OBLIQUE-INCIDENCE DEPOSITED SILICON OXIDE LAYERS FOR DYNAMIC OPHTHALMIC LENSES
An ophthalmic lens including an electro-active optical element including a substrate; a liquid crystalline material; and at least one first layer. The at least one first layer can include a layer of silicon oxide (SiOx) disposed between the liquid crystalline material and the substrate, and deposited onto a surface of the substrate at an oblique angle in reference to a plane normal to the mean surface of the substrate facing the liquid crystalline material.
1 . An ophthalmic lens comprising:
an electro-active optical element comprising:
a substrate;
a liquid crystalline material; and
at least one first layer:
comprising a layer of silicon oxide (SiOx),
disposed between the liquid crystalline material and the substrate, and
deposited onto a surface of the substrate at an oblique angle in reference to a plane normal to the mean surface of the substrate facing the liquid crystalline material.
2 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises SiO.
3 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises SiO 2 .
4 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a thickness in the range 10 nm-200 nm.
5 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is a barrier layer.
6 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is an electro-insulating layer.
7 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is an alignment layer, a barrier layer, and an insulating layer.
8 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the oblique angle is an angle in the range substantially from 10 degrees to 80 degrees.
9 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a surface relief feature.
10 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 9 , wherein the surface relief feature comprises one of: a diffractive feature, and refractive feature.
11 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the lens does not comprise either of: a rubber polymer film or a photo-aligned film.
12 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is one of: a sputtered layer, and an evaporated layer.
13 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the electro-active optical element further comprises:
at least one second layer:
comprising a layer of silicon oxide,
disposed between the first layer and the substrate, and
deposited at a normal angle in reference to a plane parallel to the mean surface of the substrate facing the liquid crystalline material.
14 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 13 , wherein the second layer is a barrier layer.
15 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 13 , wherein the first layer and the second layer have a combined thickness in the range 10 nm-300 nm.
16 . A method for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens, the method comprising: depositing a first layer comprising a silicon oxide at an oblique angle in reference to a plane perpendicular to the mean surface of a substrate of an electro-active optical element of the ophthalmic lens.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the substrate comprises one of: a surface relief diffractive element, and a surface relief refractive element.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first layer is deposited by one of: evaporation and sputtering.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first layer is deposited at an angle in the range substantially from 10° to 80°.
20 - 34 . (canceled)
35 . The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic lens is an intra-ocular lens.