Multifocal lens provided with progressive focal segment

• US 5,305,028 A
• Filed: 06/09/1993
• Issued: 04/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitoshi Okano
• Original Assignee: Hitoshi Okano
• Inventors: Okano, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US08/074,267
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: 350/437, 351/169, 359/721
• US Class Current: 351/169
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/06 bifocal; multifocal ; progressive G02C7/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/061 Spectacle lenses with progressively varying focal power

Abstract

A multifocal lens has a main lens with a far vision surface refracting power sphere (F) and a near vision sphere (N) and a progressive focal area (P) or an intermediate vision sphere (I), a progressive focal point (P) and a near vision sphere (N) on a segment thereof for giving additional refracting power by surface refracting, in which case the segment projects from the main lens, or refractive index, in which case the segment is embedded in the main lens. A separately produced segment can also be stuck to the surface of the main lens, in which case a series of prism segments can be prepared in advance to select an optimum segment from the series of prism segments according to a prescription.

Claims

1. In a multifocal lens having a non-progressive, unifocal main lens (1) and a clearly sectioned segment (2) thereon for additional surface refracting power, the improved segment comprising:

a first unifocal area (N) on said segment (2) and a low-astigmatism progressive focal area (P) on said segment, the progressive focus being provided only within said progressive focal area (P), and said areas (N, P) being continuous to avoid a sudden image change.

2. A multifocal lens according to claim 1, and further comprising a second unifocal area on an upper portion of said segment that forms an intermediate vision sphere (I), wherein said main lens forms a far vision sphere (F), said clear sectioning of said segment is an upper boundary line forming a circular arc with a radius of curvature not smaller than the diameter of said segment, said first unifocal area is a lower portion of said segment forming a near vision sphere (N), and said progressive focal area (P) is a middle portion of said segment that extends from said upper portion to said lower portion of said segment and has refracting power that progresses from a refracting power of said intermediate vision sphere to a refracting power of said near vision sphere.

3. A multifocal lens according to claim 2, and further comprising a prism at said upper boundary line in an amount required for providing coincidence between a focal direction at said upper boundary line of said segment and a focal direction at an adjacent portion of said main lens so that an image jump is minimized when lines of sight move across said upper boundary line.

4. In a multifocal lens having a non-progressive, unifocal main lens and a clearly sectioned segment thereon for additional surface refracting power, the improved segment comprising:

a first unifocal area on said segment and a low-astigmatism progressive focal area on said segment, the progressive focus of said progressive focal area progressing along a line connecting a far visual point of said main lens and a near visual point of said segment, said areas being continuous to avoid a sudden image change, wherein said main lens forms a far vision sphere (F), said clear sectioning of said segment is an upper boundary line forming a circular arc with a radius of curvature not smaller than a diameter of said segment, said first unifocal area is a lower portion of said segment forming a near vision sphere (N), and said progressive focal area (P) is an upper portion of said segment in which refracting power progresses from a refracting power of said far vision sphere to a refracting power of said near vision sphere.

5. A multifocal lens according to claim 4, and further comprising a prism at said upper boundary line in an amount required for providing coincidence between a focal direction at said upper boundary of said segment and a focal direction at an adjacent portion of said main lens so that an image jump is minimized when lines of sight move across said upper boundary line.

6. A multifocal lens according to claim 4 and further comprising a second unifocal area on an upper portion of said segment that forms an intermediate vision sphere (I), wherein said main lens forms a far vision sphere (F), said clear sectioning of said segment is an upper boundary line forming a circular arc with a radius of curvature not smaller than the diameter of said segment, said first unifocal area is a lower portion of said segment forming a near vision sphere (N), and said progressive focal area (P) is a middle portion of said segment that extends from said upper portion to said lower portion of said segment and has refracting power that progresses from a refracting power of said intermediate vision sphere to a refracting power of said near vision sphere.

7. A multifocal lens according to claim 6, and further comprising a prism at said upper boundary line in an amount required for providing coincidence between a focal direction at said upper boundary line of said segment and a focal direction at an adjacent portion of said main lens so that an image jump is minimized when lines of sight move across said upper boundary line.