IP Library Granted Patent US 7,393,101
Granted Patent B2
US 7,393,101 · App. 11/328,006 · Granted Jul 1, 2008

Method of manufacturing an electro-active lens

Assignee: E-Vision, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,393,101
App. No.
11/328,006
Granted
Jul 1, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of manufacturing an electro-active lens is disclosed. The lens is manufactured by providing a lens blank having a front and back surface, a thickness, and an index of refraction. An electro-active element is placed on one of the front or back surfaces of the lens blank. A covering surface is then formed over the surface of the lens blank containing the electro-active element. In some embodiments, the electro-active lens may then be surfaced to provide a desired fixed optical power and edged to fit within a spectacles frame.

Claims (40)

1. A method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens comprising:

covering an exposed surface of an electro-active element with an ophthalmic material to produce an electro-active lens;

wherein said ophthalmic material is selected from the group consisting of a semi-finished blank, an unfinished lens blank, a lens wafer, a preformed optic, a finished lens blank, and a resin, wherein through the application of an electric current the electro-active element is capable of focusing an image in ambient light, and wherein the ophthalmic lens comprises a progressive addition region.

2. A method of manufacturing an electro-active ophthalmic lens comprising:

covering an exposed surface of an electro-active element with an ophthalmic material to produce an electro-active lens,

wherein said ophthalmic material is selected from the group consisting of a semi-finished blank, an unfinished lens blank, a lens wafer, a preformed optic, a finished lens blank, and a resin,

wherein the electro-active element comprises a plurality of pixels,

wherein through the application of an electric current an index of refraction change is produced by said pixels for at least partially correcting a wearer's higher order aberration, wherein the electro-active element is capable of focusing an image in ambient light, and wherein the ophthalmic lens comprises a progressive addition region.

3. A method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens comprising:

covering an exposed surface of an electro-active element with an ophthalmic material to produce an electro-active lens,

wherein said ophthalmic material is selected from the group consisting of a semi-finished blank, an unfinished blank, a lens wafer, a preformed optic, a finished lens blank, and a resin, wherein through the application of an electric current the electro-active element is capable of focusing an image in ambient light, wherein said ophthalmic material at least partially corrects at least one of a wearer's myopia, hvperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, aberrations, irregular astigmatism, and refractive error caused by ocular irregularities, wherein the electro-active element at least partially corrects the wearer's presbyopic spherical error, and wherein said electro-active element is pixilated.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said electro-active element comprises: two substrates; and an electro-active material disposed therebetween.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said electro-active element comprises an electro-active material that includes a liquid crystalline material.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said liquid crystalline material includes a nematic liquid crystal.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said liquid crystalline material includes a cholesteric liquid crystal.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein said liquid crystalline material includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said electro-active element is pixilated.

10. A method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens comprising:

covering an exposed surface of an electro-active element with an ophthalmic material to produce an electro-active lens; wherein said ophthalmic material is selected from the group consisting of a semi-finished blank, an unfinished lens blank, a lens wafer, a prefonned optic, a finished lens blank, and a resin, and wherein through the application of an electric current the electro-active element is capable of focusing an image in ambient light, wherein said ophthalmic material is free formed for at least partially correcting a higher order aberration.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein said electro-active element comprises: two substrates; and an electro-active material disposed therebetween.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein said electro-active element comprises an electro-active material that includes a liquid crystalline material.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said liquid crystalline material includes a nematic liquid crystal.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said liquid crystalline material includes a cholesteric liquid crystal.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said liquid crystalline material includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

16. A method of manufacturing an electro-active ophthalmic lens comprising:

covering an exposed surface of an electro-active element with an ophthalmic material to produce an electro-active lens,

wherein said ophthalmic material is selected from the group consisting of a semi-finished blank, an unfinished lens blank, a lens wafer, a preformed optic, a finished lens blank, and a resin,

wherein the electro-active element comprises a plurality of pixels, wherein through the application of an electric current an index of refraction change is produced by said pixels for at least partially correcting a wearert's higher order aberration, wherein the electro-active element is capable of focusing an image in ambient light, and wherein said ophthalmic material is free formed for at least partially correcting a higher order aberration.

17. The method of claim 3 , wherein said electro-active element comprises: two substrates; and an electro-active material disposed therebetween.

18. The method of claim 3 , wherein said electro-active element comprises an electro-active material that includes a liquid crystalline material.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said liquid crystalline material includes a nematic liquid crystal.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein said liquid crystalline material includes a cholesteric liquid crystal.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein said liquid crystalline material includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

22. A method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens comprising:

covering an exposed surface of an electro-active element with an ophthalmic material to produce an electro-active lens,

wherein said ophthalmic material is selected from the group consisting of a semi-finished blank, an unfinished blank, a lens wafer, a preformed optic, a finished lens blank, and a resin, wherein through the application of an electric current the electro-active element is capable of focusing an image in ambient light,

wherein said ophthalmic material at least partially corrects at least one of a wearer's myopia, hvperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, aberrations, irregular astigmatism, and refractive error caused by ocular irregularities, wherein the electro-active element at least partially corrects the wearer's presbyopic spherical error, and wherein the ophthalmic lens comprises a progressive addition region.

23. A method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens comprising:

covering an exposed surface of an electro-active element with an ophthalmic material to produce an electro-active lens,

wherein said ophthalmic material is selected from the group consisting of a semi-finished blank, an unfinished blank, a lens wafer, a preformed optic, a finished lens blank, and a resin, wherein through the application of an electric current the electro-active element is capable of focusing an lmage in ambient light, wherein said ophthalmic material at least partially corrects at least one of a wearer's myopia, hvperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, aberrations, irregular astigmatism, and refractive error caused by ocular irregularities, wherein the electro-active element at least partially corrects the wearer's presbyopic spherical error, and wherein said ophthalmic material is free formed for at least partially correcting a higher order aberration.

Continuity (26)
Continuation 1064411200 · Aug 20, 2003
Continuation 1132800600
Continuation In Part 1042212800 · Apr 24, 2003
Continuation In Part 1038714300 · Mar 12, 2003
Continuation In Part 1026370700 · Oct 4, 2002
Continuation In Part 1028120400 · Oct 28, 2002
Continuation In Part 1004624400 · Jan 16, 2002
Continuation 0960201400 · Jun 23, 2000
Continuation In Part 0960373600 · Jun 23, 2000
Continuation In Part 0960201400 · Jun 23, 2000
Continuation In Part 0960201200 · Jun 23, 2000
Continuation In Part 0960201300 · Jun 23, 2000
Provisional Application 6040465700 · Aug 20, 2002
Provisional Application 6040170000 · Aug 7, 2002
Provisional Application 6037502800 · Apr 25, 2002
Provisional Application 6036354900 · Mar 13, 2002
Provisional Application 6033141900 · Nov 15, 2001
Provisional Application 6032699100 · Oct 5, 2001
Provisional Application 6026180500 · Jan 17, 2001
Provisional Application 6016136300 · Oct 26, 1999
Provisional Application 6015056400 · Aug 25, 1999
Provisional Application 6015054500 · Aug 25, 1999
Provisional Application 6014781300 · Aug 10, 1999
Provisional Application 6014362600 · Jul 14, 1999
Provisional Application 6014205300 · Jul 2, 1999
Related Publication 20060126698A1 · Jun 15, 2006