Tinted polarized lenses having selective frequency filtering

• US 9,891,448 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Optics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smith Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: Carlson, Eric, MacGuffie, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Bumsuk
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HENRY ABRAHAM
• Application Number:
  US14/455,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20160041408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 35115956
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/08 made of polarising materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3033 in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/10 Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/102 Photochromic filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/108 Colouring materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/12 Polarisers

Abstract

A tinted polarized lens for attenuating ambient light reducing glare and improving color discrimination for a user is disclosed. In some embodiments, the lens has uniform transmittance across the visible spectrum with selective filtering of light at 480 nm and 580 nm. In some embodiments, the lens may reduce light in the blue region of the spectrum while maintaining color discrimination. In some embodiments, the level of attenuation provided by the lens may vary based on the intensity of light present while maintaining selective filtering at 480 nm and 580 nm.

Claims

1. A lens, comprising:

a lens wafer;

a compound;

a polarized film coating a surface of the lens wafer; and

wherein the polarized film and the compound are configured to impart light transmittance characteristics such that the lens will exhibit a light transmittance at 450 nm that is greater than the transmittance at 480 nm, a light transmittance at 510 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 480 nm and 580 nm, and a light transmittance at 600 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 580 nm;

wherein the light transmittance at 480 nm is less than the light transmittance at 580 nm, when light is transmitted through the lens wafer, the compound, and the polarized film.

2. The lens of claim 1, wherein the polarized film and the compound are further configured to impart light transmittance characteristics to the lens such that the lens does not transmit any light below 400 nm.

3. The lens of claim 1, wherein light transmittance is less than 20% from 300 nm to 650 nm.

4. The lens of claim 1, wherein the light transmittance from 410 nm to 650 nm is uniform except at 480 nm and 580 nm.

5. The lens of claim 1, wherein the lens is gray in appearance.

6. The lens of claim 1, wherein the lens is brown in appearance.

7. The lens of claim 1, wherein the lens is blue in appearance.

8. The lens of claim 1, wherein the compound is contained in a film applied to a surface of the lens.

9. The lens of claim 1, wherein the lens is polycarbonate.

10. The lens of claim 1, wherein the polarized film is a polyvinyl alcohol sheet impregnated with a dye.

11. The lens of claim 10, wherein the dye comprises iodine.

12. A lens, comprising:

a lens wafer;

a compound;

a polarized film coating a surface of the lens wafer;

a mirrored coating; and

wherein the polarized film, mirror coating, and the compound are configured to impart light transmittance characteristics to the lens such that the lens will exhibit a light transmittance at 450 nm that is less than the transmittance at 480 nm, a light transmittance at 510 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 480 nm and 580 nm, and a light transmittance at 600 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 580 nm, wherein the light transmittance for every wavelength from 400 nm to 480 nm is less than the transmittance for every wavelength from 600 nm to 700 nm, when light is transmitted through the lens wafer, the compound, and the polarized film.

13. The lens of claim 12, further comprising an anti-reflective coating.

14. The lens of claim 12, further comprising an anti-scratch coating.

15. The lens of claim 12, wherein the lens is brown in appearance.

16. The lens of claim 12, wherein the overall light transmittance is less than 10% from 300 nm to 500 nm.

17. A lens, comprising:

a lens wafer;

a compound;

a polarized film coating a surface of the lens wafer; and

wherein the polarized film and the compound are configured to impart light transmittance characteristics to the lens such that the lens will exhibit a light transmittance at 450 nm that is greater than the transmittance at 480 nm, a light transmittance at 510 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 480 nm and 580 nm, and a light transmittance at 600 nm that is greater than the light transmittance at 580 nm, wherein the light transmittance at 450 nm is greater than the transmittance at 650 nm, when light is transmitted through the lens wafer, the compound, and the polarized film.

18. The lens of claim 17, further comprising a mirrored coating.

19. The lens of claim 17, wherein the compound is contained in a film applied to a surface of the lens.

20. The lens of claim 17, wherein the lens is polycarbonate.

21. The lens of claim 17, wherein the lens is blue in appearance.

22. The lens of claim 17, further comprising an anti-scratch coating.