Multiple layer multifocal composite lens

• US 7,744,215 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GMBH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Pixeloptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Iyer, Venkatramani S., Blum, Ronald D., Kokonaski, William, Haddock, Joshua N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins; Darryl J
• Application Number:
  US12/333,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20090161066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 351/161, 351/168, 351/169, 351/177
• 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

Aspects of the present invention provide multiple-layer composite lenses comprising two or more materials and methods for making the same. A multi-layer composite lens of the present invention can use multiple surfaces to form optical elements that can contribute to a total desired add power. The multiple contributing elements can be aligned so as to be in optical communication to form multiple stable vision zones to enhance optical performance and vision experience of the wearer. Distributing the total desired add power across multiple appropriately aligned optical elements that are in optical communication with one another can reduce the total distortion of the lens, minimize the number of optical discontinuities introduced and reduce the visibility of any introduced optical discontinuity. A surface of the multiple-layer composite lens can comprise a combined progressive structure and substantially constant optical power structure or a cropped progressive structure.

Claims

1. A lens, comprising:

a first surface comprising a first incremental add power region comprising a combined progressive optical power region and a substantially constant optical power region,

wherein the first surface comprises one or more optical discontinuities,

wherein at least one optical discontinuity is adjacent to a distance vision zone of the lens,

wherein the progressive optical power region is positioned above the at least one optical discontinuity.

2. The lens of claim 1, further comprising a second surface comprising a second incremental add power region.

3. The lens of claim 2, wherein the second incremental add power region comprises a refractive progressive optical power region.

4. The lens of claim 2, wherein the second incremental add power region comprises one of a spherical, a substantially spherical, and an aspheric optical power region.

5. The lens of claim 2, wherein the first surface comprises an external surface of a first layer of the lens.

6. The lens of claim 5, wherein the second surface comprises an internal surface of a second layer of the lens.

7. The lens of claim 6, wherein a portion of a boundary of the second incremental add power forms an optical discontinuity adjacent to the distance vision zone of the lens.

8. The lens of claim 6, wherein the first layer comprises a first index of refraction and the second layer comprises a second index of refraction.

9. The lens of claim 2, wherein the first and second incremental add power regions are positioned to be in optical communication so as to form a far-intermediate vision zone, an intermediate vision zone and a near vision zone.

10. A lens, comprising:

a first surface comprising a first incremental add power region; and

a second surface comprising a second incremental add power region,

wherein a portion of a boundary of the first incremental add power region forms an optical discontinuity adjacent to a distance vision zone of the lens,

wherein the second incremental add power region comprises one of a spherical, a substantially spherical, and an aspheric optical power region,

wherein the first incremental add power region comprises a combined progressive optical power region and a substantially constant optical power region.

11. The lens of claim 10, wherein a portion of a boundary of the second incremental add power region forms an optical discontinuity.

12. The lens of claim 11, wherein the optical discontinuity formed by the portion of the boundary between the progressive optical power region and the substantially constant optical power region of the first incremental add power region is aligned with the optical discontinuity formed by the portion of the boundary of the second incremental add power region.

13. A method, comprising:

forming a first layer of a lens from a first material having a first index of refraction, the first layer having a first curvature and a second curvature, wherein the second curvature comprises a combined progressive curvature and a substantially spherical curvature;

shaping a first surface of a second layer of the lens using the first layer, the second layer comprising a second material having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction;

shaping a second surface of the second layer using a non-consumable mold to have a first curvature and second curvature, wherein the second curvature of the second layer provides a progression of optical power and optically communicates with the second curvature of the first layer for providing a combined optical power for correcting near distance vision; and

bonding the first layer to the second layer, the second surface of the second layer forming an external surface of the lens.