Tinted polarized lenses having selective frequency filtering

• US 10,642,071 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Optics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smith Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: Carlson, Eric, MacGuffie, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Henry A
• Application Number:
  US15/895,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20180173015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 35115956
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/08 made of polarising materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3033 in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/10 Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/102 Photochromic filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/108 Colouring materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/12 Polarisers

Abstract

Tinted lenses for attenuating ambient light, reducing glare, and improving color discrimination for a user are disclosed. In some embodiments, the lens has uniform transmittance across the visible spectrum with selective filtering of light at 480 nm and 580 nm. In some embodiments, the lens may reduce light in the blue region of the spectrum while maintaining color discrimination. In some embodiments, the level of attenuation provided by the lens may vary based on the intensity of light present while maintaining selective filtering at 480 nm and 580 nm.

Claims

1. A lens, comprising:

a lens wafer;

a compound incorporated into the lens wafer or coating a surface of the lens wafer; and

wherein the compound is configured to impart light transmittance characteristics such that the lens will exhibit a light transmittance at 450 nm that is greater than the transmittance at 480 nm, a light transmittance at 510 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 480 nm, 580 nm, and 600 nm, and a light transmittance at 600 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 580 nm and 480 nm, when light is transmitted through the lens wafer and the compound.

2. The lens of claim 1, wherein the compound is further configured to impart light transmittance characteristics to the lens such that the lens does not transmit any light below 400 nm.

3. The lens of claim 2, wherein light transmittance is less than 20% from 300 nm to 650 nm.

4. The lens of claim 2, wherein the light transmittance is less than 20% from 300 nm to 500 nm.

5. The lens of claim 2, wherein the light transmittance at 450 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 510 nm.

6. The lens of claim 2, wherein the light transmittance at 600 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 510 nm.

7. The lens of claim 2, wherein the overall light transmittance is less than 10% from 300 nm to 500 nm.

8. The lens of claim 2, wherein the compound is incorporated into the lens wafer.

9. The lens of claim 2, wherein the light transmittance is greater than 20% at wavelengths greater than 600 nm.

10. The lens of claim 1, wherein the light transmittance is less than 20% from 300 nm to 500 nm.

11. The lens of claim 10, wherein light transmittance is less than 20% from 300 nm to 650 nm.

12. The lens of claim 10, wherein the light transmittance at 600 nm at is greater than the light transmittance at 510 nm.

13. The lens of claim 10, wherein the compound coats a surface of the lens wafer.

14. The lens of claim 10, wherein the light transmittance is less than 30% at wavelengths lower than 700 nm.

15. The lens of claim 1, wherein the overall light transmittance is less than 10% at 580 nm.

16. The lens of claim 1, wherein the overall light transmittance is greater than 10% at 480 nm.

17. The lens of claim 1, wherein the light transmittance at 600 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 450 nm.

18. The lens of claim 1, wherein the light transmittance is greater than 15% at wavelengths greater than 600 nm.

19. A lens, comprising:

a lens wafer;

a compound incorporated into the lens wafer or coating a surface of the lens water; and

wherein the compound is configured to impart light transmittance characteristics such that the lens will exhibit a light transmittance at 450 nm that is greater than the transmittance at 480 nm, a light transmittance at 510 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 480 nm, and a light transmittance at 600 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 580 nm, wherein the light transmittance at 480 nm is less than the light transmittance at 580 nm, when light is transmitted through the lens wafer and the compound.

20. A lens, comprising:

a lens wafer;

a compound incorporated into the lens wafer or coating a surface of the lens wafer; and

wherein the compound is configured to impart light transmittance characteristics such that the lens will exhibit a light transmittance at 450 nm that is greater than the transmittance at 480 nm, a light transmittance at 510 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 480 nm and 580 nm, and a light transmittance at 600 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 480 nm and 580 nm, when light is transmitted through the lens wafer and the compound.