US 6,712,596 B1Granted

System for producing ultraviolet blocking lenses

AssigneeQ2100, Inc.

InventorsOmar M. Buazza, Stephen C. Luetke, Galen R. Powers

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An eyeglass lens forming composition containing light absorbing compounds which may undergo light initiated polymerization is provided. Typically, lens forming compositions that absorb light do not permit enough activating radiation to penetrate into the depths of the lens cavity to adequately initiate polymerization of the lens forming composition. An embodiment of the invention provides a system and method for curing such a lens forming composition to form a lens that does not transmit ultraviolet light. Activating light is used having a wavelength greater than the wavelengths of light which the light absorbing compounds absorb. The power of the formed lenses may be controlled by varying the lens forming conditions. Additionally, the lens forming process may be controlled using a microprocessor based control system.

Claims63

Dependent claims

A system for making an ophthalmic eyeglass lens, comprising:

a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face;
a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face, the second mold member being configured to be spaced apart from the first mold member during use such that the casting faces of the first mold member and the second mold member at least partially define a mold cavity;
a lens forming composition configured to be disposed within the mold cavity during use, comprising:
a monomer that is curable in the mold cavity by exposure to activating light to substantially form the eyeglass lens;
a photochromic compound that absorbs at least a portion of the activating light in a first range during at least a portion of the curing of the monomer;
and
a photoinitiator that activates a co-initiator after being exposed to at least a portion of activating light in a second range during curing, wherein the co-initiator activates curing of the monomer to form the eyeglass lens and wherein the co-initiator
a first light generator configured to generate and direct activating light at a wavelength in the second range toward at least one of the mold members to cure the lens forming composition and to form the eyeglass lens during use.

5 more elements

A system for making an ophthalmic eyeglass lens, comprising:

a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face;
a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face, the second mold member being adapted to be spaced apart from the first mold member during use such that the casting faces of the first mold member and the second mold member at least partially define a mold cavity;
a lens composition adapted to be disposed within the mold cavity during use, comprising:
a monomer that cures by exposure to activating light to form the eyeglass lens during use;
an ultraviolet light absorbing compound that substantially absorbs light having a wavelength below about 380 nm during use and wherein the ultraviolet light absorbing compound comprises a photochromic compound;
a photoinitiator that initiates curing of the monomer in response to being exposed to activating light having a wavelength greater than 400 nm;
and
a first light generator adapted to generate and direct activating light at a wavelength greater than 400 nm toward at least one of the mold members to cure the lens forming composition and to form the eyeglass lens during use.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/395,894Filed 14 Sep 1999 · division
Priority: 31 Jul 1997
Granted: 30 Mar 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G03F 7/0005
Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g.…
B29C 35/0288
Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould: controlling heating or curing of polymers during moulding,…
B29C 35/0894
Using transparant moulds: provided with masks or diaphragms
B29D 11/00442
Auxiliary operations, e.g. machines for filling the moulds: curing the lens material

Family

Application08/904,289Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Jul 1997
Application08/959,973Parent of this division · filed 29 Oct 1997
US 5,989,462 AParent of this division
Application08/959,973Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,712,596 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.