Manufacturing ophthalmic lenses using lens structure cognition and spatial positioning system
AssigneeMicro Optics Design Corporation
InventorMarc Y. Savoie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for generating a virtual entity of an ophthalmic lens blank in a computer environment and for using this entity to monitor and control a lens generation process. The method comprises the steps of analyzing an image of a lens blank, measuring a first surface of a lens blank, probing a second surface, and locating both surfaces and the contour of the lens blank in a spatial coordinate system. These data are used to generate a virtual entity that is a precise representation of the lens blank. The virtual entity is used throughout the lens generation process for blocking the lens, for calculating and selecting lens orientation, skewing, prism, tool angles and ideal tool paths that produce best lens quality.
Claims20
A method for generating a virtual entity of a lens blank in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:
- defining a spatial coordinate system in a computer environment;
- analyzing an image of a lens blank and locating said image in said spatial coordinate system;
- measuring a back curvature of said lens blank and locating said back curvature in said spatial coordinate system;
- probing a front curvature of said lens blank and locating said front curvature in said spatial coordinate system;
- and
- integrating said image, said back curvature and said front curvature and generating a virtual entity of said lens blank in said computer environment;
- such that said virtual entity is a precise representation of said lens blank and is usable for monitoring a lens surfacing process when said process is adapted to be controlled in said computer environment.
A method for blocking an ophthalmic lens blank to a support block, and for generating a virtual entity of said lens blank in a computer environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- defining a spatial coordinate system in a computer environment;
- analyzing an image of a lens blank and locating said image in said spatial coordinate system;
- measuring a back curvature of said lens blank and locating said back curvature in said spatial coordinate system;
- probing a front curvature of said lens blank and locating said front curvature in said spatial coordinate system;
- generating a virtual entity of said lens blank in said computer environment and locating said virtual entity in said spatial coordinate system;
- locating a support block within said spatial coordinate system;
- and
- while monitoring a position of said virtual entity relative to said support block, positioning said lens blank above said support block at a distance from said support block, and injecting bonding material between said lens blank and said support block for bonding said lens blank to said support block;
- such that irregularities in a curvature of said lens blank facing said support block are inconsequential to a precision of a position of said lens blank relative to said support block.
A method for generating a surface on an ophthalmic lens using lens structure cognition, spatial positioning, and a lens generating apparatus operable in a computer environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- defining a spatial coordinate system in a computer environment;
- analysing an image of a lens blank and locating said image in said spatial coordinate system;
- measuring a back curvature of said lens blank and locating said back curvature in said spatial coordinate system;
- probing a front curvature of said lens blank and locating said front curvature in said spatial coordinate system;
- generating a virtual entity of said lens blank in said computer environment and locating said virtual entity in said spatial coordinate system;
- locating said lens generating apparatus in said spatial coordinate system;
- simulating an ideal tool path on said virtual entity, and analysing results of said ideal tool path;
- installing said lens blank in said lens generating apparatus and programming said ideal tool path in said lens generating apparatus;
- and
- generating a surface on said lens blank using said lens generating apparatus and said ideal tool path;
- such that said ideal tool path is devisable before a lens generation operation begins, and such that said lens generation operation is controllable using standards embodied in said virtual entity.
A method for generating a surface on an ophthalmic lens using lens structure cognition, spatial positioning, and a lens generating apparatus operable in a computer environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- defining first and second spatial coordinate systems in a computer environment;
- analysing an image of a lens blank and locating said image in said first coordinate system;
- measuring a back curvature of said lens blank and locating said back curvature in said first spatial coordinate system;
- probing a front curvature of said lens blank and locating said front curvature in said first spatial coordinate system;
- generating a virtual entity of said lens blank in said computer environment and locating said virtual entity in said first spatial coordinate system;
- locating a support block in said first spatial coordinate system;
- locating said lens blank relative to said support block;
- blocking said lens blank on said support block;
- assigning reference to said support block in said first spatial coordinate system, and assigning said virtual entity to said reference;
- transferring said reference in said second spatial coordinate system;
- simulating an ideal tool path on said virtual entity in said second spatial coordinate system;
- evaluating optical error on said virtual entity relative to said ideal tool path;
- locating said lens generating apparatus in said second spatial coordinate system;
- installing said lens blank in said lens generating apparatus and programming said ideal tool path in said lens generating apparatus;
- and
- while monitoring a position of said virtual entity, generating a surface on said lens blank using said lens generating apparatus and said ideal tool path;
- such that said virtual entity is producible as a precise representation of said lens blank and said step of generating a surface on said lens blank is doable while precisely monitoring physical characteristics of said lens blank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.