Optical filter with selective transmittance and reflectance

• US 10,222,524 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2016
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoya Optical Labs Of America, Inc. (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vision Ease, LP (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Jeff, Marshall, Michael L., Boulineau, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Darryl J
• Application Number:
  US15/293,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20170102489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 359885-892, 35115949, 35115959, 35115962, 35115965
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0641 Nitrides C23C14/0617 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/083 of refractory metals or yttrium
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/10 Glass or silica
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/205 by cathodic sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/34 Sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/208 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/22 Absorbing filters G02B5/201 - G02B5/208 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/26 Reflecting filters G02B5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/283 designed for the ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/285 comprising deposited thin solid films G02B5/281 - G02B5/289 take precedence; multilayered film filters for fibre optic multiplexing G02B6/29361
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/10 Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/107 Interference colour filters

Abstract

An optical filter providing selective transmittance of target wavelengths of light and tunable, differential front and back surface reflectance.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic lens comprising:

a lens substrate;

an optical filter having a front surface and a back surface attached to a front surface of the lens substrate; and

a percent reflectance from a front surface of the ophthalmic lens 30 percent greater than a percent reflectance from the back surface of the optical filter.

2. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 wherein the lens substrate is thermoplastic.

3. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 wherein the lens substrate is a curable liquid monomer mixture or a curable urethane based prepolymer composition.

4. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 further comprising a functional laminate distinct from the optical filter.

5. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 wherein the optical filter comprises:

a plurality of alternating layers of transparent dielectric materials having different refractive indices; and

at least one layer of a metallic absorbing material having a thickness of less than 50 nm.

6. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 wherein the optical filter comprises at least one layer of gold, titanium nitride and/or zirconium nitride.

7. A method for forming an optical article comprising:

obtaining an optical substrate;

forming an optical filter on the optical substrate comprising;

applying at least one layer of transparent dielectric material having a refractive index above 1.6 on a surface of the optical substrate;

applying at least one layer of transparent dielectric material having a refractive index less than or equal to 1.6 on the surface of the optical substrate; and

applying at least one layer of a metallic absorbing material on the surface of the optical substrate; and

imparting a percent reflectance from a front surface of the optical article 30 percent greater than a percent reflectance from a backside of the optical filter through said applying the at least one layer of a metallic absorbing material.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein applying at least one layer of the metallic absorbing material comprises applying a layer having a thickness of less than 50 nm.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein applying at least one layer of the metallic absorbing material comprises applying a conductive material.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein applying at least one layer of the metallic absorbing material comprises applying gold, titanium nitride and/or zirconium nitride.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein obtaining the optical substrate comprises obtaining a thermoplastic ophthalmic lens.