Process for producing a transparent optical element, optical component involved in this process and optical element thus obtained

• US 7,808,707 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2005
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Essilor International SA (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Essilor International SA (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Bovet, Christian, Cano, Jean-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman; Scott J
• Assistant Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US11/173,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20060006336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 351/44, 351/49, 351/159, 351/163, 351165-166, 351/172, 351/177, 359/253, 359/265, 359/272
• US Class Current: 359/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/14 Photorefractive lens material
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/18 Cellular lens surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/102 Photochromic filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/12 Polarisers

Abstract

To produce a transparent optical element, the process starts with the production of an optical component having at least one transparent array of cells that are juxtaposed parallel to one surface of the component, each cell being hermetically sealed and containing a substance having an optical property. This optical component is then cut along a defined contour on its surface, corresponding to a predetermined shape of the optical element. Preferably, the array of cells constitutes a layer having a height of less than 100 μm perpendicular to the surface of the component.

Claims

1. A transparent optical component selected from a lens, an eye visor or an ocular implant, comprising at least one transparent array of cells that are juxtaposed parallel to one surface of the component, each individual cell being hermetically sealed apart from the other cells and containing a substance having an optical property, wherein the array of cells has a fill factor τ

of greater than 90%, parallel to the surface of the component, where the fill factor τ

is defined as the area occupied by the cells filled with substance per unit area of the optical component.

2. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein the array of cells constitutes a layer having, perpendicular to said surface, a height of less than 100 μ

m.

3. The optical component according to claim 2, wherein the layer formed by the array of cells has a height of between 10 μ

m and 50 μ

m.

4. The optical component according to claim 2, wherein the layer formed by the array of cells has a height of between 1 μ

m and 10 μ

m.

5. The optical component according to claim 4, wherein the layer formed by the array of cells has a height of about 5 μ

m.

6. The optical component according to claim 1, which comprises a rigid transparent substrate on which the array of cells is formed.

7. The optical component according to claim 1, which comprises a rigid transparent substrate onto which a transparent film incorporating the array of cells is transferred.

8. The optical component according to claim 6, wherein the rigid transparent substrate is convex, concave or plane on that side which has the array of cells.

9. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein the substance having an optical property contained in at least certain of the cells is in the form of a liquid or gel.

10. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein the optical property is chosen from a coloration, photochromism, polarization or refractive-index property.

11. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein different cells contain substances having a different refractive index.

12. The optical component according to claim 11, wherein the substances having a different refractive index are photopolymers, liquid crystals or mesoporous materials.

13. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein the array of cells includes several groups of cells containing different substances.

14. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein several arrays of cells are stacked on the thickness of said component.

15. The optical component according to claim 14, wherein each array of cells has identical optical properties, or each array of cells has different optical properties, or the cells within each array of cells have different optical properties.

16. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein the fill factor is between 90% and 99.5% inclusive.

17. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein the cells of the array are arranged in a hexagonal-type lattice.

18. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein the cells have dimensions of greater than 1 μ

m parallel to the surface of the component.

19. The optical component according to claim 18, wherein the cells have a dimension of between 5 μ

m and 100 μ

m parallel to the surface of the component.

20. The optical component according to claim 17, wherein the cells have a dimension of between 10 μ

m and 40 μ

m parallel to the surface of the component.

21. The optical component according to claim 1, wherein the cells are separated by walls having dimensions of between 0.10 μ

m and 5 μ

m parallel to the surface of the component.

22. The optical component according to claim 21, wherein the cells are separated by walls having dimensions of between 0.10 μ

m and 0.40 μ

m parallel to the surface of the component.

23. The optical component according to claim 22, wherein the walls have dimensions of less than 0.35 μ

m.

24. The optical component according to claim 21, wherein the cells are separated by walls made of a material that does not reflect light and have dimensions of between 0.40 μ

m and 3.00 μ

m.

25. The optical component according to claim 24, wherein the walls have dimensions of between 0.40 μ

m and 1.00 μ

m.

26. A spectacle lens, comprising the optical component of claim 1, wherein the lens is produced by cutting the optical component.

27. Spectacle lens according to claim 26, wherein at least one hole is drilled through the lens in order to fasten the lens to a spectacle frame.

28. Spectacle lens according to claim 26, wherein the optical property of the substance contained in the cells is adapted in order to vary over the surface of the lens as a function of the estimated ametropia of an eye to be corrected.

29. Spectacle lens according to claim 26, wherein the substance contained in the cells is a photochromic substance.