Optical element for correcting color blindness

• US 8,963,104 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Harding, Brett T., Li, Sheng, Mochizuki, Amane
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Application Number:
  US13/565,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20130032758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 351/159.6, 250/458.1
• US Class Current: 250/458.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1699 Additional features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2201/001 Conductive additives
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/29 Compounds containing one or more carbon-to-nitrogen double bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/315 Compounds containing carbon-to-nitrogen triple bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 101/12 characterised by physical features, e.g. anisotropy, viscosity or electrical conductivity liquid crystal materials or compositions C09K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 3/20 by halogenation
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 57/00 Other synthetic dyes of known constitution
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 57/008 Triarylamine dyes containing no other chromophores
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 69/102 containing a perylene dye
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 69/103 containing a diaryl- or triarylmethane dye
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 69/109 containing other specific dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/025 non-luminescent particle coatings or suspension media
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/06 containing organic luminescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1007 Non-condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1011 Condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1014 bridged by heteroatoms, e.g. N, P, Si or B
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1044 containing two nitrogen atoms as heteroatoms
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1055 with other heteroatoms
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/031 Polarizer or dye
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 : comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/06 : for filtering out ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 : for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 : Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/04 : made of organic materials, e.g. plastics G02B1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/041 : Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/043 : Contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 : Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/049 : Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/104 : having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 : Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/30 : using electroluminescent panels

Abstract

Devices having an optical element with a luminescent compound dispersed in a matrix material can be used for improving color discernment. Compositions and methods related to preparing and using these devices are also detailed in this disclosure.

Claims

1. A device for improving ability to distinguish colors comprising:

an optical element comprising a luminescent compound dispersed in a matrix material;

wherein the optical element is sufficiently transparent to allow a person to see through the optical element;

wherein the luminescent compound absorbs light at a visible absorption wavelength and emits light at a visible emission wavelength that is longer than the absorption wavelength, wherein a human cone photopigment is substantially more sensitive to the visible emission wavelength than to the visible absorption wavelength;

wherein the optical element has a transmittance that is greater than 90% at the visible emission wavelength; and

wherein the device is configured so that a person can better distinguish the colors by viewing an image or an object comprising the colors through the optical element.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound absorbs light at a wavelength that is less than maximally detected by a normal human cone middle-wavelength sensitive (M) photopigment and emits light at a wavelength that is detected to a substantially greater extent by the normal human cone M photopigment.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound absorbs light at a wavelength that is less than maximally detected by a variant human cone middle-wavelength sensitive (MV) photopigment and emits light at a wavelength that is detected to a substantially greater extent by the same human cone MV photopigment.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound absorbs light at a wavelength that is less than maximally detected by a normal human cone long-wavelength sensitive (L) photopigment and emits light at a wavelength that is detected to a substantially greater extent by the normal human cone L photopigment.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound absorbs light at a wavelength that is less than maximally detected by a variant human cone long-wavelength sensitive (LV) photopigment and emits light at a wavelength that is detected to a substantially greater extent by the same human cone LV photopigment.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the luminescent compound has a median wavelength of visible absorption of about 380 nm to about 450 nm.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound has a median wavelength of visible absorption of about 420 nm to about 480 nm.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound has a median wavelength of visible emission of about 500 nm to about 600 nm.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the luminescent compound has an average wavelength of visible absorption of about 380 nm to about 450 nm.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound has an average wavelength of visible absorption of about 420 nm to about 480 nm.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound has an average wavelength of visible emission of about 500 nm to about 600 nm.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the luminescent compound has a peak wavelength of visible absorption of about 380 nm to about 450 nm.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound has a peak wavelength of visible absorption of about 420 nm to about 480 nm.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound has a peak wavelength of visible emission of about 500 nm to about 600 nm.

15. A method for preparing a device for improving ability to distinguish colors comprising:

incorporating a luminescent compound into an optical element;

wherein the optical element configured to convert a color having a first set of color coordinates to a color having a second set of color coordinates by absorption and emission of visible light;

wherein the luminescent compound is selected so that the distance between the first set of color coordinates and the second set of color coordinates in the direction normal to a deuteronopia color confusion line nearest to the first set of color coordinates is at least about 0.02 color coordinate units.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the distance between the first set of color coordinates and the second set of color coordinates in the direction normal to a deuteronopia color confusion line nearest to the first set of color coordinates is at least about 0.04 color coordinate units.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first set of color coordinates is about (0.375-0.380, 0.485-0.490), about (0.475-0.480, 0.410-0.415), about (0.368-0.373, 0.485-0.490), or about (0.370-0.375, 0.460-0.465).

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first set of color coordinates is about (0.330-0.335, 0.340-0.345).

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first set of color coordinates is about (0.570-0.575, 0.340-0.345), about (0.475-0.480, 0.468-0.473), or about (0.565-0.570, 0.395-0.400).

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first set of color coordinates is about (0.510-0.515, 0.340-0.344), or about (0.480-0.485, 0.388-0.392).

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first set of color coordinates is about (0.290-0.295, 0.495-0.500).

22. A device for improving the ability to distinguish colors, comprising a luminescent compound incorporated into an optical element, wherein the device is prepared by a method according to claim 15.

23. A method of improving ability to distinguish colors comprising positioning a device or an optical element of claim 22 so that an image or an object may be viewed by an individual through the optical element.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the individual has normal color vision.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the individual has an impaired ability to distinguish colors.