Granted Patent B2

US 12,728,608 · App. 18/051,140 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Inventors: Izhar Halahmi (Hod Hasharon, IL); Haim Engler (Hashmonaim, IL); Jed Arkin (Savyon, IL); Amir Erlichman (Herzelia, IL); Roy Cohen (Beit Yanai, IL); Arye Bar Erez (Kfar Sirkin, IL)

Assignee: ADDON OPTICS LTD.

B29D11/0073B29D11/00009B29D11/00865G02B1/10G02C7/02G02C7/024B29K2101/12B29K2995/0039

Abstract

Claims (21)

1 . An apparatus for adhering a first lens having at least one convex surface to a second lens having at least one concave surface, to thereby form a combined lens having a given optical design, the apparatus comprising:

a first pressure chamber comprising a first chamber atmosphere and configured to house the first lens, and a second pressure chamber comprising a second chamber atmosphere and configured to house the second lens, wherein pressure of the first chamber atmosphere and the second chamber atmosphere is independently controllable;

an adhesive layer dividing between the first and second pressure chambers to thereby maintain a difference in pressure between the first and second pressure chambers, wherein a first side of the adhesive layer is exposed to the first chamber atmosphere of the first pressure chamber and a second side of the adhesive layer is exposed to the second chamber atmosphere of the second pressure chamber;

a mechanical pushing element; and a computer processor configured: to drive the mechanical pushing element to bring the convex surface of the first lens into contact with the adhesive layer, such that a central region of the convex surface of the first lens initially contacts the adhesive layer, and the contact between the convex surface of the first lens and the adhesive layer subsequently radiates outwardly from the central region of the convex surface of the first lens, until the convex surface of the first lens becomes covered by the adhesive layer; and to drive the mechanical pushing element to bring the concave surface of the second lens into contact with the adhesive layer, such that a central region of the concave surface of the second lens initially contacts the adhesive layer, and the contact between the concave surface of the second lens and the adhesive layer subsequently radiates outwardly from the central region of the concave surface of the second lens, until the concave surface of the second lens becomes covered by the adhesive layer so as to form the combined lens, the combined lens comprising the first lens, second lens and adhesive layer, the combined lens being configured to be transferred to an additional chamber.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to reduce the pressure within the first pressure chamber to below ambient pressure while driving the mechanical pushing element to bring the convex surface of the first lens into contact with the adhesive layer.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to reduce the pressure within the second pressure chamber to below ambient pressure while driving the mechanical pushing element to bring the concave surface of the second lens into contact with the adhesive layer.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to cause the adhesive layer to form a convex curve that faces toward the convex surface of the first lens by applying a pressure difference between the first and second pressure chambers.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is for use with the first lens and the second lens, wherein the first and second lenses are shaped such that a curvature of the convex surface of the first lens is greater than a curvature of the concave surface of the second lens, and wherein the computer processor is configured, subsequent to the convex surface of the first lens being covered with the adhesive layer, to move the first lens and the adhesive layer and the second lens toward each other, such that the central region of the convex surface of the first lens with the adhesive layer disposed thereon contacts the central region of the concave surface of the second lens.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to remove any air bubbles that become trapped between the first lens and the adhesive layer and any vacant volumes that are disposed between the first lens and the adhesive layer, by applying air pressure within the first pressure chamber.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to remove any air bubbles that become trapped between the second lens and the adhesive layer and any vacant volumes that are disposed between the second lens and the adhesive layer, by applying air pressure within the second pressure chamber.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical pushing element is configured to remove any air bubbles that become trapped between the first lens and the adhesive layer and any vacant volumes that are disposed between the first lens and the adhesive layer, by applying mechanical pressure.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical pushing element is are configured to remove any air bubbles that become trapped between the second lens and the adhesive layer and any vacant volumes that are disposed between the second lens and the adhesive layer, by applying mechanical pressure.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a heating and/or additional pressure chamber that is configured to remove any air bubbles that become trapped between the first lens and the adhesive layer, any air bubbles that become trapped between the second lens and the adhesive layer, any vacant volumes that are disposed between the first lens and the adhesive layer, and any vacant volumes that are disposed between the second lens and the adhesive layer.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the adhesive layer is between 20 and 300 microns.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is between 50 and 200 microns.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a heating component that is configured, at one or more stages during the adhering, to heat at least one element selected from the group consisting of: the first lens, the second lens, the adhesive layer, the first pressure chamber, the second pressure chamber, and any combination thereof.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the heating component is configured to heat the at least one element to a temperature of between 25 and 75 degrees Celsius.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the heating component is configured to heat the at least one element for a time period of 0.1 seconds to 1 hour.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical pushing element is made of a material having a hardness of less than 90 Shore A.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the first mechanical pushing element is made of a material having a hardness of between 20 and 85 Shore A.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical pushing element is are configured to push the first lens into contact with the adhesive layer and the second lens.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (262)