode layer is, for example, Sn.
O ₂ , In ₂ O ₃ , ITO, ZnO or the like is used.
Such an electrode layer is generally formed by a vacuum thin film forming technique such as vacuum deposition, ion plating or sputtering. The reduction coloring type EC layer is generally composed of WO ₃ , Mo.
O ₃ or the like is used. The ion conductive layer, for example, silicon oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, niobium oxide, zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide,
Lanthanum oxide, magnesium fluoride, etc. are used.

The ionic conductive layer, which is an insulator for electrons, contains protons (H ⁺ ) and hydroxy ions (O ² ).
H ^-) becomes a good conductor for. A cation is required for the coloration / decoloration reaction of the EC layer, and H ⁺ and Li ⁺ must be contained in the EC layer and the like. H ⁺ does not have to be an ion from the beginning, and H ⁺ may be generated when a voltage is applied, and thus water may be contained instead of H ⁺ . This water is very small and sufficient, and even water that naturally infiltrates from the atmosphere often fades.

Either of the EC layer and the ion conductive layer may be on the upper side or the lower side. Further, a reversible electrolytic oxidation layer or a catalyst layer may be arranged with an ion conductive layer sandwiched between the EC layer (which also serves as an oxidation coloring EC layer in some cases).
Examples of such a layer include iridium oxide or hydroxide, nickel, chromium, vanadium, ruthenium, rhodium and the like. These substances may be dispersed in the ion conductive layer or the transparent electrode layer, or conversely may be dispersed therein.

The sealant is preferably a transparent material such as an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, an acrylic resin, a vinyl acetate resin, and a modified polymer, but is not limited to these. Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0018]

EXAMPLE 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an EC spectacle lens B and a spectacle frame (frame) A of this example. An element lens substrate 1 which is ball-shaped according to the shape of the spectacle frame A shown in FIG.
In the beveled portion (the portion where the cross section around the lens is mountain-shaped), the plating electrode 2 for taking out the electrode of the upper transparent electrode layer and the plating electrode 3 for taking out the electrode of the lower transparent electrode layer were provided only on the concave surface side of the lens.

Next, a lower ITO transparent electrode layer 4 having a thickness of 0.2 μm is formed on the concave surface side of the element lens substrate 1 by vapor deposition or sputtering, and E having a thickness of 1.3 μm is formed on the electrode layer 4.
A C layer 5 is formed in the same manner, and a thickness of 0.2 is formed on the EC layer 5.
An upper ITO transparent electrode layer 6 having a thickness of μm was similarly formed. Finally, a sealing lens 8 was adhered to the upper ITO transparent electrode layer 6 with a sealing resin to manufacture an EC spectacle lens B of this example.

When EC sunglasses (see FIG. 3) in which the EC spectacle lens B was framed in the spectacle frame A having an ECD driving function was worn, a good dimming function was exhibited. Further, the plated electrodes 2 and 3 were not conspicuous at all when viewed from the non-wearer side (element lens convex surface side), and showed a good appearance.

[0021]

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an EC spectacle lens B'and a spectacle frame (frame) A of this embodiment. Example 1
The difference from is the width of the plating electrodes 2 and 3. That is, in the present embodiment, the plating electrodes 2 and 3 are slightly wrapped around the bevel portion on the convex surface side of the lens substrate 1 to increase the plating electrode width. Therefore, the resistance of the plated electrode becomes smaller than that in the first embodiment. The partial plating of the beveled portion on the convex surface side was plating by masking, and the resist serving as a mask was applied by pad printing.

Other than that, the EC spectacle lens B ′ of this example was manufactured in exactly the same manner as in Example 1. When EC sunglasses (see FIG. 3) in which the EC spectacle lens B ′ was framed in the spectacle frame A having an ECD drive function were worn, a better dimming function than that in Example 1 was shown (resistance of the plated electrode). Is smaller). Also, the plated electrodes 2, 3
Shows a good appearance without being conspicuous at all when viewed from the non-wearer side (element lens convex surface side).

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the EC eyeglass lens is mounted on the eyeglass frame, the bevel portion around the ECD element lens is covered with the pair of ECDs. Since each low-resistance take-out electrode of the transparent electrode layer is provided, the opaque and colored low-resistance take-out electrode like a plating electrode does not stick out from the frame and stands out, unlike the conventional case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an EC spectacle lens B and a spectacle frame (frame) A of Example 1.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a spectacle lens B ′ and a spectacle frame (frame) A of Example 12EC.

FIG. 3 is EC sunglasses in which the EC spectacle lens B of Example 1 is framed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view (a) and a schematic sectional view (b) showing an example of a conventional EC eyeglass lens.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... Eyeglass frame B ... EC eyeglass lens C ... ECD coloring switch D ... ECD erasing switch 1 ... Element lens 2 ... Plated electrode for electrode extraction of upper transparent electrode layer (Example of low-resistance take-out electrode 3 ... Plating electrode for taking out electrode of lower transparent electrode layer (Example of low-resistance take-out electrode 4 ... Lower ITO transparent electrode layer 5 ... EC layer 6 ... Upper ITO transparent Electrode layer 7 ... Sealant (for example, epoxy resin) 8 ... Sealing lens

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. At least an electrochromic layer,
In an electrochromic spectacle lens formed by adhering a sealing lens to the element surface of an element lens provided with an electrochromic element consisting of a pair of transparent electrode layers sandwiching this, in the bevel portion of the element lens, the electrochromic When attaching the spectacle lens to the spectacle frame,
An electrochromic spectacle lens, characterized in that each of the low-resistance take-out electrodes of the pair of transparent electrode layers is provided in a beveled portion which is hidden by the frame. 2. At least an electrochromic layer,
An electrochromic lens having a sealing lens adhered to the element surface of an element lens provided with an electrochromic element composed of a pair of transparent electrode layers sandwiching this, and a prescription lens adhered to the surface of the electrochromic lens having no degree In the prescription electrochromic spectacle lens consisting of, in the bevel portion of the element lens, when the prescription electrochromic spectacle lens is attached to a spectacle frame, in the bevel portion hidden by the frame, the pair of An electrochromic spectacle lens, characterized in that each low resistance extraction electrode of a transparent electrode layer is provided.