Bifocal multiorder diffractive lenses for vision correction

• US 20040252274A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apollo Optical Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Apollo Optical Systems LLC
• Inventors: Morris, G. Michael, Federico, Richard J., Buralli, Dale A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,951,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/168
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1618 Multifocal lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1654 Diffractive lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/20 Diffractive and Fresnel lenses or lens portions
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/042 Simultaneous type
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/044 Annular configuration, e.g. pupil tuned
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/06 bifocal; multifocal ; progressive G02C7/041 takes precedence

Abstract

A bifocal multiorder diffractive lens is provided having a lens body with one or more first regions having a first multiorder diffractive structure providing near vision correction, and one or more second regions having a second multiorder diffractive structure providing distance vision correction, in which the lens defines an aperture divided between the first and second regions. Such one or more first regions may represent one or more annular rings, or other portion of the lens, and the second region may occupy the portion of the lens aperture outside the first region. The lens body may be provided by a single optical element or multiple optical elements. When multiple optical elements are used, the multiorder diffractive structures may be located along an interior surface of the lens. In other embodiments, a bifocal multiorder diffractive lens is provided by a single or multiple element lens body having a multiorder diffractive structure for distance vision correction and one or more refractive regions to add power for near vision correction, or a single or multiple element lens body shaped for refractive power for distance vision correction and a multiorder diffractive structure for add power for near vision correction. The lens may represent a contact lens, a spectacle lens, or the optic portion of an intraocular implant (IOL). Multiorder diffractive structures may be optimized for performance for photopic and scotopic vision.

Claims

1. A bifocal multiorder diffractive lens comprising:

a lens body defining an aperture of the lens;

at least one first region on said lens body having a multiorder diffractive structure providing near vision correction; and

one or more second regions on said body having a multiorder diffractive structure providing distance vision correction, in which said aperture of the lens is divided between said first and second regions.

2. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said multiorder diffractive structure of said first region directs a plurality of different wavelengths to a single focus for near vision correction, and said second regions directs a plurality of different wavelengths to a single focus for distance vision correction.

3. The lens according to claim 2 wherein each multiorder diffractive structure of said first and second regions are characterized by a plurality of zones which define zone boundaries at which light incident on the diffractive structure experiences an optical phase shift, and which diffract light of each of said wavelengths in a different diffractive order, m, such that m≧

1, to the focus for the diffractive structure.

4. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens body has a first surface and a second surface, and said first and second regions are located upon one of said first surface and said second surface.

5. The lens according to claim 4 wherein said lens body has a first surface and a second surface, and said first region is provided upon said first surface and the second regions are provided on the second surface.

6. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said first region comprises a plurality of first annular regions of the multiorder diffractive structure providing near vision correction, and said second regions comprises a central region and a plurality of annular regions of the multiorder diffractive structure providing distance vision correction alternating with said first annular regions towards the edge of said lens.

7. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said first region is provided by at least one annular ring of the multiorder diffractive structure providing near vision correction, and said second region is provided by the portion of the aperture of the lens outside said first region.

8. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens body has a first surface and a second surface and first region extends substantially along the one half of said first surface, and said second region extends along a portion of the first surface outside said first region.

9. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens body has a first and second surface and said first region extends substantially along one half of said first surface, and said second region extends along said second surface.

10. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens body is composed of a single optical element.

11. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens body is composed of a plurality of optical elements.

12. The lens according to claim 11 wherein said lens body has front and back surfaces and one or more intermediate surfaces between said front and back surfaces depending on the number of optical elements, and said first and second regions are provided along the same intermediate surface to divide the aperture of the lens.

13. The lens according to claim 11 wherein said lens body has front and back surfaces and one or more intermediate surfaces between said front and back surfaces depending on the number of optical elements, and said first and second regions are provided along different intermediate surfaces to divide the aperture of the lens.

14. The lens according to claim 11 wherein adjacent ones of said plurality of optical elements represent a first adjacent optical element having a back surface and a second adjacent optical element having a front surface facing said back surface, and said first and second diffractive structures are provided on one of said first and second surfaces or on different ones of said first surface and second surface to divide the aperture of the lens.

15. The lens according to claim 14 wherein said front and back surfaces are separated by one of air or a liquid.

16. The lens according to claim 14 wherein said front and back surfaces mate with each other.

17. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens body has one or more surfaces providing refractive power for near or distance vision correction.

18. The lens according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of optical elements number two or three.

19. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens is part of an intraocular implant.

20. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens represents a contact lens.

21. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said lens represents a spectacle lens.

22. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said multiorder diffractive structures of one or both of said first and second regions are optimized for photopic and scotopic vision.

23. The lens according to claim 1 wherein said multiorder diffractive structures of one or both of said first and second regions correct for astigmatism.

24. A bifocal multiorder diffractive lens comprising:

a lens body shaped to refract light to provide distance vision correction, and at least one multiorder diffractive structure for adding power to said lens for near vision correction.

25. The lens according to claim 24 wherein said lens body has a front and back surface and said lens body is provided by two or more optical elements, and has a surface of one of said optical elements, between said front and back surfaces, providing said multiorder diffractive structure.

26. The lens according to claim 24 wherein said lens body is provided by multiple optical elements successively adjacent to each other, and two of said adjacent optical elements each have a surface facing each other, and said multiorder diffractive structure is provided along a lower region upon the surface of one of said two adjacent optical elements.

27. The lens according to claim 24 wherein said lens body is provided by multiple optical elements successively adjacent to each other, and said multiorder diffractive structure is provided upon a member positioned between two of said adjacent optical elements.

28. The lens according to claim 24 wherein said lens body is provided by a single optical element.

29. The multiorder diffractive lens according to claim 24 wherein one or more said diffractive structures is in accordance with wavelengths for both photopic and scotopic vision.

30. The multiorder diffractive lens according to claim 29 wherein said photopic and scotopic vision each have a wavelength of peak efficiency, and the wavelength of peak efficiency for both photopic and scotopic vision aligns with a wavelength of peak efficiency for each of said diffractive structures.

31. The multiorder diffractive lens according to claim 24 wherein one or more of said diffractive structures corrects for astigmatism.

32. A bifocal multiorder diffractive lens comprising:

a lens body having a multifocal diffractive structure for distance vision correction, and one or more refractive regions for adding power to said lens for near vision correction.

33. The multiorder diffractive lens according to claim 32 wherein said lens body is provided by a single optical element, and said lens body has a first surface having said diffractive structure and a second surface having said one or more refractive regions.

34. The multiorder diffractive lens according to claim 32 wherein said lens body is provided by multiple optical elements.

35. The multiorder diffractive lens according to claim 34 wherein said diffractive structure is provided on an internal surface of said lens between two of said multiple optical elements.

36. The multiorder diffractive lens according to claim 32 wherein said diffractive structure is in accordance with wavelengths for both photopic and scotopic vision.

37. The multiorder diffractive lens according to claim 36 wherein said photopic and scotopic vision each have a wavelength of peak efficiency, and the wavelength of peak efficiency for both photopic and scotopic vision aligns with a wavelength of peak efficiency for said diffractive structure.

38. The multiorder diffractive lens according to claim 36 wherein said diffractive structure corrects for astigmatism.

39. A multiorder diffractive optic comprising:

one or more multiorder diffractive structures in which each of said diffractive structures is in accordance with wavelengths for both photopic and scotopic vision.

40. The optic according to claim 39 wherein said photopic and scotopic vision each have a wavelength of peak efficiency, and the wavelength of peak efficiency for both photopic and scotopic vision aligns with a wavelength of peak efficiency for each of said diffractive structures.

41. A multiorder diffractive optic comprising:

a lens body having two or more diffractive structures providing different optical powers in which each of said diffractive structures directs light in a plurality of different wavelengths to a single focus.

42. The optic according to claim 41 wherein said diffractive structures are provided on a single surface of said lens body.

43. The optic according to claim 41 wherein said diffractive structures are provided on different surfaces of said lens body.

44. The optic according to claim 41 wherein said lens body is provided by a single optical element.

45. The optic according to claim 41 wherein said lens body is provided by multiple optical elements.

46. The optic according to claim 41 wherein said diffractive structures are provided on an internal surface of said lens between two of said multiple optical elements.

47. The optic according to claim 41 wherein one or more said diffractive structures is in accordance with wavelengths for both photopic and scotopic vision.

48. The optic according to claim 47 wherein said photopic and scotopic vision each have a wavelength of peak efficiency, and the wavelength of peak efficiency for both photopic and scotopic vision aligns with a wavelength of peak efficiency for each of said diffractive structures.

49. The optic according to claim 41 wherein one or more of said diffractive structures corrects for astigmatism.