Optical filters and methods for making the same

• US 10,534,117 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2018
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnChroma, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EnChroma, Inc.
• Inventors: McPherson, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Elhilo, Eisa B
• Application Number:
  US15/920,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20180203171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 3/00 Special processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the material treated
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 3/24 Polyamides; Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/04 made of organic materials, e.g. plastics G02B1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/223 containing organic substances, e.g. dyes, inks or pigments
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/104 having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection

Abstract

Described herein are optical filters that provide regulation and/or enhancement of chromatic and luminous aspects of the color appearance of light to human vision, and methods for designing and making the same. The filters have applications in ophthalmics, e.g., in prescription and nonprescription lenses.

Claims

1. A method for making an optical filter, the method comprising:

diffusing multiple dyes dissolved in a solvent into a transparent polymeric substrate at a tinting temperature, at least one of the dyes being a narrowband absorber dye; and

removing the solvent,

wherein the solvent is selected to sufficiently swell the polymeric substrate to facilitate diffusion of the dyes into the substrate to tint the substrate, and so that the substrate sufficiently recovers its original volume and shape so that the substrate is compatible with ophthalmic lens use following removal of the solvent, trapping the dyes in the substrate, and the dyes and their relative amounts are selected so that the tinted substrate exhibits an absorption spectrum useful for enhancing color vision.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent is nonaqueous.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tinting temperature is about 30°

C. or less.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the tinting temperature is about 30°

C. or less.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising diffusing multiple narrowband absorber dyes into the substrate.

6. The method of claim 2, comprising diffusing multiple narrowband absorber dyes into the substrate.

7. The method of claim 3, comprising diffusing multiple narrowband absorber dyes into the substrate.

8. The method of claim 4, comprising diffusing multiple narrowband absorber dyes into the substrate.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a polyurethane.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a polyurethane.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a polyurethane.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a polyurethane.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a polyurethane.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a polyurethane.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a polyurethane.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a polyurethane.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises an organosilicon polymer.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises an organosilicon polymer.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises an organosilicon polymer.

20. The method of claim 4, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises an organosilicon polymer.

21. The method of claim 5, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises an organosilicon polymer.

22. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises an organosilicon polymer.

23. The method of claim 7, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises an organosilicon polymer.

24. The method of claim 8, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises an organosilicon polymer.