OPHTHALMIC LENSES WITH ASPHERIC OPTICAL FEATURES

• US 20100201941A1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals Incorporated (Mitsui Chemicals)
• Original Assignee: Pixeloptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Gupta, Amitava
• Granted Patent: US 9,022,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/169
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/061 Spectacle lenses with progressively varying focal power
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/063 Shape of the progressive surface
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/068 Special properties achieved by the combination of the front and back surfaces

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide a lens comprising a non-rotationally symmetric aspheric optical element, surface or feature and a rotationally symmetric aspheric optical element, surface or feature. The non-rotationally symmetric aspheric optical feature can be a progressive power region. The non-rotationally symmetric aspheric optical feature and rotationally symmetric aspheric optical feature can be in optical communication when located on different surfaces of a lens or can be collapsed to occupy a single surface of a lens. The non-rotationally symmetric aspheric optical feature and rotationally symmetric aspheric optical feature can each contribute to the add power of a lens. Distortion (e.g., astigmatism) of a lens of the present invention can be reduced (e.g., globally and/or locally) by optically combing the non-rotationally symmetric aspheric optical feature with the rotationally symmetric aspheric optical feature. Accordingly, the effective or useable vision zones of a lens of the present invention can be increased.

Claims

1. A lens, comprising:

a rotationally symmetric aspheric region providing a first portion of a total add power of the lens;

a non-rotationally symmetric aspheric region providing a second portion of a total add power of the lens,

wherein a portion of the rotationally symmetric aspheric region is in optical communication with a portion of the non-rotationally symmetric aspheric region such that the first portion of the total add power and the second portion of the total add power are combined to contribute to the total add power of the lens.

2. The lens of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the total add power and the second portion of the total add power are combined to provide the entirety of the total add power of the lens.

3. The lens of claim 1, further comprising an additional optical element providing a third portion of the total add power of the lens, wherein the first, second and third portions are combined to provide the entirety of the total add power of the lens.

4. The lens of claim 1, wherein the non-rotationally symmetric aspheric region is a progressive optical power region.

5. The lens of claim 1, wherein the rotationally symmetric aspheric region is centered about a fitting point of the lens.

6. The lens of claim 1, wherein the rotationally symmetric aspheric region is centered about a geometric center point of the lens.

7. The lens of claim 1, wherein the rotationally symmetric aspheric region is a regressive rotationally symmetric aspheric region providing a regressive optical power profile.

8. The lens of claim 1, wherein the rotationally symmetric aspheric region is a non-regressive rotationally symmetric aspheric region providing a non-regressive optical power profile.

9. The lens of claim 1, wherein the lens is a monolithic lens.

10. The lens of claim 1, wherein the lens is a composite lens.

11. The lens of claim 1, wherein the rotationally symmetric aspheric region is positioned on an external surface of the lens.

12. The lens of claim 1, wherein the rotationally symmetric aspheric region is positioned on an internal surface of the lens.

13. The lens of claim 1, wherein the rotationally symmetric aspheric region provides a continuous optical power profile.

14. The lens of claim 1, wherein the rotationally symmetric aspheric region comprises a discontinuity and provides an optical power profile comprising at least one optical power discontinuity.

15. The lens of claim 1, wherein the rotationally symmetric aspheric region and the non-rotationally symmetric aspheric region are collapsed to form a single region on a surface of the lens.

16. A lens, comprising:

a rotationally symmetric aspheric region and a non-rotationally symmetric aspheric region collapsed to form a collapsed region.

17. The lens of claim 17, wherein the non-rotationally symmetric aspheric region is a progressive optical power region.