Multifocal ophthalmic lens

• US 5,106,180 A
• Filed: 05/30/1991
• Issued: 04/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Grant Gabrielian, Robert Marie
• Inventors: Marie, Robert, Gabrielian, Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US07/707,902
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 351/159, 351/168, 351/169, 351/170, 351/171, 351/172, 351/176, 351/160 H, 351/160 R, 351/161, 351/162, 350/452, 350/167, 359/626, 359/628, 359/742
• US Class Current: 351/161
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/02 Mislocation tolerant lenses or lens systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/042 Simultaneous type
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/044 Annular configuration, e.g. pupil tuned

Abstract

An ophthalmic lens has front and rear optical surfaces, a central optical axis substantially perpendicular to the lens and comprises a plurality of concentric, contiguous circular refractive bands provided on at least one of the front and rear optical surfaces. The bands have a continuous cross-section in the shape of a segment of an ellipse having a given major axis length and eccentricity. The bands are of alternating optical power to focus light on at least two focal planes to provide simultaneous multifocal vision. The major axis of each ellipse segment intersects the central optical axis and a respective one of the at least two focal planes. The bands are continuous at their boundaries between neighboring ones of the bands. The entire optical surface of the lens may be used with minimal distortion caused by the intersections of the continuous bands.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic lens having front and rear optical surfaces and a central optical axis substantially perpendicular to the lens, the lens comprising:

a plurality of concentric, contiguous circular refractive bands provided on at least one of said front and rear optical surfaces, the bands each having a continuous cross-section in the shape of a segment of an ellipse having a given major axis length and eccentricity, the bands being of alternating optical power to focus light on at least two focal planes to provide simultaneous multifocal vision, the major axis of each said segment of an ellipse intersecting the central optical axis and a respective one of said at least two focal planes, said bands being continuous at their boundaries between neighboring ones of said bands.

2. The lens according to claim 1, wherein the eccentricity of one of said bands is zero, whereby said one of said bands has a circular cross-section.

3. The lens according to claim 1, wherein said bands are provided on said front optical surface, and wherein said rear optical surface is spheroid.

4. The lens according to claim 3, wherein the eccentricity of the spheroid rear optical surface is zero, whereby said rear optical surface is spherical.

5. The lens according to claim 1, wherein said bands focus light on two focal planes to provide simultaneous bifocal vision.