Optical Device Characterization

• US 20070274626A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anton Sabeta
• Original Assignee: Anton Sabeta
• Inventors: Sabeta, Anton
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/24
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/005 Contact lens cases A45C11/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/62 Optical apparatus specially adapted for adjusting optical elements during the assembly of optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/021 with pattern for identification or with cosmetic or therapeutic effects methods and processes take preference, e.g. printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; surface treatment of glass C03C15/00 - C03C23/00; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

A method and system for determining the orientation of an optical device, the optical device having data carrier means for carrying data related to the optical device, the data carrier having data carrier means operable in at least one of an electrical mode and a magnetic mode; the data carrier means being associated with an optical device by at least at least one of the group of depositing on or printing on a posterior surface or anterior surface of the optical device, including the data carrier with the optical device material, wherein data carrier means emits a data signal periodically or in response to a external signal from an external means.

Claims

1. A method for determining the orientation of an optical device, said optical device having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, said method having the steps of:

providing said optical device with uniquely identifiable data carrier means for carrying data related to said optical device, said data carrier means operable in at least one of an electrical mode and a magnetic mode;

said data carrier being deposited on said posterior surface and/or said anterior surface;

providing an activation signal from an external means;

activating said data carrier means with said activation signal to cause said data carrier means to emit a data signal in response to said activating signal;

processing said emitted data signal to determine said characteristics the emitted data signal;

whereby said data signal emitted by said data carrier means on said anterior surface is distinguishable from said data signal emitted by said data carrier means on said posterior surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said optical device is chosen from a group consisting of an ophthalmic lens, a contact lens, intra-ocular lens, lens for eyeglasses, an optical lens, a monocular lens, binoculars lens, a trial lens, a test lens, a fitting lens, a telescope lens, a spotting scope lens, a telescopic gun sight lens, a theodolite lens, a microscope lens, a camera lens, an imaging lens, a CCD/CMOS lens, a custom lens, a medical device lens, a lens for automotive applications, an optical filter, a cut-off filter, an optical low-pass filter, a window, an optical window, a diffuser, a plate, a prism, a prism mirror, a mirror, optical glass, strip form, blanks or fine gobs, a glass substrate, a glass-ceramic substrates, a TS-10 glass-ceramic substrate, a LCOS prism or lens, a beam splitter, an astronomical optical component, an optical component for illumination systems, an optical component educational optics, a magnifier lens, an optical component for spectroscopic applications, and an optical component for a medical apparatus or medical system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said data carrier means includes any of the following, an RFID tag, a magnetic tag, device manufactured using printable electronics technology, an organic tag, a chipless tag, and a polymer-based tag.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said external means comprises a second device for emitting said activating signal in an electric and/or magnetic mode, said second device including a transmitter and/or receiver, wherein said second device is included with any of the following:

an optical lens container, a mobile device, a handheld device, a digital data processing device, a standalone transceiver, a standalone transceiver coupled to a network, a standalone transceiver coupled to a digital data processing device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said data comprises any of the following:

SKU, unique ID, manufacturer, logo, material of manufacture, composition, lot. no., batch no., warehouse related data;

promotional material (rebate for next pair purchase or free trials), optical device features lens features and description, lens benefits data, health warnings, data on potential risk or complications, insurance coverage data, regulatory data, authenticity data, fitting details, orientation of optical device (inside-out or right side-out), optical device type data, optical device care or handling information, indications, recommended usage information such as wear schedule, filling pharmacy, health professional information, time, an optical device user'"'"'s personal details, prescription information, right eye/left eye identification data, expiration data, URI., spectral passing band(nm), UV cut-off, optical refractive index, Abbe value, transmittance % or haze(%) for a particular thickness.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said external means issues an advisory signal associated with the emitted data signal characteristics of said data carrier means.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said advisory signal is provided visually or auditorily.

8. A method for determining the orientation of an optical device in order to place said optical device in a preferential orientation, said method including the steps of:

having uniquely identifiable data carrier means associated with said optical device, said data carrier means for carrying data related to said optical device said least one data carrier having data carrier means operable in at least one of an electrical mode and a magnetic mode to emit said data in response to activation by an activating signal applied by an external means, said data carrier means having a unique identifier;

locating said at least data carrier at a predetermined position on said optical device, said predetermined position corresponding to said preferential orientation,

transmitting a signal from an external means to said data carrier means;

comparing signals from said data carrier arriving at least two identical receivers of an external means with closely spaced antennae;

determining the identity of said data carrier, an angle of arrival of said signals from said data carrier means and hence the direction and location of that data carrier means from said external means;

issuing at least one advisory signal indicative of said orientation of said optical device with respect to a preferential orientation of said optical device,

whereby said at least one advisory signal is an aid to correct said orientation of said optical device for placement in said preferential orientation of said optical device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said at least data carrier is intended to be located at a particular position with respect to the preferential orientation of said optical device in use.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said optical device is an ophthalmic lens, whereby said at least data carrier is intended to be located at a particular position with respect to the preferential orientation of said optical device within the eye.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said ophthalmic lens comprises an optical power which varies radially and circumferentially about an optic axis of the optical device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said ophthalmic lens comprises a vertical axis having a top intended to be located at the top of the user'"'"'s eye in a preferential orientation, said at least data carrier being located adjacent to said top, whereby said data carrier means identity and location on said ophthalmic lens is determined and compared to the desired location of said at least data carrier on said ophthalmic lens with respect to preferential orientation of said ophthalmic lens within the eye.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the rotation of said ophthalmic lens within the eye can be measured while the user'"'"'s eye is in a predetermined position by comparison of the position of said data carrier means to a predetermined axis of the eye.

14. A method for determining the orientation of an optical device, said optical device having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, the method having the steps of:

providing said optical device with uniquely identifiable data carrier means for carrying data related to said optical device, said data carrier means operable in at least one of an electrical mode and a magnetic mode;

said data carrier means being deposited on said posterior surface and/or said anterior surface;

said data carrier means being caused to emit a data signal;

processing said emitted data signal to determine the characteristics of said emitted data signal;

whereby said data signal emitted by said data carrier means on said anterior surface is distinguishable from said data signal emitted by said data carrier means on said posterior surface.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said optical device is chosen from a group consisting of an ophthalmic lens, a contact lens, intra-ocular lens, lens for eyeglasses, an optical lens, a monocular lens, a trial lens, a test lens, a fitting lens, binoculars lens, a telescope lens, a spotting scope lens, a telescopic gun sight lens, a theodolite lens, a microscope lens, a camera lens, an imaging lens, a CCD/CMOS lens, a custom lens, a medical device lens, a lens for automotive applications, an optical filter, a cut-off filter, an optical low-pass filter, a window, an optical window, a diffuser, a plate, a prism, a prism mirror, a mirror, optical glass, strip form, blanks or fine gobs, a glass substrate, a glass-ceramic substrates, a TS-10 glass-ceramic substrate, a LCOS prism or lens, a beam splitter, an astronomical optical component, an optical component for illumination systems, an optical component educational optics, a magnifier lens, an optical component for spectroscopic applications, and an optical component for a medical apparatus or medical system.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said data comprises any of the following:

SKU, unique ID, manufacturer, logo, material of manufacture, composition, lot. no., batch no., warehouse related data;

promotional material (rebate for next pair purchase or free trials), optical device features and description, optical device benefits data, health warnings, data on potential risk or complications, insurance coverage data, regulatory data, authenticity data, fitting details, orientation of optical device (inside-out or right side-out), optical device type data, optical device care or handling information, indications, recommended usage information such as wear schedule, filling pharmacy, health professional information, time, an optical device user'"'"'s personal details, prescription information, right eye/left eye identification data, expiration data, URI., spectral passing band(nm), UV cut-off, optical refractive index, Abbe value, transmittance % or haze(%) for a particular thickness.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said data carrier means is caused to emit a data signal in response to an activating signal from an external means.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said data carrier means emits a data signal in response to an interrogating signal from an external means.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said data carrier means emits a data signal periodically.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said data carrier means emits a data signal periodically in response to an interrogating signal.