Plastic lens systems and compositions

• US 6,926,510 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vision Dynamics LLC (New England Low Vision & Blindness)
• Original Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Inventors: Joel, Larry H., Lattis, Matthew C., Buazza, Omar M., Luetke, Stephen C., Powers, Galen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HECKENBERG JR, DONALD H
• Application Number:
  US10/188,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20030094714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 425/162, 425/174.4, 425/808, 264/1.36, 264/1.38, 522/173, 522/178, 522/181
• US Class Current: 425/162
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00442 Curing the lens material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/041 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/808 Lens mold
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/812 Venting

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. The lens forming unit may include an LCD filter disposed between activating light sources and a mold assembly. The mold assembly preferably includes two mold members held together by a gasket. The gasket preferably includes four protrusions spaced at 90 degree intervals about the gasket. A lens forming composition may include a first photochromic compound, a second photochromic compound and a light effector. The light effector may alter the color of a lens when exposed to photochromic activating light, when compared to a lens formed from a lens forming composition which does not include a light effector.

Claims

1. A system for preparing an eyeglass lens, comprising:

an apparatus comprising;

a mold assembly comprising a mold cavity, wherein the mold assembly is configured to receive a lens forming composition within the cavity;

a first lens curing unit configured to direct activating light toward the mold assembly during use;

a second lens curing unit configured to apply heat or activating light to the mold assembly to substantially complete curing of the eyeglass lens;

a programmable controller configured to substantially simultaneously control operation of the first lens curing unit and the second lens curing unit;

a lens forming composition adapted to be disposed within the mold cavity, comprising;

a monomer that cures by exposure to activating light to form the eyeglass lens during use; and

a photoinitiator that initiates curing of the monomer in response to being exposed to activating light.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to form non-photochromic lenses and photochromic lenses.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens forming composition further comprises photochromic compounds.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens forming composition comprises a photochromic compound, and wherein the photochromic compound comprises one or more spirooxazines.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens forming composition comprises a photochromic compound, and wherein the photochromic compound comprises one or more spiropyrans.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens forming composition comprises a photochromic compound, and wherein the photochromic compound comprises one or more spiropyrans and one or more spirooxazines.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens forming composition further comprises ultraviolet/visible light absorbing compounds.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens forming composition further comprises a co-initiator composition.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens forming composition further comprises a co-initiator composition, wherein the co-initiator comprises an amine.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly comprises a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly comprises a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating source is an ultraviolet light source.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first curing unit comprises a fluorescent light source.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a fluorescent light source and wherein the fluorescent light source is configured to emit light at a wavelength of about 385 nanometers to 490 nanometers.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first and second light sources;

the first light source configured to direct activating light toward the first mold member;

the second light source configured to generate and direct activating light toward the second mold member.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first light source and a second light source, and wherein the programmable controller is further configured to individually control the first and second lights.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens-curing unit comprises a first and second light source and wherein the first and second light sources are configured to generate and direct pulses of activating light toward the mold members.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a lens drawer for positioning the mold members proximate to a first light source, the lens drawer being configurable to be inserted within and removed from the irradiation chamber.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating source is an ultraviolet light source.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating light source is a fluorescent light source.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating light source is a fluorescent light source and wherein the fluorescent light source is configured to emit light at a wavelength of about 385 nanometers to 490 nanometers.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a first light source and a second light source, and wherein the programmable controller is further configured to individually control the first and second lights.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens-curing unit comprises a first and second light source and wherein the first and second light sources are configured to generate and direct pulses of activating light toward the mold members.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a heater, the heater configured to heat the interior of the post-cure unit to a temperature of up to about 125°

C.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is further configured with a light sensor to measure the dose of light transmitted to the mold cavity, and wherein the light sensor is configured to communicate with the programmable controller, and wherein the programmable controller varies the intensity or duration of light such that a predetermined dose is transmitted to the mold cavity.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to perform apparatus diagnostic checks.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to notify a user when the apparatus requires maintenance.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to display instructions for an operator during a lens forming process.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to control operation of the first lens curing unit as a function of the eyeglass lens prescription.

30. An apparatus for preparing an eyeglass lens, comprising:

a mold assembly comprising a mold cavity, wherein the mold assembly is configured to receive a lens forming composition within the cavity;

a first lens curing unit configured to direct activating light to the mold assembly;

a second lens curing unit configured to apply heat or activating light to the mold assembly to substantially complete curing of the eyeglass lens; and

a programmable controller configured to substantially simultaneously control operation of the first lens curing unit and the second lens curing unit.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the mold assembly comprises a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the mold assembly comprises a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating light source is an ultraviolet liglit source.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating light source is a fluorescent light source.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating light source is a fluorescent light source and wherein the fluorescent light source is configured to emit light at a wavelength of about 385 nanometers to 490 nanometers.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first lens-curing unit comprises a first and a second light source;

the first light source configured to generate and direct activating light towards a first mold member;

the second light source configured to generate and direct activating light toward a second mold member.

37. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first lens-curing unit comprises a first and second light source and wherein the first and second light sources are configured to generate and direct pulses of activating light toward the mold members.

38. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a lens drawer for positioning the mold members proximate to a first light source, the lens drawer being configurable to be inserted within and removed from the irradiation chamber.

39. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating light source is an ultraviolet light source.

40. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating light source is a fluorescent light source.

41. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises an activating light source and wherein the activating light source is a fluorescent light source and wherein the fluorescent light source is configured to emit light at a wavelength of about 385 nanometers to 490 nanometers.

42. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a heater, the heater configured to heat the interior of the post-cure unit to a temperature of up to about 125°

C.

43. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second lens-curing unit comprises a first and a second light source;

the first light source configured to generate and direct activating light towards a first mold member;

the second light source configured to generate and direct activating light toward a second mold member.

44. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second lens-curing unit comprises a first and second light source and wherein the first and second light sources are configured to generate and direct pulses of activating light toward the mold members.

45. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the programmable controller is further configured with a light sensor to measure the dose of light transmitted to the mold cavity, and wherein the light sensor is configured to communicate with the programmable controller, and wherein the programmable controller varies the intensity or duration of light such that a predetermined dose is transmitted to the mold cavity.

46. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to perform apparatus diagnostic checks.

47. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to notify a user when the apparatus requires maintenance.

48. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to display instructions for an operator during a lens forming process.

49. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to control operation of the first lens curing unit as a function of the eyeglass lens prescription.