Lens mold for use in a contact lens inspection apparatus
AssigneeCiba-Geigy Corporation
InventorsKai C. Su, Jack C. White, Mushir Siddiqui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Collimated white light is transmitted through a transparent lens mold having a molded lens resting on a curved surface thereof. A telecentric lens and a camera having a digital output are used to view the illuminated lens to obtain pixel image data of the lens. The pixel image data is analyzed by a computer to detect deformities in the molded lens.
Claims22
A lens mold for use in a contact lens inspection system, said lens mold comprising a mold member formed of a transparent plastic material and having an outer surface opposite an inner surface, said inner surface being one of convex and concave and defining a lens cavity of said lens mold, said outer surface having an optical finish to permit optical inspection of a lens located on said inner surface by transmitting light through said mold member from said outer surface to said inner surface and through the lens located on said inner surface.
A lens mold comprising:
- a first mold member comprising a concave portion, said concave portion having a concave surface centered at a longitudinal axis of said first mold member, an outer rim located along a periphery of said concave surface, and ring engaging means disposed adjacent said outer rim for engaging, upon polymerization of a lens material within a lens cavity, excess lens material formed along an outer periphery of the lens cavity;
- and,
- a second mold member comprising a convex portion having a convex surface, wherein the lens cavity is defined between said concave and convex surfaces when said outer rim of said concave portion of said first mold member is made to contact said convex portion of said second mold member;
- whereby, upon polymerization of the lens material and upon a separation of said first and second mold members, the excess lens material is engaged with said first mold member;
- and
- wherein said second mold member is formed of a plastic material that is sufficiently transparent to permit light to transmit therethrough and to permit optical inspection of a lens located on said convex surface and comprises an outer surface opposite said convex surface, said outer surface having an optical finish to permit optical inspection of a lens located on said convex surface by transmitting light through said outer surface, said second mold member, said convex surface and the lens.
A lens mold comprising:
- a first mold member comprising a convex portion, said convex portion having a convex surface centered at a longitudinal axis of said first mold member, an outer rim located along a periphery of said convex surface, and ring engaging means disposed adjacent said outer rim for engaging, upon polymerization of a lens material within a lens cavity, excess lens material formed along an outer periphery of the lens cavity;
- and,
- a second mold member comprising a concave portion having a concave surface, wherein the lens cavity is defined between said convex and concave surfaces when said outer rim of said convex portion of said first mold member is made to contact said concave portion of said second mold member;
- whereby, upon polymerization of the lens material and upon a separation of said first and second mold members, the excess lens material is engaged with said first mold member;
- and
- wherein said second mold member is formed of a transparent plastic material that is sufficiently transparent to permit light to transmit therethrough and to permit optical inspection of a lens located on said convex surface and comprises an outer surface opposite said concave surface, said outer surface having an optical finish to permit optical inspection of a lens located on said concave surface by transmitting light through said outer surface, said second mold member, said concave surface and the lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.